16 Then Yahweh spoke to Shemuel, “How long are you going to keep mourning for Sha’ul for, when I myself have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I’ll send you to Yishay (Jesse) from Bethlehem, because I’ve seen one of his sons who’d make a good king for me.”

2 “How can I do that?” asked Shemuel. “Sha’ul would kill me if he heard about it.”

“Take a heifer with you,” Yahweh said, “and say, ‘I’ve come to sacrifice to Yahweh.’ 3 Invite Yishay to the sacrifice, and I’ll show you what do to from there, and you should anoint the one I tell you to.”

4 So Shemuel did what Yahweh had told him, and went to Bethlehem. The town elders trembled when they met him, and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

5 “Yes, in peace,” he answered “I’ve come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he purified Yishay and his sons and called them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Shemuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely this man’s the one that Yahweh wants to anoint.” 7 But Yahweh told him, “Don’t look at his height or outward appearance, because I’ve rejected him. Because it isn’t what a person sees with their eyes, but Yahweh sees their motives and values.”

8 Then Yishay called for Abinadab to walk across in front of Shemuel, but he said again, “Yahweh hasn’t chosen that one.” 9 Then Yishay made Shammah walk across in front, but again he said, “Yahweh hasn’t chosen that one.” 10 So all up, Yishay made seven of his sons walk across in front of Shemuel, but Shemuel told him, “Yahweh hasn’t chosen any of them.” 11 Then Shemuel asked Yishay, “Is that all of your sons?”

“Well, there’s just the youngest,” he answered “but see, he’s out looking after the flock.”[fn]

“Send for him,” Shemuel ordered, “because we won’t do anything else until he gets here.” 12 So he sent for him and brought him in. He was a good-looker with beautiful eyes and red colouring, and Yahweh said, “Stand up and anoint him, because he’s the one.” 13 So Shemuel took the horn full of olive oil and anointed him right there with his brothers, and Yahweh’s spirit rushed onto David from that day onwards. Then Shemuel left and went home to Ramah.