16 Then Yahweh spoke to Shmuel (Samuel), “How long are you going to keep mourning for Sha’ul (Saul) for, when I myself have rejected him as king over Yisrael (Israel)? Fill your horn with oil and go. I’ll send you to Yishay (Jesse) from Beyt-Lehem (Bethlehem), because I’ve seen one of his sons who’d make a good king for me.”
2 “How can I do that?” asked Shmuel. “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 Shmuel did what Yahweh had told him, and went to Beyt-Lehem. 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, Shmuel saw Eliav 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 Avinadav to walk across in front of Shmuel, but he said again, “Yahweh hasn’t chosen that one.” 9 Then Yishay made Shamah 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 Shmuel, but Shmuel told him, “Yahweh hasn’t chosen any of them.” 11 Then Shmuel asked Yishay, “Is this all your sons?”
“Well, there’s just the youngest,” he answered “but you see, he’s out looking after the flock.”[fn]
“Send for him,” Shmuel instructed him, “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 Shmuel 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 Shmuel left and went home to Ramah.
