1 Samuel 15:27-16:23

New International Version

²⁷ As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe,^(A) and it tore.^{(B) 28} Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn^(C) the kingdom^(D) of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you.^{(E) 29} He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie^(F) or change^(G) his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”

³⁰ Saul replied, “I have sinned.^(H) But please honor^(I) me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.” ³¹ So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

³² Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.”

Agag came to him in chains.^[a] And he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”

³³ But Samuel said,

And Samuel put Agag to death before the Lord at Gilgal.

³⁴ Then Samuel left for Ramah,^(K) but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah^(L) of Saul. ³⁵ Until the day Samuel^(M) died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned^(N) for him. And the Lord regretted^(O) that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn^(P) for Saul, since I have rejected^(Q) him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil^(R) and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse^(S) of Bethlehem. I have chosen^(T) one of his sons to be king.”

² But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show^(U) you what to do. You are to anoint^(V) for me the one I indicate.”

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem,^(W) the elders of the town trembled^(X) when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?^(Y)”

⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate^(Z) yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab^(AA) and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance,^(AB) but the Lord looks at the heart.”^(AC)

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab^(AD) and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah^(AE) pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all^(AF) the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”^(AG)

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹² So he^(AH) sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome^(AI) features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed^(AJ) him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord^(AK) came powerfully upon David.^(AL) Samuel then went to Ramah.

David in Saul’s Service

¹⁴ Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed^(AM) from Saul, and an evil^[b] spirit^(AN) from the Lord tormented him.^(AO)

¹⁵ Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. ¹⁶ Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre.^(AP) He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”

¹⁷ So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

¹⁸ One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse^(AQ) of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior.^(AR) He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with^(AS) him.”

¹⁹ Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.^(AT)” ²⁰ So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread,^(AU) a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

²¹ David came to Saul and entered his service.^(AV) Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. ²² Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

²³ Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit^(AW) would leave him.