⁶ If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David earnestly asked my permission^(A) to hurry to Bethlehem,^(B) his hometown, because an annual^(C) sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.’

⁵⁸ “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him.

David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse^(A) of Bethlehem.”

¹² “He is,” they answered. “He’s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice^(A) at the high place.^(B)

⁴² Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants^(A) and from Bethlehem,^(B) the town where David lived?”

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^(A) you what to do. You are to anoint^(B) for me the one I indicate.”

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

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

⁵ But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name^(A) there for his dwelling.^(B) To that place you must go;