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.”

¹⁶ “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint^(A) him ruler^(B) over my people Israel; he will deliver^(C) them from the hand of the Philistines.^(D) I have looked on my people, for their cry^(E) has reached me.”

⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”^(A)

¹¹ Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter.

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

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

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

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) 13} As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless^(C) the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.”

The King

¹⁴ When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession^(A) of it and settled in it,^(B) and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,”^{(C) 15} be sure to appoint^(D) over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites.^(E) Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite.

¹⁵ You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth;^(A) I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet^(A)

22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: ² “The kingdom of heaven is like^(B) a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. ³ He sent his servants^(C) to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

⁴ “Then he sent some more servants^(D) and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’