1 Samuel 16:1-5

Christian Standard Bible

Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul,^(A) since I have rejected him as king over Israel?^(B) Fill your horn with oil^(C) and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem^(D) because I have selected for myself a king from his sons.”

² Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!”

The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’^{(E) 3} Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do.^(F) You are to anoint for me the one I indicate to you.”^(G)

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem.^(H) When the elders of the town met him, they trembled^[a] and asked, “Do^[b] you come in peace?” ^(I)

⁵ “In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves^(J) and come with me to the sacrifice.”^[c] Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.