Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn^(A) for Saul, since I have rejected^(B) him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil^(C) and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse^(D) of Bethlehem. I have chosen^(E) 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^(F) you what to do. You are to anoint^(G) for me the one I indicate.”

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

⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate^(K) 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^(L) 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,^(M) but the Lord looks at the heart.”^(N)

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab^(O) and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah^(P) 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^(Q) the sons you have?”

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

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

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

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

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

David in Saul’s Service

¹⁴ Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed^(X) from Saul, and an evil^[a] spirit^(Y) from the Lord tormented him.^(Z)

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.^(AA) 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^(AB) of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior.^(AC) He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with^(AD) him.”

¹⁹ Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.^(AE)” ²⁰ So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread,^(AF) 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.^(AG) 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^(AH) would leave him.

A Lament Over Tyre

27 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, take up a lament^(A) concerning Tyre. ³ Say to Tyre,^(B) situated at the gateway to the sea,^(C) merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

¹² “‘Tarshish^(V) did business with you because of your great wealth of goods;^(W) they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

¹³ “‘Greece,^(X) Tubal and Meshek^(Y) did business with you; they traded human beings^(Z) and articles of bronze for your wares.

¹⁴ “‘Men of Beth Togarmah^(AA) exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.

¹⁵ “‘The men of Rhodes^[c](AB) traded with you, and many coastlands^(AC) were your customers; they paid you with ivory^(AD) tusks and ebony.

¹⁶ “‘Aram^[d](AE) did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise,^(AF) purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen,^(AG) coral^(AH) and rubies for your merchandise.

¹⁷ “‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat^(AI) from Minnith^(AJ) and confections,^[e] honey, olive oil and balm^(AK) for your wares.^(AL)

¹⁸ “‘Damascus^(AM) did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods.^(AN) They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar ¹⁹ and casks of wine from Izal^(AO) in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia^(AP) and calamus.

²⁰ “‘Dedan^(AQ) traded in saddle blankets with you.

²¹ “‘Arabia^(AR) and all the princes of Kedar^(AS) were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

²² “‘The merchants of Sheba^(AT) and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices^(AU) and precious stones, and gold.^(AV)

²³ “‘Harran,^(AW) Kanneh and Eden^(AX) and merchants of Sheba, Ashur^(AY) and Kilmad traded with you. ²⁴ In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.