David Anointed King

1Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you be grieving over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I see among his sons a king for Me.” 2But Samuel said, “How can I go? Saul will hear of it and will kill me.” Then Yahweh said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.’ 3And you shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will make you know what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I say to you.” 4So Samuel did what Yahweh said and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?” 5And he said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Set yourselves apart as holy and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also set apart Jesse and his sons as holy and invited them to the sacrifice.

6Now it happened, when they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the anointed of Yahweh is before Him.” 7But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for [†]God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.” 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one either.” 9Next Jesse made [†]Shammah pass by. And he said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one either.” 10Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “Yahweh has not chosen these.” 11And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the young men?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is shepherding the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and [†]bring him, for we will not turn around until he comes here.” 12So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And Yahweh said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of Yahweh [†]came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

David Becomes Saul’s Armor Bearer

14Now the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh terrorized him. 15Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. 16Let our lord now speak to your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful musician on the harp; and it shall be that when the evil spirit from God is on you, he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.” 17So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me.” 18Then one of the young men answered and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one who is understanding in speech, and man of fine form; and Yahweh is with him.” 19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David who is with the flock.” 20And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a wineskin of wine and a young goat and sent them to Saul by David his son. 21Then David came to Saul and stood before him; and [†]Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer. 22So Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.” 23Thus it happened that whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.