1 Samuel
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1 Samuel 16
1 Samuel 16
1And Jehovah said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and go: I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite; for I have provided me a king among his sons.
1And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth–lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
Commentary · verse 1
2And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And Jehovah said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah.
3And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
2And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
3And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
Commentary · verses 2-3
Samuel was fearful of Saul. Did Samuel have some insight into Saul's thought process? Did Samuel know how Saul would act towards anyone who posed a threat to his reign?
4And Samuel did that which Jehovah spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
4And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth–lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
Commentary · verse 4
The elders of Beth-lehem were afraid when Samuel came to their city. Were they doing something wrong?
5And he said, Peaceably; I am come to sacrifice unto Jehovah: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely Jehovah’s anointed is before him.
7But Jehovah said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for Jehovah seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart.
5And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.
7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Commentary · verses 5-7
God told Samuel to not look at the outward appearance, the effects. God looked on the heart, on the causes. God had already stated He would find a man after God's own Heart. God's Heart was to help people to profitably grow by making them aware of their issues. A man after God's own Heart would always respond to God's chastening by growing. He would see God's confrontation/chastening as a benefit. Saul responded to God's chastening by defending himself because of his pride.
Doctrines on this passage
8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath Jehovah chosen this.
9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath Jehovah chosen this.
10And Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Jehovah hath not chosen these.
11And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he is keeping the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look upon. And Jehovah said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he.
8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
Commentary · verses 8-12
David was out with the sheep, like Rachel in Genesis 29:6. God told Samuel that David would be king. David's outward appearance was the opposite of Saul's. Saul was taller than everyone by a full head. David was the youngest of Jesse's sons.
13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
Commentary · verse 13
Samuel anointed David and the Spirit of God was upon him from that day forward. It appeared that during this 5th Dispensation (the Law) the Holy Spirit was in the prophets and in/on the Judges and/or kings. Notice, during David's life, he always responded to God's chastening with growth. This did not mean David didn't make mistakes or sin but when he made mistakes or sinned, he always responded with growth: by confession and repentance.
14Now the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him.
14But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
Commentary · verse 14
It appeared the Holy Spirit could only be in/on one king at a time. When the Holy Spirit was upon David, the Holy Spirit ceased to be upon Saul.
An "evil spirit" troubled Saul. This "evil spirit" was from God. Notice how important it is to understand God's Nature in this instance:
- God Nature being always and completely Right and always and completely Just proves true, even in the context of God sending an "evil spirit" to trouble someone. In this case, it was Just of God to do so in response to Saul's disobedience.
- If God's Nature was "love," how would this hold true? It wouldn't hold true because it would be a contradiction.
15And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
15And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
Commentary · verse 15
The evil spirit from God came from the outside. This was why Saul's servants knew about it.
More clarity on God sending this "evil spirit":
How could God send an "evil spirit"?
- Good meant "right and just" and the effect was "creation in the long term."
- Evil meant "wrong and unjust" and the effect was "destruction in the long term."
Isaiah 45:7 stated God created "evil." If God was not able to destroy, then He could not be Just, He could not equal out Justice on those who deserve to lose. God tried to lead Saul from the inside with the Holy Spirit, through understanding. This failed because Saul chose to harden his heart. The only way left for God to lead Saul was from the outside through experience. Learning through experience is painful.
16Let our lord now command thy servants, that are before thee, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
17And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18Then answered one of the young men, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty man of valor, and a man of war, and prudent in speech, and a comely person; and Jehovah is with him.
16Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
17And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth–lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
Commentary · verses 16-18
Among David's many abilities, he was skillful in playing the harp. He was also prudent in speech. "Prudent" meant "to discern, understand, consider." David was a master with his words. He had understanding and he knew the right words for the situation. Second only to being a man after God's own Heart, was David's ability with words.
19Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, who is with the sheep.
20And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
21And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armorbearer.
19Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
20And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
21And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
Commentary · verses 19-21
David became Saul's armorbearer.
22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.
23And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
Commentary · verses 22-23
When the evil spirit troubled Saul, David would play the harp and Saul would be refreshed and the spirit would leave. This ought to have made Saul see David as a blessing. However, Saul could also have associated the evil spirit with David.
God sent Samuel to Beth-lehem to find the next king. Jesse was the grandson of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:17, 22).