1 Samuel 16

1 Now the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] said to Samuel, “How long [until when, for what duration] are you going to mourn [lament, grieve] for Saul, since I have rejected [spurned, cast away] him as king [ruler, monarch] over Israel [God’s chosen people]? Fill [make full, complete] your horn [a horn; a hill or peak] with oil [anointing, consecration] and go [walk, proceed]. I am sending [appointing, commissioning] you to Jesse [I possess, a Bethlehemite] of Bethlehem [house of bread], for I have selected [chosen, provided] from his sons [descendants, offspring] a king [ruler, monarch] for Myself [my own possession, my delight].” word study 2 “How [in what way, by what means] can I go?” Samuel [Shemuel, a judge and prophet of Israel] asked. “Saul [Shaul, the king of Israel] will hear [listen, become aware] of it and kill [slay, put to death] me!” The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] answered, “Take [get, acquire] a heifer [a young female calf, nearly grown] with you and say [speak, declare], ‘I have come [approach, draw near] to sacrifice [offer, give up] to the LORD [Yehovah, the one who is].’ word study 3 Then invite [call to come, summon] Jesse [I possess, a member of the tribe of Judah] to the sacrifice [an act of offering, a ritual ceremony], and I [the speaker, God] will show [reveal, make known] you what you are to do [the actions to take, the steps to follow]. You are to anoint [rub oil on, set apart] for Me [on My behalf] the one I indicate [point out, designate, the one whom I name to you].” word study 4 So Samuel [the prophet and judge] did what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] had said and went to Bethlehem [the house of bread, a city in Judah]. When the elders [respected leaders, old men] of the town met him, they trembled [with fear or anxiety] and asked, “Do you come [approach, enter] in peace [shalom, completeness and wellness]?” word study 5 “In [complete and lasting] peace,” he replied. “I have come [approached, drawn near] to sacrifice [offer, slaughter an animal] to the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. Consecrate [set apart, sanctify] yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice [offering, act of worship].” Then he consecrated [set apart, made holy] Jesse and his sons and invited [called, summoned] them to the sacrifice [ritual offering, worship ceremony]. word study 6 When they arrived [came together, in their coming in], Samuel saw Eliab [the oldest son, a leader] and said, “Surely [certainly, without a doubt] here before [in the presence of, standing before] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] is His anointed [Messiah, the chosen one, set apart].” word study 7 But the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] said to Samuel, “Do not consider [look not on, regard not] his appearance [outward form, countenance] or height [stature, tallness], for I have rejected [refused, spurned] him; the LORD [the Lord God, Yehovah] does not see [look, behold] as man [humanity, the Adam] does. For man [humanity, people] sees [looks, beholds] the outward appearance [physical form, exterior], but the LORD [the Lord God, Yehovah] sees [looks, beholds] the heart [inner being, mind].” word study 8 Then Jesse [the father of King David, a member of the tribe of Judah] called Abinadab [a brother of King David, whose name means ‘my father is noble’] and presented him to Samuel [Shemuel, a judge and prophet of Israel], who said, “The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has not [indicating absence or negation] chosen [to select, to be chosen or elected] this one [this person, this individual] either [also, in addition to the previous ones].” word study 9 Next Jesse [the father of King David] presented Shammah [a brother of King David], but Samuel said, “The LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has not [lacking, without] chosen [selected, appointed] this one [this person, Shammah] either [also, too].” word study 10 Thus Jesse [I possess, the father of King David] made seven of his sons pass [to cross over, transition] before Samuel [Shemuel, a judge and prophet of Israel], but Samuel told him, “The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has not [indicating absence or negation] chosen [to select, be chosen] any of these [specific people or things].” word study 11 And Samuel [the prophet and judge] asked him, “Are these all the sons [children, descendants] you have?” “There is still [yet, remaining] the youngest [smallest, least],” Jesse replied, “but he is tending [caring for, watching over] the sheep [flock, herd].” “Send for him [bring him here, fetch him],” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down [take our seats, rest] to eat [dine, feast] until he arrives [comes, is present].” word study 12 So Jesse sent for his youngest son [the least likely candidate] and brought him in. He was ruddy [with a red complexion, having red hair], with beautiful [lovely, pleasant] eyes and a handsome [goodly, comely] appearance. And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said, “Rise [stand up, arise] and anoint [rub oil on, set apart] him, for he is the one [this is he, the chosen one].” word study 13 So Samuel [Shemuel, a judge and prophet] took the horn [a container for oil] of oil [olive oil] and anointed [to set apart, consecrate] him in the presence [before, in the sight of] of his brothers [male siblings, close relatives], and the Spirit [the breath of life, God’s presence] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] rushed [to prosper, come mightily] upon David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] from that day [a literal 24-hour period, a figurative space of time] forward. Then Samuel [Shemuel] set out [to walk, go] and went to Ramah [a city in Palestine, a place of battle]. word study 14 After the Spirit [breath of life, divine influence] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had departed [to turn aside, remove] from Saul [Shaul, desired], a spirit [sadness] of distress [bad, evil, adversity] from the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] began [to terrify, startle] to torment [trouble, vex] him. word study 15 Saul’s servants [attendants, those serving him] said to him, “Surely a [breath of life or supernatural] spirit of distress [trouble, adversity] from God [Elohim, the supreme authority] is tormenting [terrifying, causing fear] you. word study 16 Let our [heavenly] lord [master, ruler] command your servants [faithful attendants, those who serve] here to seek out [search for, find] someone who can skillfully [with expertise, cleverly] play the harp [lyre, stringed instrument]. Whenever the spirit [breath, divine influence] of distress [trouble, evil] from God [Elohim, the supreme God] is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be [feel, become] well [at peace, healed].” word study 17 And Saul [Shaul, the desired one] commanded his servants [attendants, those who serve], “Find me someone [a man, an individual] who plays [to play a musical instrument, to make music] well [skillfully, with expertise], and bring him [come, approach] to me [toward my presence].” word study 18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son [descendant] of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how [is skilled] to play [skillful in playing] the harp [a stringed instrument]. He is a mighty man [strong warrior] of valor [courage, strength], a warrior [man of battle], eloquent [prudent in speech] and handsome [comely in appearance], and the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] is with [accompanied by, in close relationship with] him.” word study 19 So Saul [Shaul, the desired one] sent messengers [representatives] to Jesse [I possess, a member of the tribe of Judah] and said, “Send me your son [a descendant, a child] David [beloved, the youngest son of Jesse], who is with the sheep [a flock, a group of people under his care].” word study 20 And Jesse [the father of King David] took a donkey [laden with] loaded with bread [food, especially grain], a skin [wineskin, a container made of skin or leather] of wine [fermented wine], and one [a single, unique] young goat [a juvenile goat, often referred to as a kid], and sent [to dispatch, to depart] them to [towards, in the direction of] Saul with his son [a descendant, a male child] David. word study 21 When David [the youngest son of Jesse, a future king] came to Saul [Shaul, the first king of Israel] and entered his service [to stand before him, to wait on him], Saul admired him greatly [loved him exceedingly, had great affection for him], and David became his armor-bearer [to carry his weapons, to be his arms bearer]. word study 22 Then Saul [Shaul, the desired one] sent word to Jesse [I possess, a member of the tribe of Judah], saying, “Let David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] remain in my service [to stand before me, to work for me], for I am pleased [having found favor, delighted] with him [in my sight, with graciousness].” word study 23 And whenever the [evil, distressing] spirit [the breath of life or a person’s mind and emotions] from [Elohim, the one supreme] God came upon Saul, David would pick up his [lyre, a musical instrument] harp and play, and Saul would become [refreshed, relieved] well, and the [bad, evil] spirit of distress [sadness, affliction] would depart from him. word study