Samuel Anoints David as King

1Yahweh said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since 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 have provided a king for myself among his sons." 2Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." Yahweh said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. 3Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint to me him whom I name to you." 4Samuel did that which Yahweh spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6It happened, when they had come, that he looked at Eliab, and said, "Surely Yahweh's anointed is before him." 7But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for [Yahweh 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. He said, "Neither has Yahweh chosen this one." 9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. He said, "Neither has Yahweh chosen this one." 10Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, "Yahweh has not chosen these." 11Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?" He said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is keeping the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."

12He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful face, and goodly to look on. 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 on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

David Serves Saul

14Now the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him. 15Saul's servants said to him, "See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you. 16Let our lord now command your servants who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. It shall happen, when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shall be well." 17Saul said to his servants, "Provide 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 skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a comely person; and Yahweh is with him." 19Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep." 20Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21David came to Saul, and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer. 22Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Please let David stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight." 23It happened, when the [evil] spirit from God was on 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.