1 Samuel 16:1-3

Context

Samuel Anoints David as King

16:1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long do you intend to mourn for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel.¹ Fill your horn with olive oil and go! I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem,² for I have selected a king for myself from among his sons.”³

16:2 Samuel replied, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!” But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you⁴ and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 16:3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you should do. You will anoint for me the one I point out⁵ to you.”

[16:1] ¹tc The Lucianic recension of the Old Greek translation includes the following words: “And the Lord said to Samuel.”

[16:1] ²map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

[16:1] ³tn Heb “for I have seen among his sons for me a king.”

[16:2] ⁴tn Heb “in your hand.”

[16:3] ⁵tn Heb “say”; KJV, NRSV “name”; NIV “indicate.”