Samuel Anoints David

¹The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have chosen a king for myself among his sons." ²Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me." The LORD said, "Take a young cow with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'" ³Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You shall anoint for me the one I name to you. ⁴Samuel did what the LORD told him and traveled to Bethlehem. When the town elders came out to meet him, they were trembling. "Are you here in peace?" they asked. ⁵"Yes, in peace," he replied. "I've come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD. Make yourselves holy and join me." Then he made Jesse and his sons holy and invited them to the sacrifice. ⁶When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely this must be the one the LORD has chosen." ⁷But the LORD told Samuel, "Don't focus on how he looks or how tall he stands — I've rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way people do. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." ⁸Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him walk before Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD hasn't chosen this one either." ⁹Next Jesse brought Shammah forward. Again Samuel said, "The LORD hasn't chosen this one either." ¹⁰Once more, Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel told him, "The LORD hasn't chosen any of these." ¹¹Then Samuel asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" Jesse answered, "There's still the youngest, but he's out tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him. We won't sit down until he gets here." ¹²So Jesse sent for him, and he was brought in. He had a ruddy complexion, with beautiful features and a handsome appearance. The LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is he." ¹³Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him right there in front of his brothers. From that day forward, the Spirit of the LORD came upon David. Then Samuel left and returned to Ramah.