--- title: 1 Samuel 16 slug: kjv/1-samuel-16 createdAt: 2024-08-14T01:27:23.404Z --- **1 **And 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 Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. **2 **And 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. **3 **And 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. **4 **And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? **5 **And 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. **6 **And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed *is* before him. **7 **But 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. **8 **Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. **9 **Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. **10 **Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. **11 **And 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. **12 **And 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. **13 **Then 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. **14 **But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. **15 **And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. **16 **Let 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. **17 **And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring *him* to me. **18 **Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, *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. **19 **Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which *is* with the sheep. **20 **And Jesse took an ass *laden* with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent *them* by David his son unto Saul. **21 **And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. **22 **And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. **23 **And 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.