1 Samuel Chapter 16 in Simple English

Read 1 Samuel Chapter 16

1The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

2Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." The LORD said, "Take a young cow with you, and say, 'I have come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD.'"

3"Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I name to you."

4So Samuel did what the LORD had said, and he came to Bethlehem. The elders of the town trembled when he came, and they said, "Do you come in peace?"

5He said, "In peace. I have come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD. Make yourselves holy, and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he made Jesse and his sons holy, and invited them to the sacrifice.

6When they came, Samuel looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD's anointed one is here before him."

7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his face or how tall he is, because I have refused him. The LORD does not see as a man sees. A man looks at the outside, but the LORD looks at the heart."

8Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass in front of Samuel. And Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."

9Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."

10Jesse made seven of his sons pass in front of Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."

11Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?" He said, "There is still the youngest. Look, he is keeping the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send for him and bring him here, for we will not sit down until he comes."

12So he sent for him and brought him in. He had a reddish glow, with beautiful eyes, and he was good to look at. And the LORD said, "Get up and anoint him, for this is the one."

13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him among his brothers. From that day on, the Spirit of the LORD came upon David. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.

14But the Spirit of the LORD left Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

15Saul's servants said to him, "Look, an evil spirit from God is troubling you."

16"Let our lord give the order, and your servants here before you will look for a man who plays the harp well. Then, when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he will play, and you will be well."

17Saul said to his servants, "Find me a man who plays well, and bring him to me."

18Then one of the servants answered, "Look, I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem. He plays well, and he is a strong and brave man, a fighting man, wise in what he says, and handsome. And the LORD is with him."

19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."

20Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David.

21David came to Saul and stood before him. Saul loved him greatly, and David became the man who carried his armour.

22Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Please let David stay and serve me, for I am pleased with him."

23So whenever the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, David took a harp and played it. Then Saul felt better and was well, and the evil spirit left him.

Explanation

1 Samuel 16

In short

God tells Samuel that Saul is rejected as king and sends him to anoint one of Jesse's sons as the new king instead. Samuel anoints the youngest son, David, while Saul suffers from an evil spirit that David's music later soothes.

Context

This chapter follows Saul's disobedience to God in the previous chapters. Samuel has been grieving over Saul's rejection, and now God directs him to move forward. Samuel travels to Bethlehem under the cover of performing a sacrifice, since Saul would see a prophet anointing a rival king as a threat to his life. Jesse, a man of that town, brings his sons to the sacrifice.

What the text says

God tells Samuel to stop mourning and go anoint a new king from Jesse's sons (verse 1). Samuel fears Saul will kill him, so God tells him to bring a heifer and say he is there to sacrifice (verses 2-3). Samuel arrives in Bethlehem; the town elders are nervous, but he reassures them (verses 4-5).

When the sons arrive, Samuel sees Eliab, who is tall and handsome, and assumes he is the chosen one. God corrects him: "the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (verse 7). Seven sons pass before Samuel, and God rejects each one (verses 8-10).

Samuel asks if there are more sons. Jesse says the youngest, David, is keeping sheep. David is brought in, and God says to Samuel, "Arise, anoint him: for this is he" (verse 12). Samuel anoints David, and the Spirit of the LORD comes upon him (verse 13).

The chapter then shifts to Saul: the Spirit of the LORD departs from him, and an evil spirit troubles him (verse 14). Saul's servants suggest finding someone to play the harp to help him (verses 15-16). One servant mentions David, a skilled player and man of war (verse 18). Saul summons David, who comes and is loved by Saul and becomes his armor-bearer (verses 19-21). When the evil spirit troubles Saul, David plays the harp and brings him relief (verse 23).

Takeaways

God chooses based on inner character, not outward appearance or status.
David is anointed king while still a shepherd, but the kingship is not immediate.
God's Spirit leaves Saul and comes upon David, marking the shift in leadership.

1 Samuel 16 - Simple English