1 Samuel 16

God sends Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from Jesse’s sons, and He chooses David, the overlooked shepherd boy, because He looks at the heart. The Spirit comes upon David, while a troubling spirit torments Saul. By God’s hidden hand, David the anointed king ends up playing music in Saul’s court.

1 Samuel 16:1

Samuel has grieved long over Saul’s failure, but God says it is time to move on. He sends Samuel with a horn of oil to Bethlehem, because God has already chosen a king “for Myself”. God’s purposes do not stall when a leader fails.

BSA: rejected (“spurned, cast away”): God’s refusal of Saul is firm and settled, so Samuel’s mourning cannot change it. selected (“chosen, provided”): God does not search for a king; He has already provided one.

See also: 1 Samuel 15:35.

1 Samuel 16:2-3

Samuel is afraid, for Saul would see this as treason. God does not ask him to lie but gives him a true reason to go: he really will offer a sacrifice. God then promises to show him the next step as he goes. He supplies guidance one step at a time.

BSA: indicate (“point out, designate, the one whom I name to you”): The choice belongs to God alone; Samuel must wait to be told.

1 Samuel 16:4-5

The elders tremble, perhaps because the prophet’s visits often meant judgment or rebuke. Samuel answers that he comes in peace to sacrifice. He tells them to consecrate themselves, and he personally sets apart Jesse and his sons, so that the family is ready for what God will do.

BSA: peace (“shalom, completeness and wellness”): Samuel brings wholeness and worship, not trouble. Consecrate (“set apart, sanctify”): They are to prepare themselves to come before God in a clean and reverent way.

1 Samuel 16:6

Eliab is the eldest son, and he looks like a king. Even the old prophet, who has heard God’s voice since boyhood, is fooled by the outward look. Samuel is ready to anoint him on the spot. We can all misjudge by first impressions.

BSA: anointed (“Messiah, the chosen one, set apart”): The Hebrew word is mashiach, one set apart by oil for God’s service. It is the root of the title Messiah.

Hebrew: מָשִׁיחַ (mashiach, H4899) — “anointed one.” Kings were set apart for God’s work by having oil poured on them. This is the word from which Messiah comes, and Christ is its Greek equivalent.

1 Samuel 16:7

God corrects Samuel. Height and good looks do not make a person fit to lead His people. People can only judge what they can see, but God sees the inner life: motives, loves, and faithfulness. This is the heart of the chapter, and a comfort to anyone overlooked.

BSA: heart (“inner being, mind”): In Scripture the heart is the center of thought, will and desire, not only feeling.

Hebrew: לֵבָב (levav, H3824) — “heart, inner person.” The Hebrew heart is the control center of a person: what one thinks, chooses and loves. God weighs that, not the outward show.

See also: Acts 13:22; Jeremiah 17:10.

1 Samuel 16:8-10

Seven sons pass before Samuel, one after another, and each time he says the LORD has not chosen him. Many impressive and capable men are not God’s choice. Samuel obeys what God shows him, not what he expected, and does not force the result.

BSA: chosen (“to select, to be chosen or elected”): The calling rests on God’s selection, not on age, rank or ability.

1 Samuel 16:11

No one thought David worth calling to the feast. He was out with the sheep, the youngest and least. Yet Samuel will not sit down to eat until he comes. God often chooses the one the family and the world pass over.

BSA: youngest (“smallest, least”): David is the least in his family’s eyes, which highlights that God chooses differently.

See also: 1 Corinthians 1:27.

1 Samuel 16:12

David is brought in from the fields. He is described as ruddy and handsome, but the text has just taught that looks are not the reason for God’s choice. The LORD simply says, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”

BSA: ruddy (“with a red complexion, having red hair”): It describes his healthy, glowing look, a young man of the outdoors.

1 Samuel 16:13

Samuel anoints David in front of his brothers. Oil is poured on his head, and the Spirit of the LORD comes on him powerfully, and stays from that day on. The real anointing is God’s Spirit. Samuel then goes home to Ramah, and David goes back to the sheep.

BSA: rushed (“to prosper, come mightily”): The Spirit came with real force and power, not a faint touch.

Hebrew: וַתִּצְלַח (vattitsláḥ, H6743) — “rushed, came mightily.” The word describes a sudden, strong coming upon a person, as with Samson. David is equipped by God from within for the work ahead.

See also: Judges 14:6; Psalm 78:70-72.

1 Samuel 16:14

As the Spirit rests on David, He leaves Saul, who has turned away from God’s word. A spirit of distress now torments the king. The text says it is from the LORD, meaning it is allowed and ruled by God as a judgment. Saul’s fear and gloom are the fruit of disobedience.

BSA: distress (“bad, evil, adversity”): The word means something troubling and harmful, bringing misery to Saul’s mind and mood. torment (“trouble, vex”): It describes a terror that would not leave him alone.

1 Samuel 16:15-16

Saul’s servants see his suffering and suggest a remedy: a skilled harpist. Music can calm a troubled mind. They care for their king and speak with respect, hoping for relief for him.

BSA: skillfully (“with expertise, cleverly”): They want someone who is truly gifted, not just any player. well (“at peace, healed”): The hoped-for result is real relief, a calm and restored mind.

1 Samuel 16:17-18

One servant knows of just the man. David is a musician, a brave fighter, a wise speaker, and good-looking. Above all, “the LORD is with him.” That last mark matters most. God quietly arranges for His chosen king to be recommended by Saul’s own household.

BSA: eloquent (“prudent in speech”): David speaks with good sense, not just with words. mighty man (“strong warrior”): David already has a reputation for strength and courage.

See also: 1 Samuel 17:34-36.

1 Samuel 16:19-20

Saul sends for David, who is still with the sheep, humble in work. Jesse sends a gift with him: bread, wine and a young goat. It was the customary way to approach a king, and it shows the family’s modest means.

BSA: sheep (“a flock, a group of people under his care”): David is a shepherd, and this work is training him to care for God’s people.

See also: Psalm 78:70-72.

1 Samuel 16:21-22

Saul grows fond of David, who becomes his armor-bearer, a trusted personal attendant. Saul asks that David stay in his service. Unknowingly, the king has taken his successor into his own home. God’s plan moves forward in the very place of opposition.

BSA: service (“to stand before him, to wait on him”): David learns about the court and the throne by standing close to the king.

1 Samuel 16:23

Whenever the distressing spirit comes, David plays and Saul is refreshed. The darkness leaves for a time. The chapter ends with the anointed king serving the rejected king, humble and unnoticed, while God prepares him for what is to come.

BSA: well (“refreshed, relieved”): Saul finds real relief and breathing room while David plays.