David Anointed at Bethlehem

Saul, now aware of the miserable condition he had brought himself into, and that he had made God his enemy, went up to his royal palace at Gibeah, a name that means “a hill,” and from that day on he never again came into the prophet’s presence. And when Samuel mourned for him, God told him to stop grieving over him, to take the holy oil and go to Bethlehem, to Jesse the son of Obed, and to anoint whichever of his sons he would show him as their future king. But Samuel said he was afraid that Saul, when he came to know of it, would kill him, either by some secret means or even openly. When God suggested to him a safe way of going there, he came to that city; and when they all greeted him and asked why he had come, he told them he had come to sacrifice to God. [a]

When he had the sacrifice ready, he called Jesse and his sons to share in those sacrifices. And when he saw that Jesse’s eldest son was a tall and handsome man, he guessed from his good looks that he was the one who was to be their future king. But he was mistaken in judging God’s providence; for when Samuel asked God whether he should anoint this youth whom he so admired and thought worthy of the kingdom, God said, “Men do not see as God sees. You are looking at this youth’s fine appearance and think him worthy of the kingdom for that reason; but I offer the kingdom as a reward, not for beauty of body but for virtue of soul, and I am looking for one who is perfectly handsome in that respect: I mean one who is beautiful in piety, and righteousness, and courage, and obedience, for in these consists the beauty of the soul.” When God had said this, Samuel told Jesse to show him all his sons. So Jesse had five more of his sons come to him. Of all of them Eliab was the eldest, Abinadab the second, Shammah the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, and Ozem the sixth. When the prophet saw that these were in no way inferior to the eldest in their looks, he asked God which of them he had chosen to be their king. When God said it was none of them, Samuel asked Jesse whether he had any other sons besides these. Jesse said he had one more, named David, but he was a shepherd and looked after the flocks. Samuel told them to call him at once, for until he came they could not possibly sit down to the feast.

As soon as his father had sent for David and he had come, he proved to be fair in complexion, keen-eyed, and handsome in other respects as well. Samuel said privately to himself, “This is the one whom it pleases God to make our king.” So he sat down to the feast and placed the youth just below himself, and Jesse too, with his other sons. After this he took oil in David’s presence and anointed him, and whispered in his ear and told him that God had chosen him to be their king. He urged him to be righteous and obedient to his commands, for in this way his kingdom would last a long time, and his house would be of great splendor and famous in the world; he would overthrow the Philistines; whatever nations he made war on, he would be the conqueror and survive the fight; and as long as he lived he would enjoy a glorious name, and would leave such a name to his descendants as well.

So Samuel, having given him this counsel, went away. But the Divine Power left Saul and passed over to David, and David, once the Divine Spirit had passed to him, began to prophesy. As for Saul, strange disorders caused by demons came on him and brought on such fits of suffocation that they nearly choked him. The physicians could find no other remedy for him than this: if anyone could charm away those fits by singing and playing on the harp, they advised that such a person be looked for, that a watch be kept for when these demons came on Saul and troubled him, and that such a person be ready to stand over him and play on the harp and sing hymns to him. Saul did not delay, but ordered them to look for such a man. [c]

One of those standing by said that he had seen in the city of Bethlehem a son of Jesse who was still no more than a child in age, but handsome and good-looking, and in other respects deserving of great regard, and skilled at playing on the harp and singing hymns, and a first-rate warrior besides. So Saul sent to Jesse and asked him to take David away from the flocks and send him to him, for he wanted to see him, having heard good reports of his looks and his courage. Jesse sent his son, and gave him gifts to carry to Saul. When he came, Saul was pleased with him, made him his armor-bearer, and held him in very high esteem; for David charmed away his fits and was his only physician against the trouble the demons caused him whenever it came on him, which he did by singing hymns and playing on the harp and bringing Saul back to his right mind. Saul then sent to Jesse, the boy’s father, and asked him to let David stay with him, since he delighted in seeing him and in his company; and Jesse, not wanting to refuse Saul, let him stay.