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 be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
2But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer 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 are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
4Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
David in Saul’s Service
14Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil16:14 Or and a harmful; similarly in verses 15, 16 and 23 spirit from the Lord tormented him.
15Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”
17So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”
18One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”
19Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.
21David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”
23Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
撒母耳膏立大卫做王
1耶和华对撒母耳说：“我已经拒绝让扫罗做以色列王了，你还要为他哀伤多久呢？把你的角盛满膏油，我要差遣你到伯利恒的耶西那里，我已选了他的一个儿子做王。” 2撒母耳说：“我怎么可以去呢？扫罗知道了，一定会杀掉我。”耶和华说：“你带一头牛犊去，就说，‘我是来向耶和华献祭的。’ 3你要请耶西参加献祭，我会告诉你怎么做，我把谁指示给你，你就要为我膏立谁。” 4撒母耳遵行耶和华的吩咐，他来到伯利恒，那城的长老都战战兢兢地出来迎接他，问道：“你是为平安而来吗？” 5撒母耳答道：“是的，为平安而来，我是来向耶和华献祭的。你们要洁净自己，然后来和我一起献祭。”撒母耳为耶西及其众子行过洁净礼后，便邀请他们参加献祭。
6耶西及其众子来了，撒母耳看见以利押，心里想：“这位肯定是耶和华要膏立的人。” 7但耶和华对撒母耳说：“不要看他相貌堂堂、身材高大，我要选的不是他。耶和华不像世人那样看人，人看外表，耶和华看内心。” 8耶西吩咐他的儿子亚比拿达从撒母耳面前走过，但撒母耳说：“这也不是耶和华拣选的人。” 9耶西又叫沙玛从撒母耳面前走过，但撒母耳说：“这也不是耶和华拣选的人。” 10耶西叫七个儿子一个一个从撒母耳面前走过，但撒母耳说他们都不是耶和华拣选的人。 11撒母耳问耶西：“你的儿子全都到齐了吗？”耶西答道：“还有一个最小的，他正在田间放羊。”撒母耳对耶西说：“派人叫他回来，他不来，我们就不入座。” 12耶西就派人去叫他回来。他面色红润，眉清目秀，相貌英俊。耶和华说：“就是他，起来膏立他吧。” 13撒母耳就拿出盛膏油的角，当着他哥哥们的面膏立他。从那天起，耶和华的灵突然降在大卫身上。事后，撒母耳回拉玛去了。
大卫服侍扫罗
14耶和华的灵离开了扫罗，有个邪灵从耶和华那里来折磨他。 15扫罗的臣仆对他说：“现在有个邪灵从上帝那里来折磨你， 16你16:16 “你”希伯来文是“我们的主”。可以吩咐跟前的臣仆去找一个善于弹琴的人来。邪灵从上帝那里来到你身上的时候，他为你弹琴，你就舒畅了。” 17扫罗说：“你们就为我找一个善于弹琴的人，带他到我这里来。” 18其中有一个仆人说：“我见过伯利恒的耶西的一个儿子，他善于弹琴，英勇善战，谈吐合宜，相貌英俊，并且耶和华与他同在。” 19扫罗便差遣使者去见耶西，说：“请让你放羊的儿子大卫到我这里来。” 20耶西就把一些饼、一皮袋酒和一只山羊羔驮在驴背上，让儿子大卫带去送给扫罗。 21大卫到了扫罗那里，做了他身边的侍臣。扫罗非常喜欢大卫，让大卫为他拿兵器。 22扫罗派人去见耶西，说：“你就让大卫留在我的身边吧，因为我喜欢他。” 23每当有邪灵从上帝那里来到扫罗身上的时候，大卫就为他弹琴，扫罗便觉得舒畅，邪灵也离开了他。
