Dual Panel1Finally, the LORD said to Samuel, "You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel. Now fill your horn with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my new king."
2But Samuel asked, "How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me." "Take a heifer with you," the LORD replied, "and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the LORD.
3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me."
4So Samuel did as the LORD instructed him. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the leaders of the town became afraid. "What’s wrong?" they asked. "Do you come in peace?"
5"Yes," Samuel replied. "I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them, too.
6When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "Surely this is the LORD’s anointed!"
7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions."
8Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "This is not the one the LORD has chosen."
9Next Jesse summoned Shammah, but Samuel said, "Neither is this the one the LORD has chosen."
10In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these."
11Then Samuel asked, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse replied. "But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep." "Send for him at once," Samuel said. "We will not sit down to eat until he arrives."
12So Jesse sent for him. He was ruddy and handsome, with pleasant eyes. And the LORD said, "This is the one; anoint him."
13So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the olive oil he had brought and poured it on David’s head. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.
14Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.
15Some of Saul’s servants suggested a remedy. "It is clear that a spirit from God is tormenting you," they said.
16"Let us find a good musician to play the harp for you whenever the tormenting spirit is bothering you. The harp music will quiet you, and you will soon be well again."
17"All right," Saul said. "Find me someone who plays well and bring him here."
18One of the servants said to Saul, "The son of Jesse is a talented harp player. Not only that; he is brave and strong and has good judgment. He is also a fine–looking young man, and the LORD is with him."
19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, "Send me your son David, the shepherd."
20Jesse responded by sending David to Saul, along with a young goat and a donkey loaded down with food and wine.
21So David went to Saul and served him. Saul liked David very much, and David became one of Saul’s armor bearers.
22Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, "Please let David join my staff, for I am very pleased with him."
23And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.