1 Samuel 16:1-10 ▼

1 The LORD asked Samuel, |How long are you going to mourn for Saul now that I have rejected him as king of Israel? Fill a flask with olive oil and go. I'm sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem because I've selected one of his sons to be king.|

2 |How can I go?| Samuel asked. |When Saul hears about it, he'll kill me.| The LORD said, |Take a heifer with you and say, 'I've come to sacrifice to the LORD.'

3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice. I will reveal to you what you should do, and you will anoint for me the one I point out to you.|

4 Samuel did what the LORD told him. When he came to Bethlehem, the leaders of the city, trembling with fear, greeted him and said, |May peace be with you.|

5 |Greetings,| he replied, |I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy, and come with me to the sacrifice.| He performed the ceremonies for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they came, he saw Eliab and thought, |Certainly, here in the LORD's presence is his anointed king.|

7 But the LORD told Samuel, |Don't look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see. Humans look at outward appearances, but the LORD looks into the heart.|

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and brought him to Samuel. But Samuel said, |The LORD has not chosen this one either.|

9 Then Jesse had Shammah come to Samuel. |The LORD has not chosen this one either,| Samuel said.

10 So Jesse brought seven [more] of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel told Jesse, |The LORD has not chosen [any of] these.