1Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, because I have chosen a king for myself from among his sons.”
2Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” Yahweh said, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to offer a sacrifice to Yahweh.’
3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint the one I point out to you.”
4Samuel did what Yahweh told him and went to Bethlehem. The city elders came out to meet him nervously and asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5He replied, “Peacefully; I have come to offer a sacrifice to Yahweh. Prepare yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He prepared Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.
6When they arrived, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely Yahweh’s chosen one is right here.”
7But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or his height, because I have rejected him. I don’t see things the way people do. People look at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.”
8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass by Samuel. Samuel said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one either.”
9Next, Jesse had Shammah pass by. Samuel said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one either.”
10Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, “Yahweh has not chosen any of these.”
11Samuel asked Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” He replied, “No, the youngest one is still out. He’s taking care of the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him and bring him here, because we won’t sit down to eat until he arrives.”
12So Jesse sent for him and brought him in. He had a healthy, rosy complexion, with a handsome face and good looks. Yahweh said, “Get up and anoint him, for this is the one.”
13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in front of his brothers. From that day on, Yahweh’s Spirit powerfully came upon David. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.
14Now Yahweh’s Spirit had left Saul, and a tormenting spirit from Yahweh troubled him.
15Saul’s servants said to him, “Look, a tormenting spirit from God is bothering you.
16Let our master command your servants who are with you to find a man who can play the harp skillfully. Then, when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he can play, and you will feel better.”
17Saul told his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”
18Then one of the young men answered, “I’ve seen a son of Jesse from Bethlehem who is skilled at playing the harp. He’s also a brave warrior, a man of war, wise in his speech, and a handsome person. Yahweh is with him.”
19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, saying, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
20Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a wineskin, and a young goat, and sent them to Saul through his son David.
21David came to Saul and began to serve him. Saul loved him very much, and David became his armor-bearer.
22Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Please let David continue to serve me, because I am pleased with him.”
23Whenever a tormenting spirit from God came on Saul, David would take the harp and play it. This would refresh Saul, and he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.