1.

And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .
I have rejected . Note here Jehovah's sovereignty.
I have provided. Note Jehovah's sovereignty in this choice of' the youngest. It is this choice that makes David the "man after Jehovah's heart"; not David's personal character or conduct.

2.

And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he Will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.

with thee = in thine hand.

3.

And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

4.

And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

Beth-lehem = house of bread.
said. Hebrew text reads verb in singular, requiring "he, or one, said". In this case it is the Figure of speech Heterosis (of Number), App-6 . But several codices, the Sevir ( App-34 ), Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, and the two earliest printed editions, read "they said".

5.

And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

Jesse and his sons . He had eight sons and two daughters, Zeruiah (mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel) and Abigail (mother of Amasa). David is the eighth here (verses: 10, 11), but called the seventh in 1 Chronicles 2:15 . One son must have died shortly after this, or been the son of a concubine, or died without issue and so not reckoned in the genealogy. Samuel is history, Chronicles is genealogy.

6.

And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.

7.

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

the LORD seeth. These words correctly supply the Ellipsis ( App-6 .), from the Septuagint
man = 'adam. App-14 .
seeth = looketh to.
looketh on = looketh to.
heart. Compare 1 Chronicles 28:9 . Psalms 7:8 . Jeremiah 11:20 ; Jeremiah 17:10 ; Jeremiah 20:12 .

8.

Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

9.

Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

Then = and.
Shammah . Probably = Shimeah. 2 Samuel 13:3 ; 2 Samuel 21:21 .

10.

Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

Again = So.
seven . See note on 1 Samuel 16:5 .

11.

And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

Are here all thy children? Hebrew "Have the young men finished [passing by)? "This correctly supplies the Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6 . Hebrew. na ` ar =
young men . youngest = least. See note on 1 Samuel 16:5 .
behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
he keepeth . Saul lost his father's asses (1 Samuel 9:3 , 1 Samuel 9:4 , 1 Samuel 9:20 ). down round.

12.

And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

and withal of a beautiful , &c. = a stripling (1 Samuel 17:56 ), with handsome eyes.
goodly to look to = with, or of, noble mien.

13.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

anointed him . Three anointings of David: (1) by Samuel, here; (2) by "men of Judah" (2 Samuel 2:4 ); and (3) by "the elders of Israel "(2 Samuel 5:3 ).
the Spirit . Hebrew. = ruach. App-9 .
David = beloved.

14.

But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

But. This marks and introduces the later episode, placed here in order to bring out and connect the contrast of the Spirit's departing from Saul and coming on David. See notes on 17. and 1 Samuel 18:12 .
evil : always. Hebrew. ra'a' ( App-44 .), in this connection.
spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
troubled = terrified.

15.

And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

God . Hebrew. Elohim ( App-4 ). Saul's servants not in communion with Jehovah, the Covenant God. App-4 .

16.

Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .
cunning = skilful.
harp = kinnor. An instrument of many strings.

17.

And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

18.

Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

servants . Not the same word as in verses: 1 Samuel 16:15-17 , but "young men "as in 1 Samuel 14:1 . Perhaps Saul's body-guard; possibly fellow-pupils of Samuel at Naioth.
and . Note Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in these verses.
matters = speech.

19.

Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

20.

And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

bottle = skin-bottle.
of. Genitive of contents. App-17 .
wine . Hebrew. yayin. See App-27 .

21.

And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

he = Saul.
him = David.

22.

And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

23.

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.