Keraia
1 Samuel 16

1 Samuel 16:2

Samuel Anoints David · 1 Samuel 16:1–13
Read 1 Samuel 16

Translations

Modern
“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
Traditional
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.
Literal
And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And YHWH said, “Take a heifer of the herd with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to YHWH.’
Latin
Et ait Samuel: Quomodo vadam? audiet enim Saul, et interficiet me. Et ait Dominus: Vitulum de armento tolles in manu tua, et dices: Ad immolandum Domino veni.

Original

Hebrew
English
“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

Notes

1 Samuel 16:2

say, ‘I have come to sacrifice': God sometimes guides his followers into risky situations. He protects them, sometimes through miracles, sometimes through strategy (compare Exodus 3:18–22). As a priestly judge, Samuel would not have seemed suspicious by offering a sacrifice (see 1 Samuel 10:8).

1 Samuel 16:1–23

David replaced Saul as king. David and Saul were alike in these ways:

  • Samuel anointed both.

  • Neither was pursuing the position of king.

  • Both were unlikely choices (Saul was from the smallest tribe, and David was the youngest son).

  • They were both good-looking (1 Samuel 9:2; 16:12).

  • The Spirit rushed upon each when anointed as king (1 Samuel 10:10; 11:6; 16:13).

The main difference was that David was "a man after [God's] own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; compare 16:7), while Saul was not.

Events

People

Samuel: Prophet and last judge of Israel before the kings Saul: First king of Israel, anointed by Samuel

Glossary

Anoint Bethlehemite David Horn Psalm 151 Samuel (Person) Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Christian Minister: Influential in Public Affairs: Designate Kings Church and State: Ecclesiastical Power Superior to Civil: Withdraws Support and Anoints a Successor Cowardice: Samuel, Fearing to Obey God's Command to Anoint a King in Saul's Place Doubting: Exemplified Jesse: Samuel Visits, Under Divine Command, to Select a Successor to Saul from his Sons King: How Chosen: David and the Davidic Dynasty