1 Samuel 16:12-41

David Anointed King

12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was g ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, h "Arise, anoint him, for this is he." 13 Then Samuel took i the horn of oil j and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. k And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

David in Saul's Service

14 l Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, m and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. 15 And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants n who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will o play it, and you will be well." 17 So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me." 18 One of the young men answered, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, p a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, q and the Lord is with him." 19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me David your son, r who is with the sheep." 20 s And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21 And David came to Saul t and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight." 23 And u whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre o and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.

  1. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:42
    And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 9:17
    When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, "Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:1
    The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over 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, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 10:1
    Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, "Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage.
    Psalms 89:20
    I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him.
  5. Cross References
    1 Samuel 10:6
    Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.
    1 Samuel 10:10
    When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them.
    1 Samuel 11:6
    And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.
    Judges 3:10
    The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.
  6. Cross References
    1 Samuel 18:12
    Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.
    1 Samuel 28:15 - 16
    Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.
    Judges 16:20
    And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free." But he did not know that the Lord had left him.
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 18:10
    The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand.
    1 Samuel 19:9
    Then a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre.
    Judges 9:23
    And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech.
  8. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:21 - 22
    And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer.
    1 Kings 10:8
    Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!
  9. Cross References
    1 Samuel 18:10
    The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand.
    1 Samuel 19:9
    Then a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre.
    2 Kings 3:15
    But now bring me a musician." And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him.
  10. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:32
    And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
    1 Samuel 17:34 - 36
    But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock.
  11. Cross References
    1 Samuel 3:19
    And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
    1 Samuel 18:12
    Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.
    1 Samuel 18:14
    And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him.
  12. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:11
    Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.
    1 Samuel 17:15
    But David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
    1 Samuel 17:34
    But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock.
  13. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:18
    Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.
  14. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:16
    Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.
  15. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:14
    Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.
    1 Samuel 16:16
    Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.
  16. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:16
    Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.