1 Samuel 16

• How long are you going to mourn: See study note on 1 Samuel 15:35.

• Bethlehem is about five miles south of Jerusalem. It later became known as the City of David (Luke 2:11) and is the birthplace of Jesus.

• Jesse was the grandson of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:22).

• I have selected: This Hebrew verb means God saw one of Jesse's sons and chose him based on what he saw. God, the eternal king, knows better than the people of Israel how to choose a good king to serve the nation. He provided a replacement for Saul who would lead Israel well.

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.

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).

The elders … trembled: The elders were afraid because news had likely reached Bethlehem that Samuel had rebuked Saul and put Agag to death.

• Consecrate yourselves: Self-purification involved bathing and avoiding sexual activity (see Exodus 19:10–15; compare Genesis 35:2–4).

• The sacrifice probably happened the next morning (see Numbers 11:18; Joshua 3:5; 7:13–14).

• Samuel conducted the purification ritual for Jesse and his sons to prepare them for the sacrifice and the anointing of the new king (compare Exodus 19:10; Joshua 3:5).

• his appearance or height: Like Saul, Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, looked impressive (see 1 Samuel 9:2). But like Saul, God rejected him (see 1 Samuel 15:23). God had chosen someone else to anoint as king.

• the LORD sees the heart: God can give a new heart (see 1 Samuel 10:9), touch hearts (see 10:26), and understand deep motivations (see Psalm 139:1). God sees what people cannot. God sees a person’s true character. Eliab’s character is revealed in 1 Samuel 17:28.

• The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David, and this was clear in many instances (for example, 1 Samuel 16:23; 17:48–54; 18:5, 12–16). The Spirit of the Lord had also come upon Saul (1 Samuel 10:10) but left him due to his disobedience (1 Samuel 16:14).

• Ramah is Samuel’s hometown (1 Samuel 1:1).

• the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul: This contrasts with David, who received the Spirit (see “The Spirit’s Presence” Theme Note).

• The Lord sent a tormenting spirit because of Saul's disobedience (see also 1 Samuel 18:10; 19:9; compare Judges 9:23; Romans 1:28–29).

After God’s Spirit left Saul, his rule continued to fail. His time as king ended in shame and military defeat (1 Samuel 31).

• harp: The instrument was likely a lyre, a small stringed instrument used for music (as in 1 Samuel 10:5).

• the LORD is with him: People saw that God's Spirit was with David (1 Samuel 16:13).

• At first, Saul loved David very much, but this love soon became intense jealousy and hatred (see 1 Samuel 18:8–14).

• An armor bearer in ancient Israel was the personal assistant of a warrior leader (see 1 Samuel 14:1–15; 31:4–6; Judges 9:54; 2 Samuel 18:15).

David's father, Jesse (1 Samuel 16:18), made sure David could serve Saul and still take care of his sheep at home (see 1 Samuel 17:14–15).

• Saul would become well: David was not just a handsome young man with musical talent. He was the chosen king. David showed what a king should be: someone who brings relief. Later, David wrote many psalms that have provided comfort and relief over the years.

• the spirit of distress would depart from him: Even those who are disobedient and rejected can find relief and comfort through the Lord’s servant.