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1 Samuel 16:4
ESV Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, "Do you come peaceably?"
NIV Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"
NASB So Samuel did what the Lord told him, and he came to Bethlehem. Then the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, 'Do you come in peace?'
CSB Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, "Do you come in peace?"
NLT So Samuel did as the Lord instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. 'What’s wrong?' they asked. 'Do you come in peace?'
KJV 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?
NKJV So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”

What does 1 Samuel 16:4 mean?

Samuel believed he was risking his life to carry out this mission from the Lord (1 Samuel 16:2), but he did it anyway. He obeyed God by filling a horn with oil for the anointing of a king. He brought a young heifer for the sacrifice of a peace offering. In this way, Samuel stands in contrast to Saul, who disobeyed God because he feared the people more than the Lord (1 Samuel 15:24).

Samuel arrives at Bethlehem, about ten miles, or sixteen kilometers, from Ramah and south of Jerusalem. Although Bethlehem holds historic importance as the birthplace of David and Jesus, it was otherwise an unremarkable village.

Bethlehem's leaders—its elders—come out to meet Samuel as he enters the village. The prophet was famous in the land and was known to speak with the authority of the Lord. It's likely that the story of his brutal execution of the king of Amalek had spread, as well (1 Samuel 15:32–33). Perhaps that's why the elders were trembling with fear when they asked if Samuel had come to their town "peaceably." After all, what positive business could the powerful prophet of the Lord possibly have in their little village?
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