1 Samuel 16:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord 's anointed is before him."

NIV: When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord."

NASB: When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, 'Surely the Lord’S anointed is standing before Him.'

CSB: When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, "Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before him."

NLT: When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, 'Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!'

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

NKJV: So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”

The Lord has sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse's sons as the next king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:1). Samuel does not know which of Jesse's sons the Lord has chosen. Each son passes before Samuel, as he waits for the Lord to reveal His choice (1 Samuel 16:3). It is unclear whether the sons are passing by Samuel to be consecrated by the prophet for the shared community peace offering to the Lord (1 Samuel 16:5) or only to determine which one the Lord has chosen (1 Samuel 16:10).

The first of Jesse's sons to arrive is the oldest, Eliab (1 Samuel 17:13). His name is given as Elihu is 1 Chronicles 27:18. Seeing the man, Samuel thinks he must be the one God has chosen. Perhaps Samuel assumed it would be the firstborn of Jesse's sons. Or perhaps he was struck by a seemingly kingly appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). Saul, the Lord's first choice of king was both tall and handsome (1 Samuel 9:2).

First Samuel 16:1–13 describes the anointing of David as Israel's next king. The Lord tells Samuel to go to Bethlehem because He has chosen one of Jesse's sons for that role. Samuel consecrates Jesse and his sons for a sacrifice and feast. Seeing Eliab, Samuel thinks this must be the chosen one. But the Lord rejects all the sons until Jesse calls his youngest from tending sheep. The Lord tells Samuel to anoint this overlooked son, David. When he does, the Lord's Spirit comes into David just as it did on the day Samuel first anointed Saul to be Israel's king. However, in this case, the Spirit of the Lord remains with David for the rest of his life.

The Lord sends Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse's sons as king. The Lord reveals His choice to be David, Jesse's youngest son. Samuel anoints the young man. God's Spirit comes on David but departs from King Saul. When the Lord sends a harmful spirit on Saul, his servant suggests that the king recruit David to play the lyre whenever Saul is tormented. Saul does so, and he quickly bonds with David, making the young man his armor-bearer.

First Samuel 16 introduces David to the story of Israel's kings. David is the son of Jesse, who is the grandson of Ruth (Ruth 4:21–22). He will be anointed king as the Lord has rejected Saul (1 Samuel 15:26). The Lord's Spirit leaves Saul and comes to David (1 Samuel 16:13–14); this is different from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers today (John 14:26; 2 Timothy 1:14). David becomes a beloved musician and servant to Saul, but the king's heart will become violently jealous (1 Samuel 18:8, 11).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 11/21/2024 7:01:04 AM