1 Samuel 16:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one."

NIV: Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the Lord chosen this one."

NASB: Next Jesse had Shammah pass by. And he said, 'The Lord has not chosen this one, either.'

CSB: Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, "The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either."

NLT: Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, 'Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.'

KJV: Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

NKJV: Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”

Samuel traveled to anoint a new king of Israel from among Jesse's sons in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1–4). The prophet would also offer a sacrifice to the Lord, to which he invited the town's elders and Jesse's family (1 Samuel 16:5). Samuel did not know which of Jesse's sons God had chosen. Instead, the Lord will show him as the sons pass before the prophet. When Samuel saw Eliab, Jesse's eldest, he was sure the kingly-looking man was the Lord's choice (1 Samuel 16:6–7). But God rejected both Eliab and the next brother, Abinadab (1 Samuel 16:8).

Now Shammah, the third eldest (1 Samuel 17:13), passes by the prophet. It is possible this passing by included Samuel's consecration of the sons for the sacrifice that would be taking place (1 Samuel 16:5). Shammah has also been rejected by the Lord. It is not clear in the text if this pronouncement is the Lord speaking to Samuel or if it is Samuel talking to Jesse. Jesse and his sons know about the anointing at some point (1 Samuel 16:10, 13), but it is unclear whether they know it is an anointing to the office of king.

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 11/23/2024 4:57:43 AM