1 Samuel 16
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Now the LORD said to Samuel, a "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? b Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to c Jesse the Bethlehemite. For d I have provided Myself a king among his sons."
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And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." But the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, e 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'
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"Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you."
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So Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town f trembled at his coming, and said, g "Do you come peaceably?"
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And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. h Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.
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So it was, when they came, that he looked at i Eliab and j said, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before Him!"
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But the LORD said to Samuel, k "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. l For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man m looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the n heart."
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So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."
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Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."
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Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."
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And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the o sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here."
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So he sent and brought him in. Now he was p ruddy, q with bright eyes, and good-looking. r And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"
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Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and s the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
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t But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and u a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.
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And Saul's servants said to him, "Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.
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"Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will v play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well."
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So Saul said to his servants, "Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me."
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Then one of the servants answered and said, "Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and w the LORD is with him."
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Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."
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And Jesse x took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul.
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So David came to Saul and y stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.
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Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight."
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And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 19:24
And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, " Is Saul also among the prophets?
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Cross References
1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.
1 Samuel 15:35
And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 9:16
"Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me."
1 Samuel 10:1
Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: " Is it not because the LORD has anointed you commander over His inheritance?
2 Kings 9:1
And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, "Get yourself ready, take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.
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Cross References
Ruth 4:18 - 22
Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron.
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Cross References
Psalms 78:70
He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds.
Psalms 78:71
From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance.
Acts 13:22
"And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'
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Cross References
1 Samuel 9:12
And they answered them and said, "Yes, there he is, just ahead of you. Hurry now; for today he came to this city, because there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 21:1
Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David, and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no one is with you?
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Cross References
1 Kings 2:13
Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. So she said, "Do you come peaceably?" And he said, "Peaceably.
2 Kings 9:22
Now it happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, " Is it peace, Jehu?" So he answered, "What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?
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Cross References
Genesis 35:2
And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
Exodus 19:10
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 17:13
The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
1 Samuel 17:28
Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.
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Cross References
1 Kings 12:26
And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom may return to the house of David:
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Cross References
Psalms 147:10
He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
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Cross References
Isaiah 55:8
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.
Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 10:7
Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's.
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Cross References
1 Kings 8:39
Then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men).
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Cross References
2 Samuel 7:8
Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.
Psalms 78:70 - 72
He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 17:42
And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.
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Cross References
Genesis 39:6
Thus he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
Exodus 2:2
So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months.
Acts 7:20
At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father's house for three months.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 9:17
So when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.
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Cross References
Numbers 27:18
And the LORD said to Moses: "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.
1 Samuel 10:6
Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.
1 Samuel 10:9
So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.
1 Samuel 10:10
When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
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Cross References
Judges 16:20
And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.
1 Samuel 11:6
Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused.
1 Samuel 18:12
Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul.
1 Samuel 28:15
Now Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" And Saul answered, "I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.
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Cross References
Judges 9:23
God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech...
1 Samuel 16:15
And Saul's servants said to him, "Surely, a dis...
1 Samuel 16:16
"Let our master now command your servants, who ...
1 Samuel 18:10
And it happened on the next day that the distre...
1 Samuel 19:9
Now the distressing spirit from the LORD came u...
1 Kings 22:19 - 22
Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of ...
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Cross References
1 Samuel 18:10
And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul's hand.
1 Samuel 19:9
Now the distressing spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand.
2 Kings 3:15
But now bring me a musician." Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 3:19
So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
1 Samuel 18:12
Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul.
1 Samuel 18:14
And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 10:4
And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands.
1 Samuel 10:27
But some rebels said, "How can this man save us?" So they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
Proverbs 18:16
A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.