Samuel Anoints David

1  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל (Samuel), עַד־ (Until) מָתַי֙ (when) אַתָּה֙ (will you) מִתְאַבֵּ֣ל (mourn) אֶל־ (for) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), וַאֲנִ֣י (and since I) מְאַסְתִּ֔יו (have rejected him) מִמְּלֹ֖ךְ (from reigning) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel)? מַלֵּ֨א (Fill) קַרְנְךָ֜ (your horn) שֶׁ֗מֶן (with oil) וְלֵ֤ךְ (and go). אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙ (I am sending you) אֶל־ (to) יִשַׁ֣י (Jesse) בֵּֽית־ (the Beth-) הַלַּחְמִ֔י (lehemite), כִּֽי־ (for) רָאִ֧יתִי (I have provided) בְּבָנָ֛יו (among his sons) לִ֖י (for Myself) מֶֽלֶךְ׃ (a king).

2  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel), אֵ֣יךְ (How) אֵלֵ֔ךְ (can I go)? וְשָׁמַ֥ע (And if hears it), שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) וַהֲרָגָ֑נִיס (and he will kill me).

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), עֶגְלַ֤ת (A heifer) בָּקָר֙ (of the herd) תִּקַּ֣ח (take) בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ (with you) וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ (and say), לִזְבֹּ֥חַ (To sacrifice) לַֽיהוָ֖ה (to YHWH) בָּֽאתִי׃ (I have come). 3  וְקָרָ֥אתָ (And invite) לְיִשַׁ֖י (Jesse) בַּזָּ֑בַח (to the sacrifice), וְאָֽנֹכִ֗י (and I) אוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֙ (will show you) אֵ֣ת (-) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (what) תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה (you shall do). וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֣ (And you shall anoint) לִ֔י (for Me) אֵ֥ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) אֹמַ֖ר (I speak) אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ (to you).

4  וַיַּ֣עַשׂ (And did) שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל (Samuel) אֵ֚ת (-) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (what) דִּבֶּ֣ר (had spoken) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), וַיָּבֹ֖א (and he came) בֵּ֣ית (to Beth-) לָ֑חֶם (lehem). וַיֶּחֶרְד֞וּ (And trembled) זִקְנֵ֤י (the elders) הָעִיר֙ (of the town) לִקְרָאת֔וֹ (at his coming), וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), שָׁלֹ֥ם (In peace) בּוֹאֶֽךָ׃ (do you come)?

5  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ (And he said), שָׁל֗וֹם (In peace) לִזְבֹּ֤חַ (to sacrifice) לַֽיהוָה֙ (to YHWH) בָּ֔אתִי (I have come). הִֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּ (Sanctify yourselves) וּבָאתֶ֥ם (and come) אִתִּ֖י (with me) בַּזָּ֑בַח (to the sacrifice).

וַיְקַדֵּ֤שׁ (And he consecrated) אֶת־ (-) יִשַׁי֙ (Jesse) וְאֶת־ (and) בָּנָ֔יו (his sons) וַיִּקְרָ֥א (and invited) לָהֶ֖ם (them) לַזָּֽבַח׃ (to the sacrifice). 6  וַיְהִ֣י (And it was) בְּבוֹאָ֔ם (in their coming) וַיַּ֖רְא (that he saw) אֶת־ (-) אֱלִיאָ֑ב (Eliab) וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), אַ֛ךְ (Surely) נֶ֥גֶד (before) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃ (is His anointed).

7  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל (Samuel), אַל־ (Not) תַּבֵּ֧ט (do look) אֶל־ (at) מַרְאֵ֛הוּ (his appearance), וְאֶל־ (or at) גְּבֹ֥הַּ (the height) קוֹמָת֖וֹ (of his stature), כִּ֣י (because) מְאַסְתִּ֑יהוּ (I have refused him). כִּ֣י׀ (For) לֹ֗א (it is not) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (as) יִרְאֶה֙ (sees) הָאָדָ֔ם (the man)— כִּ֤י (for) הָֽאָדָם֙ (the man) יִרְאֶ֣ה (looks) לַעֵינַ֔יִם (at the eyes), וַיהוָ֖ה (and YHWH) יִרְאֶ֥ה (looks) לַלֵּבָֽב׃ (at the heart).

8  וַיִּקְרָ֤א (And called) יִשַׁי֙ (Jesse) אֶל־ (to) אֲבִ֣ינָדָ֔ב (Abinadab) וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֖הוּ (and made him pass) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל (Samuel). וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), גַּם־ (Also) בָּזֶ֖ה (this one) לֹֽא־ (not) בָחַ֥ר (has chosen) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

9  וַיַּעֲבֵ֥ר (And made pass over) יִשַׁ֖י (Jesse) שַׁמָּ֑ה (Shammah), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and he said), גַּם־ (Has) בָּזֶ֖ה (this one) לֹא־ (not) בָחַ֥ר (chosen) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

10  וַיַּעֲבֵ֥ר (And made pass over) יִשַׁ֛י (Jesse) שִׁבְעַ֥ת (seven) בָּנָ֖יו (of his sons) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל (Samuel). וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) יִשַׁ֔י (to Jesse), לֹא־ (Not) בָחַ֥ר (has chosen) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) בָּאֵֽלֶּה׃ (these).

11  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֣ל (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) יִשַׁי֮ (Jesse), הֲתַ֣מּוּ (Are finished) הַנְּעָרִים֒ (the young men)?

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said), ע֚וֹד (Yet) שָׁאַ֣ר (there remains) הַקָּטָ֔ן (the youngest), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), רֹעֶ֖ה (he is tending) בַּצֹּ֑אן (the sheep).

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֤ל (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) יִשַׁי֙ (Jesse), שִׁלְחָ֣ה (Send) וְקָחֶ֔נּוּ (and bring him), כִּ֥י (for) לֹא־ (not) נָסֹ֖ב (we will sit down) עַד־ (until) בֹּא֥וֹ (he comes) פֹֽה׃ (here).

12  וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And he sent) וַיְבִיאֵ֙הוּ֙ (and brought him in), וְה֣וּא (and he) אַדְמוֹנִ֔י (was ruddy) עִם־ (with) יְפֵ֥ה (bright) עֵינַ֖יִם (eyes) וְט֣וֹב (and good) רֹ֑אִי פ (in appearance). וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH), ק֥וּם (Arise), מְשָׁחֵ֖הוּ (anoint him), כִּֽי־ (for) זֶ֥ה (this) הֽוּא׃ (is he).

13  וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And took) שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל (Samuel) אֶת־ (-) קֶ֣רֶן (the horn) הַשֶּׁ֗מֶן (of the oil) וַיִּמְשַׁ֣ח (and anointed) אֹתוֹ֮ (him) בְּקֶ֣רֶב (in the midst) אֶחָיו֒ (of his brothers). וַתִּצְלַ֤ח (And came) רֽוּחַ־ (the Spirit) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) אֶל־ (upon) דָּוִ֔ד (David) מֵהַיּ֥וֹם (from day) הַה֖וּא (that) וָמָ֑עְלָה (and forward). וַיָּ֣קָם (And arose) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel) וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (and went) הָרָמָֽתָה׃ס (to Ramah).

David Serves Saul

14  וְר֧וּחַ (And the Spirit) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) סָ֖רָה (departed) מֵעִ֣ם (from) שָׁא֑וּל (Saul), וּבִֽעֲתַ֥תּוּ (and troubled him) רֽוּחַ־ (a spirit) רָעָ֖ה (of distress) מֵאֵ֥ת (from) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 15  וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (And said) עַבְדֵֽי־ (servants) שָׁא֖וּל (of Saul) אֵלָ֑יו (to him), הִנֵּה־ (Behold) נָ֧א (please) רֽוּחַ־ (a spirit) אֱלֹהִ֛ים (from God) רָעָ֖ה (of distress) מְבַעִתֶּֽךָ׃ (is troubling you). 16  יֹאמַר־ (Command) נָ֤א (please) אֲדֹנֵ֙נוּ֙ (our master) עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ (your servants) לְפָנֶ֔יךָ (before you) יְבַקְשׁ֕וּ (to seek out) אִ֕ישׁ (a man) יֹדֵ֖עַ (skillful), מְנַגֵּ֣ן (playing) בַּכִּנּ֑וֹר (on the harp). וְהָיָ֗ה (And it shall be), בִּֽהְי֨וֹת (when is) עָלֶ֤יךָ (upon you) רֽוּחַ־ (the spirit) אֱלֹהִים֙ (from God) רָעָ֔ה (of distress), וְנִגֵּ֥ן (that he shall play) בְּיָד֖וֹ (with his hand), וְט֥וֹב (and it will be well) לָֽךְ׃פ (with you).

17  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) אֶל־ (to) עֲבָדָ֑יו (his servants), רְאוּ־ (Provide) נָ֣א (please) לִ֗י (for me) אִ֚ישׁ (a man) מֵיטִ֣יב (well) לְנַגֵּ֔ן (playing), וַהֲבִיאוֹתֶ֖ם (and bring him) אֵלָֽי׃ (to me).

18  וַיַּעַן֩ (And answered) אֶחָ֨ד (one) מֵהַנְּעָרִ֜ים (of the servants) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), רָאִ֜יתִי (I have seen) בֵּ֣ן (a son) לְיִשַׁי֮ (of Jesse) בֵּ֣ית (the Beth-) הַלַּחְמִי֒ (lehemite), יֹדֵ֣עַ (being skilled in) נַ֠גֵּן (playing) וְגִבּ֨וֹר (and mighty) חַ֜יִל (of valor), וְאִ֧ישׁ (and a man) מִלְחָמָ֛ה (of war), וּנְב֥וֹן (and prudent in) דָּבָ֖ר (speech), וְאִ֣ישׁ (and a man) תֹּ֑אַר (of good appearance), וַיהוָ֖ה (and YHWH is) עִמּֽוֹ׃ (with him).

19  וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (And sent) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul) מַלְאָכִ֖ים (messengers) אֶל־ (to) יִשָׁ֑י (Jesse), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and he said), שִׁלְחָ֥ה (Send) אֵלַ֛י (to me) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֥ד (David) בִּנְךָ֖ (your son), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who is) בַּצֹּֽאן׃ (with the sheep).

20  וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And took) יִשַׁ֜י (Jesse) חֲמ֥וֹר (a donkey) לֶ֙חֶם֙ (with bread), וְנֹ֣אד (and a skin) יַ֔יִן (of wine), וּגְדִ֥י (and kid) עִזִּ֖ים (of the goats) אֶחָ֑ד (one), וַיִּשְׁלַ֛ח (and he sent them) בְּיַד־ (by the hand) דָּוִ֥ד (of David) בְּנ֖וֹ (his son) אֶל־ (to) שָׁאֽוּל׃ (Saul). 21  וַיָּבֹ֤א (And came) דָוִד֙ (David) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖ד (and stood) לְפָנָ֑יו (before his face), וַיֶּאֱהָבֵ֣הֽוּ (and he loved him) מְאֹ֔ד (greatly), וַֽיְהִי־ (and he became) ל֖וֹ (to him) נֹשֵׂ֥א (a bearer) כֵלִֽים׃ (of weapons).

22  וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (And sent) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) אֶל־ (to) יִשַׁ֖י (Jesse), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), יַעֲמָד־ (Let stand), נָ֤א (please), דָוִד֙ (David) לְפָנַ֔י (before me), כִּֽי־ (for) מָ֥צָא (he has found) חֵ֖ן (favor) בְּעֵינָֽי׃ (in my sight). 23  וְהָיָ֗ה (And it came to pass), בִּֽהְי֤וֹת (when is) רֽוּחַ־ (the spirit) אֱלֹהִים֙ (from God) אֶל־ (upon) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), וְלָקַ֥ח (that would take) דָּוִ֛ד (David) אֶת־ (-) הַכִּנּ֖וֹר (the harp) וְנִגֵּ֣ן (and play) בְּיָד֑וֹ (with his hand). וְרָוַ֤ח (And he would become refreshed) לְשָׁאוּל֙ (Saul), וְט֣וֹב (and it was well) ל֔וֹ (with him), וְסָ֥רָה (and would depart) מֵעָלָ֖יו (from him) ר֥וּחַ (and the spirit) הָרָעָֽה׃פ (of distress).