Samuel the 15th Judge of Israel and also a Prophet

1 Samuel 16:1-13. Anointed the first two kings of Israel under God’s orders. This time he is asked to anoint David to be king, 1 Samuel 16:13.

David was still a youth when Samuel anointed David to be king in the town of Bethlehem.

The Hebrew name of Samuel means: Heard of God.

The record of Samuel’s life and associated events starts in 1 Samuel 1, with his birth, and continues till 1 Samuel 28:20, even though his death is recorded in 1 Samuel 25:1.

Samuel was born in a small town called Ramah. After serving Eli for many years Samuel went back to the town of his birth to live, where he died a very old man.

Background Reading:

David Anointed to Succeed Saul

16:1 The LORD told Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I’ve rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I’m sending you to Jesse from Bethlehem because I’ve chosen for myself one of his sons as king.”

2 Samuel said, “How can I go? Saul will hear about this and kill me!”

The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I’ve come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3 You are to invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I’ll show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the one I tell you.”

4 Samuel did what the LORD said and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the town came out to meet him trembling, and said, “May your coming be in peace.”

5 He said, “Peace, I’ve come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Samuel consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab, and said, “Surely he’s the LORD’s anointed.”

7 The LORD told Samuel, “Don’t look at his appearance or his height, for I’ve rejected him. Truly, God does not see what man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

8 Then Jesse summoned Abinadab and brought him before Samuel, and he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse brought Shammah, and he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” 10 Jesse brought seven of his sons before Samuel, and Samuel told Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”

11 Then Samuel told Jesse, “Are these all the young men?” He said, “There yet remains the youngest one, and right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send someone to get him, for we won’t do anything else until he arrives here.” 12 So he sent and brought him. He had a dark, healthy complexion, with beautiful eyes, and he was handsome. The LORD said, “Get up and anoint him, for this is the one.”

God’s Spirit Comes on David and Departs from Saul

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD came on David from that day forward. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.
1 Samuel 16:1-13


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