1 Samuel 16:18-21

18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him.”

19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.

1 Samuel 16:18-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 16

In this chapter Samuel is ordered to anoint a king among the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem, 1Sa 16:1-5 all whose sons were made to pass before him, excepting David, 1Sa 16:6-10 who being then with his father's sheep, was sent for and was anointed, 1Sa 16:11-13, after which the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and he became melancholy, and it was advised to seek out a musician for him, and David was mentioned to him as a proper person, 1Sa 16:14-18 upon which he was sent for, and acted as a musician to Saul, and also became his armourbearer, which was the first rise of him, 1Sa 16:19-23.

Cross References

• 1. S Ruth 4:17
• 2. 2 Samuel 17:8
• 3. S Genesis 39:2; 1 Samuel 3:19; 1 Samuel 17:32-37; 1 Samuel 20:13; 1 Chronicles 22:11; Matthew 1:23
• 4. 1 Samuel 17:15
• 5. S Genesis 32:13; S 1 Samuel 10:4; 1 Samuel 10:27; Proverbs 18:16
• 6. S Genesis 41:46; Proverbs 22:29