The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."
Samuel replied, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me." But the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you whom to anoint."
Samuel obeyed the LORD and went to Bethlehem. When he arrived, the elders of the town trembled at his presence and asked, "Do you come in peace?"
"Yes, in peace," Samuel answered. "I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Samuel consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
When Samuel saw Eliab, he thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands before the LORD." But the LORD said, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Then Jesse had Abinadab pass before Samuel, but the LORD had not chosen him. Shammah passed by, and again, Samuel was told, "Not him." Jesse presented seven of his sons, one by one, but the LORD had not chosen any of them.
"Are these all your sons?" Samuel asked. Jesse replied, "There is still the youngest; he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."
David was brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. The LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers. From that day on, the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.
Meanwhile, the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. Saul's attendants said, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord command us to find someone who can play the harp. When the evil spirit comes upon you, he will play, and you will feel better."
So Saul said, "Find someone who plays well and bring him to me." One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is brave, a warrior, speaks well, and the LORD is with him."
Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." Jesse loaded a donkey with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat and sent David to Saul.
David entered Saul's service, and Saul liked him very much. David became one of Saul's armor-bearers. Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play, and Saul would find relief. The evil spirit would leave him, and he would feel better.