1 Samuel 16:2-3 NIV1984

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 16:2

(2) He will kill me.—The unhappy mental malady of Saul must have made rapid progress. The jealous king was indeed changed from the Saul who even, in his self-willed rebellion against the Lord, was careful to pay honour to Samuel. But now the aged prophet felt that if he crossed the king’s path in any way, even in carrying out the commands of the invisible King of Israel, his life would be forfeited to the fierce anger of Saul.Take an heifer with thee.—And the Divine voice instructed Samuel how... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 16:3

(3) And thou shalt anoint.—From very early times the ceremony of anointing to important offices was customary among the Hebrews. In the first instance, all the priests were anointed (Exodus 40:15; Numbers 3:3), but afterwards anointing seems to have been reserved especially for the high priest (Exodus 29:29). Prophets also seem occasionally to have been anointed to their holy office. Anointing, however, was the principal ceremony in the inauguration of the Hebrew kings. It belonged in so... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Samuel 16:1-23

A Young Man From the Country 1 Samuel 16:18 King Saul wished to engage a court minstrel. There is not a single historical personage before the Christian era of whom we know so much as we do of David. In our passage we meet with him as still but a young man; and there are five distinct things mentioned about him, which you may find it interesting and useful to consider. I. The Bible is emphatic in telling us that he was a remarkably good-looking young man. A splendid fellow, thoroughly manly... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:1-13

CHAPTER XXII.DAVID ANOINTED BY SAMUEL.1 Samuel 16:1-13.THE rejection of Saul was laid very deeply to heart by Samuel. No doubt there many engaging qualities in the man Saul, which Samuel could not but remember, and which fed the flame of personal attachment, and made the fact of his rejection hard to digest. And no doubt, too, Samuel was concerned for the peace and prosperity of the nation. He knew that a change of dynasty commonly meant civil war - it might lead to the inward weakening of a... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 16:1-23

III. DAVID, THE KING AFTER GOD’S HEART--His EXILE AND SUFFERING 1. David Anointed King and the Departure of the Spirit from Saul CHAPTER 16 1. David anointed king (1 Samuel 16:1-13 ) 2. The Spirit departs from Saul and David with Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23 ) The king after the people’s heart has failed and is set aside, and now Jehovah brings forth His king after His own heart. That king like Jonathan, a man of faith, is devoted to Jehovah and in perfect subjection unto Him. Furthermore,... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Samuel 16:2

16:2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear [it], he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come {b} to sacrifice to the LORD.(b) That is, to make a peace offering, which may be done even though the ark was not there. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 16:1-23

Samuel's mourning for Saul was deep and real; nevertheless it must not be too long protracted. The Lord stirs him up now to some positive action. God has chosen a king from among the sons of Jesse, a Bethlehemite, and Samuel is told to go to anoint him. The boldness of Samuel's faith wavers for the moment. He had been firm and decided in telling Saul that another would take his place as king yet now he is apprehensive that his anointing David will antagonize Saul to the point of killing... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:1-13

THE MAN AFTER GOD ’S HEART ANOTHER COMMISSION FOR SAMUEL (1 Samuel 15:1-9 ) How long a time elapsed since the last chapter is indeterminable. Saul’s victory seems to have driven the Philistines out of Israel’s territory, and to have been followed by successful sallies against other enemies. He had been warned of God that because of his presumption at Gilgal (chap. 13), the kingdom would be taken from him and given to another; but God seems willing to allow him another chance, or at least... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 1 Samuel 16:1-23

David Anointed 1Sa 16:12 SAMUEL, the venerable and almost outworn prophet, would have made a mistake upon this occasion. When he looked upon Eliab, he said, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before him." It is clear, therefore, that even inspired and honoured prophets were not, in themselves, infallible. It would further appear that their inspiration was occasionally suspended. Now and again natural judgment interposed its opinion. Now and again the natural sense spoke first, without allowing... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:2-3

(2) And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. (3) And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. This expression of fear on the part of Samuel, and the encouragement given on the part of the Lord, serves to throw a light upon the history, and to show us that affairs were become very desperate with... read more