1 Samuel 16:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:1-5

Samuel had retired to his own house in Ramah, with a resolution not to appear any more in public business, but to addict himself wholly to the instructing and training up of the sons of the prophets, over whom he presided, as we find, 1 Sam. 19:20. He promised himself more satisfaction in young prophets than in young princes; and we do not find that, to his dying day, God called him out to any public action relating to the state, but only here to anoint David. I. God reproves him for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:4

And Samuel did that which the Lord spake ,.... He filled a horn of oil, and took an heifer with him: and came to Bethlehem ; where Jesse and his family lived, which, according to Bunting F25 Travels of the Patriarchs, &c.; p. 125. , was sixteen miles from Ramah; though it could hardly be so much, since Ramah was six miles from Jerusalem on one side, as Bethlehem lay six miles from it on the other F26 Vid. Hieron. de loc. Heb. fol. 89. F. & 94. B. : and the elders... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 16:4

The elders of the town trembled at his coming - They knew he was a prophet of the Lord, and they were afraid that he was now come to denounce some judgments of the Most High against their city. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:1-5

The progression of Providence. The facts are— 1 . Samuel is aroused from his sorrow for Saul by a command from God to anoint a son of Jesse. 2 . Being in fear, be is directed to go and offer sacrifice and await further instructions. 3 . Arriving at Bethlehem, he quiets the trembling elders and makes preparation for the sacrifice. It was natural for Samuel in his retirement to cherish sorrow for Saul; and his brooding over disappointment would become more habitual as no active... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:3-5

Call Jesse to the sacrifice. The word used is zebach, and means a sacrifice followed by a feast, at which all the elders of the town, and with them Jesse and his elder sons, would be present by the prophet's invitation. It is plain that such sacrifices were not unusual, or Saul would have demanded a reason for Samuel's conduct. As the ark remained so long in obscurity at Kirjath-jearim, and the solemn services of the tabernacle were not restored until Saul at some period of his reign... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 16:4

Trembled - There was evidently something unusual in Samuel’s coming to Bethlehem; and the elders, knowing that Samuel was no longer at friendship with Saul, foreboded some evil. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 16:3-4

1 Samuel 16:3-4. Call Jesse to the sacrifice To the feast upon the sacrifice, to which they might invite their neighbours and friends. The elders trembled at his coming Because it was strange and unexpected to them, this being but an obscure town, and remote from Samuel, and therefore they justly thought there was some extraordinary reason for it. They might fear lest he came to denounce some judgment against them, or to shun Saul’s displeasure, in which case it might have been dangerous... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:1-23

16:1-19:24 THE RISE OF DAVIDDavid brought to the royal court (16:1-23)When told by God to go and anoint a king to replace Saul, Samuel feared to, lest Saul kill him. God therefore told Samuel to keep the matter secret (16:1-3). Reassured by this additional word from God, Samuel went to Bethlehem, where he met the leading men of the important families in that area (4-5).The outcome of Samuel’s visit was that he anointed David, youngest son of the family of Jesse. Anointing was a way of marking... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 16:4

Beth-lehem = house of bread. said. Hebrew text reads verb in singular, requiring "he, or one, said". In this case it is the Figure of speech Heterosis (of Number), App-6 . But several codices, the Sevir ( App-34 ), Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, and the two earliest printed editions, read "they said". read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 16:4

4. the elders of the town trembled at his coming—Beth-lehem was an obscure town, and not within the usual circuit of the judge. The elders were naturally apprehensive, therefore, that his arrival was occasioned by some extraordinary reason, and that it might entail evil upon their town, in consequence of the estrangement between Samuel and the king. read more

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