1 Samuel 16:13-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:6-13

If the sons of Jesse were told that God would provide himself a king among them (as he had said, 1 Sam. 16:1), we may well suppose they all made the best appearance they could, and each hoped he should be the man; but here we are told, I. How all the elder sons, who stood fairest for the preferment, were passed by. 1. Eliab, the eldest, was privately presented first to Samuel, probably none being present but Jesse only, and Samuel thought he must needs be the man: Surely this is the Lord's... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:14-23

We have here Saul falling and David rising. I. Here is Saul made a terror to himself (1 Sam. 16:14): The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. He having forsaken God and his duty, God, in a way of righteous judgment, withdrew from him those assistances of the good Spirit with which he was directed, animated, and encouraged in his government and wars. He lost all his good qualities. This was the effect of his rejecting God, and an evidence of his being rejected by him. Now God took his mercy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:13

Then Samuel took the horn of oil ,.... Out of his pocket, which he brought along with him by the direction of God: and anointed him in the midst of his brethren ; not in the presence of them, they sitting around, or standing by and seeing the ceremony performed; which is not consistent with the secrecy with which Samuel was directed to manage this affair, and which was necessary to observe, to keep it from the knowledge of Saul; and with Eliab's treatment of David afterwards, who would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:14

But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul ,.... As a spirit of prophecy as at first, as a spirit of wisdom and prudence in civil government, and as a spirit of fortitude and courage, as the Targum: and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him ; the reverse of the former, which by the permission of God, and as a punishment to him for his sins, came upon him; he seemed to be a demoniac, as Josephus represents F9 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 8. sect. 2. him, as if possessed with the devil;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:15

And Saul's servants said unto him ,.... His courtiers, who observing him to act in a frantic manner, to be dull and melancholy, timorous, and irresolute, unsteady, divided, and distressed; or his physicians, who were called in to assist him, and remove his disorder from him: behold, now an evil spirit from God troubleth thee : the disorder was not from any natural cause, or any bodily disease, and therefore out of the reach of physicians to do any service, but was from an evil spirit... read more

John Gill

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

Let our Lord now command thy servants which are before thee ,.... Meaning either themselves, or some of a more inferior rank, who were in some post and office at court, waiters there, such as yeomen of the guards: to seek out a man who is a cunning player on the harp : a musical instrument much in use in those days: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee ; when in a melancholy mood, and Satan takes the advantage of it to distress and terrify, to spread... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:17

And Saul said unto his servants ,.... Approving of, and pleased with the advice they gave: provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me; for being a sovereign prince, he could command whom he would to attend to his person and service. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:18

Then answered one of the servants ,.... Which the Jews say F13 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 93. 2. So in Hieron. Trad. Heb in lib. Reg. fol. 76. C. was Doeg the Edomite, who out of envy and ill will to David spake of him, that Saul might have an opportunity of slaying him; but this is not at all likely; rather it was one of David's friends and acquaintance, that was desirous of promoting him at court, and no doubt was directed to that motion by the overruling providence of God: and said,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:19

Wherefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse ,.... For David; not choosing to take him without his leave, though Samuel suggests that kings would do so, 1 Samuel 8:11 . and said, send me David, thy son, which is with the sheep ; he had learnt his name, and what was his employment; and which last he mentions not by way of contempt, it not being reckoned mean and despicable even in the sons of great personages, in those times and countries, to attend flocks and herds: so with the Arabs, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:20

And Jesse took an ass laden with bread ,.... Laden with a load of bread, as the Targum; with as much as it could carry, or was used to carry; the Septuagint version is, an omer of bread, which was as much as a man could eat in one day; and, according to Kimchi and Ben Melech, it may be interpreted an heap of bread, agreeably to the use of the word in Judges 15:16 , and a bottle of wine; or a skin of wine, a leather bag or sack, which held more than our bottles; the Targum is, a flagon of... read more

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