1 Samuel 16:2-3 NIV1984

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 16:2

And Samuel said, how can I go ?.... Which argues weakness of faith in Samuel, and fear of man, and a diffidence in and distrust of divine power; for otherwise he that sent him on such an errand could protect him: if Saul hear it, he will kill me ; should hear that Samuel went and anointed another king, it would so enrage him, that he would either immediately lay hands on him, and put him to death, or order him to be put to death; and indeed were it not that this was done by the command... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:3

And call Jesse to the sacrifice ,.... His family, both him and his sons, to partake of the peace offerings; as every offerer had a right to invite his friends, and whomsoever he pleased, to eat of those parts of them which belonged to him, as a feast before the Lord: and I will show thee what thou shall do ; when Jesse and his family were with him: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee ; that is, anoint him to be king over Israel, whom he should point out so plainly... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 16:2

Take a heifer with thee , and say , I am come to sacrifice - This was strictly true; Samuel did offer a sacrifice; and it does not appear that he could have done the work which God designed, unless he had offered this sacrifice, and called the elders of the people together, and thus collected Jesse's sons. But he did not tell the principal design of his coming; had he done so, it would have produced evil and no good: and though no man, in any circumstances, should ever... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 16:3

Call Jesse to the sacrifice - The common custom was, after the blood of the victim had been poured out to God, and the fat burnt, to feast on the flesh of the sacrifice. This appears to have been the case in all, except in the whole burnt-offering; this was entirely consumed. 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 16:2

And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. Saul was actually king, and the anointing of another in his stead would be regarded as an act of open treason, and the stirring up of civil war. This was not indeed intended. The anointing of David was a prophetic indication of the man whom God, in his own way and at his own time, would place upon Saul's throne, without either scheming or action thereto on the part either of Samuel or of David. Its value would chiefly lie in... 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 16:2

It was the purpose of God that David should be anointed at this time as Saul’s successor, and as the ancestor and the type of His Christ. It was not the purpose of God that Samuel should stir up a civil war, by setting up David as Saul’s rival. Secrecy, therefore, was a necessary part of the transaction. But secrecy and concealment are not the same as duplicity and falsehood. Concealment of a good purpose, for a good purpose, is clearly justifiable. There is therefore nothing in the least... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 16:2

1 Samuel 16:2. How can I go? That is, with safety. Say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord Which he, being a prophet, might do anywhere, all the ritual laws being subject to the prophets. What the Lord commanded him to say was a truth, though not the whole truth. read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 16:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 16:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:3-5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 16:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 16:2

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