1 Samuel 16:4-5 NIV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:5

And he said, peaceably I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord ,.... Which he could say with truth, it being one end of his coming, though not the only one for which he came, and which he was not obliged to tell: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice ; prepare themselves for it, which was done by washing their garments, &c.; and then attend with him, and assist him in the sacrifice: and he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice ; he ordered... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 16:5

Sanctify yourselves - Change your clothes, and wash your bodies in pure water, and prepare your minds by meditation, reflection, and prayer; that, being in the spirit of sacrifice, ye may offer acceptably to the Lord. 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 16:5

1 Samuel 16:5. I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord That was one intention of his coming; and though there was another, namely, to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be king, he was not bound to declare it. For where there are two ends of any action, a person may, without any injury to truth, declare the one and conceal the other. Thus Moses did when he told Pharaoh they must go and sacrifice to God in the wilderness; but suppressed their intention to march to the land of Canaan. This is set in... read more

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:5

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 16:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:3-5

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

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

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 16:5

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