1 Samuel 16
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Samuel 16
NJB (MT versing) Samuel Goes to Bethlehem David Anointed King The Anointing of David David Is Anointed King David Anointed 16:1-5 16:1-5 16:1-5 16:1 16:1-3 16:2-3 16:4 16:4-5 16:5 16:6-11 16:6-13 16:6-13 16:6-7 16:6-13 16:8-11a 16:11b David Anointed 16:11c-13 16:12-13 A Distressing Spirit Troubles Saul David Wins a Position at the Court of Saul David in Saul's Court David Enters Saul's Service 16:14-23 16:14-18 16:14-23 16:14-16 16:14-23 16:17 16:18 16:19-23 16:19-23 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS There are three accounts of the anointing of David. first before his family (and possibly village) ‒ 1 Samuel 16 second before his tribe (Judah) at Hebron ‒ 2 Sam. 2:4 third before all Israel ‒ 2 Sam. 5:3 There are two accounts of how David first met Saul. here ‒ summoned to help Saul with his mental illness by playing music; becomes Saul's armor bearer 1 Samuel 17 ‒ appears on the scene of battle with food for his brothers and hears Goliath's challenge see Hard Sayings of the Bible, "Why Did Saul Ask David's Identity?" pp. 213-214
1 Samuel 16:1-5
16:1 YHWH revealed Himself to humans in several ways. direct revelation (i.e., Adam, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, etc.) dreams (Joseph) visions (Ezekiel and Daniel) Urim and Thummim (priests) His acts and their interpretation Samuel, like the Patriarchs, had a direct encounter with YHWH. SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (ITS UNIQUENESS AND INSPIRATION) ▣ "How long will you grieve over Saul" Samuel informed Saul of YHWH's displeasure (i.e., Saul acting as priest, 1 Sam. 13:8-14). YHWH informed Samuel of Saul's rejection in 1 Sam. 13:14; 15:22. In my mind it is uncertain from these examples if Samuel was displeased with Saul's actions (1 Sam. 13:13-14) displeased with YHWH's actions (1 Sam. 15:35) both ▣ "I have selected a king" Israel is not a democracy but a theocracy. YHWH's sovereignty is clearly seen, both in this phrase and v. 3c (i.e., "the one who I designate"). 16:2-3 It seems Samuel is afraid of Saul. Apparently his irrational mood swings had already started. Does it surprise you that YHWH used a subterfuge? See Hard Sayings of the Bible, "Is Deception Ever Justifiable?" pp. 138-139, 210-211 (and Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 175-178). 16:2 "heifer" This referred to a young female cow which had not yet had a calf. Heifers were never used for burnt offerings or sin offerings (NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 320), so this must have been a peace offering and involved a communal meal. SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE OFFERING 16:3 "anoint" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANOINTING IN THE BIBLE 16:4 I am surprised that a visit by Samuel caused the elders of Bethlehem fear, unless they thought he was on an errand from Saul. The REB changes the root, "trembling" to an Arabic root meaning "in haste" (see UBS Handbook, p. 336). The NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 264, #1, suggests the Hebrew root denotes a fear associated with bad news (i.e., Gen. 27:33; 42:28; 1 Kgs. 1:49; Amos 3:6). 16:5 "Consecrate yourselves" This is a Hiphil IMPERATIVE (BDB 872, KB 1073). It denotes a purification ritual whereby someone or something is set apart for God's unique use (cf. Exod. 19:9-15). firstborn of humans and animals ‒ Exodus 13 Israel before receiving the Ten Commandments ‒ Exod. 19:9-15 priests High Priest ‒ Exod. 28:3,41; 40:13 priests ‒ Exod. 29:1,33,44; Josh. 7:13 elders and people of Bethlehem (esp. Jesse and his family) ‒ here Israelites under Joshua ‒ Josh. 7:13 the temple ‒ 1 Kgs. 8:64 SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY
1 Samuel 16:6-11
16:6-7 Samuel thought the tall, handsome one (i.e., like Saul) was surely to be the new king, but not so! YHWH looks at the heart (cf. 1 Sam. 2:3; 1 Kgs. 8:39; 1 Chr. 28:9; Ps. 7:9; 11:4-5; 17:3; 26:1-2; 139:23; Prov. 16:2; 21:2; 24:12; Jer. 11:20; 17:10; 20:12; Luke 16:15; Acts 1:24; 15:8; Rom. 8:27; Rev. 2:23). Nothing is hidden from the Creator! 16:8-10 "The Lord has not chosen" This verb in Qal PERFECT (BDB 103, KB 119) is repeated three times in these verses for emphasis. YHWH is sovereign. He has a plan. to fulfill prophecy ‒ Gen. 49:10 to redeem mankind ‒ see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
1 Samuel 16:12-13
16:12 Notice the description of young David. ruddy (BDB 10, "red," 1 Sam. 17:42 reddish skin, like Esau, Gen. 25:25) skin cheeks hair beautiful eyes (or emendation, "a youth," cf. 1 Sam. 17:56, JB, NAB) handsome (cf. 1 Sam. 16:18) Joesphus (Antiq. 6.8.1) describes David as "one that is perfectly comely in that respect; I mean one who is beautiful in piety, and righteousness, and fortitude, and obedience, for in them consist the comeliness of the soul. . .he appeared to be of a yellow complexion, of a sharp sight, and a comely person in other respects also." 16:13-14 The special empowering and equipping of YHWH's special servant is first described of Saul in 1 Sam. 10:6,9,10. Saul is now rejected. This special presence of YHWH is now transferred to David. In its place "an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him" (cf. vv. 15,16; 18:10; 19:9). Saul transitions from a shy, caring person into a paranoid, fearful person who was already on the way of cooperating with evil. I do not think this is demon possession but an OT way of asserting YHWH as the only causality (i.e., 2 Chr. 20:6; Eccl. 7:14; Isa. 14:24-27; 43:13; 45:7; 54:16; Jer. 18:11; Lam. 3:33-38; Amos 3:6). The term "spirit" here should not be viewed as the Holy Spirit in the NT sense. SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DEMONIC (OT)
1 Samuel 16:14-23
16:16,23 It is surprising to me that music calmed Saul, but this was an ANE and Greek thought (cf. 1 Sam. 10:5). Music could summon a good spirit or help with an evil spirit. Obviously this is mental illness, not an evil spirit. At this point in my discussion of Saul's illness, let me reaffirm my belief in the demonic. I wish we had more biblical information on this subject. For me a helpful book to help separate physical illness from spiritual issues is Kurt E. Koch, Christian Counseling and Occultism. There is an evil spirit (i.e., 1 Kgs. 22:19-22) but Satan does not fit in this theological context. Saul is responsible for his own mental state! This state is expressed in ANE terms (cf. 1 Sam. 16:23). SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS AND DEMONS 16:18 Here is another description of David. skillful musician a mighty man of valor (see note at 1 Sam. 9:1) a warrior (one wonders if #2 and #3 both have a military connotation or if they refer to David's actions in protecting Jesse's flock, cf. 1 Sam. 17:33-37) prudent in speech handsome the Lord was with him (cf. 1 Sam. 18:12,14; 2 Sam. 5:10; as He was with Samuel, 1 Sam. 3:19) 16:20 The people of Israel provided the supplies for Saul and his army. Here, Jesse sent an ass loaded with bread a skin of wine a kid (young goat) ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV, JPSOA, Peshitta "a donkey" JB, NJB "five loaves" "a batch of" "a gomer (Heb. homer, NEB)" The UBS Text Project, p. 183, gives "ass" a "B" rating (some doubt). ass ‒ חמור (BDB 331) five ‒ חמשׁ (BDB 331) homer ‒ חמר (BDB 330) "a jug of wine" NKJV, NRSV, NJB, REB, JPSOA, LXX, Peshitta "a skin of wine" "leather bag full of wine" "a container of wine" This term (BDB 609) refers to a leather bag for holding liquids. Often it was made from goat/sheep skin. They could be the whole skin smaller, in the shape of a stomach 16:21-22 Saul loved David and put him in places of leadership (i.e., armor bearer).