Year of the Bible
1 Samuel 16
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Commentary on the First Book of Samuel, Chapter 16:
Knowing that Saul’s family will not reign over Israel, we are now introduced to the next king, David. Over two chapters he is introduced in three different ways: at home, at court, and on the battlefield. First, God directs the prophet Samuel to find the next king at the home of Jesse, and Samuel looks to the first seven sons for the next leader. God, however, sees differently and chooses the youngest son, a son so inconsequential that he wasn’t even invited to meet the prophet! When this son is anointed by Samuel, his name is revealed: David. God’s Spirit fills him, yet it is not yet time for him to reign. The scene shifts to the royal court for our second introduction to David. King Saul is experiencing torment, and only music can bring relief. David is brought to the Court to play for Saul, but his anointing remains secret.
The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 16:
David Anointed as King
1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’
3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me him whom I name to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
David Plays the Lyre for Saul
14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. 15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre; and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.” 17 So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” 18 One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence; and the Lord is with him.” 19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” 20 And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread, and a skin of wine and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21 And David came to Saul, and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 And whenever the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand; so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
God sees past our appearance and longs for our hearts. And it was beautiful music that soothed Saul's. Lord, how are you inviting me to be renewed by the goodness, truth, and beauty around me? Help me to press pause on the busyness of life, and truly rest in you.
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, or online.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
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1 Dijo el Señor a Samuel:
–¿Hasta cuándo vas a llorar
por Saúl, si yo le he rechazado ya como
rey de Israel? Llena el cuerno de aceite y
ven, que voy a enviarte a Jesé de Belén,
porque he elegido entre sus hijos un rey
para mí.
2 Samuel respondió:
–¿Cómo voy a ir? Se enterará Saúl y
me matará.
Le dijo el Señor:
–Llevarás contigo una becerra y dirás:
«He venido a ofrecer un sacrificio
al Señor». 3 Invitarás a Jesé al sacrificio;
luego te indicaré lo que tienes que hacer:
me ungirás al que yo te diga.
4 Samuel hizo lo que le había dicho el
Señor y entró en Belén. Los ancianos de
la ciudad salieron a su encuentro temblando
y le dijeron:
–¿Es pacífica tu venida?
5 Samuel respondió:
–Es pacífica. He venido para ofrecer
un sacrificio al Señor. Purificaos y venid
conmigo para el sacrificio.
Él purificó a Jesé y a sus hijos y los
invitó al sacrificio. 6 Cuando entraron,
Samuel vio a Eliab y se dijo: «Seguramente
está ante el Señor su ungido».
7 Pero el Señor dijo a Samuel:
–No te fijes en su apariencia, ni en
su gran estatura, pues lo he descartado.
La mirada de Dios no es como la del
hombre. El hombre mira las apariencias
pero el Señor mira el corazón.
8 Jesé llamó a Abinadab y se lo acercó
a Samuel; pero Samuel dijo:
–Tampoco a éste ha elegido el Señor.
9 Luego Jesé acercó a Samá, y Samuel
dijo:
–Tampoco a éste ha elegido el Señor.
10 Fue llevando Jesé a sus siete hijos,
pero Samuel dijo lo mismo:
–No ha elegido el Señor a ninguno
de éstos.
11 Samuel dijo entonces a Jesé:
–¿No te quedan más hijos?
Él respondió:
–Todavía queda el más pequeño,
que está apacentando el rebaño.
Samuel dijo a Jesé:
–Manda que lo traigan, pues no nos
sentaremos hasta que haya llegado.
12 Jesé mandó que lo trajeran. Era rubio,
de ojos hermosos y de buena presencia.
El Señor dijo a Samuel:
–Levántate y úngelo. Él es.
13 Tomó, pues, Samuel el cuerno de
aceite y lo ungió entre sus hermanos. El
espíritu del Señor invadió a David desde
aquel día. Samuel se levantó y partió
hacia Ramá.
14 El espíritu del Señor se había alejado
de Saúl y le perturbaba un mal espíritu
enviado por el Señor. 15 Sus mismos
servidores le dijeron:
–Mira, un mal espíritu enviado por
Dios te perturba. 16 Da, señor, una orden
a tus siervos y que busquen un hombre
que sepa tocar la cítara para que, cuando
el espíritu te atormente, pueda tocar
para aliviarte.
17 Saúl dijo a sus siervos:
–Conseguidme alguien que toque
bien y traédmelo.
18 Uno de sus servidores le dijo:
–He visto a un hijo de Jesé, el betlemita,
que sabe tocar; es valiente, buen
guerrero, grato en la conversación y de
buena presencia. El Señor está con él.
19 Envió Saúl mensajeros a Jesé, diciendo:
–Mándame a tu hijo David, el que
está con el rebaño.
20 Jesé tomó un asno con pan, un
odre de vino y un cabrito, y se lo envió a
Saúl junto con su hijo David.
21 Llegó David hasta Saúl y entró a su
servicio; éste le tomó mucho aprecio y
le hizo su escudero. 22 Saúl mandó decir
a Jesé:
–Que se quede David a mi servicio,
porque me resulta grato.
23 Y así cuando el mal espíritu asaltaba
a Saúl, David tomaba la cítara y tocaba;
Saúl se aliviaba y se sentía mejor, y el
mal espíritu se alejaba de él.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
Dios ve más allá de nuestra apariencia y anhela nuestros corazones. Y fue una música hermosa la que calmó el corazón de Saúl. Señor, ¿cómo me invitas a ser renovado por la bondad, la verdad y la belleza que me rodean? Ayúdame a hacer una pausa en el ajetreo de la vida y descansar verdaderamente en ti.
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).