1 AND the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the ^bBeth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. [ Samuel at this point knows the family from which the new king is to come from. Saul is obviously willing to use unscrupulous means to preserve his position as king, and Samuel is justifiably concerned about being killed by him if it looks like he is about to anoint another in his stead. Samuel has also got to be concerned about whoever he anoints as well, as Saul would certainly be out to kill him and his family.]

2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. [ This gives us some idea of the state that Saul has progressed to. He knows that Samuel is the Lords prophet, and yet Samuel is fearful for his life, that Saul will kill him if he gets wind that Samuel is going to annoint someone else the king. Saul is afraid of loosing everything at this point, and is apparently willing to do whatever it takes to keep it. ] And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.

3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, [ The elders of the city know very well Saul's mind as did Samuel in v. 2 So they are worried about acts of retribution. ] and said, Comest thou peaceably?

5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6 ¶ And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.

7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; [ What is the difference between height, stature and looks of a person and the heart? Stature, height looks the physical we cannot change - Conside the lillies of the field Matt 6:27-28 "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?"] because I have refused him: for the LORD ^aseeth not as man seeth; [ Every person is one of his creations, he see's them as such; perfect in their own little way. ] for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. [ The loord looks on the heart because that is the part that we can change; that is the part that we can give to him]

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, [ he looked vigorous and healthy ] and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him [ The oil of gladness, the fragrant dew of paradise, for the transformative power of the Spirit of God. When one’s anointed, one is gifted a greater portion of the Spirit. ] in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

14 ¶ But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit [ there are several uses of "evil spirit" in the Scriptures, one being a literal spirit adversary, the other being figurative - indicating mental illness or some form of insanity. In this case it appears to be the latter as it comes and goes without being adjured by the Priesthood or the name of the Lord. We also see that Saul apparently has some mental problems in the following chapters, cp. 17:55-58, 18:10. We also see that David knew well what mental illness looked like, and the people in general did as well, cp. 21:13-15. ] from the LORD troubled him.

15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

19 ¶ Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

23 And it came to pass, when the ^aevil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.