1 Sam. 16 Samuel is sent by God; who, under pretence of a sacrifice for fear of Saul, cometh to Bethlehem; sanctifieth Jesse and his sons, 1 Sam. 16:1–5. His human judgment in choosing Eliab the eldest son is reproved, 1 Sam. 16:6–7.

How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, and pray for his restitution? which the following words imply that he did. I have rejected him from reigning over Israel: the manifestation of my peremptory will should make thee submit to my pleasure.

How can I go, to wit, safely? a question which seems to savour of human frailty; for he should have strongly believed that God, who had set him upon the work, would carry him through it.

Call Jesse to the sacrifice, i.e. invite him to the feast, which, after the manner, was made of the flesh of the sacrifice; and it belonged to Samuel, as the offerer of the sacrifice, to invite whom he pleased. Whom I name, i.e. whom I shall describe, as it were, by name.

The elders of the town trembled at his coming; partly because it was strange and unexpected to them, this being but an obscure town, Mic. 5:2, and remote from Samuel, and therefore they justly thought there was some extraordinary reason for it; and their guilty consciences made them fear that he…

Sanctify yourselves; prepare yourselves in the manner expressed, Ex. 19:14–15. To the sacrifice, Heb. in the sacrifice, i.e. join with me in this act of worshipping God, and offering this sacrifice, thereby to give thanks for the blessings you have received from him, and to pray for what you want.

When they were come; when the most of Jesse’s sons were come, either to the place of the feast, or to some other place near it, appointed for this private discourse, whither they were to come before they went to the feast.

The Lord spake by secret inspiration. The height of his stature; whereby thou wast once deceived in Saul, 1 Sam. 10:23–24, and therefore shouldst not now be deceived a second time. Man looketh on the outward appearance; men value men by their outsides.

Shammah, called also Shimeah, 2 Sam. 13:3, and Shimna 1 Chron. 2:13.

Seven of his sons, i.e. the rest of his sons, which were seven, besides David; for in all he had eight, 1 Sam. 17:12. It is true, there are but seven of them named 1 Chron.

He keepeth the sheep; and consequently is the most unfit of all my sons for that high employment. Either therefore he did not thoroughly understand David’s great wisdom and valour, or he judgeth him unfit, by reason of his mean education.

He was ruddy; which may be referred either to the colour of his hair; or rather, to the complexion of his face. Goodly to look to; of a comely but masculine and majestic aspect.

In the midst of his brethren: according to this translation, his brethren were present at this act, and knew that David was anointed king. But this seems, to some, neither consistent with Samuel’s design of secrecy, nor with Eliab’s scornful words concerning him after this, 1 Sam. 17:28.

God took away that prudence, and courage, and alacrity, and other gifts and assistances of God’s Spirit, wherewith he had qualified him for the management of his public employment.

And the success confirms their opinion. For although music cannot directly have any influence upon an evil spirit to drive him away; yet because the devil, as it seems, had not possession of him, but only made use of the passions of his mind and ill humours of his body to molest him; and because it…

Wonder not that David was so suddenly advanced, from a poor contemptible shepherd, to so great reputation; for these were the effects of that Spirit of the Lord, which he received when he was anointed; though some would hence infer, that the things related in this chapter happened after the history…

This present, though in our times it would seem contemptible, yet was very agreeable to the usage of those times, and to the condition of Jesse, which was but mean in the world.

Stood before him, i.e. ministered unto him; or (as we use to speak) waited upon him, as that phrase oft signifies; as Deut. 1:38, Deut. 10:8. He became his armour-bearer; he had that place conferred upon him, though we do not read that he ever exercised it; for it seems he was gone back to his…

To wit, for a season. And the reason of this success may be partly natural and common; of which see on 1 Sam. 16:16; and partly supernatural and special, respecting David, whom God designed by this means to bring into favour with the king and his court, and so to smooth the way for his advancement.