1Sa 16:1-13 | Clarke | STEP | Samuel is sent from Ramah to Bethlehem, to anoint David, . The Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul, and an evil spirit comes upon him, . His servants exhort him to get a skillful harper to play before him, , . He is pleased with the counsel, and desires them to find such a person, . They recommend David, . He is sent for, comes, plays before Saul, and finds favor in his sight, . Verse 1 Fill thine horn with oil - Horns appear to have been the ancient drinking vessels of all nations; and we may suppose that most persons who had to travel much, always carried one with them, for the purpose of taking up water from the fountains to quench their thirst. Such a horn had Samuel; and on this occasion he was commanded to fill it with oil, for the purpose of consecrating a king over Israel from among the sons of Jesse.

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Introduction

Samuel is sent from Ramah to Bethlehem, to anoint David, 1Sam 16:1-13. The Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul, and an evil spirit comes upon him, 1Sam 16:14. His servants exhort him to get a skillful harper to play before him, 1Sam 16:15, 1Sam 16:16. He is pleased with the counsel, and desires them to find such a person, 1Sam 16:17. They recommend David, 1Sam 16:18. He is sent for, comes, plays before Saul, and finds favor in his sight, 1Sam 16:19-23.

Verse 1

Fill thine horn with oil - Horns appear to have been the ancient drinking vessels of all nations; and we may suppose that most persons who had to travel much, always carried one with them, for the purpose of taking up water from the fountains to quench their thirst. Such a horn had Samuel; and on this occasion he was commanded to fill it with oil, for the purpose of consecrating a king over Israel from among the sons of Jesse. Verse 2

Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice - This was strictly true; Samuel did offer a sacrifice; and it does not appear that he could have done the work which God designed, unless he had offered this sacrifice, and called the elders of the people together, and thus collected Jesse's sons. But he did not tell the principal design of his coming; had he done so, it would have produced evil and no good: and though no man, in any circumstances, should ever tell a lie, yet in all circumstances he is not obliged to tell the whole truth, though in every circumstance he must tell nothing but the truth, and in every case so tell the truth that the hearer shall not believe a lie by it. Verse 3

Call Jesse to the sacrifice - The common custom was, after the blood of the victim had been poured out to God, and the fat burnt, to feast on the flesh of the sacrifice. This appears to have been the case in all, except in the whole burnt-offering; this was entirely consumed. Verse 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. Verse 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. Verse 7

Man looketh on the outward appearance - And it is well he should, and confine his looks to that; for when he pretends to sound the heart, he usurps the prerogative of God.

In what way were these communications made from God to Samuel? It must have been by direct inspirations into his heart. But what a state of holy familiarity does this argue between God and the prophet! I believe Moses himself was not more highly favored than Samuel. Verse 10

Seven of his sons - This certainly was not done publicly; Samuel, Jesse, and his children, must have been in a private apartment, previously to the public feast on the sacrifice; for Samuel says, 1Sam 16:11, We will not sit down till he (David) come. Verse 12

He was ruddy - I believe the word here means red-haired, he had golden locks. Hair of this kind is ever associated with a delicate skin and florid complexion. Verse 13

The Spirit of the Lord came upon David - God qualified him to be governor of his people, by infusing such graces as wisdom, prudence, counsel, courage, liberality, and magnanimity.