I Samuel 16

שמואל א׳ פרק ט״ז

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 16 of 31 | Day: 61 of 742

Date: April 13, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

Chapter 16 marks the decisive turning point of I Samuel: the narrative pivots from Saul’s disintegration to David’s emergence. The chapter opens with a divine rebuke that doubles as a theological statement. God says to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul?” (עד מתי אתה מתאבל אל שאול). The question is not merely practical but programmatic — God has already moved on, and Samuel must do the same. The command to fill his horn with oil and journey to Bethlehem signals that the machinery of kingship is being reset. Rashi notes that the use of a horn (קרן) rather than a flask (פך) is significant: Saul was anointed from a flask, and his kingdom did not endure, while David is anointed from a horn, symbolizing permanence. The horn, made from an animal’s strength, carries connotations of durability and divine favor that the fragile flask does not.

The scene at Jesse’s house is constructed as a sustained exercise in overturning human assumptions. When Samuel sees Eliab — tall, presumably imposing — he immediately thinks, “Surely God’s anointed stands before Him” (אך נגד ה׳ משיחו). God’s correction is among the most quoted verses in all of Tanakh: “Man looks at what is visible, but God looks into the heart” (כי האדם יראה לעינים וה׳ יראה ללבב). Radak observes that Samuel’s error is understandable precisely because it mirrors his experience with Saul, who was chosen in part for his physical stature (“from his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people,” I Samuel 9:2). The lesson is pointed: the criteria that produced Saul are being explicitly repudiated. Seven sons pass before Samuel, each rejected, building narrative tension to the point where Samuel must ask, “Are these all the boys you have?” (התמו הנערים). The youngest, out tending the flock, is so far from consideration that he was not even summoned.

David’s introduction is carefully crafted. He is described as “ruddy, with beautiful eyes and good appearance” (אדמוני עם יפה עינים וטוב ראי), and God immediately commands, “Rise and anoint him, for this is the one” (קום משחהו כי זה הוא). Metzudat David explains that David’s physical description is mentioned not to contradict the earlier lesson about appearances, but to show that David possessed both inner worth and outer grace — the rejection was not of beauty itself but of the assumption that appearance alone qualifies a person for leadership. The anointing takes place “in the midst of his brothers” (בקרב אחיו), and the spirit of God grips David “from that day on” (מהיום ההוא ומעלה). The text’s economy is striking: there is no speech from David, no reaction from Jesse, no response from the brothers. The anointing simply happens, and the spirit transfers.

The chapter’s second half mirrors the first in reverse. As the spirit of God comes upon David, it simultaneously departs from Saul, replaced by “an evil spirit from God” (רוח רעה מאת ה׳). The theological boldness of attributing Saul’s tormenting spirit directly to God is remarkable and has generated extensive commentary. Radak explains that the withdrawal of divine protection left Saul vulnerable to melancholy and terror, while Rashi understands the “evil spirit” as a form of madness sent as divine punishment. The practical consequence is that Saul’s courtiers seek a musician to soothe him, and the description they offer of the ideal candidate — “skilled in music, a stalwart fellow and a warrior, sensible in speech, handsome in appearance, and God is with him” (יודע נגן וגבור חיל ואיש מלחמה ונבון דבר ואיש תאר וה׳ עמו) — reads like a royal resume. The irony is exquisite: Saul unknowingly summons his own replacement into his court.

The chapter thus establishes one of the Bible’s great dramatic ironies. David enters Saul’s service as a musician and armor-bearer, and Saul “took a strong liking to him” (ויאהבהו מאד). The man anointed to replace Saul becomes the very person who soothes his torment. This dual role — healer and successor, beloved servant and future rival — will define the complex, agonizing relationship between Saul and David that drives the remainder of I Samuel. The chapter’s architecture is elegant in its symmetry: it opens with God commanding Samuel to stop mourning one king and close with that king unknowingly embracing the next. Between these two moments, the text has quietly redefined what kingship means in Israel — not height, not birth order, not outward appearance, but the heart that God alone can see.

פרק ט״ז · Chapter 16

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל עַד־מָתַי֙ אַתָּה֙ מִתְאַבֵּ֣ל אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וַאֲנִ֣י מְאַסְתִּ֔יו מִמְּלֹ֖ךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מַלֵּ֨א קַרְנְךָ֜ שֶׁ֗מֶן וְלֵ֤ךְ אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙ אֶל־יִשַׁ֣י בֵּֽית־הַלַּחְמִ֔י כִּֽי־רָאִ֧יתִי בְּבָנָ֛יו לִ֖י מֶֽלֶךְ׃

English:

And GOD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and set out; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have decided on one of his sons to be king.”

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֵ֣יךְ אֵלֵ֔ךְ וְשָׁמַ֥ע שָׁא֖וּל וַהֲרָגָ֑נִי וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה עֶגְלַ֤ת בָּקָר֙ תִּקַּ֣ח בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ לִזְבֹּ֥חַ לַיהֹוָ֖ה בָּֽאתִי׃

English:

Samuel replied, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” GOD answered, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to GOD.’

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וְקָרָ֥אתָ לְיִשַׁ֖י בַּזָּ֑בַח וְאָנֹכִ֗י אוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶֽׁר־תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֣ לִ֔י אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־אֹמַ֖ר אֵלֶֽיךָ׃

English:

Invite Jesse to the sacrificial feast, and then I will make known to you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I point out to you.”

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֣עַשׂ שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל אֵ֚ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֖א בֵּ֣ית לָ֑חֶם וַיֶּחֶרְד֞וּ זִקְנֵ֤י הָעִיר֙ לִקְרָאת֔וֹ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שָׁלֹ֥ם בּוֹאֶֽךָ׃

English:

Samuel did what GOD commanded. When he came to Bethlehem, the elders of the city went out in alarm to meet him and said, “Do you come on a peaceful errand?”

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ שָׁל֗וֹם לִזְבֹּ֤חַ לַֽיהֹוָה֙ בָּ֔אתִי הִֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּ וּבָאתֶ֥ם אִתִּ֖י בַּזָּ֑בַח וַיְקַדֵּ֤שׁ אֶת־יִשַׁי֙ וְאֶת־בָּנָ֔יו וַיִּקְרָ֥א לָהֶ֖ם לַזָּֽבַח׃

English:

“Yes,” he replied, “I have come to sacrifice to GOD. Purify yourselves and join me in the sacrificial feast.” He also instructed Jesse and his sons to purify themselves and invited them to the sacrificial feast.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֣י בְּבוֹאָ֔ם וַיַּ֖רְא אֶת־אֱלִיאָ֑ב וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַ֛ךְ נֶ֥גֶד יְהֹוָ֖ה מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃ {ס}        

English:

When they arrived and he saw Eliab, he thought: “Surely GOD’s anointed stands here.ahere Lit. “before Him.””

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל אַל־תַּבֵּ֧ט אֶל־מַרְאֵ֛הוּ וְאֶל־גְּבֹ֥הַּ קוֹמָת֖וֹ כִּ֣י מְאַסְתִּ֑יהוּ כִּ֣י ׀ לֹ֗א אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִרְאֶה֙ הָאָדָ֔ם כִּ֤י הָאָדָם֙ יִרְאֶ֣ה לַעֵינַ֔יִם וַיהֹוָ֖ה יִרְאֶ֥ה לַלֵּבָֽב׃

English:

But GOD said to Samuel, “Pay no attention to his appearance or his stature, for I have rejected him. For [GOD sees] not as humans see;b[GOD sees] These words are preserved in the Septuagint. humans see only what is visible, but GOD sees into the heart.”

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיִּקְרָ֤א יִשַׁי֙ אֶל־אֲבִ֣ינָדָ֔ב וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֖הוּ לִפְנֵ֣י שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֕אמֶר גַּם־בָּזֶ֖ה לֹא־בָחַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel; but he said, “GOD has not chosen this one either.”

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיַּעֲבֵ֥ר יִשַׁ֖י שַׁמָּ֑ה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר גַּם־בָּזֶ֖ה לֹא־בָחַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

Next Jesse presented Shammah; and again he said, “GOD has not chosen this one either.”

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיַּעֲבֵ֥ר יִשַׁ֛י שִׁבְעַ֥ת בָּנָ֖יו לִפְנֵ֣י שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶל־יִשַׁ֔י לֹא־בָחַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה בָּאֵֽלֶּה׃

English:

Thus Jesse presented seven of his sons before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “GOD has not chosen any of these.”

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֣ל אֶל־יִשַׁי֮ הֲתַ֣מּוּ הַנְּעָרִים֒ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר ע֚וֹד שָׁאַ֣ר הַקָּטָ֔ן וְהִנֵּ֥ה רֹעֶ֖ה בַּצֹּ֑אן וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֤ל אֶל־יִשַׁי֙ שִׁלְחָ֣ה וְקָחֶ֔נּוּ כִּ֥י לֹֽא־נָסֹ֖ב עַד־בֹּא֥וֹ פֹֽה׃

English:

Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the boys you have?” He replied, “There is still the youngest; he is tending the flock.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send someone to bring him, for we will not sit down to eatcsit down to eat Meaning of Heb. uncertain. until he gets here.”

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח וַיְבִיאֵ֙הוּ֙ וְה֣וּא אַדְמוֹנִ֔י עִם־יְפֵ֥ה עֵינַ֖יִם וְט֣וֹב רֹ֑אִי {פ}וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהֹוָ֛ה ק֥וּם מְשָׁחֵ֖הוּ כִּי־זֶ֥ה הֽוּא׃

English:

So they sent and brought him. He was ruddy-cheeked, bright-eyed,druddy-cheeked, bright-eyed Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and handsome. And GOD said, “Rise and anoint him, for this is the one.”

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַיִּקַּ֨ח שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶת־קֶ֣רֶן הַשֶּׁ֗מֶן וַיִּמְשַׁ֣ח אֹתוֹ֮ בְּקֶ֣רֶב אֶחָיו֒ וַתִּצְלַ֤ח רֽוּחַ־יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד מֵהַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וָמָ֑עְלָה וַיּ��֣קׇם שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ הָרָמָֽתָה׃

English:

Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of GOD gripped David from that day on. Samuel then set out for Ramah.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וְר֧וּחַ יְהֹוָ֛ה סָ֖רָה מֵעִ֣ם שָׁא֑וּל וּבִעֲתַ֥תּוּ רֽוּחַ־רָעָ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

Now the spirit of GOD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from GOD began to terrify him.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ עַבְדֵֽי־שָׁא֖וּל אֵלָ֑יו הִנֵּה־נָ֧א רוּחַ־אֱלֹהִ֛ים רָעָ֖ה מְבַעִתֶּֽךָ׃

English:

Saul’s courtiers said to him, “An evil spirit of God is terrifying you.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

יֹֽאמַר־נָ֤א אֲדֹנֵ֙נוּ֙ עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ יְבַקְשׁ֕וּ אִ֕ישׁ יֹדֵ֖עַ מְנַגֵּ֣ן בַּכִּנּ֑וֹר וְהָיָ֗ה בִּֽהְי֨וֹת עָלֶ֤יךָ רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים֙ רָעָ֔ה וְנִגֵּ֥ן בְּיָד֖וֹ וְט֥וֹב לָֽךְ׃ {פ}

English:

Let our lord give the order [and] the courtiers in attendance on you will look for someone who is skilled at playing the lyre; whenever the evil spirit of God comes over you, he will play iteit Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and you will feel better.”

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר שָׁא֖וּל אֶל־עֲבָדָ֑יו רְאוּ־נָ֣א לִ֗י אִ֚ישׁ מֵיטִ֣יב לְנַגֵּ֔ן וַהֲבִיאוֹתֶ֖ם אֵלָֽי׃

English:

So Saul said to his courtiers, “Find me someone who can play well and bring him to me.”

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֩עַן֩ אֶחָ֨ד מֵהַנְּעָרִ֜ים וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּ֨ה רָאִ֜יתִי בֵּ֣ן לְיִשַׁי֮ בֵּ֣ית הַלַּחְמִי֒ יֹדֵ֣עַ נַ֠גֵּ֠ן וְגִבּ֨וֹר חַ֜יִל וְאִ֧ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֛ה וּנְב֥וֹן דָּבָ֖ר וְאִ֣ישׁ תֹּ֑אַר ו��יהֹוָ֖ה עִמּֽוֹ׃

English:

One of the attendants spoke up, “I have observed a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skilled in music; he is a stalwart fellow and a warrior, sensible in speech, and handsome in appearancefhandsome in appearance Or “strikingly handsome.”—and GOD is with him.”

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח שָׁא֛וּל מַלְאָכִ֖ים אֶל־יִשָׁ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁלְחָ֥ה אֵלַ֛י אֶת־דָּוִ֥ד בִּנְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּצֹּֽאן׃

English:

Whereupon Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, who is with the flock.”

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיִּקַּ֨ח יִשַׁ֜י חֲמ֥וֹר לֶ֙חֶם֙ וְנֹ֣אד יַ֔יִן וּגְדִ֥י עִזִּ֖ים אֶחָ֑ד וַיִּשְׁלַ֛ח בְּיַד־דָּוִ֥ד בְּנ֖וֹ אֶל־שָׁאֽוּל׃

English:

Jesse took a donkey [laden with]ga donkey [laden with] Meaning of Heb. uncertain. bread, a skin of wine, and a kid, and sent them to Saul by his son David.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֤א דָוִד֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖ד לְפָנָ֑יו וַיֶּאֱהָבֵ֣הֽוּ מְאֹ֔ד וַֽיְהִי־ל֖וֹ נֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלִֽים׃

English:

So David came to Saul and entered his service; [Saul] took a strong liking to him and made him one of his arms-bearers.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח שָׁא֔וּל אֶל־יִשַׁ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר יַעֲמׇד־נָ֤א דָוִד֙ לְפָנַ֔י כִּי־מָ֥צָא חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינָֽי׃

English:

Saul sent word to Jesse, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וְהָיָ֗ה בִּֽהְי֤וֹת רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וְלָקַ֥ח דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־הַכִּנּ֖וֹר וְנִגֵּ֣ן בְּיָד֑וֹ וְרָוַ֤ח לְשָׁאוּל֙ וְט֣וֹב ל֔וֹ וְסָ֥רָה מֵעָלָ֖יו ר֥וּחַ הָרָעָֽה׃ {פ}

English:

Whenever the [evil] spirit of God came upon Saul, David would take the lyre and play it;hit Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Saul would find relief and feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

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