Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/261



AMUEL loved  Saul,  and  mourned  for  him  because  the  Lord had rejected  him. One day  the  Lord  said  to  Samuel: “How long wilt  thou  mourn  for  Saul  whom  I have  rejected? Fill thy horn with  oil,  and  come  that  I may  send  thee  to  Isai,  the  Bethlehemite;  for  I have  provided  me  a king  among  his  sons."

So Samuel  went  to  Bethlehem,  and  took  with  him  a victim, and called  Isai  and  his  sons  to  partake  of  the  sacrifice. Now when Eliab, the  eldest  son,  had  come  forward,  who  was  of  a high  stature, the Lord  said  to  Samuel: “Look  not  on  his  countenance; for  man seeth those  things  that  appear,  but  the  Lord  seeth  the  heart.” Isai then  called  in  his  other  sons,  one  by  one,  six  in  number. When Samuel  had  seen  them  all,  he  said: “The  Lord  has  not

chosen any  of  these. Are these  all  thy  sons?”  Isai  replied:  “There remaineth yet  a young  one  who  keepeth  the  sheep.”  Samuel hastened to  answer:  “Send  and  fetch  him,  for  we  will  not  sit  down till he  come  hither.”

Now when  David  came  in,  he  was  beautiful  to  behold,  and of a comely  face;  and  the  Lord  said:  “Arise,  and  anoint  him,  for this is  he.”  Then  Samuel,  taking  the  horn  of  oil,  anointed  him in the  midst  of  his  brethren. Immediately the  Spirit  of  the  Lord came upon  David,  and  remained  with  him.

But the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  departed  from  Saul,  and  an  evil spirit troubled him. Wherefore the  servants  of  Saul  said  to  him: “Let our  lord  give  orders,  and  we  will  seek  out  a man  skilful  in playing  on  the  harp,  that  when  the  evil  spirit  is  upon  thee  he may  play  with  his  hand,  and  thou  mayest  bear  it  more  easily.”