1 Samuel 16:2

_AND SAMUEL SAID, HOW CAN I GO? IF SAUL HEAR IT, HE WILL KILL ME. AND THE LORD SAID, TAKE AN HEIFER WITH THEE, AND SAY, I AM COME TO SACRIFICE TO THE LORD._ How can I go? This is another instance of human infirmity in Samuel. Since God had sent him on this mission, He would protect him in the execution. I AM COME TO SACRIFICE. This was true, though not the whole truth, which he was not bound or called upon to tell. It seems to have been customary with Samuel to do this (cf. 1 Samuel 9:12), in the different circuits to which he went, that he might encourage the worship of God. It has been formerly shown that although the appointed place for presentation of offerings was the front court of the national sanctuary (see the note at Leviticus 17:1;...

1-5 It appears that Saul was grown very wicked. Of what would he not be guilty, who durst think to kill Samuel? The elders of Bethlehem trembled at Samuel's coming. It becomes us to stand in awe of God's messengers, and to tremble at his word. His answer was, I come peaceably, for I come to sacrifice. When our Lord Jesus came into the world, though men had reason to fear that his errand was to condemn the world, yet he gave full assurance that he came peaceably, for he came to sacrifice, and he brought his offering with him; A body hast thou prepared me. Let us sanctify ourselves, and depend upon His sacrifice....

Verse 1 Samuel 16:2. _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....

It was the purpose of God that David should be anointed at this time as Saul’s successor, and as the ancestor and the type of His Christ. It was not the purpose of God that Samuel should stir up a civil war, by setting up David as Saul’s rival. Secrecy, therefore, was a necessary part of the transaction. But secrecy and concealment are not the same as duplicity and falsehood. Concealment of a good purpose, for a good purpose, is clearly justifiable. There is therefore nothing in the least inconsistent with truth in the occurrence here related. Compare Exodus 7:16; Exodus 8:1; Exodus 9:13....

DAVID ANOINTED AS THE FUTURE KING, AND HIS FIRST INTRODUCTION TO SAUL. (1 Samuel 16:1) EXPOSITION CHOICE OF DAVID AS SUCCESSOR TO SAUL (1 Samuel 16:1). 1 SAMUEL 16:1 HOW LONG WRIT THOU MOURN? The grief of Samuel was prolonged almost to a sinful extent, nor can we wonder at it. We who see Saul's whole career, and know how deeply he fell

AND SAMUEL SAID, HOW CAN I GO?.... Which argues weakness of faith in Samuel, and fear of man, and a diffidence in and distrust of divine power; for otherwise he that sent him on such an errand could protect him: IF SAUL HEAR IT, HE WILL KILL ME; should hear that Samuel went and anointed another king, it would so enrage him, that he would either immediately lay hands on him, and put him to death, or order him to be put to death; and indeed were it not that this was done by the command of God, he would deserve to die; it being an overt act of treason to anoint another king: AND THE LORD SAID, TAKE AN HEIFER WITH THEE, AND SAY, I AM COME TO SACRIFICE TO THE LORD; a peace offering, which might be done any where in those unsettled times, the ark being at one place, and the tabernacle at another; and might be offered upon a private altar, and by a private person; and as it seems Samuel used...

III. DAVID, THE KING AFTER GOD'S HEART--HIS EXILE AND SUFFERING 1. David Anointed King and the Departure of the Spirit from Saul CHAPTER 16 _ 1. David anointed king (1 Samuel 16:1)_ 2. The Spirit departs from Saul and David with Saul (1 Samuel 16:14) The king after the people's heart has failed and is set aside, and now Jehovah brings forth His king after His own heart. That king like Jonathan, a man of faith, is devoted to Jehovah and in perfect subjection unto Him. Furthermore, from the tribe of Judah (Judah means “praise”) he is a worshipper through whom the Spirit of God pours forth the sweetest strains of praise and worship. He prospers into a great kingdom and Jehovah makes an oathbound covenant with him ...

SAMUEL ANOINTS DAVID (E 2) or (R). A better division would be in the middle of 1 Samuel 15:35, so as to begin the new section with And Yahweh repented. etc. Many authorities regard this section as a late, possibly post-exilic, addition; but it seems the natural sequel to the preceding chapter, and may probably be referred to the same document. By the direction of Yahweh Samuel goes to Bethlehem, ostensibly to sacrifice, but really to anoint a son of Jesse to the kingship. He sanctified Jesse and his sons, _i.e._ he made them perform certain ritual acts, such as washings. At the sacrifice, seven sons of Jesse passed before Samuel, but Yahweh gave no sign, then David was sent for, and came, and he was ruddy [or perhaps, red-haired], a youth with beautiful eyes and comely, as we should probably read and translate. At the bidding of Yahweh, Samuel anointed him, and the Spirit of Ya

WITH THEE. in thine hand....

_Take an heifer with thee_, &c. For David's safety no less than his own it was necessary that the purpose of Samuel's errand should not be known. "Concealment of a good purpose for a good purpose is clearly justifiable." It was perfectly legitimate for Samuel to conceal the primary intention and mention only the secondary object of his visit. It may be inferred from the command, that Samuel was in the habit of holding religious gatherings in different provincial towns from time to time....