The sorrow of Samuel for Saul’s shortcomings was real. But he was before long roused from his grief by a Divine commission to take a horn of oil and go to Bethlehem, there to anoint another king. Fear lest the purport of his errand should reach Saul’s ears would have deterred him from venturing on the journey, but he was bidden to take a heifer and invite the elders of the town to a sacrificial feast. In obedience to this command he left Ramah, and proceeded on his way. As he ascended the long gray hill leading to the village, his approach was discerned by the elders, who trembled when they saw the venerable Prophet. _Comest thou peaceably?_ they enquired anxiously. _Peaceably_, was the reply, and they were bidden to prepare to accompany him to the feast.
Amongst those invited on this occasion was JESSE, sprung from one of the oldest families[244] in the place, the son of OBED, and grandson of the Moabitess RUTH. He was an aged man at this time, and the father of eight sons, of whom seven now accompanied him to the feast (1 Sam. xvii. 12). When they were all assembled, and waiting to commence, the Prophet looked upon the eldest, the tall Eliab, and thought that of a surety he beheld the Lord’s anointed. But the Divine Voice bade him not look upon _his countenance_, or _the height of his stature_, for the Lord, _who looketh not upon the outward appearance but upon the heart_, had refused him. Then the old man’s second son Abinadab passed before him, and his third son Shammah, and after them four other sons, but the Lord had chosen none of them. _Are here all thy children?_ enquired Samuel. _There remaineth yet the youngest_, said Jesse, _and, behold, he keepeth the sheep_. _Send and fetch him_, rejoined the Prophet; _till he come hither, we cannot sit round_ (1 Sam. xvi. 11, _margin_).
Accordingly a messenger was sent to the sheepfolds, and brought in the youngest, DAVID (_the beloved_, _the darling_), the Benjamin of Jesse’s house. With his shepherd’s staff in his hand, his scrip or wallet round his neck (1 Sam. xvii. 40), a mere stripling beside the tall Eliab, ruddy or auburn-haired, with fair bright eyes[245], _comely and goodly to look to_ (1 Sam. xvi. 12, 18), he stood before the Prophet. _Arise, anoint him, for this is he_, whispered the Divine Voice, and there in the midst of his brethren and the assembled elders, Samuel poured upon him the consecrated oil, on which the feast so long delayed was celebrated, and Samuel rose up and returned to Ramah. (See Ps. lxxviii. 70–72.)