in Judah. There find a man named Jesse, for I have chosen a
king among his sons."

But Samuel knew that Saul would be very angry, if he should learn that
Samuel had named any other man as king. He said to the Lord:

"How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me."

The Lord said to Samuel: "Take a young cow with you; and tell the people
that you have come to make an offering to the Lord. And call Jesse and
his sons to the sacrifice. I will tell you what to do, and you shall
anoint the one whom I name to you."

Samuel went over the mountains southward from Ramah to Bethlehem, about
ten miles, leading a cow. The rulers of the town were alarmed at his
coming, for they feared that he had come to judge the people for some
evil-doing. But Samuel said:

"I have come in peace to make an offering and to hold a feast to the
Lord. Prepare yourselves and come to the sacrifice."

And he invited Jesse and his sons to the service. When they came, he
looked at the sons of Jesse very closely. The oldest was named Eliab,
and he was so tall and noble-looking that Samuel thought:

"Surely this young man must be the one whom God has chosen."

But the Lord said to Samuel:

"Do not look on his face, nor on the height of his body, for I have not
chosen him. Man judges by the outward looks, but God looks at the
heart."

Then Jesse's second son, named Abinadab, passed by. And the Lord said:
"I have not chosen this one." Seven young men came and Samuel said:

"None of these is the man whom God has chosen. Are these all your
children?"

"There is one more," said Jesse. "The youngest of all. He is a boy, in
the field caring for the sheep."

And Samuel said:

"Send for him; for we will not sit down until he comes." So after a time
the youngest son was brought in. His name was David, a word that means
"darling," and he was a beautiful boy, perhaps fifteen years old, with
fresh cheeks and bright eyes.

As soon as the young David came, the Lord said to Samuel:

"Arise, anoint him, for this is the one whom I have chosen."

Then Samuel poured oil on David's head, in the presence of all his
brothers. But no one knew at that time the anointing to mean that David
was to be the king. Perhaps they thought that David was chosen to be a
prophet like Samuel.

From that time the Spirit of God came upon David, and he began to show
signs of coming greatness. He went back to his sheep on the hillsides
around Bethlehem, but God was with hi