Samuel anoints David

1 Samuel 16:4-13 - Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"

Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD."

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one." Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?"

"There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep."

Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."

So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."

I wonder why the elders of Bethlehem thought Samuel might not be coming in peace. Did they have guilty consciences -- either individually or collectively? Was there something they had to hide? Not that they could have kept it from Samuel if God wanted him to know about it.

When Samuel consecrated Jesse and his sons, I wonder what physical process was involved. Consecrating is setting aside or apart for a special purpose. Was there something he physically did to them or for them to show they were consecrated? Did he simply tell them they were consecrated? Was the invitation to the sacrifice also the consecration?

I wonder if David was present at the consecration. It seems from Samuel's later question that either David wasn't there or he wasn't noticed or remembered by Samuel. Otherwise Samuel should have realized that he hadn't seen all of Jesse's boys yet.

I wonder if any of David's brothers were jealous after Samuel anointed him. Nothing is mentioned here so far. I'm reminded of the contrast with Joseph's brothers. Hopefully they all rejoiced with Samuel's choice -- if they even fully realized what the anointing meant.