The focus in Samuel 16 turns to the selection, or better selection process, of King David.
Apparently, Samuel wasn’t prepared for what would transpire, namely God’s choice of David
out of all of Jesse’s sons. Bear in mind that David was Jesse’s youngest son. Abravanel sheds
light on God’s pick. Put differently, this essay teaches us how the Maker schooled His prophet
concerning “the right stuff.”
And Samuel did that which the LORD spoke and came to Bethlehem. And the
elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said: “Come you peaceably?”
Samuel’s pop visit to Bethlehem, predictably, caused a stir. Did his visit augur bad news? Would
the prophet rebuke the townspeople for unacceptable behavior? After making niceties, and
after Samuel assuaged the fears of Bethlehem’s leaders, the prophet got down to business:
anointing a king to replace the disgraced King Saul. As stated in the previous essay, the Creator
devised a ruse to explain why the prophet paid an unexpected visit to Jesse and Bethlehem.
“And he said: Peaceably; I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come
with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.”
We can well imagine the fraught atmosphere that surrounded the sacrificial ceremony, seeing
that it had been graced by none other than Israel’s greatest personality. Readers, of course,
know the real motive behind Samuel’s stopover. Let’s share Abravanel’s description of the
unfolding events.
A parading of sorts commenced, whereby Jesse marched his sons – beginning with the eldest –
in front of the seer. “And it came to pass, when they were come, that he beheld Eliab, and said
[to himself]: Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him.”
Eliab, Jesse’s eldest son, made a dashing impression. For good reason. He was a handsome and
imposing man. Samuel thought the search for king was over. “Surely the LORD’S anointed” said
Samuel under his breath. Indeed, Eliab cut quite a figure.
God educated Samuel. “But the LORD said unto Samuel: Look not on his countenance, or on the
height of his stature; because I have despised him…” Of course, “despised” is not just a strong
word or pejorative; it implies criminal conduct. If so, what exactly was Eliab’s crime? For
Abravanel the harsh term does not modify or describe Eliab. Thus, Abravanel massages the
translation. He learns that God despised not “him” but “it.” The it refers to Eliab’s great height.
Samuel initially thought that just as Saul was tall, “head and shoulders above the rest”, so too
would all successive kings need great height. Patently false, the Maker informed the prophet.
God had had enough of large-framed men. Tall King Saul, after all, turned from the Creator and
proved disobedient.
Samuel grew confused. If physical traits weren’t the main thing, what was? God responded to
Samuel’s disquiet. “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have
rejected him…” Saul had the height and charm, nevertheless, the Maker rejected him. King
Saul’s soul hadn’t been true to God. As we learned in a previous essay, Saul’s inner
convictions vis à vis Heaven’s dictates missed the mark.
God’s selection process for a new king continued, with each succeeding son of Jesse being
considered. And passed over. In short order, “Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before
Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse: The LORD has not chosen these.”
Samuel believed that God’s pick would eventually show up. “And Samuel said unto Jesse: Are
here all your children? And he said: There remains yet the youngest, and, behold, he keeps the
sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse: Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he come
hither.”
The prophet would not agree to break bread with Jesse until the matter of kingship was settled.
“And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of beautiful eyes, and goodly
to look upon. And the LORD said: Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” David’s heart was precisely
what Heaven had in mind.