1 Samuel 16:19

Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which [is] with the sheep.

Wherefore Saul {H7586} sent {H7971} messengers {H4397} unto Jesse {H3448}, and said {H559}, Send {H7971} me David {H1732} thy son {H1121}, which is with the sheep {H6629}.

So Sha'ul sent messengers to Yishai saying, "Send me David your son, who is out with the sheep."

So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, โ€œSend me your son David, who is with the sheep.โ€

Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, who is with the sheep.

Commentary

Context

1 Samuel 16:19 marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, initiating David's entry into King Saul's court. This verse immediately follows the secret anointing of David by the prophet Samuel in Bethlehem, as recorded in 1 Samuel 16:1-13. While God had rejected Saul as king due to his disobedience, Saul was now afflicted by an evil spirit from the LORD, causing him great distress. His servants suggested finding a skilled harpist to soothe him. One servant then recommended David, describing him as "a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him." This glowing report, found in 1 Samuel 16:18, leads directly to Saul's command in this verse. Unaware of David's anointing as the future king, Saul's request for David to come from tending sheep highlights God's subtle yet powerful orchestration of events.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence: This verse beautifully illustrates how God orchestrates circumstances to fulfill His plan. Saul, seeking relief from his torment, unknowingly calls for the very individual God has chosen to replace him. This demonstrates God's sovereign hand in moving people and events, even through seemingly mundane or self-serving human actions.
  • Humble Beginnings: David is found "with the sheep," emphasizing his humble role as a shepherd. This contrasts sharply with the royal court he is about to enter and foreshadows his future rise from obscurity to kingship, a common biblical theme where God raises up the lowly (Psalm 78:70-72).
  • Unknowing Transition: Saul's request is purely for personal comfort, yet it serves as the initial, crucial step in the transition of power from Saul to David. Neither Saul nor David fully grasps the monumental significance of this summons at the time.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "which [is] with the sheep" simply describes David's current occupation. While not a complex linguistic point, it emphasizes David's identity as a shepherd. The Hebrew word for "sheep" used here is tso'n (ืฆืืŸ), a common term for flocks, highlighting his ordinary, unassuming life before God elevated him. This role as a shepherd would later profoundly influence his poetic and leadership qualities, as seen in his famous Psalm 23, "The LORD is my shepherd."

Practical Application

1 Samuel 16:19 reminds us that God often works in subtle, unexpected ways. Our current circumstances, no matter how humble or seemingly insignificant, can be part of God's greater plan for our lives. Just as David was called from the pasture to the palace, God can use our skills, even those developed in obscurity (like David's musical talent and courage), to open doors and lead us into His purpose. It encourages us to be faithful in our present responsibilities, trusting that God is sovereignly guiding our steps, even when we don't fully understand the outcome. It also highlights the irony of human plans versus divine will, a theme that resonates throughout biblical history and modern life.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 17:15 (3 votes)

    But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

  • 1 Samuel 16:11 (3 votes)

    And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all [thy] children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

  • Psalms 78:70 (3 votes)

    He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

  • Psalms 78:72 (3 votes)

    So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

  • 1 Samuel 17:33 (2 votes)

    And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou [art but] a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

  • 1 Samuel 17:34 (2 votes)

    And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

  • Exodus 3:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, [even] to Horeb.