Useful Bible Studies > 1 Samuel Commentary > chapter 16
For a moment, it seemed as if Samuel’s visit to Bethlehem had failed to achieve its purpose. God had sent him there to appoint one of Jesse’s sons to be Israel’s next king. However, Samuel had now met each of Jesse’s 7 sons. God had clearly told Samuel that he had not chosen any of them.
Samuel was sure that God had sent him to Bethlehem for that purpose. So he carefully asked Jesse whether he had any other sons.
Jesse’s youngest boy was looking after the family’s sheep. The boy remained with the sheep as he guarded them from wild animals (17:34-36). He led the sheep to the places where they could find food and water (Psalm 23). So, he could have gone a long way from home, and sometimes he might be away for several days.
In ancient Israel, people usually gave the greatest honour to a father’s first son. That son would become the head of the family after his father’s death. He would become one of the elders (leaders) of his town, and all his brothers would have to respect his decisions.
On the other hand, the youngest son in a family did not seem important. Jesse’s sons did not respect their youngest brother (17:28).
God’s opinion about a person is different from the opinions that other people may have about that person (16:7). God had sent Samuel to Bethlehem to appoint one of Jesse’s sons to be king. So, Samuel could not allow the meal to begin until that son was present.
Everyone, even Samuel and Bethlehem’s elders, would have to wait until that youngest son had returned.
Next part: The boy whom God chose to be king (1 Samuel 16:12)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.