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If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.&#8221 The LORD said, &#8220Take a heifer with you and say, &#8216I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.&#8217 <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/16.htm">New Living Translation</a> But Samuel asked, “How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” “Take a heifer with you,” the LORD replied, “and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the LORD. <a href="/esv/1_samuel/16.htm">English Standard Version</a> And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ <a href="/bsb/1_samuel/16.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> “How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/16.htm">King James Bible</a> And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. <a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/16.htm">New King James Version</a> And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” But the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ <a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/16.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” But the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/16.htm">NASB 1995</a> But Samuel said, &#8220How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.&#8221 And the LORD said, &#8220Take a heifer with you and say, &#8216I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.&#8217 <a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/16.htm">NASB 1977 </a> But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ <a href="/lsb/1_samuel/16.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> But Samuel said, “How can I go? Saul will hear of it and will kill me.” Then Yahweh said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.’ <a href="/amp/1_samuel/16.htm">Amplified Bible</a> But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer from the herd with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ <a href="/csb/1_samuel/16.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me! ” The LORD answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ <a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/16.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Samuel asked, &#8220How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!&#8221 The LORD answered, &#8220Take a young cow with you and say, &#8216I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.&#8217 <a href="/asv/1_samuel/16.htm">American Standard Version</a> And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And Jehovah said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah. <a href="/cev/1_samuel/16.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Samuel answered, "If I do that, Saul will find out and have me killed." "Take a calf with you," the LORD replied. "Tell everyone that you've come to offer it as a sacrifice to me, <a href="/erv/1_samuel/16.htm">English Revised Version</a> And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. <a href="/gwt/1_samuel/16.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> "How can I go?" Samuel asked. "When Saul hears about it, he'll kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I've come to sacrifice to the LORD.' <a href="/gnt/1_samuel/16.htm">Good News Translation</a> "How can I do that?" Samuel asked. "If Saul hears about it, he will kill me!" The LORD answered, "Take a calf with you and say that you are there to offer a sacrifice to the LORD. <a href="/isv/1_samuel/16.htm">International Standard Version</a> Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about this and kill me!" The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I've come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD.' <a href="/net/1_samuel/16.htm">NET Bible</a> Samuel replied, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!" But the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' <a href="/nheb/1_samuel/16.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. <a href="/wbt/1_samuel/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul shall hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.<div class="vheading2">Majority Text Translations</div><a href="/msb/1_samuel/16.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> “How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ <a href="/web/1_samuel/16.htm">World English Bible</a> Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” Yahweh said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.’ <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/16.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And Samuel says, “How do I go? When Saul has heard, then he has slain me.” And YHWH says, “You take a heifer of the herd in your hand, and have said, I have come to sacrifice to YHWH; <a href="/ylt/1_samuel/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Samuel saith, 'How do I go? when Saul hath heard, then he hath slain me.' And Jehovah saith, 'A heifer of the herd thou dost take in thy hand, and hast said, To sacrifice to Jehovah I have come; <a href="/slt/1_samuel/16.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Samuel will say, How shall I go? and Saul hearing, and killing me. And Jehovah will say, Thou shalt take a heifer of the cows in thy hand and say, To sacrifice to Jehovah I came.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/1_samuel/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And Samuel said: How shall I go? for Saul will hear of it, and he will kill me. And the Lord said: Thou shalt take with thee a calf of the herd, and thou shalt say: I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. <a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/16.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And Samuel said: “How shall I go? For Saul will hear of it, and he will put me to death.” And the Lord said: “You shall take, by your hand, a calf from the herd. And you shall say, ‘I have arrived in order to immolate to the Lord.’ <a href="/nabre/1_samuel/16.htm">New American Bible</a> But Samuel replied: “How can I go? Saul will hear of it and kill me.” To this the LORD answered: Take a heifer along and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.” <a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/16.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/16.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said to Samuel, Take a heifer with you, and say, I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. <a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/16.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And Shemueil said: “How will I go? Shaul will hear and he will kill me!” And LORD JEHOVAH said to Shemueil: “Take A calf of an ox with your hand and say, ‘To sacrifice to LORD JEHOVAH I have come’<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/1_samuel/16.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And Samuel said: 'How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me.' And the LORD said: 'Take a heifer with thee, and say: I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. <a href="/sep/1_samuel/16.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And Samuel said, How can I go? whereas Saul will hear of it, and slay me: and the Lord said, Take a heifer in thine hand and thou shall say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. <a href="/parallel/1_samuel/16-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=4388" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/16.htm">Samuel Anoints David</a> 1Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.” 2<a href="/hebrew/349.htm" title="349: ’êḵ (Interjection) -- How?. Also eykah; and teykakah; prolonged from 'ay; how? Or how!; also where.">“How</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: ’ê·lêḵ (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">can I go?”</a> <a href="/hebrew/8050.htm" title="8050: šə·mū·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- Name of God, a prophet of Isr. From the passive participle of shama' and 'el; heard of God; Shemuel, the name of three Israelites.">Samuel</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">asked.</a> <a href="/hebrew/7586.htm" title="7586: šā·’ūl (N-proper-ms) -- Passive participle of sha'al; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites.">“Saul</a> <a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: wə·šā·ma‘ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">will hear of it</a> <a href="/hebrew/2026.htm" title="2026: wa·hă·rå̄·ḡå̄·nīs (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms:: 1cs2) -- To kill, slay. A primitive root; to smite with deadly intent.">and kill me!”</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">The LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">answered,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: tiq·qaḥ (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">“Take</a> <a href="/hebrew/5697.htm" title="5697: ‘eḡ·laṯ (N-fsc) -- A heifer. Feminine of egel; a calf, especially one nearly grown."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1241.htm" title="1241: bā·qār (N-ms) -- Cattle, herd, an ox. From baqar; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender; collectively, a herd.">a heifer</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: bə·yā·ḏe·ḵā (Prep-b:: N-fsc:: 2ms) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)">with you</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wə·’ā·mar·tā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-2ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and say,</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: bā·ṯî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">‘I have come</a> <a href="/hebrew/2076.htm" title="2076: liz·bō·aḥ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To slaughter for sacrifice. A primitive root; to slaughter an animal.">to sacrifice</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">to the LORD.’</a> 3Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/genesis/12-11.htm">Genesis 12:11-13</a> As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman, / and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. / Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.” <a href="/exodus/3-18.htm">Exodus 3:18</a> The elders of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ <a href="/1_kings/18-9.htm">1 Kings 18:9-14</a> But Obadiah replied, “How have I sinned, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death? / As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you. / And now you say, ‘Go tell your master that Elijah is here!’ ... <a href="/2_kings/6-32.htm">2 Kings 6:32</a> Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?” <a href="/jeremiah/38-24.htm">Jeremiah 38:24-27</a> Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, “Do not let anyone know about this conversation, or you will die. / If the officials hear that I have spoken with you, and they come and demand of you, ‘Tell us what you said to the king and what he said to you; do not hide it from us, or we will kill you,’ / then tell them, ‘I was presenting to the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.’” ... <a href="/matthew/2-12.htm">Matthew 2:12-13</a> And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route. / When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” <a href="/matthew/10-16.htm">Matthew 10:16</a> Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. <a href="/john/7-1.htm">John 7:1</a> After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him. <a href="/john/11-53.htm">John 11:53-54</a> So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. / As a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples. <a href="/acts/9-23.htm">Acts 9:23-25</a> After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, / but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. / One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall. <a href="/acts/23-12.htm">Acts 23:12-24</a> When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ... <a href="/genesis/20-2.htm">Genesis 20:2</a> Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. <a href="/genesis/26-7.htm">Genesis 26:7</a> But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.” <a href="/joshua/2-1.htm">Joshua 2:1-4</a> Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. / And it was reported to the king of Jericho: “Behold, some men of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.” / So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.” ... <a href="/1_kings/19-3.htm">1 Kings 19:3</a> And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with you, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.How can I go<a href="/exodus/3-11.htm">Exodus 3:11</a> And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?<a href="/1_kings/18-9.htm">1 Kings 18:9-14</a> And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? … <a href="/matthew/10-16.htm">Matthew 10:16</a> Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.with thee [heb] in thine hand<a href="/1_samuel/9-12.htm">1 Samuel 9:12</a> And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:I am come<a href="/1_samuel/9-12.htm">1 Samuel 9:12</a> And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:<a href="/1_samuel/20-29.htm">1 Samuel 20:29</a> And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.<a href="/jeremiah/38-26.htm">Jeremiah 38:26,27</a> Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/14-18.htm">Cow</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-35.htm">Death</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-32.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-14.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-27.htm">Heard</a> <a href="/1_samuel/3-11.htm">Hears</a> <a href="/judges/14-18.htm">Heifer</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-21.htm">Herd</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-3.htm">Kill</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-33.htm">News</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-21.htm">Offering</a> <a href="/1_samuel/1-6.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-22.htm">Sacrifice</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-1.htm">Samuel</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-1.htm">Saul</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-11.htm">Slain</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-9.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/28-24.htm">Cow</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-35.htm">Death</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-16.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-1.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-11.htm">Heard</a> <a href="/2_samuel/17-9.htm">Hears</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-21.htm">Heifer</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-20.htm">Herd</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-9.htm">Kill</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-18.htm">News</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-3.htm">Offering</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-17.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-3.htm">Sacrifice</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-4.htm">Samuel</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-14.htm">Saul</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-52.htm">Slain</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-18.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 16</div>1. <a href="/1_samuel/16-1.htm">Samuel sent by God, under pretense of a sacrifice, comes to Bethlehem</a> 6. <a href="/1_samuel/16-6.htm">His human judgment is reproved</a> 11. <a href="/1_samuel/16-11.htm">He anoints David</a> 15. <a href="/1_samuel/16-15.htm">Saul sends for David to quiet his evil spirit</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/16.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/16.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>“How can I go?” Samuel asked. Samuel's question reflects his fear and concern about the task God has given him. This moment occurs after God has rejected Saul as king and instructed Samuel to anoint a new king from the sons of Jesse in Bethlehem. Samuel's hesitation highlights the tension between divine command and human fear, a common theme in Scripture. It also underscores Samuel's awareness of the political danger involved, as Saul is still the reigning king and could perceive this as a threat to his throne.“Saul will hear of it and kill me!” This phrase indicates the volatile nature of Saul's reign at this time. Saul's mental and spiritual state had deteriorated, making him unpredictable and dangerous. Historically, kings often eliminated perceived threats to their rule, and Samuel's fear is justified given Saul's previous actions. This situation illustrates the broader biblical theme of the cost of obedience to God, even when it involves personal risk.The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, God provides Samuel with a strategy to fulfill His command while addressing Samuel's fear. The instruction to take a heifer suggests a legitimate reason for Samuel's visit to Bethlehem, as sacrifices were a common and accepted practice. This reflects God's wisdom in navigating human affairs and His provision for those He calls to serve Him. The heifer also symbolizes peace and reconciliation, aligning with the sacrificial system established in the Mosaic Law.‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ This statement serves as a cover for Samuel's true mission, which is to anoint David as the future king. Sacrifices were central to Israelite worship and community life, often involving communal meals and gatherings. This context would not arouse suspicion among the people or Saul. The act of sacrifice points to the importance of worship and obedience to God, themes that are prevalent throughout the Bible. Additionally, it foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fulfills the sacrificial system through His death and resurrection.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/s/samuel.htm">Samuel</a> A prophet and judge of Israel, Samuel is tasked by God to anoint a new king, which puts him in a precarious position with the current king, Saul. 2. <a href="/topical/s/saul.htm">Saul</a> The first king of Israel, whose disobedience to God has led to his rejection as king. His potential reaction to Samuel's mission is a source of fear for Samuel. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a> God, who provides guidance and reassurance to Samuel, instructing him on how to proceed with his mission. 4. <a href="/topical/b/bethlehem.htm">Bethlehem</a> The town where Samuel is sent to anoint David, the future king of Israel. 5. <a href="/topical/h/heifer.htm">Heifer</a> An animal used for sacrifice, which serves as a cover for Samuel's true mission to anoint David.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god_despite_fear.htm">Obedience to God Despite Fear</a> Samuel's fear of Saul is real, yet he chooses to obey God's command. This teaches us the importance of trusting God's plan even when it seems risky. <a href="/topical/g/god's_provision_of_wisdom.htm">God's Provision of Wisdom</a> God provides Samuel with a strategy to safely carry out His will. This illustrates that God equips us with the wisdom needed to navigate difficult situations. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_sacrifice.htm">The Role of Sacrifice</a> The heifer represents a legitimate act of worship, reminding us that our actions should always align with genuine devotion to God. <a href="/topical/c/courage_in_leadership.htm">Courage in Leadership</a> Samuel's willingness to confront danger for the sake of God's command is a model of courageous leadership. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_leadership_transitions.htm">God's Sovereignty in Leadership Transitions</a> The anointing of David signifies God's control over leadership changes, encouraging us to trust His timing and decisions.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_16.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 16</a> <a href="/q/how_did_king_saul_die.htm">How did King Saul die? (1 Samuel 31:4-6 vs. 2 Samuel 1:8-10)</a> <a href="/q/who_killed_saul__himself_or_amalekite.htm">Who killed Saul? Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.... Thus Saul died... (I Samuel 31:4-6) An Amalekite slew him (2 Samuel 1:1- 16)</a> <a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_1_chr_10_4_and_2_sam_1_10.htm">How can 1 Chronicles 10's account that Saul died by falling on his own sword (1 Chronicles 10:4) be reconciled with 2 Samuel 1:10, where an Amalekite claims to have killed him?</a> <a href="/q/why_do_1_chr_16_and_2_sam_6_differ.htm">Why does 1 Chronicles 16 differ from 2 Samuel 6 in describing the Ark's journey and the people's offerings?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/16.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) He will kill me.--The unhappy mental malady of Saul must have made rapid progress. The jealous king was indeed changed from the Saul who even, in his self-willed rebellion against the Lord, was careful to pay honour to Samuel. But now the aged prophet felt that if he crossed the king's path in any way, even in carrying out the commands of the invisible King of Israel, his life would be forfeited to the fierce anger of Saul.Take an heifer with thee.--And the Divine voice instructed Samuel how he should proceed. There was to be as yet no public anointing of the successor to Saul, only the future king must be sought out, and quietly, but solemnly, set apart for service before the Lord, and then watched over and carefully trained for his high office.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/16.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 2. - And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. Saul was actually king, and the anointing of another in his stead would be regarded as an act of open treason, and the stirring up of civil war. This was not indeed intended. The anointing of David was a prophetic indication of the man whom God, in his own way and at his own time,would place upon Saul's throne, without either scheming or action thereto on the part either of Samuel or of David. Its value would chiefly lie in the careful training he would receive from Samuel; but when David was king, it would also greatly strengthen his position; for it would be known that from his boyhood he had been marked out for his high office. Never did man mount a throne with purer hands than David; and if Saul would have permitted it, he would have been a faithful and loyal servant to the last. It was Saul really who thrust the kingdom upon David. As regards Samuel's fears, headstrong as Saul was, he owed too much to the prophet to have put]aim to death; but he would have visited the act upon Jesse and his family with revengeful violence, and Samuel would henceforward have lost all freedom of action, even if he were not cast into prison, or banished from the land. God therefore commands him to take an heifer with him, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah. The question has been asked, Was there in this any duplicity? In answer we may ask another question: Is it always necessary, or even right, to tell in all cases the whole truth? If so, quarrels and ill-feeling would be multiplied to such an extent that social life would be unendurable. All charitable, well disposed persons suppress much, and keep a guard over their lips, lest they should stir up strife and hatred. Now here there was to be no treason, no inciting to civil war. David, still a child, was to be set apart for a high destiny, possibly without at the time fully knowing what the anointing meant, and certainly with the obligation to take no step whatsoever towards winning the crown that was to descend upon his head. This was his probation, and he bore the trial nobly. And what right would Samuel have had, not merely to compel David to be a traitor, but to place Jesse and his family in a position of danger and difficulty? To have anointed David publicly would have forced Jesse to an open rupture with the king, and he must have sought safety either by fighting for his life, or by breaking up his home, and fleeing into a foreign land. David in course of time had thus to seek an asylum for his parents (<a href="/1_samuel/22-3.htm">1 Samuel 22:3, 4</a>), but it was through no fault of his own, for he always remained true to his allegiance. Even when David was being hunted for his life, he made no appeal to Samuel's anointing, but it remained, what it was ever intended to be, a secret sign and declaration to him of God's preordained purpose, but of one as to which he was to take no step to bring about its fulfilment. It was a pledge to David, and nothing but misery would have resulted from its being prematurely made known to those who had no right to know it. God wraps up the flower, which is in due time to open and bear fruit, within many a covering; and to rend these open prematurely is to destroy the flower and the fruit that is to spring from it. And so to have anointed David openly, and to have made him understand the meaning of the act, would have been to destroy David and frustrate the Divine purpose. <a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/16-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>“How אֵ֣יךְ (’êḵ) Interjection <a href="/hebrew/strongs_349.htm">Strong's 349: </a> How?, how!, where can I go?” אֵלֵ֔ךְ (’ê·lêḵ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> To go, come, walk Samuel שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (šə·mū·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8050.htm">Strong's 8050: </a> Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel asked. וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “Saul שָׁא֖וּל (šā·’ūl) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7586.htm">Strong's 7586: </a> Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites will hear of it וְשָׁמַ֥ע (wə·šā·ma‘) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8085.htm">Strong's 8085: </a> To hear intelligently and kill me!” וַהֲרָגָ֑נִי (wa·hă·rā·ḡā·nî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2026.htm">Strong's 2026: </a> To smite with deadly intent The LORD יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel answered, וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “Take תִּקַּ֣ח (tiq·qaḥ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> To take a heifer בָּקָר֙ (bā·qār) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1241.htm">Strong's 1241: </a> Beef cattle, ox, a herd with you בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ (bə·yā·ḏe·ḵā) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3027.htm">Strong's 3027: </a> A hand and say, וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ (wə·’ā·mar·tā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say ‘I have come בָּֽאתִי׃ (bā·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> To come in, come, go in, go to sacrifice לִזְבֹּ֥חַ (liz·bō·aḥ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2076.htm">Strong's 2076: </a> To slaughter for sacrifice to the LORD.’ לַֽיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/16-2.htm">1 Samuel 16:2 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/16-2.htm">1 Samuel 16:2 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/1_samuel/16-2.htm">1 Samuel 16:2 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/16-2.htm">1 Samuel 16:2 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/16-2.htm">1 Samuel 16:2 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/16-2.htm">1 Samuel 16:2 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/16-2.htm">1 Samuel 16:2 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/16-2.htm">1 Samuel 16:2 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/16-2.htm">1 Samuel 16:2 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/1_samuel/16-2.htm">1 Samuel 16:2 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-2.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 16:2 Samuel said How can I go? If (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/16-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 16:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 16:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/16-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 16:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 16:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>