1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have ^urejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 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.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall ^vanoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to ^wBethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?”