[XXXIII. A STORY OF VICTORY]
KING SAUL had disobeyed God, and the Lord had rejected him from being king.
The Prophet Samuel had set his heart on this first King of Israel, and he grieved terribly that the Lord had reject him. So he went down to his house and mourned over all that had happened.
But at length the Lord spoke to Samuel and He said words like these: "How long will you mourn for Saul? Take your horn of oil and go to Bethlehem, for I have provided me a king among the sons of Jesse the Bethlehemite."
So Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and took with him a heifer for a sacrifice to the Lord, and called Jesse and his sons to share in the sacrifice.
Samuel did not know which of Jesse's sons was to be the king, and as one and another passed before him, the Lord told him that He had not chosen that one.
At length Samuel said to Jesse: "Are these seven all thy sons?"
And Jesse answered: "There is still the youngest, and he is with the sheep."
So David was sent for, and the Lord said to Samuel: "Arise, anoint him: for this is he."