Reading for March 12th

Read 1 Samuel 16.1-13
In 16.1-13: David's anointing.
In verses 4-5: The elders of the city were nobles who functioned as a council of civic leaders.
Jesse seems to be among the elders of Bethlehem.
In verses 6-7: Like Saul, Elib is tall and handsome.
Samuel is impressed but is warned that the Lord regards the inner qualities or the heart as more important than outer appearance.
The writer is building a contrast between Saul and David.
In verses 8-9: David's brothers as rejected one by one.
Samuel is probably using some device like the Um and Thummin to determine whether each of the sons is the one chosen by the Lord.
In verse 10: This verse agrees with 17.12 in crediting Jesse with eight sons, but 1 Chr 2.13-15 mentions only seven with David as the youngest.
Since the number seven has special meaning as a symbol for completeness or for largeness, the seventh son may have been seen as specially blessed.
Perhaps David was originally the seventh son and the tradition became altered over time.
or perhaps he is described as the eighth son as a way of highlighting his humble origin.
In verse 11: The word translated the youngest may also mean "the smallest" and again contrasts David with Saul.
David is also keeping sheep.
 The image of a shepherd was a common metaphor for kings (2 Sam 5.2).
In verse 12: Ruddy means "reddish" of hair and complexion (Gen 25.25).
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