161 Now the Lord said to Samuel , " How long will you grieve over Saul , since I have rejected him from being king over Israel ? Fill your horn with oil and go ; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite , for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons ." 2 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 .' 3 "You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice , and I will show you what you shall do ; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you." 4 So Samuel did what the Lord said , and came to Bethlehem . And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said , " Do you come in peace ?" 5 He said , "In peace ; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord . Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice ." He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 16:1-5
Commentary on 1 Samuel 16:1-5
(Read 1 Samuel 16:1-5)
It appears that Saul was grown very wicked. Of what would he not be guilty, who durst think to kill Samuel? The elders of Bethlehem trembled at Samuel's coming. It becomes us to stand in awe of God's messengers, and to tremble at his word. His answer was, I come peaceably, for I come to sacrifice. When our Lord Jesus came into the world, though men had reason to fear that his errand was to condemn the world, yet he gave full assurance that he came peaceably, for he came to sacrifice, and he brought his offering with him; A body hast thou prepared me. Let us sanctify ourselves, and depend upon His sacrifice.