Amongst those invited on this occasion was JESSE, sprung from one of the oldest families[244] in the place, the son of OBED, and grandson of the Moabitess RUTH. He was an aged man at this time, and the father of eight sons, of whom seven now accompanied him to the feast (1 Sam. xvii. 12). When they were all assembled, and waiting to commence, the Prophet looked upon the eldest, the tall Eliab, and thought that of a surety he beheld the Lord’s anointed. But the Divine Voice bade him not look upon _his countenance_, or _the height of his stature_, for the Lord, _who looketh not upon the outward appearance but upon the heart_, had refused him. Then the old man’s second son Abinadab passed before him, and his third son Shammah, and after them four other sons, but the Lord had chosen none of them. _Are here all thy children?_ enquired Samuel. _There remaineth yet the youngest_, said Jesse, _and, behold, he keepeth the sheep_. _Send and fetch him_, rejoined the Prophet; _till he come hither, we cannot sit round_ (1 Sam. xvi. 11, _margin_). Accordingly a messenger was sent to the sheepfolds, and brought in the youngest, DAVID (_the beloved_, _the darling_), the Benjamin of Jesse’s house. With his shepherd’s staff in his hand, his scrip or wallet round his neck (1 Sam. xvii. 40), a mere stripling beside the tall Eliab, ruddy or auburn-haired, with fair bright eyes[245], _comely and goodly to look to_ (1 Sam. xvi. 12, 18), he stood before the Prophet. _Arise, anoint him, for this is he_, whispered the Divine Voice, and there in the midst of his brethren and the assembled elders, Samuel poured upon him the consecrated oil, on which the feast so long delayed was celebrated, and Samuel rose up and returned to Ramah. (See Ps. lxxviii. 70–72.) Meanwhile the Spirit of God, which came upon David from that day forward, departed from Saul, and _an evil spirit troubled him_ (1 Sam. xvi. 14). He became moody and liable to fits of sudden phrensy. To rouse him from this distressing state, his servants advised that a clever player on the harp should be sent for, that by the charms of his music he might soothe his spirit. When enquiry was made for such a minstrel, one of the royal servants mentioned the name of the son of Jesse as not only cunning in playing, but of tried valour, prudent in speech, comely in person, and prospered with the blessing of the Lord (1 Sam. xvi. 18). Saul thereupon sent for him, and Jesse dispatched him with a humble offering. Even the troubled spirit of the king was soothed by the music of the future Psalmist of Israel; he loved him, and made him not only his minstrel but his armour-bearer, and retained him about his person (1 Sam. xvi. 21).