¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed^(A) him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord^(B) came powerfully upon David.^(C) Samuel then went to Ramah.

¹⁵ but David went back and forth from Saul to tend^(A) his father’s sheep^(B) at Bethlehem.

¹⁶ For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

¹⁷ Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah^[a](C) of roasted grain^(D) and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. ¹⁸ Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers^(E) are and bring back some assurance^[b] from them. ¹⁹ They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”

²⁰ Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry.

¹⁴ Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet^(A) nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.^{(B) 15} But the Lord took me from tending the flock^(C) and said to me, ‘Go,^(D) prophesy^(E) to my people Israel.’^(F)