4. Samuel did as the Lord had commanded him. When he entered Bethlehem, the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and asked, “Is your visit peaceful, O seer?”
5. He replied: “Yes! I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. So purify yourselves and celebrate with me today.” He also had Jesse and his sons purify themselves and invited them to the sacrifice.
6. As they came, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the anointed is here before the Lord.”
7. But the Lord said to Samuel: Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The Lord looks into the heart.
8. Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him before Samuel, who said, “The Lord has not chosen him.”
9. Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.”