KJV ORIGINAL
And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought to himself, 'Surely this must be the one the LORD has chosen to anoint as king.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Samuel assumes that Eliab, who must have looked impressive and kingly, is God's chosen one to be the next king of Israel.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Samuel's visit to Bethlehem to secretly anoint a new king to replace the rejected King Saul. Samuel is meeting Jesse's sons one by one, starting with the eldest, Eliab, who apparently had an impressive physical appearance that seemed fitting for royalty. In ancient times, physical stature and appearance were often considered important qualities for leadership.
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