Bible Strands
1 Samuel 16:2
“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Samuel addresses the LORD, responding to God’s prior command to travel to Bethlehem. This dialogue occurs immediately after God instructs Samuel to anoint a new king from Jesse’s sons.
The words — אֵיךְ ('eikh) means "how?" and אֵלֵ֔ךְ ('e.Lekh) means "will I go," framing Samuel’s practical hesitation. וַ/הֲרָגָ֑/נִי (va./ha.ra.Ga./ni) translates to "and he will kill me," directly stating his fear of Saul’s retaliation.
The thread — Using a sacrificial gathering as a cover for a divine mission appears in 1 Samuel 9:12 and 1 Samuel 20:29. Jesus later addresses navigating dangerous assignments in Matthew 10:16.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to acknowledge that God’s commands often include practical provisions for safety. It demands compliance with divine direction despite legitimate fear of human opposition.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 9:12 “Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place.
- 1 Samuel 20:29 saying, ‘Please let me go, because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me go and see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”
- Matthew 10:16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
- Exodus 3:11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
- 1 Kings 18:9 But Obadiah replied, “How have I sinned, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death?
- Jeremiah 38:26 then tell them, ‘I was presenting to the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.’”
- Luke 1:34 “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”