To understand
An old man pours some oil on the head of a young man, Samuel anoints David.
Samuel is an old man; he has filled a bull’s horn with oil and pours it solemnly on David’s head. Sometimes, the horn is replaced by a vase or a phial. Samuel does nothing else but obey to God and painters have sometimes represented the hand of God who touches the horn to manifest his will.
David is an adolescent, sometimes barely out of childhood. In spite of the text, he is not always red-haired, he is often dressed as a shepherd, often carrying his stick, but he can also take noble or royal appearances.
The anointment of David by Samuel is a simple gesture that has nothing of a coronation ceremony. The scenery is often rural and David’s family, his father Jesse and his seven brothers, can attend the scene. If a woman is present ,she is not David’s mother but an allegory of humility.
The biblical narrative
The First Book of Samuel, chapter 16
The Hebrews wanted to do like other peoples and have a king. In about 1035 BC, the prophet Samuel anointed Saul, chosen by God. But Saul was a bad king and God decided to choose another, one of Jesse’s sons. Samuel goes to Bethlehem to Jesse’s house in order to anoint one of his sons. When he sees his elder son he says
Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Do not look at his countenance, or at the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
Thus Samuel successively sees Jesse’s seven sons but none pleases God and the youngest is a shepherd.
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are all your children here ? And he said, There remains yet the youngest, and, behold, he keeps the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he comes here.
And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and with a beautiful countenance, and good-looking. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is the one.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. (1 Samuel 16:6-13)
Comment
Samuel is a prophet and he acts in the name of God. The perfumed oil, usually used as a medicine, took a religious value. That was why Jewish priests received an ointment of oil but also the kings chosen by God, Saul then David.
The Lord’s Anointed is “Messiah” in Hebrew. David is a Messiah. A few centuries later, some Jews recognised a “New David”, another “messiah”, a name translated by Christos in Greek.
