1 Samuel 16 · a question people ask
Was David king from the day he was anointed?
The LORD said, "I have provided a king for myself among his sons" (16:1), and Samuel "anointed him in the middle of his brothers" (16:13). But the chapter doesn't use the word king at the anointing, and it doesn't say what Samuel told David. Saul is still the one his servants call "our lord" (16:16), and David is with the sheep again: Saul sends to Jesse for "David your son, who is with the sheep" (16:19). Then David becomes Saul's armor bearer (16:21). After Saul's death, 2 Samuel tells of two more anointings: "The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah" (2 Samuel 2:4), and later all the elders of Israel came, "and they anointed David king over Israel" (2 Samuel 5:3). The chapter doesn't say how long it was from one anointing to the next.
The verses
“The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided a king for myself among his sons.””
“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. Then the LORD’s Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.”
“Let our lord now command your servants who are in front of you to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. Then when the evil spirit from God is on you, he will play with his hand, and you will be well.””
“Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.””