שמואל א, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ו׳

When Samuel arrives at Jesse's house to anoint a new king, the sons are brought inside one by one to pass before the prophet [רד״ק, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Immediately upon seeing the oldest son, Eliab, Samuel is struck by his impressive physical appearance. Seeing a tall and handsome man, the prophet assumes these traits naturally qualify him for the throne. He believes that God selects kings with a commanding physical presence, much like King Saul, so they can instill fear in the people and possess the strength and bravery needed to fight God's battles [רלב״ג, רד״ק, אברבנאל].

Convinced by what he sees, Samuel feels certain that Eliab is truly the proper candidate for the kingship [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that Samuel is confident God will be with this young man and guide his path [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אברבנאל]. However, a question arises regarding how Samuel expresses this certainty. While some suggest he might have spoken his conclusion aloud [רד״ק], others emphasize that he only thought it in his heart [רש״י, חומת אנך, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This private reflection stems from the earlier divine command Samuel received, instructing him to anoint only the specific individual God would name. Had Samuel publicly declared Eliab the chosen king before receiving explicit approval, he would have violated God's instruction, so he keeps his thoughts to himself [חומת אנך].

In stark contrast, a completely different approach flips the narrative. According to this view, the moment Samuel sees Eliab and God does not immediately command him to anoint the young man, the prophet realizes Eliab is rejected. Because Samuel assumes God only chooses tall and handsome men, the rejection of someone who perfectly fits this description leads him to a sudden conclusion that there is no one in Israel worthy to replace the current king. Therefore, his thoughts about God's anointed are not directed at Eliab at all, but rather at King Saul. Samuel concludes that Saul, God's currently anointed king, still stands before Him and will not be replaced, as no suitable successor can be found [מלבי״ם, רלב״ג].