Eliab is a biblical figure mentioned primarily in the Old Testament, known for his role as the eldest brother of David, the future king of Israel. His account is interwoven with the narrative of David's rise to prominence and the anointing of a new king over Israel.

Family Background and Early Life

Eliab was the firstborn son of Jesse, a Bethlehemite from the tribe of Judah. He is introduced in the context of the prophet Samuel's search for a new king to replace Saul. Jesse had eight sons, and Eliab was the eldest, followed by Abinadab, Shammah, and David, the youngest. The family lineage is significant, as it places Eliab within the tribe from which the Messiah was prophesied to come.

Anointing of David

In 1 Samuel 16, the prophet Samuel is sent by God to anoint one of Jesse's sons as the next king of Israel. When Samuel sees Eliab, he is initially impressed by his appearance and stature, thinking he must be the Lord's anointed. However, God instructs Samuel not to consider Eliab's outward appearance, saying, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). This passage highlights the biblical theme that God values inner character over external attributes.

Role in the Battle Against the Philistines

Eliab's most notable appearance occurs in the narrative of David and Goliath. In 1 Samuel 17, the Israelites are engaged in battle with the Philistines, and Eliab, along with his brothers, is part of Saul's army. When David arrives at the battlefield to deliver provisions to his brothers, Eliab reacts with anger and jealousy. He questions David's motives, saying, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the wickedness of your heart; you have come down to see the battle" (1 Samuel 17:28). Eliab's response reflects a common human tendency to misjudge others' intentions, especially within familial relationships.

Legacy and Lessons

Eliab's account serves as a reminder of the importance of humility and the dangers of jealousy. Despite being the eldest and likely the most experienced, Eliab was not chosen by God to lead Israel. His interactions with David reveal a struggle with pride and a lack of discernment regarding God's purposes. Eliab's life underscores the biblical principle that God's choices often defy human expectations and that true leadership is determined by one's heart and faithfulness to God.

References in Genealogies

Eliab is also mentioned in genealogical records, such as 1 Chronicles 2:13, which lists him as the firstborn of Jesse. These genealogies affirm his place within the lineage of David and the tribe of Judah, maintaining his significance in the broader narrative of Israel's history.

Eliab's account, though brief, is a poignant illustration of the themes of divine selection and the heart's condition, which resonate throughout the biblical text.Eliab

God is my father; God is the father

Eliab

(God is my father).

1. Son of Helon and leader of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the wilderness of Sinai. (Numbers 1:9; 2:7; 7:24,29; 10:16) (B.C. 1490.)
2. A Reubenite, father of Dathan and Abiram. (Numbers 16:1,12; 26:8,9; 11:6)
3. One of David's brothers, the eldest of the family. (1 Samuel 16:6; 17:13,28; 1 Chronicles 2:13) (B.C. 1063.)
4. A Levite in the time of David, who was both a "porter" and a musician on the "psaltery." (1 Chronicles 15:18,20; 16:5)
5. One of the warlike Gadite leaders who came over to David when he was in the wilderness taking refuge from Saul. (1 Chronicles 12:9) (B.C. 1061.)
6. An ancestor of Samuel the prophet; a Kohathite Levite, son of Nahath. (1 Chronicles 6:27) (B.C. 1250).
7. Son of Nathanael, one of the fore-fathers of Judith, and therefore belonging to the tribe of Simeon. Judith 8:1.

Eliab

The oldest brother of David, towards whom his conduct was passionate and jealous, thus confirming the judgment of Him who looks not on the appearance, but the heart, 1 Samuel 16:6,7; 17:28.

To whom God is father.

(1.) A Reubenite, son of Pallu (Numbers 16:1, 12; 26:8, 9; Deuteronomy 11:6).

(2.) A son of Helon, and chief of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the wilderness (Numbers 1:9; 2:7).

(3.) The son of Jesse, and brother of David (1 Samuel 16:6). It was he who spoke contemptuously to David when he proposed to fight Goliath (1 Samuel 17:28).

(4.) One of the Gadite heroes who joined David in his stronghold in the wilderness (1 Chronicles 12:9).

ELIAB

e-li'-ab ('eli'abh, "God is father"):

(1) Prince of the tribe of Zebulun in the Exodus (Numbers 1:9; Numbers 2:7; Numbers 7:24, 29; 10:16).

(2) A Reubenite, father of Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 16:11, 12; Numbers 26:8 Deuteronomy 11:6).

(3) Eldest son of Jesse and brother of David (1 Samuel 16:6), once called Elihu (1 Chronicles 27:18). He was of commanding appearance (1 Samuel 16:6) and when serving with Saul's army at the time when it was confronting the Philistines and Goliath, was inclined to lord it over his brother David (1 Samuel 17:28 f). His daughter Abihail became a Wife of Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:18).

(4) An Ephraimite, an ancestor of Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:27); called Eliel in 1 Chronicles 6:34, and Elihu in 1 Samuel 1:1.

(5) A Gadire warrior with David (1 Chronicles 12:9), one of 11 mighty men (1 Chronicles 12:8, 14).

(6) A Levite musician (1 Chronicles 15:18, 20; 1 Chronicles 16:5).

(7) An ancestor of Judith (APC Judith 8:1; compare APC Judith 9:2).

F. K. Farr

446. Eliab -- "God is father," the name of several Israelites
... 445, 446. Eliab. 447 . "God is father," the name of several Israelites.
Transliteration: Eliab Phonetic Spelling: (el-ee-awb') Short Definition: Eliab. ...
/hebrew/446.htm - 6k

The Story of David, the Shepherd Boy
... closely. The oldest was named Eliab, and he was so tall and noble-looking that
Samuel thought: ... him?". David's brother Eliab said to him: ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of david the.htm

The First Kings.
... eight sons. Eliab, the eldest, like Saul, was fine-looking"tall, athletic,
and commanding in his personal appearance. Samuel thought ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/the first kings.htm

The Story of David
... The first to come was Eliab, Jesse's eldest son, and when Samuel saw him he
felt sure that this was the man who was to be anointed king. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/steedman/david the shepherd boy/the story of david.htm

The Shepherd Boy of Bethlehem.
... Jesse was the grandson of Ruth and Boaz, and owned the fields, no doubt, where
Ruth gleaned. When Samuel saw Eliab, the son of Jesse, he said: ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xix the shepherd boy.htm

The Power of a Pebble.
... Then Eliab, David's eldest brother, spoke sternly to David asking him why he had
left his sheep to come down and see the battle, and called him naughty and ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xx the power of.htm

The Shepherd-King
... And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.6. And it
came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the shepherd-king.htm

How, Upon Saul's Transgression of the Prophet's Commands, Samuel ...
... So he made five others of his sons to come to him; of all of whom Eliab was the
eldest, Aminadab the second, Shammall the third, Nathaniel the fourth, Rael the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 how upon sauls.htm

How the Philistines Made Another Expedition against the Hebrews ...
... abusing the army, and had indignation at it, and said to his brethren, "I am ready
to fight a single combat with this adversary." Whereupon Eliab, his eldest ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 how the philistines.htm

April the Twenty-Eighth Preparing for Great Encounters
... He had conquered his temper. Read Eliab's irritating taunt in the twenty-eighth
verse, and mark the fine self-possession of the young champion's reply! ...
/.../april the twenty-eighth preparing for.htm

The Royal Pair in their Glorious Chariot
... We, in our folly, would anoint Eliab or Abinadab, but God hath chosen David, the
shepherd's boy, and he will bring him forth and teach him how to hurl the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/the royal pair in their.htm

Eliab's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Eliab's (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 17:28 Eliab his
eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's...
/e/eliab's.htm - 6k

Eliab (20 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ELIAB. ... Multi-Version Concordance Eliab (20
Occurrences). Numbers 1:9 Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon. ...
/e/eliab.htm - 15k

Eli'ab (19 Occurrences)
Eli'ab. Eliab, Eli'ab. Eliab's . Multi-Version Concordance Eli'ab (19 Occurrences).
Numbers 1:9 Of Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon. (See RSV). ...
/e/eli'ab.htm - 11k

Helon (5 Occurrences)
... Strong, father of Eliab, who was "captain of the children of Zebulun" (Numbers
1:9; 2:7). Int. ... Numbers 1:9 Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon. ...
/h/helon.htm - 8k

Dathan (8 Occurrences)
... Welled; belonging to a fountain, a son of Eliab, a Reubenite, who joined Korah
(qv) in his conspiracy, and with his accomplices was swallowed up by an ...
/d/dathan.htm - 10k

Abiram (9 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Father of height; ie, "proud.". (1.) One of the sons of
Eliab, who joined Korah in the conspiracy against Moses and Aaron. ...
/a/abiram.htm - 12k

Zeb'ulun (41 Occurrences)
... Numbers 1:9 Of Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon. (See RSV). ... Numbers 7:24 On the third
day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun: (See RSV). ...
/z/zeb'ulun.htm - 16k

Elihu (11 Occurrences)
... (2.) The son of Tohu, and grandfather of Elkanah (1 Samuel 1:1). He is called
also Eliel (1 Chronicles 6:34) and Eliab (6:27). ... See ELIAB. ...
/e/elihu.htm - 15k

Zechari'ah (51 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 15:18 and with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah,
Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah ...
/z/zechari'ah.htm - 20k

Jehi'el (12 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 15:18 and with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah,
Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah ...
/j/jehi'el.htm - 9k

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