Eldest brother of King David
Eliab
Named in 5 verses across 3 books, first in 1 Samuel 16:6.
אֱלִיאָבEliab
The name means “God is my father; God is the father.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Eliab Written by AI
Eliab, mentioned in 1 Samuel 16:6; 1 Chronicles 2:13; and 2 Chronicles 11:18, was the eldest son of Jesse and the brother of King David. When the prophet Samuel came to anoint one of Jesse's sons as the future king, Eliab was the first to pass before him. However, God instructed Samuel not to judge by appearance, as He had not chosen Eliab (1 Samuel 16:6 to 7). Eliab, along with his brothers, served in Saul's army during the battle against the Philistines. When David visited the camp, Eliab rebuked him, accusing him of neglecting their father's sheep out of pride and curiosity (1 Samuel 17:28). Despite this tension, Eliab witnessed David's victory over Goliath and his rise to prominence in Israel. Eliab's daughter, Abihail, later married King Rehoboam, the son of Solomon (2 Chronicles 11:18), indicating a continued connection between the families.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Eliab, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
To whom God is father. (1.) A Reubenite, son of Pallu (Num. 16:1, 12; 26:8, 9; Deut. 11:6).
(2.) A son of Helon, and chief of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the wilderness (Num. 1:9; 2:7).
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(3.) The son of Jesse, and brother of David (1 Sam. 16:6). It was he who spoke contemptuously to David when he proposed to fight Goliath (1 Sam. 17:28).
(4.) One of the Gadite heroes who joined David in his stronghold in the wilderness (1 Chr. 12:9).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- 1 Samuel 16:6
When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.”
- 1 Samuel 17:13
The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul into battle: The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah.
- 1 Samuel 17:28
Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!”
- 1 Chronicles 2:13
Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third,
- 2 Chronicles 11:18
And Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.