Eliab

Biblical Account

Eliab was the firstborn of the eight sons of Jesse and the eldest brother of David. His Hebrew name is generally interpreted as meaning "God is father."

• Samuel's visit: In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel comes to Jesse's house to anoint a new king. Upon seeing Eliab, Samuel thinks he is the one God has chosen. God, however, tells him not to look on his countenance or the height of his stature, saying, "for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). In the end, David, the youngest, receives the anointing (1 Samuel 16:11–13).
• The Valley of Elah: According to 1 Samuel 17:13, Eliab, along with the second son, Abinadab, and the third, Shammah, followed Saul into battle against the Philistines. When David brings food to his brothers and asks about Goliath, Eliab becomes angry with him. He demands to know with whom David has left the sheep, declares that he knows David's pride and the naughtiness of his heart, and rebukes him for coming down to see the battle (1 Samuel 17:28). David answers by asking what he has done wrong and turns away.
• Genealogy: 1 Chronicles 2:13 lists Eliab as Jesse's firstborn. 2 Chronicles 11:18 records that Mahalath, the wife of Rehoboam, was a child of "Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse."

Significance Within Scripture

Eliab serves as a figure illustrating that God's choice differs from human standards. He is portrayed in a manner similar to Saul, whose height and appearance were emphasized (1 Samuel 9:2), and he thereby stands in contrast to David. The New Testament does not mention Eliab directly; Acts 13:22 speaks of David's being chosen but does not mention his brothers.

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

• The reason for his anger: Many preachers read Eliab's anger in 1 Samuel 17:28 as jealousy toward his younger brother or a sense of inferiority. The text itself does not state his motive.
• Did he witness the anointing?: 1 Samuel 16:13 records that David was anointed "in the midst of his brethren." Some interpreters therefore hold that Eliab rebuked David even though he knew of the anointing. Others suggest that the brothers probably did not grasp its significance.
• Relationship to Elihu: 1 Chronicles 27:18 names "Elihu, one of the brethren of David" as a leader of the tribe of Judah. On grounds such as the Septuagint's rendering of this name as Eliab, the two are commonly identified as the same person.
• Others of the same name: Scripture mentions several other individuals named Eliab, including the leader of the tribe of Zebulun in Numbers 1:9, the Reubenite in Numbers 16:1 (the father of Dathan and Abiram, associated with the rebellion of Korah), and a Levite musician in 1 Chronicles 15. These should not be confused with the son of Jesse.

In the Korean Church

In Korean church preaching, Eliab is chiefly discussed in connection with 1 Samuel 16:7 and is frequently cited as an example of the truth that "God looks not on the outward appearance but on the heart." He also appears in Sunday school lessons on David's anointing and on the story of David and Goliath. In these settings, the scene in which Eliab rebukes David is often used to show David keeping his faith even in the face of discouraging words.