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, 1Sa 16:6,7 ; 17:28.\par

Eli’ab. (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. Num 1:9; Num 2:7; Num 7:24; Num 7:29; Num 10:16. (B.C. 1490).

2. A Reubenite, father of Dathan and Abiram. Num 16:1; Num 16:12; Num 26:8-9; Deu 11:6.

3. One of David’s brothers, the eldest of the family. 1Sa 16:6; 1Sa 17:13; 1Sa 17:28; 1Ch 2:13. (B.C. 1063).

4. A Levite, in the time of David, who was both a "porter" and a musician on the "psaltery." 1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:20; 1Ch 16:5.

5. One of the warlike Gadite leaders, who came over to David, when he was in the wilderness, taking refuge from Saul. 1Ch 12:9. (B.C. 1061).

6. An ancestor of Samuel, the prophet; a Kohathite Levite, son of Nahath. 1Ch 6:27. (B.C. 1250).

7. Son of Nathanael, one of the fore-fathers of Judith, and therefore, belonging to the tribe of Simeon. Jdt 8:1.

1. Num 1:9; Num 2:7; Num 7:24; Num 7:29; Num 10:16.

2. Num 26:8-9; Num 16:1; Num 16:12; Deu 11:6.

3. David’s oldest brother (1Ch 2:13; 1Sa 16:6; 1Sa 17:13; 1Sa 17:28). Abihail his daughter (granddaughter?) married her second cousin Rehoboam, and bore him three children (2Ch 11:18). Eliab betrayed anger without a cause toward David, when seeking his brethren’s welfare ("Why camest thou down hither, and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness?"); also "pride and naughtiness of heart," the very sins he charged David with ("I know thy pride," etc.; he knew himself still less than he did David); uncharitable surmising instead of the love that thinketh no evil ("thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle".) David meekly replied, "Is there not a cause?" (see Mat 5:22; 1Co 13:4-7.) 1Co 13:4. A Levite porter and musician on the psaltery (1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:20; 1Ch 16:5).

5. A Gadite leader who joined David in the wilderness in his flight from Saul (1Ch 12:9).

6. Ancestor of Samuel, a Kohathite Levite, son of Nahath (1Ch 6:27). Called Elihu 1Sa 1:1, also Eliel 1Ch 6:34.

[usually Eli’ab] (Heb). Eliab’, אֶלַיאָב, to whom God is father; Sept. Ε᾿λιάβ, Vulg. Eliab), the name of seven men. 1. A Reubenite, son of Pallu or Phallu, whose family was one of the principal in the tribe, and father or progenitor of Dathan and Abiram, the leaders in the revolt against Moses (Num 26:8-9; Num 16:1; Num 16:12; Deu 11:6). B.C. post. 1856. Eliab had another son named Nemuel; and the record of Num 26:1-65 is interrupted expressly to admit a statement regarding his sons.

2. A son of Helen, and phylarch of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the wilderness of Sinai (Num 1:9; Num 2:7; Num 7:24; Num 7:29; Num 10:16). B.C. 1657.

3. An ancestor of Samuel (q.v.) the prophet, being a Kohathite Levite, son of Nahath and father of Jeroham (1Ch 6:27 [12]). B.C. cir. 1250. In the other statements of the genealogy this name appears to be given as ELIHU SEE ELIHU (1Sa 1:1) and ELIEL SEE ELIEL (1Ch 6:34 [19]).

4. The eldest son of Jesse and brother of David (1Sa 16:6; 1Sa 17:13; 1Ch 2:13). It was he that made the contemptuous inquiry, by which he sought to screen his own cowardice, when David proposed to fight Goliath, "With whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness?" (1Sa 17:28.) B.C. 1063. His daughter Abihail married her second cousin Rehoboam, and bore him three children (2Ch 11:18); although, taking into account the length of the reigns of David and Solomon, it is difficult not to suspect that the word "daughter" is here used in the less strict sense of granddaughter or descendant. In 1Ch 27:18, we find mention of "ELIHU, of the brethren of David," as "ruler" (נָגַיד) or "prince" (שִׂר) of the tribe of Judah. According to the ancient Hebrew tradition preserved by Jerome (Quaest. Hebr. ad loc.), this Elihu was identical with Eliab. "Brethren" is, however, often used in the sense of kinsman, e.g. 1Ch 12:2.

5. The third of the Gadite heroes who joined David in his stronghold in the wilderness (1Ch 12:9). B.C. 1061;

6. A Levite in the time pf David, who was both a "porter" (שׁוֹעֵר, shoer, i.e. a door-keeper) and a musician on the "psaltery" (1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:20; 1Ch 16:5). B.C. 1013.

7. Son of Nathanael, one of the forefathers of Judith, and therefore belonging to the tribe of Simeon (Jdt 8:1).

Eliab (e-lî’ab), to whom God is father. The eldest son of Jesse, 1Sa 17:13, and a man of angry and envious temper, as appears from his treatment of his brother David. There are in all six persons of this name mentioned in the Bible.

[Eli’ab]

1. Son of Helon, and leader of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census being taken at Sinai. Num 1:9; Num 2:7; Num 7:24; Num 7:29; Num 10:16.

2. Son of Pallu, a Reubenite, and father of Dathan and Abiram. Num 16:1; Num 16:12; Num 26:8-9; Deu 11:6.

3. Eldest son of Jesse, and brother of David. 1Sa 16:6; 1Sa 17:13; 1Sa 17:28; 1Ch 2:13; 2Ch 11:18. Perhaps the same as ELIHU in 1Ch 27:18.

4. A Gadite leader who was with David in the wilderness. 1Ch 12:9.

5. Levite musician and doorkeeper in the time of David. 1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:20; 1Ch 16:5.

6. Ancestor of Samuel, a Kohathite. 1Ch 6:27. Apparently called ELIEL in 1Ch 6:34, and ELIHU in 1Sa 1:1.

(: "God," or "my God is Father"):

By: Emil G. Hirsch, Bernhard Pick

1. Son of Helon and leader of the tribe of Zebulun at the time when the census was taken in the wilderness (Num. i. 9; ii. 7; vii. 24, 29; x. 16).

2. A Reubenite, the son of Pallu or Phallu, father of Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram (Num. xvi. 1, 12; xxvi. 8; Deut. xi. 6).

3. One of David's brothers, the eldest of the family (I Chron. ii. 13; I Sam. xvi. 6; xvii. 13, 28). In I Chron. xxvii. 18 mention is made of a certain Elihu as one of the brothers of David. But "Elihu" is probably a variant for "Eliab" (comp. Jerome, "Quæstiones Hebraicæ," ad loc.).

4. A Levite in the time of David who was both a porter and musician (I Chron. xv. 18, 20; xvi. 5).

5. One of the warlike Gadite leaders who came to David when he was in the wilderness (I Chron. xii. 9).

6. An ancestor of Samuel the Prophet; a Kohathite, son of Nahath (I Chron. vi. 12 [27]). In I Sam. i. 1 the name appears as "Elihu," and in I Chron. vi. 19 (34) as "Eliel."

7. Son of Nathanael, an ancestor of Judith (Judges viii. 1).

ELIAB (‘God is father’).—1. The representative, or ‘prince,’ of the tribe of Zebulun, who assisted Moses and Aaron in numbering the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai (Num 1:1 ff.). 2. The father of Dathan and Abiram (Num 16:1). 3. The eldest brother of David, and thought by Samuel to have been destined for kingship in Israel on account of his beauty and stature (1Sa 16:6-7). He is mentioned as being a warrior in the Israelite camp on the occasion of Goliath’s challenge to and defiance of the armies of Israel; he rebukes his younger brother David for his presumption in mixing himself up with the affairs of the army; his attitude towards David, after the victory of the latter over Goliath, is not mentioned. 4. One of the musicians who were appointed by the Levites, at David’s command, to accompany the procession which was formed on the occasion of bringing the ark from the house of Obededom up to Jerusalem (1Ch 15:18). 5. One of the Gadites who joined David, during his outlaw life, in the hold in the wilderness (1Ch 12:9). 6. An ancestor of Samuel (1Ch 6:27; see Elihu No. 1). 7. One of Judith’s ancestors (Jdt 8:1).

W. O. E. Oesterley.

ē̇-lı̄´ab (אליאב, ’ĕlı̄’ābh, “God is father”):

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

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

(3) Eldest son of Jesse and brother of David (1Sa 16:6), once called Elihu (1Ch 27:18). He was of commanding appearance (1Sa 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 (1Sa 17:28 f). His daughter Abihail became a Wife of Rehoboam (2Ch 11:18).

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

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

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

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