Eliab

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

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

2.  Numbers 26:8-9;  Numbers 16:1;  Numbers 16:12;  Deuteronomy 11:6.

3. David's oldest brother ( 1 Chronicles 2:13;  1 Samuel 16:6;  1 Samuel 17:13;  1 Samuel 17:28). Abihail his daughter (granddaughter?) married her second cousin Rehoboam, and bore him three children ( 2 Chronicles 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  Matthew 5:22;  1 Corinthians 13:4-7.)  1 Corinthians 13:4. A Levite porter and musician on the psaltery ( 1 Chronicles 15:18;  1 Chronicles 15:20;  1 Chronicles 16:5).

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

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

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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.  Numbers 1:9;  Numbers 2:7;  Numbers 7:24;  Numbers 7:29;  Numbers 10:16. (B.C. 1490).

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

3. One of David's brothers, the eldest of the family.  1 Samuel 16:6;  1 Samuel 17:13;  1 Samuel 17:28;  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;  1 Chronicles 15:20;  1 Chronicles 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.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

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 (  Numbers 1:1 ff.). 2. The father of Dathan and Abiram (  Numbers 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 (  1 Samuel 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 (  1 Chronicles 15:18 ). 5. One of the Gadites who joined David, during his outlaw life, in the hold in the wilderness (  1 Chronicles 12:9 ). 6. An ancestor of Samuel (  1 Chronicles 6:27; see Elihu No. 1 ). 7. One of Judith’s ancestors ( Jdt 8:1 ).

W. O. E. Oesterley.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

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

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

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

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

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

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

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Numbers 1:9 Numbers 7:24 2 1 Samuel 16:6 1 Samuel 17:13 1 Samuel 17:28 2 Chronicles 11:18 1 Chronicles 27:18 4 1 Chronicles 6:27 1 Samuel 1:1  1 Chronicles 6:34 5 1 Chronicles 15:20 1 Chronicles 16:5 6 1 Chronicles 12:9

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Eliab'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/e/eliab.html. 1897.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Eliab ( E-Lî'Ab ), to Whom God Is Father. The eldest son of Jesse,  1 Samuel 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.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

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 .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

[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 ( Numbers 26:8-9;  Numbers 16:1;  Numbers 16:12;  Deuteronomy 11:6). B.C. post. 1856. Eliab had another son named Nemuel; and the record of  Numbers 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 ( Numbers 1:9;  Numbers 2:7;  Numbers 7:24;  Numbers 7:29;  Numbers 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 ( 1 Chronicles 6:27 [12]). B.C. cir. 1250. In the other statements of the genealogy this name appears to be given as ELIHU (See Elihu) ( 1 Samuel 1:1) and ELIEL (See Eliel) ( 1 Chronicles 6:34 [19]).

4. The eldest son of Jesse and brother of David ( 1 Samuel 16:6;  1 Samuel 17:13;  1 Chronicles 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?" ( 1 Samuel 17:28.) B.C. 1063. His daughter Abihail married her second cousin Rehoboam, and bore him three children ( 2 Chronicles 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  1 Chronicles 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.  1 Chronicles 12:2.

5. The third of the Gadite heroes who joined David in his stronghold in the wilderness ( 1 Chronicles 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" ( 1 Chronicles 15:18;  1 Chronicles 15:20;  1 Chronicles 16:5). B.C. 1013.

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

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ē̇ - lı̄´ab ( אליאב , 'ĕlı̄'ābh , "God is father"):

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

(2) A R eubenite, father of Dathan and Abiram ( Numbers 16:11 ,  Numbers 16:12;  Numbers 26:8 f;   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 G adire warrior with David ( 1 Chronicles 12:9 ), one of 11 mighty men ( 1 Chronicles 12:8 ,  1 Chronicles 12:14 ).

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

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