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I Samuel 17:13

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The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul into battle: The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 13

David is the man whom God now delights to honour, for he is a man after his own heart. We read in the foregoing chapter how, after he was anointed, Providence made him famous in the court; we read in this chapter how Providence made him much more famous in the camp, and, by both, not only marked him for a great man, but fitted him for the throne for which he was designed. In the court he was only Saul's physician; but in the camp Israel's champion; there he fairly fought, and beat Goliath of Gath. In the story observe, I. What a noble figure Goliath made, and how daringly he challenged the armies of Israel (Sa1 17:1-11). II. What a mean figure David made, when Providence brought him to the army (v. 12-30). III. The unparalleled bravery wherewith David undertook to encounter this Philistine (Sa1 17:31-39). IV. The pious resolution with which he attacked him (Sa1 17:40-47). V. The glorious victory he obtained over him with a sling and a stone, and the advantage which the Israelites thereby gained against the Philistines (Sa1 17:48-54). VI. The great notice which was hereupon taken of David at court (Sa1 17:55-58).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 13

שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשַׁי (Yishay, H3448) — Jishai, David's father יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) אֱלִיאָב (ʼĔlîyʼâb, H446) — Eliab, the name of six Israelites בְּכוֹר (bᵉkôwr, H1060) — firstborn; hence, chief מִשְׁנֶה (mishneh, H4932) — properly, a repetition, i.e. a duplicate (copy of a document), or a double (in amount);… אֲבִינָדָב (ʼĂbîynâdâb, H41) — Abinadab, the name of four Israelites

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

I Chronicles 2:13rank 4

Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third,

II Samuel 13:3rank 2

Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,

II Samuel 21:21rank 2

and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimei killed him.

II Samuel 13:32rank 2

But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar.

I Samuel 17:28rank 2

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!”

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