1 Samuel 17:13

13 The three eldest sons of Yishai had gone after Sha'ul to the battle: and the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eli'av the firstborn, and next to him Avinadav, and the third Shammah.

1 Samuel 17:13 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:13

And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to
the battle
Either of their own accord, or rather at their father's motion, or however with his knowledge and consent, who because he could not go himself, willed them to go; and these were forward, and some of the foremost that followed Saul to the battle, being zealous and well disposed to defend their king and country:

and the names of the three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the
firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah;
who are the three mentioned by name that passed before Samuel, when he came to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be king, ( 1 Samuel 16:6 1 Samuel 16:8 1 Samuel 16:9 ) .

1 Samuel 17:13 In-Context

11 When Sha'ul and all Yisra'el heard those words of the Pelishti, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

12 Now David was the son of that Efratite of Beit-Lechem-Yehudah, whose name was Yishai; and he had eight sons: and the man was an old man in the days of Sha'ul, stricken [in years] among men.

13 The three eldest sons of Yishai had gone after Sha'ul to the battle: and the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eli'av the firstborn, and next to him Avinadav, and the third Shammah.

14 David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Sha'ul.

15 Now David went back and forth from Sha'ul to feed his father's sheep at Beit-Lechem.