Eliab

ELIAB

e-li'-ab ('eli'abh, "God is father"):

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

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

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

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

F. K. Farr