Eliab

Eliab (meaning God is my father or God is the father) is the name of several men in the Old Testament, the most prominent being David's eldest brother. When Samuel came to Jesse's house to anoint the next king, Eliab — tall and handsome — was the first candidate presented, and Samuel initially assumed he must be God's choice. But the LORD told Samuel: "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature... for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:6–7). Eliab was passed over, and the youngest son David was anointed instead. Eliab later rebuked David at the battle against Goliath for leaving the sheep to watch the battle (1 Samuel 17:28).

Other men named Eliab include: a chief of the tribe of Zebulun in the wilderness census (Numbers 1:9); a Reubenite son of Pallu and father of Dathan and Abiram, who joined Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16:1); and a Levite musician appointed by David (1 Chronicles 15:18, 20; 16:5).