Eliab was the oldest of Jesse's eight sons and David's older brother. He was a tall and impressive man whom the prophet Samuel initially thought was God's chosen one to become king, but God rejected him because He looks at the heart, not the outward appearance. Eliab later served in King Saul's army and showed anger toward David when he came to the battlefield against the Philistines.
When Samuel came to anoint a new king among the sons of Jesse, he saw Eliab's impressive appearance and thought he must be the chosen one. But God said that He does not look at what people look at, for people look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man sees: man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
When David came to the army to bring food to his brothers and asked about Goliath, Eliab became angry and accused David of pride and evil in his heart, and of having left the sheep just to watch the battle.
28When Eliab, his oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at David and said, "Why have you come down here? And who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."
13Jesse's three oldest sons had gone with Saul to the war. The names of the three who went to battle were Eliab the firstborn, Abinadab the second, and Shammah the third.