Eliab of Benjamin

Eliab was the eldest son of Jesse and the older brother of the future King David of Israel. He appears prominently in the biblical account of David's early life, particularly in the narrative of David's confrontation with the giant Goliath. When the prophet Samuel came to Jesse's house to anoint one of his sons as the next king of Israel, Eliab was initially considered as a candidate due to his impressive physical appearance and stature. However, Samuel rejected him, famously stating that 'the Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' Eliab served as a commander in King Saul's army and participated in military campaigns against the Philistines. His character in biblical tradition represents the importance of inner character over external appearance, as his own potential was overshadowed by his younger brother David's spiritual calling and future greatness. Eliab's legacy in Judeo-Christian tradition emphasizes the values of humility and the divine selection based on moral worthiness rather than worldly status.