1 Samuel 17:13 kjv
And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
1 Samuel 17:13 nkjv
The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
1 Samuel 17:13 niv
Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah.
1 Samuel 17:13 esv
The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
1 Samuel 17:13 nlt
Jesse's three oldest sons ? Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea ? had already joined Saul's army to fight the Philistines.
1 Samuel 17 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 16:6-7 | When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before Him." But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature... for the LORD sees not as man sees: for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." | Eliab, appearance vs. God's heart (Eliab rejected by God for kingship) |
| 1 Sam 16:10-11 | And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?" He said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is keeping the sheep." | Jesse's other sons passed over for David's anointing |
| 1 Sam 17:1-3 | Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle... and Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines... And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, and there was a valley between them. | Setting of the battle (Valley of Elah) mentioned here |
| 1 Sam 17:19 | Now Saul and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. | Confirms the military presence of Israel and Saul in the valley |
| 1 Sam 17:28 | Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumptuousness and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." | Eliab's condescending reaction to David, stemming from his eldest status |
| 1 Chr 2:13-15 | Jesse became the father of Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh. | Confirms Jesse's sons, including the first three and David as the youngest |
| Psa 78:70-71 | He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes with lambs he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob his people, of Israel his inheritance. | God's choice of David from a humble role over his elder brothers |
| Gen 25:23 | And the LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb... The elder shall serve the younger." | Divine election not based on birth order, established pattern |
| Rom 9:11-13 | (though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad, so that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call) she was told, "The older will serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." | Reinforces divine sovereignty in choosing, independent of human merit or birthright |
| 1 Cor 1:27 | But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. | God often chooses the unassuming to achieve His purposes |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." | Divine wisdom and selection criteria are above human understanding |
| John 7:24 | Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. | Direct command to not judge by external appearance, echoing 1 Sam 16:7 |
| Judg 4:6 | And she sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam... "Go and march to Mount Tabor..." | Example of military command in ancient Israel |
| Num 1:3 | from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go to war in Israel. You shall list them, you and Aaron, by their companies. | Standard age for military service in Israel, implies Eliab and brothers were of age |
| Josh 1:14 | Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you... But all your mighty men of valor shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them. | Military participation as a tribal duty in Israel |
| 2 Sam 21:21 | When he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David's brother, struck him down and killed him. | Mentions Jonathan, son of Shimei (Shammah/Shimeah) proving their lineage's bravery |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | The theme of divine election (God choosing a people/individual) |
| Eph 1:4 | even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love. | God's prior choice and purpose, a New Testament parallel to David's election |
| Matt 4:19 | And he said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." | The concept of "following" a leader for a specific purpose (here, military duty) |
| Heb 11:32-34 | And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. | David as a mighty warrior, which begins here, albeit through his brothers' context |
1 Samuel 17 verses
1 Samuel 17 13 Meaning
This verse introduces three of Jesse's older sons – Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah – as actively serving in King Saul's army, having gone forth to the battle against the Philistines in the Valley of Elah. It establishes the immediate family context for David, indicating his elder brothers were engaged in national military service at this crucial time, setting the stage for David's later arrival.
1 Samuel 17 13 Context
1 Samuel 17 begins with a dramatic confrontation between Israel and the Philistines in the Valley of Elah, where Goliath of Gath emerges to challenge Israel. Prior to this chapter (in 1 Samuel 16), God had already rejected Saul as king and secretly anointed David, the youngest son of Jesse, through the prophet Samuel. However, David remained a humble shepherd at this time, not yet in public office. Verse 13 specifically links the narrative of David's family to this significant national military crisis. It shows that Jesse, despite his age (verse 12 mentions he was old), sent his eligible and most prominent sons to participate in the conflict, fulfilling their societal duty to King Saul and Israel's defense. This highlights the gap between David's calling (anointed king) and his current ordinary station, which sets the stage for God to reveal His choice publicly.
1 Samuel 17 13 Word analysis
- And: Connects this verse directly to the preceding details about Jesse's family, linking the domestic scene to the unfolding national crisis.
- the three eldest sons: This precise number and emphasis on their "eldest" status distinguishes them from David, who is the youngest. It highlights their seniority and typical role in family representation and public life, particularly in military service.
- of Jesse: Identifies their lineage, rooting them firmly within David's family. Jesse (Hebrew: Yishai) is a man of Bethlehem from the tribe of Judah, crucial for David's royal lineage.
- went and followed Saul: This indicates active participation and allegiance to the reigning King. To "follow" (Hebrew: yalak or halakh) implies direct obedience and being part of the contingent. It underscores their role as dutiful soldiers under Saul's command.
- to the battle: Refers specifically to the military engagement currently taking place in the Valley of Elah (1 Sam 17:1-3), indicating their presence at the front lines.
- the names of his three sons: The explicit naming underlines their importance in the narrative, distinguishing them individually for future reference.
- Eliab: The firstborn (Hebrew: ’Eli’av - "My God is Father"). He was considered by Samuel to be the obvious choice for king based on his stature (1 Sam 16:6) but was rejected by God, foreshadowing God's unconventional choice of David.
- Abinadab: The second son (Hebrew: ’Avinadav - "My Father is Generous" or "My Father is Noble"). Less prominent in the narrative than Eliab or Shammah but still significant as one of Jesse's warrior sons.
- and the third Shammah: The third son (Hebrew: Shammah). He is also known as Shimeah or Shimea in other biblical texts (2 Sam 21:21; 1 Chr 2:13, 20:7). His descendants later played a role in battling Philistine giants, showing a continuation of this military line in Jesse's family.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "the three eldest sons of Jesse": This phrase immediately draws a distinction between David and his older brothers. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the eldest son often carried the most weight, privilege, and responsibility. Their presence at the front reflects family honor and civic duty. It underscores that Jesse had other strong, seemingly capable sons before David was considered.
- "went and followed Saul to the battle": This phrase highlights their active and obedient involvement in the national army. It portrays them as part of the establishment, aligned with the existing authority (King Saul) and committed to the common defense against a major enemy (Philistines). Their presence signifies a tangible link between Jesse's family and the current state of military affairs, a state David will dramatically disrupt.
1 Samuel 17 13 Bonus section
The variation of Shammah's name as Shimeah/Shimea in other biblical accounts (2 Sam 21:21; 1 Chr 2:13, 20:7) is a common textual phenomenon in Hebrew Bible manuscripts, reflecting slight differences in transliteration or a regional/personal nickname over time. It confirms the identity of Jesse's third son. Culturally, for a family like Jesse's, having sons serve in the national army was a matter of honor and civic duty. This verse paints a picture of David's family as a participating and respectable part of Israelite society, despite God's seemingly unusual choice of the youngest and most overlooked son to be king. David's separation from the battlefield here accentuates God's non-traditional method of raising leaders.
1 Samuel 17 13 Commentary
This verse serves as a crucial contextual bridge, connecting David's background with the imminent clash against Goliath. It highlights the conventional: the elder sons of a prominent family are engaged in the king's war. Their military presence is normal and expected, contrasting sharply with David, the shepherd son who is conspicuously absent. The explicit naming of Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah grounds the story in reality and subtly reminds the reader of God's earlier, counter-cultural choice of David over Eliab, who would have been a seemingly ideal candidate for kingship or a valiant warrior based on human standards. Their participation underscores the severity of the Philistine threat and sets the stage for David's remarkable entry as God's chosen deliverer, showing that human strength and established order alone were insufficient to meet the challenge. This verse helps set the baseline from which God's unique plan for David will be fully appreciated.