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     A friend of mine posted a cartoon clip on her Facebook® page entitled "Classic Sibling Rivalry." It was a timely comparison not only to my childhood, but it showed some similarities to the story I was reading from 1 Samuel 17 [commonly known as the story of David and Goliath.]  As I pondered the relationship between Eliab, Jesse's eldest son, and his younger brother David, I thought about my elder brother, whom I cherish.  Oh, how I wish we would share some laughs over the way we tormented one another without cause.  If you read this story thoroughly enough, you should be captivated by many unanswered questions.  

     Let me begin by sharing the cartoon (see below):

If you grew up with siblings, you probably nod your head in agreement and probably feel like calling your mother to apologize.  Since I know my Mom will read this article, I will apologize publicly.  Stop snickering!  

Jesse's Sons:

     In 1 Samuel 16, we are introduced to the future king's brothers.  We see that Jesse had many sons.  According to the Scriptures, eight to be exact, but that is where my questions began. 

     1 Samuel 17:12 (ESV) reveals, "Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons.  In the days of Saul, the man was already old and advanced in years." But in the genealogies recorded in 1 Chronicle 2:13-15, we learn of only seven sons. "Jesse fathered (1) Eliab his firstborn, (2) Abinadab the second, (3) Shimea the third, (4) Nethanel the fourth, (5) Raddai the fifth, (6) Ozem the sixth, (7) David the seventh.  Where is number eight? Was there another son born of Jesse whose name has failed to be mentioned?  Looking back to the preceding chapter, we see a second listing of the sons of Jesse.  In 1 Samuel 16:10–11 (ESV), we read, "And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen these."  Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here."

     Since there are some discrepancies in the spelling of names from one record to the next, could what is assumed to be a spelling error actually be that the third son(s) were actually twins? (see 1 Samuel 17:13, 2 Samuel 13:3, 1 Chronicle 2:13).  In 1 Samuel 16:9, Scriptures clearly count Shammah as one, but then the remaining four names are omitted as they are rejected by God.  I have created a chart below showing the meaning behind each brother’s name.  Note that I have listed both Shammah and Shimea side-by-side, the two assumed names for Jesse’s third son.  Names are significant in the Bible as they are to record a persons character.  Could one son have dramatically changed his disposition?  (See the chart for the third son below).   If the Bible clearly states seven sons passed by Samuel (see 1 Samuel 16:10), we have to assume that David must have been the eighth to pass by Samuel.  Although we are told that David was classified as the seventh son, we are also told that he was the youngest.  I know that this confusing, and we may never have the answer, but asking questions is good.  The fact that you found one to ask is very good.     

     In the website Got Questions, their research indicates that the writing of 1 Samuel predates the writing of 1 Chronicles.  Some scholars believe that a child’s name may be omitted from genealogies if they died without heirs.  Does whether David had six or seven brothers really change the lesson?  Maybe it is just a test to see how closely we read Scriptures?

 

Sons	Name's Meaning
Eliab	God is Father
Abinadab	Father of a Vow of Willingness
Shammah, Shimea	Loss, Desolation, Astonishment and Splendor, Prayer's Heard
Nethanel	God has Given
Raddai	Ruling, Coming Down
Ozem	That Fasts, Their Eagerness
David	Beloved

 

Sibling Rivalry:

     In the seventeenth chapter of 1 Samuel, we read of a disagreement among brothers.  David has traveled to the battlefield at his father's request to take provisions for three eldest sons who are military men [Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah].  During David's visit, he hears the boasts of Goliath and takes offense.  He begins to ask questions when his eldest brother, Eliab, becomes angry.  He says, "Why have you come down?  And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?  I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." (see verse 28) Looking at the cartoon above, could we consider two windows, “Dad, he’s breathing my air,” or “Mom, he’s looking out my window.”  It all sounds rather babyish doesn’t it.  Ask any mother of boys and she may say, “boys will be boys.”  Now we know what that means!  Don’t we like to call the kettle black?  As we observe Eliab, it appears that he might just be the one to carry the label presumptuous better.  God’s Word tells us that man looks at the outward appearances, but God looks at the heart.  God tells Samuel what he does not notice in 1 Samuel 16:6-7 (ESV) when he is called to anoint a king from the sons of Jesse, “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, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

     Some may assume that this sibling rivalry was created by David’s anointing in his father’s house, but I detect that there is evidence that supports that 1 Samuel 17 occurs prior to the story reported in 1 Samuel 16, and I’ll give my supporting reasons why below.

The Sequence of Events

   In the story of David and Goliath (chapter 17), after David has slain the giant, we see a conversation taking place between Abner, the military commander and King Saul.  In Samuel 17:55 ESV, Saul asks, “Abner, whose son is this youth?”  A puzzling question, don’t you think?  Not because he asked, but because it appears that King Saul should have already known him.  Back in 1 Samuel 16:17-22 (ESV), we read, 'So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me." One of the young men answered, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him." Therefore, Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me David, your son, who is with the sheep." And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David, his son, to Saul.  And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer.  And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight."

     Read again, the part that describes David to King Saul, especially the part about being a man of valor, and a man of war.  Now how would this recruiter have known that David held these attributes?  Could it be that the story of David and Goliath came first, and then he was recruited as a harpist later?  Also, read again the part about David becoming the kings armor-bearer.  Do you get the impression that David was familiar with Saul’s armor when he attempted to put it on to fight the giant? In Samuel 17:38-39 ESV, we read, "Then Saul clothed David with his armor.  He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, and David strapped his sword over his armor.  And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them.  Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." So, David put them off." Lastly, what kind of military commander must Abner have been if he didn't know the youth handling the king's armor?  Wasn’t it Abner’s job to protect the king from harm?  Wouldn’t one think that a position like armor bearer would require a background check?  As you can see there are several reasons why I believe that 1 Samuel is recorded out of sequence.  I don’t believe that the sibling rivalry that we witnessed in chapter 17 had anything to do with Eliab’s pride for being overlooked when evaluated for his kingship qualities.

     When we read Scriptures like a history book, we are expecting to see things recorded in chronological order.  If we were to read it like a lesson book, might we expect that order the story is told isn’t the point.  When reading; however, if we get hung up by confusion, it might be an indication that the Holy Spirit is wishing to show us something of greater value.

David’s Response:

     Returning to the snide response that Eliab gave to David, “Why have you come down?  And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness…” David said, “What have I done now?  Was it not but a word?” (see 1 Samuel 17:29 ESV). The structure of this sentence reveals that there was a last time before now. David defends himself without picking a fight.  He turns away from his brother and continues to talk to the others that surround them.  Could David’s retort been his way of saying, “It’s my turn to push the buttons?”

Concluding Remarks:

     Now if I have confused you by writing about both sibling rivalry as well as out of sequence events, I do not wish to do so.  The point of writing this article is to encourage us to explore the Bible.  Take it apart, put it back together.  See where the pieces fit.  See what pieces you’re trying to fit together that aren’t meant to be attached.  This world is full of Bible skeptics.  There are people who want to tell you that your whole foundation of truth is built on sand.  Do you have the ability to handle this criticism?  What are you doing to strengthen your faith?  Scriptures provide this direction to us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (see 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)) Is that part of your faith discipline?

As an additional piece of trivia:  Did you know that the name Saul means to ask or question?