📖WEB · 1 Samuel 17:28

What does 1 Samuel 17:28 mean?

"Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you have come down that you might see the battle.”"

— 1 Samuel 17:28 (World English Bible)

Surrounding context

25

The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? He has surely come up to defy Israel. The king will give great riches to the man who kills him, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.”

26

David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done to the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

27

The people answered him in this way, saying, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.”

28

Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you have come down that you might see the battle.”

29

David said, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”

30

He turned away from him toward another, and spoke like that again; and the people answered him again the same way.

31

When the words were heard which David spoke, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him.

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