Eliab, David's eldest brother, when he heard these words, knew well the feelings that were stirring the young man's soul. Even as a shepherd, David had manifested daring, courage, and strength but rarely witnessed; and the mysterious visit of Samuel to their father's house, and his silent departure, had awakened in the minds of the brothers suspicions of the real object of his visit. Their jealousy had been aroused as they saw David honored above them, and they did not regard him with the respect and love due to his integrity and brotherly tenderness. They looked upon him as merely a stripling shepherd, and now the question which he asked was regarded by Eliab as a censure upon his own cowardice in making no attempt to silence the giant of the Philistines. The elder brother exclaimed angrily, "Why camest thou down hither? 646 and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle." David's answer was respectful but decided: "What have I now done? Is there not a cause?"

Da Davids ældste broder Eliab hørte disse ord, forstod han udmærket godt de følelser, som rørte sig i den unge mands hjerte. Allerede som hyrde havde David lagt en sjælden dristighed, tapperhed og styrke for dagen, og Samuels hemmelighedsfulde besøg i hjemmet og hans stilfærdige afrejse lod brødrene ane den virkelige hensigt med hans besøg. De blev skinsyge over, at David blev æret frem for dem, og gengældte ikke hans retskaffenhed og broderkærlighed ved at vise ham respekt og kærlighed. De anså ham kun for en vogterdreng, og Eliab opfattede hans spørgsmål som en personlig kritik, fordi han var for fej til at forsøge at bringe filisternes kæmpe til tavshed. Davids ældste broder udbrød vredt: "Hvad vil du her? Og hvem har du overladt de stakkels får i ørkenen? Jeg kender dit overmod og dit hjertes ondskab; du kom jo herned for at se på kampen!" David svarede ærbødigt, men bestemt; "Hvad har jeg nu gjort? Det var jo da kun et spørgsmål!"