1 Samuel 17:13

13 His three oldest sons had gone with Saul to war. The oldest was Eliab, the next was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah.

1 Samuel 17:13 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:13

And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to
the battle
Either of their own accord, or rather at their father's motion, or however with his knowledge and consent, who because he could not go himself, willed them to go; and these were forward, and some of the foremost that followed Saul to the battle, being zealous and well disposed to defend their king and country:

and the names of the three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the
firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah;
who are the three mentioned by name that passed before Samuel, when he came to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be king, ( 1 Samuel 16:6 1 Samuel 16:8 1 Samuel 16:9 ) .

1 Samuel 17:13 In-Context

11 When Saul and his men heard this, they were terrified.

12 David was the son of Jesse, who was an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and at the time Saul was king, he was already a very old man.

13 His three oldest sons had gone with Saul to war. The oldest was Eliab, the next was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah.

14 David was the youngest son, and while the three oldest brothers stayed with Saul,

15 David would go back to Bethlehem from time to time, to take care of his father's sheep.