Elkanah's Family and the Birth of Samuel in Judah
Elkanah, the father of the prophet Samuel, was a Levite who resided in Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim [4, 10]. His lineage is traced through Jeroham, Elihu, Tohu, and Zuph, identifying him as an Ephraimite by dwelling place, though genealogically a Levite [4, 11]. The name Elkanah means "God has possessed" or "God has created" [6, 8]. He is also identified as a descendant of Korah, through a line that includes Assir and Ebiasaph [2, 3, 6].
Elkanah had two wives: Hannah and Peninnah [2, 8]. Hannah was barren, while Peninnah had children [7, 14]. This situation caused Hannah significant grief, especially due to Peninnah's taunts [7, 14]. Elkanah would annually travel from his home in Ramah to Shiloh to offer sacrifices to the Lord [7, 12]. During these visits, he would give portions of the sacrifice to Peninnah and her children, but to Hannah, he would give a double portion, indicating his love for her despite her barrenness [14].
During one of these yearly pilgrimages to Shiloh, Hannah, in her distress, prayed to the Lord at the sanctuary and made a vow [7, 14]. She promised that if God would grant her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord for his entire life as a Nazirite [1, 14]. Eli, the high priest, initially mistook her fervent prayer for drunkenness but, upon understanding her plight, blessed her [13, 14].
God answered Hannah's prayer, and she conceived and gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel, meaning "heard of God" [1, 7]. True to her vow, after Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him to Shiloh and presented him to Eli, dedicating him to the Lord's service [1, 5]. Josephus records that Samuel was twelve years old when he was placed in the temple [1]. Elkanah supported Hannah in this dedication [5].
After Samuel was left at Shiloh, Elkanah and Hannah continued their annual visits. Eli blessed Elkanah and Hannah, praying that the Lord would give them more children in place of Samuel, whom they had lent to the Lord [13]. The Lord indeed blessed Hannah, and she bore three more sons and two daughters [1 Samuel 2:21]. Samuel, meanwhile, "served Yahweh before Eli the priest" [5]. His first prophetic call came while he was ministering there [1].
Elkanah's hometown, Ramathaim-zophim, is often referred to simply as Ramah [12]. This location is distinct from other places named Ramah, such as the one in Benjamin's tribal area [10]. The region of Zuph, from which Elkanah's ancestor Zuph came, is also notable as the place where Saul later met Samuel [10]. Elkanah's family background as a Levite, specifically from the Kohathite clan, is emphasized in various biblical accounts and commentaries [9, 10, 11, 15]. This lineage highlights the priestly heritage of Samuel, even though he is primarily known as a prophet and judge [1, 9].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Samuel — was the son of Elkanah and Hannah, and was born at Ramathaim-zophim, among the hills of Ephraim. [[1040]Ramah No. 2] (B.C. 1171.) Before his birth he was dedicated by his mother to the office of a Nazarite and when a young child, 12 years old according to Josephus he was placed in the temple, and ministered unto the Lord before Eli." It was while here that he received his first prophetic call. (1 Samuel 3:1-18) He next appears, probably twenty years afterward, suddenly among the people, warning them against their idolatrous practices. (1 Samuel 7:3,4) Then fo”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Elkanah — God-created. (1.) The second son of Korah (Ex. 6:24), or, according to 1 Chr. 6:22, 23, more correctly his grandson. (2.) Another Levite of the line of Heman the singer, although he does not seem to have performed any of the usual Levitical offices. He was father of Samuel the prophet (1 Chr. 6:27, 34). He was "an Ephrathite" (1 Sam. 1:1, 4, 8), but lived at Ramah, a man of wealth and high position. He had two wives, Hannah, who was the mother of Samuel, and Peninnah.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Elkanah, Or Elkonah — (God-provided). + Son, or rather grandson, see (1 Chronicles 6:22,23) (1Chr 6:7,8) of Korah, according to (Exodus 6:24) + A descendant of the above in the line of Ahimoth, otherwise Mahath, (1Chr 6;26,35; Hebr 11:20 + Another Kohathite Levite, father of Samuel the illustrious judge and prophet. (1 Chronicles 6:27,34) (B.C. about 1190.) All that is known of him is contained in the above notices and in (1 Samuel 1:1,4,8,19,21,23) and 1Sam 2:11,20 + A Levite. (1 Chronicles 9:16) + A Korhite who joined David while he was at Ziklag. (1 Chronicles 12:6”
- I Samuel “I Samuel 1:1 (BSB) — Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.”
- 1 Samuel “Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. The child served Yahweh before Eli the priest. -- 1 Samuel 2:11”
- STEPBible TBESG “[H0511] H0511G = (H0511G) — A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.24; <br> son of: Korah (H7141I); <br> brother of: Assir (H0617) and Ebiasaph (H0043)<BR> § Elkanah = "God has possessed" or "God has created"<br>1) Samuel's father<br>2) a ruler in Jerusalem in the time of king Ahaz<br>3) one of David's mighty warriors<br>4) son of Korah<br>5) several Levites”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hannah — Favour, grace, one of the wives of Elkanah the Levite, and the mother of Samuel (1 Sam. 1; 2). Her home was at Ramathaim-zophim, whence she was wont every year to go to Shiloh, where the tabernacle had been pitched by Joshua, to attend the offering of sacrifices there according to the law (Ex. 23:15; 34:18; Deut. 16:16), probably at the feast of the Passover (comp. Ex. 13:10). On occasion of one of these "yearly" visits, being grieved by reason of Peninnah's conduct toward her, she went forth alone, and kneeling before the Lord at the sanctuary she prayed in”
- STEPBible TBESG “[H0511] H0511H = (H0511H) — A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.1.1; <br> son of: Jeroham (H3395); married to Hannah (H2584) and Peninnah (H6444); <br> father of: Samuel (H8050)<BR> § Elkanah = "God has possessed" or "God has created"<br>1) Samuel's father<br>2) a ruler in Jerusalem in the time of king Ahaz<br>3) one of David's mighty warriors<br>4) son of Korah<br>5) several Levites”
- 1 Chronicles (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Chronicles 6:27: Elkanah--the father of the prophet Samuel (Sa1 1:1).”
- 1 Samuel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Samuel 1:1: 1:1 Elkanah was a Levite (1 Chr 6:22-27). After the conquest of the Promised Land, the Levites were given towns in the territories of the other Israelite tribes, including Ephraim (Josh 21:20). • Elkanah’s hometown was Ramah (1 Sam 2:11). This location should not be confused with the Ramah in the tribal area of Benjamin (see Josh 18:25; Judg 19:13; Matt 2:18). • The region of Zuph was named after one of Elkanah’s ancestors, a Levite of the clan of Kohath (1 Chr 6:35). Saul first met Samuel in Zuph while searching for his father’s donkeys (1 Sam 9:5). • Elkanah’s ”
- 1 Samuel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 1:1: We have here an account of the state of the family into which Samuel the prophet was born. His father's name was Elkanah, a Levite, and of the family of the Kohathites (the most honourable house of that tribe) as appears, Ch1 6:33, Ch1 6:34. His ancestor Zuph was an Ephrathite, that is, of Bethlehem-Judah, which was called Ephrathah, Ruth, Rut 1:2. There this family of the Levites was first seated, but one branch of it, in process of time, removed to Mount Ephraim, from which Elkanah descended. Micah's Levite came from Bethlehem to Mount Ephraim, Jdg 17:8. Perhap”
- 1 Samuel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Samuel 1:1: Samuel's pedigree. - Sa1 1:1. His father was a man of Ramathaim-Zophim, on the mountains of Ephraim, and named Elkanah. Ramathaim-Zophim, which is only mentioned here, is the same place, according to Sa1 1:3 (comp. with Sa1 1:19 and Sa1 2:11), which is afterwards called briefly ha-Ramah, i.e., the height. For since Elkanah of Ramathaim-Zophim went year by year out of his city to Shiloh, to worship and sacrifice there, and after he had done this, returned to his house to Ramah (Sa1 1:19; Sa1 2:11), there can be no doubt that he was not only a native of Ramathai”
- 1 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Samuel 2:19: And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife,.... Not only the first time they brought Samuel to him, and left him with him; but every year they came to worship, as the Jewish commentators mostly interpret it: and said, the Lord give thee seed of this woman; children by her, year after year: for the loan which is lent to the Lord; instead of Samuel, who was asked of the Lord and given to him again; and as they were thereby in some measure deprived of him, and could not always enjoy him, and be delighted with him, Eli prayed for them, and gave them his benediction as a p”
- 1 Samuel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Samuel 1 (introduction): Some account of Elkanah and his two wives, Peninnah and Hannah, Sa1 1:1, Sa1 1:2. His annual worship at Shiloh and the portions he gave at such times to his wives, Sa1 1:3-5. Hannah, being barren, is reproached by Peninnah, especially in their going up to Shiloh; at which she is sorely grieved, Sa1 1:6, Sa1 1:7. Elkanah comforts her, Sa1 1:8. Her prayer and vow in the temple, that if God would give her a son, she would consecrate him to His service, Sa1 1:9-11. Eli, the high priest, indistinctly hearing her pray, charges her with being drunk, Sa1 1:12-”
- 1 Chronicles (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Chronicles 6:16: The sons of Kohath, Amminadab,.... The same with Izhar, Ch1 6:2 the posterity of his brethren, Amram, Hebron, and Uzziel, are omitted; and his genealogy is carried to a considerable length, for the sake of Samuel the prophet, who sprang from him: it stands thus, Korah, Assir, Elkanah, Ebiasaph, Assir, Tahath, Uriel, called Zephaniah, Ch1 6:36 Uzziah, the same with Azariah, Ch1 6:36. Shaul, whose name is Joel, Ch1 6:36 then through the sons of Elkanah, before mentioned, Amasai, Ahimoth, called Mahath, Ch1 6:35 another Elkanah, Zophai, or Zuph, Ch1 6:35. Na”