Topical Encyclopedia
Elkanah is a significant figure in the Old Testament, primarily known as the father of the prophet Samuel. His account is found in the opening chapters of the First Book of Samuel. Elkanah was an Ephraimite, residing in the hill country of Ephraim, specifically in Ramathaim-zophim, which is identified with the town of Ramah (
1 Samuel 1:1).
Family Background and LineageElkanah was a Levite by descent, as indicated in
1 Chronicles 6:27-28, where his genealogy is traced back to Levi through Kohath. This lineage is significant as it places Elkanah within the tribe responsible for religious duties and temple service, although he lived in the territory of Ephraim.
Marriage and Family LifeElkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was initially barren, which caused her great distress. Despite this, Elkanah showed a deep affection for Hannah, giving her a double portion of the sacrificial offerings, as recorded in
1 Samuel 1:5: "But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her, even though the LORD had closed her womb."
Religious DevotionElkanah is depicted as a devout man who regularly worshiped and sacrificed to the LORD at Shiloh, where the tabernacle was located. This annual pilgrimage underscores his commitment to the religious practices of Israel. His dedication is further highlighted in
1 Samuel 1:3: "Year after year this man would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh."
Role in Samuel's Birth and DedicationElkanah's role in the birth and dedication of Samuel is pivotal. After Hannah's fervent prayer for a child and her vow to dedicate him to the LORD, Elkanah supported her decision. When Samuel was born, Elkanah agreed to Hannah's plan to present Samuel to the LORD, as seen in
1 Samuel 1:23: "Do what seems best to you," Elkanah her husband told her. "Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD confirm His word."
LegacyElkanah's legacy is primarily carried through his son Samuel, who became one of Israel's greatest prophets and judges. Samuel's leadership was instrumental in the transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. Elkanah's faithfulness and support of Hannah's vow played a crucial role in the fulfillment of God's plan for Israel through Samuel.
References in ScriptureElkanah is mentioned in several passages, including
1 Samuel 1:1-28,
1 Samuel 2:11, and
1 Chronicles 6:27-28. These references highlight his family, his religious devotion, and his role in the early life of Samuel.
Elkanah's account is a testament to faithfulness, both in family life and in religious devotion, serving as an example of piety and support within the family structure as ordained by God.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
ElkanahGod the zealous; the zeal of God
Easton's Bible Dictionary
God-created.
(1.) The second son of Korah (Exodus 6:24), or, according to1 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 6:27, 34). He was "an Ephrathite" (1 Samuel 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.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ELKANAHel-ka'-na ('elqanah, "God has possessed"):
(1) An Ephraimite, the father of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1-28;1 Samuel 2:11-20). Of his two wives, Hannah, the childless, was best beloved. At Shiloh she received through Eli the promise of a son. Elkanah, with Hannah, took the young Samuel to Shiloh when he was weaned, and left him with EIi as their offering to Yahweh. They were blessed with three other sons and two daughters.
(2) The second son of Korah (Exodus 6:24), who escaped the fate of Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 26:11).
(3) One "next to the king" in Jerusalem in the time of Ahaz; slain by one Zichri of Ephraim in war with Pekah (2 Chronicles 28:7).
(4) One of the Korahites among David's "mighty men" (1 Chronicles 12:1, 6).
(5) A Levite, possibly the same as (2) above (1 Chronicles 6:23, 15, 36).
(6) Another Levite of the same line (1 Chronicles 6:26, 35).
(7) Another Levite, ancestor of Berechiah (1 Chronicles 9:16).
(8) Another Levite (if not the same as (4) above), one of the "doorkeepers for the ark" (1 Chronicles 15:23).
F. K. Farr
Strong's Hebrew
6444. Peninnah -- wife ofElkanah... 6443, 6444. Peninnah. 6445 . wife of
Elkanah. Transliteration: Peninnah
Phonetic Spelling: (pen-in-naw') Short Definition: Peninnah.
...6689. Tsuph -- ancestor ofElkanah and Samuel
... 6688, 6689. Tsuph. 6690 . ancestor ofElkanah and Samuel. Transliteration:
Tsuph Phonetic Spelling: (tsoof) Short Definition: Zuph....
511. Elqanah -- "God has created," or "God has taken possession...
... Transliteration: Elqanah Phonetic Spelling: (el-kaw-naw') Short Definition:
Elkanah. Word... NASB Word UsageElkanah (21).Elkanah. From...
Library
Samuel the Boy Prophet
... THE OLD TESTAMENT SAMUEL THE BOY PROPHET.Elkanah, a Zuphite of the hill country
of Ephraim, lived at Ramah with his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah....
The History of Saul
... This history maketh mention that there was a man namedElkanah which had two wives,
that one was named Hannah, and the name of the second Peninnah....
The Story of David, the Shepherd Boy
... THE STORY OF DAVID, THE SHEPHERD BOY. Living at Ramah, in the mountains
of Ephraim, there was a man whose name wasElkanah. He had...
Eli and Samuel.
...Elkanah went up to Shiloh yearly to offer sacrifice: and when Samuel was old enough,
Hannah went with her husband and took her little boy with her....
Samuel --The Child of the Temple.
... the temple. When Eli was high priest a man namedElkanah came up from Ramah
to worship, and Hannah his wife went with him. She was...
The First Kings.
... Samuel, the wonderful child ofElkanah and Hannah, given to them, like Jephthah
and Samson, as a special mark of divine favor, and who early entered the temple...
The Child Samuel.
... Now, at one time there lived in a little cottage on the hill of Ramah, not far from
what is now Jerusalem, a certain man namedElkanah, whose wife Hannah had a...
Further Examples from the Old Testament in Favour of Fasting.
... [1054] Thus a God-ward fast is a work of reverential awe: and by its means also
Hannah the wife ofElkanah making suit, barren as she had been beforetime...
Hannah Praying Before the Lord.
... the Tabernacle at Shiloh. One day, Hannah, the wife of a priest namedElkanah,
came to the Tabernacle to worship. She was grieved...
Fragment iv. 1. Take Me, O Samuel, the Heifer Brought to Bethlehem...
... Footnotes: [1851] From a Discourse onElkanah and Hannah. In Theodoret, Dial. I.,
bearing the title "Unchangeable" (atreptos); Works, vol. iv. p. 36....
Thesaurus
Elkanah (20 Occurrences)...ELKANAH.
...Elkanah, with Hannah, took the young Samuel to Shiloh when he was
weaned, and left him with EIi as their offering to Yahweh.
...Elka'nah (20 Occurrences)
Elka'nah.Elkanah, Elka'nah. Elkiah .... Exodus 6:24 And the sons of Korah: Assir,
andElkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites. (See RSV...
Zuph (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Honeycomb, a Kohathite Levite, ancestor ofElkanah and
Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1); called also Zophai (1 Chronicles 6:26). Zuph, Land of....
Jeroham (11 Occurrences)
... (1.) Father ofElkanah, and grandfather of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1).... 1
Chronicles 6:27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son,Elkanah his son....
Amasai (5 Occurrences)
... Burdensome. (1.) A Levite, son ofElkanah, of the ancestry of Samuel (1 Chronicles
6:25, 35).... 1 Chronicles 6:25 The sons ofElkanah: Amasai, and Ahimoth....
Hannah (13 Occurrences)
... Favour, grace, one of the wives ofElkanah the Levite, and the mother of Samuel
(1 Samuel 1; 2). Her home was at Ramathaim-zophim, whence she was wont every...
Jero'ham (10 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill-country
of Ephraim, and his name wasElkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu...
Korahites (7 Occurrences)
... ra-its (qorchi), (beno qorach; in the King James Version appears also as Korhite,
Kohathite, Kore): This phrase is used to denote Assir andElkanah and Abiasaph...
Ramah (38 Occurrences)
... the South. (4) Aramathaim: The home ofElkanah and Hannah, and the birthplace
of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:19; 1 Samuel 2:11, etc.). In...
Zophai (1 Occurrence)
... Zophai (1 Occurrence). 1 Chronicles 6:26 As forElkanah, the sons ofElkanah: Zophai
his son, and Nahath his son, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Resources
Who was Elkanah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Hannah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the story of Hannah and Samuel? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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