Levite living at the time of United Monarchy
Elkanah was the father of the prophet Samuel and husband of Hannah.
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Elkanah, an Ephraimite from Ramathaim-zophim, was the father of the prophet Samuel and the husband of Hannah and Peninnah (1Sa.1.1,4). He was a devout man who regularly went to worship and sacrifice to the Lord at Shiloh (1Sa.1.3). Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. While Peninnah had children, Hannah was barren (1Sa.1.2). Despite Hannah's inability to bear children, Elkanah loved her deeply and tried to comfort her (1Sa.1.8). Hannah prayed fervently for a child and vowed to dedicate him to the Lord's service (1Sa.1.11). After the birth of Samuel, Elkanah supported Hannah in fulfilling her vow and brought the child to serve in the tabernacle under Eli the priest (1Sa.1.21-28). Elkanah continued to worship at Shiloh and received a blessing from Eli for his devotion (1Sa.2.20). He is also mentioned in the genealogies of the Levites as an ancestor of Samuel and his sons (1Ch.6.27,34). Elkanah's story highlights his faithfulness, love for his family, and support for Hannah's dedication of Samuel to the Lord's service.
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10 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H0511
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.
And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
“Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why wonʼt you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
The next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.
Then Elkanah and all his house went up to make the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow,
“Do what you think is best,” her husband Elkanah replied, “and stay here until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD confirm His word.” So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy began ministering to the LORD before Eli the priest.
And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the LORD give you children by this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the LORD.” Then they would go home.
Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son.
the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.