1 Samuel 1:1

¶ Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name [was] Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

Now there was a certain {H259} man {H376} of Ramathaimzophim {H7436}, of mount {H2022} Ephraim {H669}, and his name {H8034} was Elkanah {H511}, the son {H1121} of Jeroham {H3395}, the son {H1121} of Elihu {H453}, the son {H1121} of Tohu {H8459}, the son {H1121} of Zuph {H6689}, an Ephrathite {H673}:

There was a man from Ramatayim-Tzofim, in the hills of Efrayim, whose name was Elkanah the son of Yerocham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tochu, the son of Tzuf, from Efrat.

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.

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill-country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite:

Commentary

Context

The book of 1 Samuel opens by immediately introducing a key figure, Elkanah, setting the stage for the dramatic and significant events that follow. This verse provides his name, lineage, and geographical origin: Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Mount Ephraim. This immediate focus on a specific individual and his background grounds the narrative in historical reality. The mention of his family tree, while not extensive, establishes his identity and connection. While the KJV simply states "an Ephrathite," later passages (such as 1 Chronicles 6:33-38) reveal his family was of Levitical descent, specifically Kohathites, who served in the tabernacle. This detail is crucial for understanding the subsequent narrative involving his son, Samuel, and the importance of his family's role in Israel's spiritual life during a turbulent period.

Key Themes

  • Introduction of a Central Family: The verse immediately draws attention to Elkanah, whose family will become pivotal in the unfolding story of Israel's transition from the period of Judges to the monarchy. It sets the stage for the birth of Samuel and the subsequent rise of kings like Saul and David.
  • Geographical Foundation: Pinpointing Elkanah's home in Mount Ephraim, a significant tribal territory, establishes a concrete setting for the narrative. This region was central to Israelite life during the time of the Judges, often a place of worship and tribal gatherings.
  • Lineage and Identity: The listing of Elkanah's ancestry, though brief, provides a sense of his heritage and roots, a common practice in biblical narratives to establish a character's background and potential significance. This sets the stage for God's work through a seemingly ordinary family.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Elkanah" (Hebrew: אֶלְקָנָה, ’Elqanah) means "God has created" or "God has possessed." This name subtly foreshadows the divine involvement and provision that will characterize the story of his barren wife, Hannah, and the miraculous birth of their son, Samuel. The place name "Ramathaim-zophim" (רָמָתַיִם צוֹפִים, Ramathayim Tsowphim) literally means "the two heights of the Zophites," referring to a specific location often identified with Ramah, the future home of the prophet Samuel. The term "Ephrathite" here denotes his origin from the territory of Ephraim, which was a significant tribal territory.

Significance and Application

While seemingly a simple introductory verse, 1 Samuel 1:1 serves a vital purpose: it anchors the grand narrative of God's work in human history to a specific, identifiable family in a real location. It reminds us that God often begins His greatest works not with kings or armies, but with ordinary individuals in ordinary places. Elkanah, though not a prophet or judge himself, becomes the patriarch of a family through whom God raises up Samuel, a pivotal figure in Israel's history (1 Samuel 3:20). This verse, by introducing Elkanah and his family, sets the stage for the miraculous birth of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20) and the subsequent transformation of Israel. It subtly highlights that God's plans unfold through the seemingly mundane details of everyday life, emphasizing the importance of every individual in His divine tapestry. It encourages readers to consider how God might use their own lives and backgrounds, regardless of their perceived status, for His purposes, much like He used this family from Mount Ephraim.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 6:25 (6 votes)

    And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth.

  • 1 Chronicles 6:27 (6 votes)

    Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.

  • 1 Chronicles 6:34 (5 votes)

    The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,

  • 1 Samuel 1:19 (5 votes)

    ¶ And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

  • Ruth 1:2 (4 votes)

    And the name of the man [was] Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

  • 1 Samuel 9:5 (3 votes)

    [And] when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that [was] with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave [caring] for the asses, and take thought for us.

  • Judges 19:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass in those days, when [there was] no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.