Elkanah, whose name means “God has provided” or “God has redeemed,” was a Levite of the family of the Kohathites. While several men in the Old Testament bear this name, the most prominent Elkanah was the father of the prophet Samuel.
His life is a portrait of domestic struggle, deep-seated devotion, and the quiet faithfulness that precedes a national spiritual awakening.
His Lineage and Home
Elkanah lived in Ramathaim-zophim, in the hill country of Ephraim. Though he resided in the territory of Ephraim, his genealogy (1 Chronicles 6:22–28) confirms he was a Levite. This explains why his son, Samuel, was able to serve in the Tabernacle and offer sacrifices.
The Trial of Two Wives
Elkanah had two wives: Hannah and Peninnah. This domestic arrangement was a source of great “bitterness of soul” within his household.
- Hannah, his first and most beloved wife, was barren.
- Peninnah had children and used her status to “provoke” and mock Hannah year after year.
Despite the cultural emphasis on offspring, Elkanah’s love for Hannah was not dependent on her ability to bear children. His empathy for her remains one of the most tender moments in the biblical record:
“Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8, KJV)
A Man of Consistent Worship
In an era when “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” and the priesthood under Eli had become corrupt, Elkanah remained a man of strict religious discipline. He was not deterred by the spiritual decay at the Tabernacle in Shiloh.
“And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh.” (1 Samuel 1:3, KJV)
The Stewardship of a Vow
When Hannah finally conceived and bore Samuel following her desperate prayer, Elkanah demonstrated his integrity as the head of the household. Hannah had vowed to give the child to the Lord, and Elkanah did not use his legal right (according to the law of vows in Numbers 30) to annul her promise. Instead, he encouraged her to fulfill it, saying, “Only the Lord establish his word” (1 Samuel 1:23).
Theological Significance
Elkanah represents the “faithful remnant” during a time of national decline. He was the link between the era of the Judges and the era of the Prophets.
- The Father of a Reformer: By maintaining a household of prayer and consistent worship, he provided the environment in which the boy Samuel could hear the voice of God.
- A Heart of Love: His devotion to Hannah, despite her barrenness, reflects a shadow of God’s love for His people—a love based on covenant and character rather than performance or “fruitfulness” alone.
Through Elkanah’s line, God not only provided a prophet (Samuel) but also a great singer in the house of the Lord; his descendant Heman became one of the chief musicians in the time of King David (1 Chronicles 6:33).