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ELKANAH

(Heb. ʾelqānâ)

1. A descendant of Korah of the family of Levi (Exod. 6:24). As the head of his father’s house, he is called the son of Assir, Korah’s son, and named father of Ebiasaph (1 Chr. 6:23[MT 8]).

2. The father of Samuel and the husband of Hannah; a resident of Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim (1 Sam. 1:1; 1 Chr. 6:27, 34[12, 19]).

Hannah, the favorite of Elkanah’s two wives, was barren but later gave birth to the prophet Samuel; his other wife, Peninnah, was noted for her fecundity (1 Sam. 1:2). Elkanah may have been a person of some import, because he is the only commoner in the books of Samuel and Kings noted to have had more than one wife. Yearly Elkanah would take his family on a pilgrimage to Shiloh to offer sacrifices, distributing double portions of sacrificial meat to Hannah because he loved her (1 Sam. 1:5). He would also accompany Hannah on her annual visit to Samuel. The couple was blessed with three more sons and two daughters (1 Sam. 2:21).

According to Jewish tradition, Elkanah is associated with good deeds and compared to Abraham (Ber. 50). Hannah was his first wife and he did not marry Peninnah until 10 years later. Elkanah was so pious that he made four journeys to Shiloh each year instead of the required three. On each journey his large caravan would travel a different route, attracting attention and encouraging others along the way to worship the Lord. For his piety he is credited as responsible for all of Israel’s pilgrimages to Shiloh.

3. An ancestor of Samuel and descendant of Levi (1 Chr. 6:25, 36[10, 21]).

4. Another of Samuel’s ancestors (1 Chr. 6:26, 35[11, 20]), possibly the same as 3 above.

5. A Levite, ancestor of Berechiah son of Asa who lived in Jerusalem after the Exile (1 Chr. 9:16).

6. A Korahite Levite, one of David’s Mighty Men who joined him at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:6).

7. A Levite who was appointed by David as one of the two doorkeepers for the ark (1 Chr. 15:23).

8. A court official during Ahaz’ reign who was next in authority to the king (2 Chr. 28:7). He forsook the Lord and was killed by the Ephraimite Zichri.

Robin Gallaher Branch

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ELKANAH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)