1 Samuel 1:1

Letters to the Faithful - 1 Samuel 1:1

Berean Standard Bible

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.

King James Bible

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:

Hebrew Text:

וַיְהִי֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶחָ֜ד מִן־הָרָמָתַ֛יִם צֹופִ֖ים מֵהַ֣ר אֶפְרָ֑יִם וּשְׁמֹ֡ו אֶ֠לְקָנָה בֶּן־יְרֹחָ֧ם בֶּן־אֱלִיה֛וּא בֶּן־תֹּ֥חוּ בֶן־צ֖וּף אֶפְרָתִֽי׃

Transliteration:

Vay'hi ish echad min-haRamathayim Tzofim me'har Efrayim u'shmo Elkanah ben-Yerocham ben-Elihu ben-Tochu ben-Tzuf Efrati.

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Now there was a man named Elkanah

Elkanah is introduced as a significant figure in the narrative of 1 Samuel. His name means "God has created" or "God has possessed," which may reflect his role in the divine plan. Elkanah is the father of Samuel, a major prophet and last judge of Israel, indicating his importance in the biblical history of Israel.

who was from Ramathaim-zophim

Ramathaim-zophim, often shortened to Ramah, is located in the hill country of Ephraim. It is significant as the birthplace and home of Samuel. The name suggests a place of high elevation, possibly indicating a place of watchfulness or prophecy. This location becomes central in the narrative of Samuel's life and ministry.

in the hill country of Ephraim

The hill country of Ephraim is a region known for its rugged terrain and strategic importance. Ephraim was one of the prominent tribes of Israel, descended from Joseph's son Ephraim. This area was central in the tribal confederation of Israel and often associated with leadership and influence.

He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph

This genealogy establishes Elkanah's lineage, connecting him to a family of some standing. Genealogies in the Bible often serve to authenticate a person's heritage and role within God's plan. Zuph, the ancestor mentioned, is believed to be the founder of the clan or region, indicating a long-standing family presence in the area.

an Ephraimite

Although Elkanah is described as an Ephraimite, he is actually a Levite by descent, as indicated in 1 Chronicles 6:22-28. This dual identification highlights the complex tribal affiliations in Israel. Levites were set apart for religious duties, which may explain Elkanah's piety and his family's significant role in Israel's spiritual history.

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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. Thus opens the sacred text of 1 Samuel 1:1, a verse that, though modest in its presentation, serves as the threshold to a narrative of profound spiritual and historical significance, marking the transition from the turbulent era of the judges to the establishment of Israel’s monarchy. In its precise genealogical and geographical details, this verse situates the story of Hannah, Samuel, and the rise of God’s anointed within the covenantal framework of Israel’s history, revealing the meticulous providence of God who works through ordinary lives to accomplish His extraordinary purposes.

The verse introduces “a certain man,” Elkanah, whose identity is carefully delineated through both location and lineage, grounding the narrative in the particularity of Israel’s tribal and territorial structure. The designation “of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim” locates Elkanah in a specific place, a town in the hill country of the tribe of Ephraim, often identified with Ramah, a significant site in later narratives as the home of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:17). The name “Ramathaimzophim,” meaning “double heights” or “heights of the watchers,” suggests a place of elevation, both physically and perhaps spiritually, hinting at the lofty calling that will emerge from this household. The reference to “mount Ephraim” further anchors Elkanah within the tribal inheritance of Ephraim, one of the prominent tribes descended from Joseph, known for its central role in Israel’s history. The term “Ephrathite,” however, introduces a layer of complexity, as it may denote either a resident of Ephraim or, as some traditions suggest, a connection to Bethlehem in Judah (also called Ephrath, as in Genesis 35:19). This ambiguity invites reflection on the interconnectedness of Israel’s tribes and the way God’s purposes transcend rigid boundaries, weaving together diverse threads of His people.

The genealogy provided—“the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph”—serves not merely as a record of ancestry but as a testament to Elkanah’s rootedness in the covenant community. Such genealogical detail, common in the Scriptures, underscores the continuity of God’s promises across generations, linking Elkanah to the broader narrative of Israel’s history. The names themselves, while obscure, carry echoes of meaning: Jeroham (“he is compassionate”), Elihu (“he is my God”), Tohu (“lowly”), and Zuph (“honeycomb” or “watcher”). These names may subtly foreshadow the themes of the narrative—God’s compassion, divine sovereignty, humility, and provision—that will unfold through the story of Hannah’s barrenness and Samuel’s birth. The genealogy also aligns Elkanah with the Levitical line, as later texts suggest that Zuph’s descendants were associated with the Kohathite Levites (1 Chronicles 6:16-28). This connection hints at Elkanah’s piety and his family’s role in the worship of God, setting the stage for Samuel’s future as a priest and prophet.

Theologically, 1 Samuel 1:1 reflects the divine pattern of working through ordinary individuals to accomplish extraordinary purposes. Elkanah, a man of no apparent prominence beyond his tribal identity, becomes the patriarch of a household from which God will raise up Samuel, a pivotal figure who will anoint Israel’s first kings and guide the nation through a time of transition. The verse’s focus on place and lineage underscores God’s sovereignty over history, as He chooses a specific man, from a specific place, at a specific time, to initiate a new chapter in Israel’s story. This pattern resonates with the broader biblical narrative, where God consistently selects the humble and obscure—Abraham from Ur, Moses from Midian, David from Bethlehem—to fulfill His covenantal promises.

The historical context of 1 Samuel 1:1 places it in the waning days of the judges, a period marked by spiritual and moral decline, where “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Against this backdrop of chaos, the introduction of Elkanah’s family signals a turning point, a divine intervention that will lead to the establishment of a monarchy under God’s guidance. The verse’s simplicity belies its significance, for it lays the foundation for the birth of Samuel, whose prophetic ministry will bridge the gap between the judges and the kings, restoring Israel’s covenantal fidelity. The mention of Ramathaimzophim as a place of “heights” may subtly foreshadow the spiritual elevation that Samuel’s life will bring, lifting Israel from the lowliness of its waywardness to a renewed relationship with God.

In its canonical context, 1 Samuel 1:1 resonates with themes of divine faithfulness and human preparation. The genealogical detail recalls the genealogies of Genesis, which trace the lineage of God’s people from Adam to Abraham to Israel, affirming the continuity of God’s covenant. Elkanah’s story parallels that of other faithful figures, such as Abraham and Sarah or Manoah and his wife, whose households become the locus of God’s redemptive work despite personal trials, such as Hannah’s barrenness (1 Samuel 1:2). The verse also anticipates the role of Samuel as a prophet who will anoint Saul and David, linking the narrative to the messianic hope that culminates in Christ, the ultimate King from the line of David (Matthew 1:1).

In the broader arc of salvation history, 1 Samuel 1:1 points to the truth that God’s redemptive plan unfolds through the particularity of human lives. Elkanah, an Ephrathite from Ramathaimzophim, is not a king or a warrior but a faithful man whose family becomes the vessel for God’s purposes. The verse foreshadows the inclusion of the humble in God’s kingdom, a theme fulfilled in the New Testament, where the lowly are exalted (Luke 1:52). Samuel’s birth, which follows this introduction, mirrors the miraculous births of Isaac, Jacob, and John the Baptist, each marking a new stage in God’s salvation. Ultimately, the lineage of Elkanah leads to David and, through him, to Jesus, the true Prophet, Priest, and King, who fulfills the promises embedded in Israel’s history.

In conclusion, 1 Samuel 1:1 is a verse of quiet yet profound import, introducing a man and a place through which God will work mighty deeds. The precise details of Elkanah’s identity and ancestry ground the narrative in the historical and covenantal reality of Israel, while the mention of Ramathaimzophim hints at the spiritual heights to come. This verse invites awe at God’s sovereign choice of the humble, gratitude for His faithfulness across generations, and hope in His ability to transform ordinary lives into instruments of His redemptive plan. In the figure of Elkanah, we behold the beginnings of a story that will lead to the anointing of kings and the fulfillment of God’s eternal purposes, culminating in the Messiah who reigns forever.

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Grace be unto you, beloved brethren and sisters in Christ, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the author and perfecter of our faith. I write to you in the fellowship of the Spirit, that you may be strengthened in your hearts, steadfast in your hope, and abounding in the love which comes from God alone.

Consider now the word of the Lord as recorded in the book of 1 Samuel: “There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.” In this beginning of the sacred record, the Spirit of God draws our attention to a man and to a family through whom He would accomplish His purposes.

O beloved, how often does the work of the Lord begin in quiet places, among ordinary people, in times of seeming spiritual decline. In the days of the judges, when there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in his own eyes, the Lord was preparing a prophet, a servant, and a faithful witness. Through the house of Elkanah, though it was not a house of great fame, the Lord would raise up Samuel, who would stand as a faithful servant before Him and speak His word to a wayward nation.

Take heart from this, dearly beloved, for the purposes of our God are not hindered by the darkness of the age nor by the lowliness of our estate. The God who chose Elkanah and his household chooses still the humble and the faithful to accomplish His will. His eyes range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

Therefore, let none among you say, “My life is too small, my family too unknown, my work too insignificant.” The Lord delights to use what the world deems weak to shame the strong; He calls the lowly and the overlooked to display His glory. As Elkanah, a certain man from Ramathaim, was named in the divine record, so too your life is known and precious in the sight of God.

Furthermore, beloved, consider the faithfulness of Elkanah in his devotion. Though the times were evil, he went up year by year to worship the Lord of hosts at Shiloh. He did not forsake the assembly of God’s people nor neglect the worship that was due to the Most High. In this, let us find instruction for our own day. However dark the times, however great the failures of religious leaders—as they were even in those days—let us not grow weary in seeking the Lord, nor forsake the gathering of the faithful.

Let us also be mindful of the unseen battles within the home. In the house of Elkanah there was great sorrow, for Hannah his wife was barren and her soul was troubled. Yet in her anguish she poured out her heart before the Lord, and He who hears the cries of His people answered her prayer. O beloved, let us learn to bring every burden before the throne of grace. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

From the house of sorrow sprang forth a servant of joy. From the cry of a barren woman arose a prophet who would anoint kings. Thus the Lord turns mourning into dancing and clothes His people with joy. Wait upon the Lord, beloved, for His timing is perfect and His mercies never fail.

Finally, let us remember that every faithful act, though small in the eyes of men, is written in the record of God. Elkanah’s name stands in Scripture as a testimony to the generations. His faithfulness, his worship, and his family’s story became the vessel for God’s unfolding plan. So let your life also be lived in faith and obedience, trusting that the Lord sees and rewards every labor of love.

Now may the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, strengthen, establish, and settle you. May you walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and steadfastness, abounding in hope and in every good work. And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

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O Lord God of heaven and earth, eternal and almighty, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Israel, the Holy One who was, and is, and is to come, we bow before You this day in reverence and in trust. You are the Sovereign Lord whose purposes unfold across the ages, whose eye is upon all the earth, whose mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear You.

We remember the words recorded in the book of Your servant Samuel: “There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.” O Lord, from this simple mention of a man and a family, we behold the mystery of Your providence and the steadfast unfolding of Your will.

For in a time when there was no king in Israel, when the hearts of the people were wayward and the word of the Lord was rare, You were not idle. You were preparing a servant; You were weaving a story of redemption and hope through the life of an ordinary household. From the hills of Ephraim You called forth a man and his family through whom Your prophet would be born, through whom Your voice would once again be heard in the land.

Therefore, O gracious Father, teach us to trust in Your providence even in times of darkness. When the days seem barren and the word of life seems faint, remind us that You are never absent, never silent. You are the God who works in hidden places, who brings forth great things from humble beginnings, who remembers the faithful and exalts the lowly.

We pray, O Lord, for the families of Your people. In homes small and great, in cities and in villages, may Your presence abide. Let every household that calls upon Your name be a dwelling place of peace, of love, of prayer. Raise up among us men and women of faith, devoted to Your worship, steadfast in hope, and abounding in good works.

O Lord, as Elkanah worshiped You faithfully year by year, grant us also the grace to persevere in worship and devotion. Let us not grow weary in seeking Your face. May our hearts delight in Your presence; may our lips be filled with praise. In times of abundance and in times of need, may we be found among those who honor You in spirit and in truth.

We pray also, O merciful God, for those who carry hidden sorrows, as Hannah carried hers within the household of Elkanah. For all who grieve in silence, for all who long and wait upon You, grant comfort and hope. Hear their cries as You heard the cry of Hannah. Let them know that You are near to the brokenhearted and that none who trust in You will be put to shame.

Grant wisdom and faith to the leaders of Your people, that they may shepherd Your flock with righteousness and compassion. As You raised up Samuel from the house of Elkanah to be a faithful prophet and servant, so raise up among us those who will proclaim Your word with boldness and humility, who will lead with integrity, and who will serve with joy.

And teach us, O Lord, that no life is too small, no place too obscure, for Your purposes. The world esteems the mighty and the famous, but You look upon the humble and the faithful. May we walk humbly with You, seeking not the praise of men but the approval of our God. May our lives be vessels for Your glory, our days marked by obedience and love.

Now, O God of all grace, bless Your Church in every place. Strengthen the weary, encourage the fainthearted, restore the broken, and gather the wandering. Let Your kingdom come, and let Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.