Elkanah אֶלְקָנָה
Samuel's father; the man who went up to Shiloh year by year
A Levite of the tribe of Ephraim, of Ramathaim. He had two wives: Hannah, who had no children, and Peninnah, who had.
Year by year. "And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh" (I Samuel 1:3). The times were such that the Tabernacle stood in Shiloh but people had almost stopped going; Eli's sons took of the offerings by force. He went up.
What he said to his wife. Hannah wept and would not eat. He asked: "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?" (1:8). The words are left in the book without an answer—and in that silence is her whole measure.
When Hannah made her vow and bore Samuel, she did not go up to Shiloh until she had weaned him. Elkanah said: "Do what seems good to you; stay until you have weaned him" (1:23). He did not insist.
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Tanakh
- Shmuel I 1:1–8 — the two wives, the yearly going up to Shiloh, and the question to Hannah
- Shmuel I 1:21–28 — “do what seems good to you” and the giving of Samuel to Shiloh
Basis: stated in the Tanakh.