1 Samuel 1

• Elkanah was a Levite (a member of the tribe of Levi) (1 Chronicles 6:22–27). After the Israelites conquered the promised land, the Levites received towns in other tribes' territories, including Ephraim (Joshua 21:20).

• Elkanah's hometown was Ramah (1 Samuel 2:11). Do not confuse this Ramah with the one in the land of Benjamin (see Joshua 18:25; Judges 19:13; Matthew 2:18).

• The region of Zuph got its name from one of Elkanah's ancestors, a Levite from the Kohath clan (1 Chronicles 6:35). Saul first met Samuel in Zuph while looking for his father's donkeys (1 Samuel 9:5).

• Elkanah's long family history suggests he was important in society.

In the Bible, when a man married two wives at the same time, it often led to serious conflict (1 Samuel 1:6–7; Genesis 16; 21; 29).

• Elkanah made this trip every year because the law required people to attend three festivals a year (Exodus 23:14–17).

• According to God's law, Israelites had to sacrifice at God's chosen sanctuary (Deuteronomy 12:1–28). From the time of Joshua to Samuel, God's sanctuary, the tabernacle, was in Shiloh (Joshua 18:1). Shiloh was a town in Ephraim about 13.7 kilometers (8.5 miles) north of Bethel on the way to Shechem. King David later moved the tabernacle to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6).

• the LORD of Hosts: In the Hebrew Old Testament, God is often called Yahweh Tseba’oth or ’Elohim Tseba’oth. These titles are traditionally translated as “Lord of hosts” and “God of hosts.”

  The term “hosts” (Hebrew tseba’oth, traditionally “sabaoth”) usually means “armies.” It can refer to human armies, like the armies of Israel (for example, 1 Samuel 17:45). I can also refer to foreign armies sent to carry out the Lord’s plans (for example, Isaiah 9:11–13). However, it most often refers to God's armies of angels sent from heaven to carry out his commands and fight on earth (for example, 2 Kings 6:17).

  This title highlights God's role as a powerful warrior in the story involving the ark of the covenant and the Philistines (1 Samuel 4–6).

Sacrifice … portions [of the meat]: Some sacrifices included sharing part of the animal in a community meal (see Leviticus 7:11–34).

the house of the LORD: This is another name for the tabernacle. It is also known as “the temple of the LORD” in 1 Samuel 1:9. These names show that the tabernacle, a portable building, was the main sanctuary in Shiloh.

the temple of the LORD: This means the Lord's sanctuary. Solomon's Temple was not built yet, so temple here refers to the Lord's holy place.

Hannah promised to dedicate her child to the Lord as a Nazirite (see Numbers 6:1–21). She might have hoped her child would be like Samson, a deliverer of God's people (compare Judges 13). A deliverer was someone who rescued the Israelites from their enemies

Some people may have used the feast times at Shiloh to drink too much alcohol instead of worshiping. Eli wrongly thought Hannah was just another person who was drunk (see Acts 2:13–15).

wicked woman (Hebrew a daughter of Belial): This phrase describes a worthless person. Belial means "worthlessness" and people later used it as a name for Satan (2 Corinthians 6:15). In Hebrew, a son of or daughter of a quality refers to someone who shows that quality strongly.

A blessing was more than just wishful thinking. It was often God's way of giving a real benefit (see, for example, Genesis 27:1–40; 28:1–4; 32:22–32; 48:1–49:28). Because this blessing from God's high priest assured Hannah that her prayer would be answered, she was no longer sad.

After the boy is weaned: Hannah likely nursed Samuel for two to four years.

Elkanah could have canceled Hannah’s promise (see Numbers 30:12–14). But he chose to affirm and support it instead.