CHARACTER STUDY ~ ELKANAH

 The name Elkanah is of Hebrew origin which means “God has purchased” or “God has created”. He was a man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. Elkanah was the father of the prophet Samuel. He had two wives; Hannah and Penninah. He is mentioned to be a devoted man who goes to Shiloh to worship the Lord annually.

 

Some Characteristics of Elkanah:

✔ Elkanah is a descendant of Ephriam one of the sons of Jacob. The Bible often tries to build a family tree of most characters. This serves as a reference to know the background of people.

 

✔ Elkanah had two wives. It is possible he married Penninah the second wife when Hannah could not take seed. However, she made the home a living hell for Hannah. It is good to wait on the Lord and seek His face in all crises as He solely has the answer to our challenges in life.   

 

✔ Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies at the Tabernacle. Building a good relationship with the Lord builds godly homes.

 

✔ Elkanah openly showed more affection to his first wife Hannah than to Penninah. His ratio of sharing the sacrifice goes in favor of Hannah rather than Penninah and her children. This made Penninah to taunt Hannah. We must be careful not to discriminate in our homes as its repercussions are deadly.

 

✔ Elkanah’s reactions to Hannah’s plight were somehow not encouraging. He said to her “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” unlike Isaac who prayed for his wife to conceive, he rather lamented.

 

✔ Elkanah was an understanding man. When Hannah wanted to wean Samuel before going to Shiloh, he granted her request. He also approved for his son to serve the Lord by assisting the priest Eli.

 

✔ There is no record of the death and burial of Elkanah in the bible although other religious literature might have it.