Elkanah

1 Samuel 1:1-8 (New Living Translation)

1 There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the region of Zuph in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, of Ephraim. ² Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.

³ Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the Lord at that time were the two sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas. ⁴ On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children. ⁵ And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the Lord had given her no children. ⁶ So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children. ⁷ Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.

⁸ “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?”

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Dear God,

When it comes to Samuel’s boyhood, it is easy to focus on Hannah and forget that Elkanah was part of his life as well. He was apparently a loving, if not very perceptive, husband to Hannah. He also seems to have been fairly insensitive to Peninnah. It appears his empathy was a bit lacking. Yes, he could tell that Hannah was suffering, so he would do nice things for her (hurting Peninnah in the process), but his last line in 1 Samuel 1:8 illustrates his obtuseness: “You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” Yeah … no, it is not.

I think one of the great things about parenthood is how it helps us to grow. It is great that in these stories, no one is painted with a perfect brush. Everyone is flawed. We do not know who wrote this story, but they wanted us to not only know something about Samuel’s origin story—why he grew up in the temple—but also that his parents were real people with real emotions, strength, and flaws.

Father, I am still on this journey. You are shaping me every day. You are teaching me where I am insensitive and thoughtless. You humble me through my children, wife, and others. You are slowly filtering out the chaff and bringing me into alignment with your Holy Spirit. Maybe by the time I die I will be halfway there. Wouldn’t that be great?

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen