Highlights of 1 Samuel 1-4 - Theocratic Ministry School

Study information for Theocratic Ministry School

Bible reading: 1 Samuel 1-4 (8 min.)


(1 Samuel 1:1)

Now there was a man of Ra•math•a′im-zo′phim of the mountainous region of E′phra•im whose name was El•ka′nah, the son of Je•ro′ham, the son of E•li′hu, the son of To′hu, the son of Zuph, an E′phra•im•ite.

*** w98 3/1 p. 16 par. 12 Appreciating Christian Gatherings ***
Samuel’s hometown, Ramathaim-zophim, was possibly situated near the coast at modern-day Rentis in the foothills of “the mountainous region of Ephraim.” (1 Samuel 1:1)

*** it-1 p. 707 Eliab ***
3. A Levite of the family of Kohathites and an ancestor of Samuel the prophet. (1Ch 6:22, 27, 28, 33, 34) His name is given as Eliel at 1 Chronicles 6:34 and as Elihu at 1 Samuel 1:1.

*** it-1 p. 710 Elihu ***
2. An ancestor of the prophet Samuel; the son of Tohu. (1Sa 1:1) Elihu is evidently also called Eliab and Eliel.—1Ch 6:27, 34.

*** it-1 p. 709 Eliel ***
2. A Levite of the family of the Kohathites and an ancestor of the prophet Samuel. (1Ch 6:33, 34) He evidently is called Elihu in 1 Samuel 1:1 and Eliab in 1 Chronicles 6:27.

*** it-1 p. 719 Elkanah ***
4. The son of Jeroham and the father of Samuel the prophet, as well as of other sons and daughters. Elkanah was a resident of Ramah of the mountainous region of Ephraim. Hence he is called an Ephraimite, although genealogically he was a Levite. (1Sa 1:1; 1Ch 6:27, 33, 34)

*** it-2 p. 732 Ramah ***
5. The hometown of the prophet Samuel and his parents. In 1 Samuel 1:1, Samuel’s father Elkanah is described as a “man of Ramathaim-zophim of the mountainous region of Ephraim.” Throughout the rest of the account the shortened form “Ramah” is used. (1Sa 1:19) Perhaps the longer name is first used to distinguish this Ramah from other places of the same name, such as Ramah in Benjamin. An American Translation reads: “man of Ramah, a Zuphite.” This rendering of the Masoretic text would indicate that Elkanah was either a descendant of Zuph (Zophai) or from the district of Zuph.—1Ch 6:27, 28, 34, 35; 1Sa 9:5.
An ancient tradition presented by Eusebius identifies Ramah with the location of modern Rentis (Rantis), in the hills of Ephraim about 35 km (22 mi) NW of Jerusalem. This would be the same place as the Arimathea (Gr. form of Heb. Ra•mah′) mentioned in the Christian Greek Scriptures.—Lu 23:50-53.

(1 Samuel 1:2)

He had two wives; one was named Han′nah, and the other was named Pe•nin′nah. Pe•nin′nah had children, but Han′nah had no children.

*** w07 3/15 p. 15 How Hannah Found Peace ***
A Family Under Stress
Hannah is one of the two wives of Elkanah, a Levite who lives in the territory of Ephraim. (1 Samuel 1:1, 2a; 1 Chronicles 6:33, 34) Although polygamy was not part of God’s original purpose for mankind, it is permitted and regulated under the Mosaic Law. Elkanah’s family worships Jehovah, but polygamous marriages often produce strife, as illustrated in Elkanah’s domestic affairs.
Hannah is barren, whereas Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, has a number of children. Peninnah is Hannah’s rival.—1 Samuel 1:2b.
Barrenness is considered a reproach among Israelite women and even a sign of unworthiness in God’s sight. But there is no indication that Hannah’s inability to bear children is evidence of divine disfavor. Instead of trying to console Hannah, however, Peninnah uses her own ability to bear children to make her rival miserable.

(1 Samuel 1:3)

That man went up from his city year after year to worship and to sacrifice to Jehovah of armies in Shi′loh. That is where the two sons of E′li, Hoph′ni and Phin′e•has, served as priests to Jehovah.

*** ia chap. 6 p. 51 par. 1 She Opened Her Heart to God in Prayer ***
HANNAH busied herself with preparations for the trip, trying to keep her mind occupied. It should have been a happy time; Elkanah, her husband, customarily took the whole family on these annual journeys to worship at the tabernacle in Shiloh. Jehovah meant for such occasions to be joyful. (Read Deuteronomy 16:15.) And no doubt Hannah, from her childhood on, had delighted in those festivals.

*** ia chap. 6 p. 54 She Opened Her Heart to God in Prayer ***
The distance is based on the likelihood that Elkanah’s hometown, Ramah, was the same place that came to be known as Arimathea in Jesus’ day.

*** ia chap. 6 p. 54 par. 9 She Opened Her Heart to God in Prayer ***
9 In the early hours, the household was bustling. Everyone was getting ready for the trip, even the children. The journey to Shiloh would take the large family across more than 20 miles of the hilly country of Ephraim. The trek would last a day or two on foot.

*** w10 7/1 p. 15 She Opened Her Heart to God in Prayer ***
In the early hours, the household was bustling. Everyone was getting ready for the trip, even the children. The journey to Shiloh would take the large family across more than 20 miles [30 km] of the hilly country of Ephraim. On foot, the trek would last a day or two.

*** w10 7/1 p. 15 She Opened Her Heart to God in Prayer ***
The distance is based on the likelihood that Elkanah’s hometown, Ramah, was the same place that came to be known as Arimathea in Jesus’ day.

*** w10 7/1 p. 14 She Opened Her Heart to God in Prayer ***
HANNAH busied herself with preparations for the trip, trying to keep her mind occupied. It should have been a happy time; Elkanah, her husband, has customarily taken the whole family on these annual journeys to worship at the tabernacle in Shiloh. Jehovah meant for such occasions to be joyful. (Deuteronomy 16:15) And no doubt Hannah from her childhood had delighted in those festivals.

*** w07 3/15 p. 15 How Hannah Found Peace ***
Journeys to Jehovah’s Sanctuary
Despite these tensions, Elkanah’s family makes an annual journey to offer sacrifices at Jehovah’s sanctuary in Shiloh. This round-trip of some 40 miles [60 km] is likely made on foot.

*** w98 3/1 p. 16 par. 12 Appreciating Christian Gatherings ***
12 Consider the fine example set by Samuel’s family, who regularly participated in arrangements for gathering with fellow worshipers when God’s tabernacle was located in Shiloh. Only males were required to make annual visits to festival celebrations. But Samuel’s father, Elkanah, took his whole family along as he “went up out of his city from year to year to prostrate himself and to sacrifice to Jehovah of armies in Shiloh.” (1 Samuel 1:3-5) Samuel’s hometown, Ramathaim-zophim, was possibly situated near the coast at modern-day Rentis in the foothills of “the mountainous region of Ephraim.” (1 Samuel 1:1) Thus the journey to Shiloh would have involved a trip of about 20 miles [30 km], a fatiguing trek in those days. This is what Elkanah’s family loyally did “year by year, as often as [they] went up into the house of Jehovah.”—1 Samuel 1:7.

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