Elkanah (husband of Hannah)
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Elkanah was, according to the Books of Samuel, the husband of Hannah, and the father of her children including her first - either Samuel or Saul depending on whether it is those who take the Bible at face value or textual scholars (respectively) that are to be trusted[1]. Elkanah is a bigamist, his other wife, less favoured but bearing more children, was named Peninnah. The names of Elkanah's other children apart from Samuel/Saul are not given. Elkanah plays only a minor role in the narrative, and is mostly a supporting character to Eli, Hannah, and Samuel/Saul. Textual scholars see the narrative involved as an attempt by the author of the monarchist source (which was later spliced together with other sources to form the Books of Samuel) to improve Saul's apparent auspiciousness [2]
Elkanah is described as having originated from Zuph, specifically Ramathaim-Zophim, which was part of the tribal lands of Ephraim; however, the Books of Chronicles state that he was a Levite living amongst Ephraim rather than a member of Ephraim itself. Nevertheless, according to textual scholars this is a redaction by the author of Chronicles, espousing the viewpoint that holy people must be Levites (as opposed to the rival viewpoint, expressed by other parts of the Bible, that anyone could be), here in reference to Samuel. From the point of view of most textual scholars, being a member of Ephraim is more likely - Ephraim was the dominant tribe within the Kingdom of Israel, and with Saul being the son of Elkanah, he could be expected to come from the dominant tribe[3].
[edit] Talmud
The Talmud lists him as a prophet, along with his wife and son.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ see Saul
- ^ Jewish Encyclopedia, Books of Samuel
- ^ though elsewhere Saul is described as being from Benjamin, this latter origin is though to be part of what was originally a distinct source text, usually referred to as the republican source, due to its political outlook; Jewish Encyclopedia, Books of Samuel
