Then Elkanah and all his house went up to make the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, Then the man ElkanahThe name "Elkanah" in Hebrew means "God has created" or "God has possessed." Elkanah is a significant figure in the narrative, representing a devout and faithful man who leads his family in worship. His actions set the stage for the birth of Samuel, a pivotal prophet in Israel's history. Elkanah's role as a leader in his household underscores the importance of spiritual leadership within the family unit, a principle that resonates throughout Scripture. and all his house
This phrase indicates that Elkanah's entire household participated in the pilgrimage to Shiloh, where the tabernacle was located. In ancient Israel, the family was the central unit of society, and religious observance was a communal activity. This collective participation highlights the communal nature of worship and the importance of family unity in spiritual practices. It also reflects the biblical principle that faith is to be lived out in community, not in isolation. went up
The phrase "went up" is often used in Scripture to describe a journey to a place of worship, particularly Jerusalem or, in this context, Shiloh. This upward movement signifies not only a physical ascent but also a spiritual elevation, as worshippers draw nearer to God. The act of going up to worship is a reminder of the pilgrim nature of the believer's journey, always moving towards a closer relationship with the Divine. to offer the annual sacrifice
The "annual sacrifice" refers to the regular offerings made by the Israelites as prescribed in the Law of Moses. These sacrifices were acts of obedience and devotion, symbolizing atonement, thanksgiving, and dedication to God. The regularity of these sacrifices underscores the importance of consistent worship and the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and provision in the life of the believer. to the LORD
The use of "LORD" in all capital letters signifies the Hebrew name Yahweh, the covenant name of God. This name emphasizes God's eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. Offering sacrifices to Yahweh was an act of covenantal faithfulness, recognizing His authority and expressing trust in His providential care. and to fulfill his vow
A vow in the biblical context is a solemn promise made to God, often in response to His blessings or as a plea for His intervention. Elkanah's commitment to fulfill his vow demonstrates integrity and faithfulness, qualities that are highly valued in Scripture. This act of fulfilling a vow is a testament to the seriousness with which one should approach promises made to God, reflecting a heart of gratitude and reverence. Persons / Places / Events 1. ElkanahA devout man from the hill country of Ephraim, Elkanah is the husband of Hannah and Peninnah. He is portrayed as a faithful worshiper of God, making annual pilgrimages to Shiloh to offer sacrifices. 2. HannahAlthough not directly mentioned in this verse, Hannah is a central figure in the surrounding account. She is Elkanah's wife, who was initially barren but later blessed with a son, Samuel, after fervent prayer. 3. ShilohThe religious center where the tabernacle was located during this period. It is the place where Elkanah and his family went to offer sacrifices to the LORD. 4. Annual SacrificeThis refers to the yearly pilgrimage and offering made by Israelites, as prescribed in the Law of Moses, to worship and honor God. 5. VowThis likely refers to a specific promise made to God, possibly related to Hannah's vow concerning her son Samuel, which Elkanah supports and fulfills. Teaching Points Faithfulness in WorshipElkanah's commitment to annual sacrifices demonstrates the importance of regular, faithful worship. As believers, we are called to prioritize our relationship with God through consistent worship and devotion. The Importance of VowsMaking and fulfilling vows to God is a serious matter. We should be cautious and sincere in our commitments to God, ensuring that we follow through on our promises. Family Leadership in Spiritual MattersElkanah leads his household in worship, setting an example of spiritual leadership. Families today can learn from his example by prioritizing spiritual activities and guiding their families in faith. Community WorshipThe practice of going to Shiloh for worship highlights the value of communal worship. Gathering with other believers strengthens our faith and encourages us in our walk with God. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Elkanah's example of faithfulness in worship challenge or inspire your own worship practices? 2. In what ways can you ensure that you are fulfilling any vows or commitments you have made to God? 3. How can you, like Elkanah, lead or support your family in spiritual matters and worship? 4. What are some modern-day equivalents to the "annual sacrifice" that can help you maintain a consistent worship routine? 5. How does the concept of community worship, as seen in Elkanah's pilgrimage to Shiloh, influence your view of attending church or fellowship gatherings? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 12:5-7This passage outlines the command for Israelites to bring their sacrifices to the place God chooses, which in this period was Shiloh. It emphasizes the importance of centralized worship and obedience to God's commands. Numbers 30:2This verse discusses the seriousness of making vows to the LORD, highlighting the importance of fulfilling promises made to God, which is relevant to Elkanah's actions in fulfilling his vow. Psalm 66:13-14This psalm speaks of entering God's house with burnt offerings and fulfilling vows, echoing the actions of Elkanah and his family. People Eli, Elihu, Elkanah, Ephah, Hannah, Hophni, Jeroham, Peninnah, Phinehas, Samuel, Tohu, ZuphPlaces Ramah, Ramathaim-zophim, ShilohTopics Annual, Effect, Elkanah, Elka'nah, Family, Fulfill, Household, Husband, Oath, Offer, Offering, Pay, Sacrifice, Vow, Yearly, Year'sDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Samuel 1:21 5681 family, nature of
5682 family, significance 1 Samuel 1:9-28 5745 women 1 Samuel 1:19-28 8629 worship, times 1 Samuel 1:21-28 7775 prophets, lives Library Of Self-Annihilation
Of Self-Annihilation Supplication and sacrifice are comprehended in prayer, which, according to S. John, is "an incense, the smoke whereof ascendeth unto God;" therefore it is said in the Apocalypse that "unto the Angel was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints'' (Chap. viii. 3). Prayer is the effusion of the heart in the Presence of God: "I have poured out my soul before God" saith the mother of Samuel. (1 Sam. i. 15) The prayer of the wise men at the feet of …
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of PrayerPrayer and Sacrifice Explained by the Similitude of a Perfume --Our Annihilation in this Sacrifice --Solidity and Fruitfulness of this Prayer as Set Forth in The
Prayer ought to be both petition and sacrifice. Prayer, according to the testimony of St John, is an incense, whose perfume rises to God. Therefore it is said in the Revelation (chap. viii. 3), that an angel held a censer, which contained the incense of the prayers of saints. Prayer is an outpouring of the heart in the presence of God. "I have poured out my soul before the Lord," said the mother of Samuel (1 Sam. i. 15). Thus the prayers of the Magi at the feet of the infant Jesus in the stable of …
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents Home Dedication.
"The rose was rich in bloom on Sharon's plain, When a young mother with her first born thence Went up to Zion, for the boy was vowed Unto the Temple-service; by the hand She led him, and her silent soul, the while, Oft as the dewy laughter of his eye Met her sweet serious glance, rejoiced to think That aught so pure, so beautiful, was hers, To bring before her God!" Beautiful thought, and thrice beautiful deed,--fresh from the pure fount of maternal piety! The Hebrew mother consecrating her first-born …
Samuel Philips—The Christian Home John Newton 1Sam 1:10,18
…
John Newton—Olney Hymns Hwochow Women's Bible Training School
COURSE OF STUDY FIRST TERM Book of Genesis. Gospel according to St. Luke or St. Mark. Acts of the Apostles, chapters i. to ix. "A Synopsis of the Central Themes of the Holy Bible." Reading Lessons, with necessary Explanation and Writing of Chinese Character. Arithmetic. Singing and Memorisation of Hymns. SECOND TERM Book of Exodus, Numbers, and 1 Samuel i. to xvi. The Gospel according to St. John. The Epistle of St James. "A Synopsis of the Central Themes of the Holy Bible"--(continued). Reading …
A. Mildred Cable—The Fulfilment of a Dream of Pastor Hsi's The Love of the Holy Spirit in Us.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not."--Matt. xxvii. 37. The Scripture teaches not only that the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and with Him Love, but also that He sheds abroad that Love in our hearts. This shedding abroad does not refer to the coming of the Holy Spirit's Person, for a person can not be shed abroad. He comes, takes possession, and dwells in us; but that which is shed abroad …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit The Prophet Jonah.
It has been asserted without any sufficient reason, that Jonah is older than Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah,--that he is the oldest among the prophets whose written monuments have been preserved to us. The passage in 2 Kings xiv. 25, where it is said, that Jonah, the son of Amittai the prophet, prophesied to Jeroboam the happy success of his arms, and the restoration of the ancient boundaries of Israel, and that this prophecy was confirmed by the event, cannot decide in favour of this assertion, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament And V the Kingdom Undivided and the Kingdom Divided
THE HISTORICAL BOOKS: I and II Samuel. I and II Kings. I and II Chronicles. NOTE.--As these three pairs of books are so closely related in their historical contents, it is deemed best to study them together, though they overlap the two divisions of IV and V. I. CHARTS Chart A. General Contents +--+ " I AND II SAMUEL " +-------------+-----+------+ "Samuel "Saul "David " +-------------+-----+------+----------+ " " " " I AND II KINGS "NOTE.--Biblical …
Frank Nelson Palmer—A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible Divers Matters.
I. Beth-cerem, Nehemiah 3:14. "The stones, as well of the altar, as of the ascent to the altar, were from the valley of Beth-cerem, which they digged out beneath the barren land. And thence they are wont to bring whole stones, upon which the working iron came not." The fathers of the traditions, treating concerning the blood of women's terms, reckon up five colours of it; among which that, "which is like the water of the earth, out of the valley of Beth-cerem."--Where the Gloss writes thus, "Beth-cerem …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Ramah. Ramathaim Zophim. Gibeah.
There was a certain Ramah, in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25, and that within sight of Jerusalem, as it seems, Judges 19:13; where it is named with Gibeah:--and elsewhere, Hosea 5:8; which towns were not much distant. See 1 Samuel 22:6; "Saul sat in Gibeah, under a grove in Ramah." Here the Gemarists trifle: "Whence is it (say they) that Ramah is placed near Gibea? To hint to you, that the speech of Samuel of Ramah was the cause, why Saul remained two years and a half in Gibeah." They blindly …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The King --Continued.
The years thus well begun are, in the historical books, characterized mainly by three events, namely, the bringing up of the ark to the newly won city of David, Nathan's prophecy of the perpetual dominion of his house, and his victories over the surrounding nations. These three hinges of the narrative are all abundantly illustrated in the psalms. As to the first, we have relics of the joyful ceremonial connected with it in two psalms, the fifteenth and twenty-fourth, which are singularly alike not …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation, …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also-
OR, A DISCOURSE TOUCHING PRAYER; WHEREIN IS BRIEFLY DISCOVERED, 1. WHAT PRAYER IS. 2. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT. 3. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO. WRITTEN IN PRISON, 1662. PUBLISHED, 1663. "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought:--the Spirit--helpeth our infirmities" (Rom 8:26). ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. There is no subject of more solemn importance to human happiness than prayer. It is the only medium of intercourse with heaven. "It is …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Samuel 1:21 NIV1 Samuel 1:21 NLT1 Samuel 1:21 ESV1 Samuel 1:21 NASB1 Samuel 1:21 KJV
1 Samuel 1:21 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
