Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
OF ELKANAH AND HIS TWO WIVES. (1 Samuel 1:1-8)
a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim--The first word being in the dual number, signifies the double city--the old and new town of Ramah (1 Samuel 1:19). There were five cities of this name, all on high ground. This city had the addition of Zophim attached to it, because it was founded by Zuph, "an Ephrathite," that is a native of Ephratha. Beth-lehem, and the expression "of Ramathaim-zophim" must, therefore, be understood as Ramah in the land of Zuph in the hill country of Ephratha. Others, considering "mount Ephraim" as pointing to the locality in Joseph's territory, regard "Zophim" not as a proper but a common noun, signifying watchtowers, or watchmen, with reference either to the height of its situation, or its being the residence of prophets who were watchmen (Ezekiel 3:17). Though a native of Ephratha or Beth-lehem-judah (Ruth 1:2), Elkanah was a Levite (1 Chronicles 6:33-34). Though of this order, and a good man, he practised polygamy. This was contrary to the original law, but it seems to have been prevalent among the Hebrews in those days, when there was no king in Israel, and every man did what seemed right in his own eyes [Judges 21:25].
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
1 Samuel 1:1-2
1 Chronicles 6:27
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