1 Samuel 1:1
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
The opening identifies Elkanah by residence, tribal association, and ancestry, placing him at Ramah in Mount Ephraim as a man of Ephraim, an Ephrathite, with his line traced through his fathers. Though dwelling in Ephraimite territory, he was by lineage a Levite. The special duty of that tribe was service at the tabernacle.
He was a man of wealth and influence. He was a kind husband, and one who loved and feared the Lord and reverenced Him. Worship at Shiloh still continued, yet it had become irregular and incomplete. Because of those irregularities in the sanctuary service, Elkanah had no regular tabernacle employment, and his attendance there was not required.
Despite having no required service, he remained zealous in serving God. He faithfully went up with his family to Shiloh to worship and to sacrifice at the appointed gatherings. This verse opens the account in which the first two chapters record the prayer of a consecrated woman and her thanksgiving for its answer. That record teaches all who receive answers to prayer to return praise and thanks for God's lovingkindness.
The verse also belongs to the account of Eli and his sons. Their conduct, and Eli's failure to remove them from office, is discussed in the following chapter. The first three chapters are therefore to be studied together in connection with that account.