Elkanah’s faithful visit to Shiloh reflects a heart devoted to the LORD and sets the stage for the birth of Samuel, a vital prophet in the transition from the period of the judges to Israel’s monarchy.
Now this man would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD there. (v.3) In this verse, we see Elkanah’s devoted commitment to the prescribed worship of the LORD. Each year, he leaves his home, demonstrating a rhythm of intentional submission to God’s commandments. The location of worship is Shiloh, a city in the territory of Ephraim, north of Bethel. At this point in Israel’s history (likely around 1100 BC, in the latter period of the judges), Shiloh served as the central place of worship where the tabernacle was housed, and it was recognized as the place for Israel to bring sacrifices unto the LORD.
The verse highlights that Elkanah’s yearly journey was more than just a cultural tradition—he was worshipping “the LORD of hosts,” a title that emphasizes God’s sovereignty over all spiritual and earthly armies. This devotion sets the stage for the broader narrative of 1 Samuel, where God’s providence is displayed in Samuel’s birth and his ultimate calling as a prophet. The mention of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, indicates that the priestly service in Shiloh was being administered by them at this time. Sadly, as later chapters reveal, these men were corrupt in their priestly duties, foreshadowing the need for a faithful spiritual leader like Samuel.
Shiloh’s importance, as seen in this verse, points to God’s presence among His people even before the Temple was built in Jerusalem. The notion of gathering for worship foreshadows, in a broader biblical sense, the faithful Israelite and even future gatherings of believers, emphasized again when Jesus calls for sincere worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23). Elkanah’s example of annual worship acts as a reminder of the reverence and consistent dedication God desires from His people.
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1 Samuel 1:3 meaning
Now this man would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD there. (v.3) In this verse, we see Elkanah’s devoted commitment to the prescribed worship of the LORD. Each year, he leaves his home, demonstrating a rhythm of intentional submission to God’s commandments. The location of worship is Shiloh, a city in the territory of Ephraim, north of Bethel. At this point in Israel’s history (likely around 1100 BC, in the latter period of the judges), Shiloh served as the central place of worship where the tabernacle was housed, and it was recognized as the place for Israel to bring sacrifices unto the LORD.
The verse highlights that Elkanah’s yearly journey was more than just a cultural tradition—he was worshipping “the LORD of hosts,” a title that emphasizes God’s sovereignty over all spiritual and earthly armies. This devotion sets the stage for the broader narrative of 1 Samuel, where God’s providence is displayed in Samuel’s birth and his ultimate calling as a prophet. The mention of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, indicates that the priestly service in Shiloh was being administered by them at this time. Sadly, as later chapters reveal, these men were corrupt in their priestly duties, foreshadowing the need for a faithful spiritual leader like Samuel.
Shiloh’s importance, as seen in this verse, points to God’s presence among His people even before the Temple was built in Jerusalem. The notion of gathering for worship foreshadows, in a broader biblical sense, the faithful Israelite and even future gatherings of believers, emphasized again when Jesus calls for sincere worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23). Elkanah’s example of annual worship acts as a reminder of the reverence and consistent dedication God desires from His people.