1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 1.
Elkanah goeth yearly up to the feast at Shiloh with his two wives: Hannah is barren; Peninnah upbraideth her, 1 Samuel 1:1-6. Hannah prayeth fervently to the Lord for a son; promising to separate him a Nazarite unto God, 1 Samuel 1:7-12. Eli thinking her drunk rebuketh her; upon her answer, blesseth her, 1 Samuel 1:13-18. She returneth home with Elkanah, and conceiveth; beareth Samuel; offereth her sacrifice; performs her promise concerning him, 1 Samuel 1:19-28.
Ramathaim-zophirn, called Ramah, 1 Samuel 1:19, and here is the dual number Ramathaim, i.e. double Ramah, probably because it consisted of two parts, whereof the one might be called the old city, the other the new, both being united into one; and the additional title of Zophim, which signifies watch-towers, or watchmen, may note either the height of its situation, which made it fit for that use; or that the prophets, who are called watchmen, as Ezekiel 3:17, had a school or college there.
An Ephrathite, i.e. one of Bethlehem-judah, Ruth 1:2, to wit, by his birth and habitation, though by his original a Levite. Thus divers Jews by nation are called Medes, Elamites, Cretians, &c., Acts 2:9-11, because they were born and bred there.