A certain man of Ramathaim-zophim— This might be translated, the Ramahs of the guards; possibly because the village was divided into two parts, situated each upon a hill, where there might be a watch-tower, and centinels placed. Various other reasons are given for the name; for which see Buddaeus, Hist. 5: tom. 2. By comparing the words in this verse with those in 1 Chronicles 23:32; 1 Chronicles 23:32 and the following, it appears, that Elkanah was of the tribe of Levi and of the family of Kohath, and consequently was not a priest, as some have supposed, much less the high-priest. See Selden de Success. in Pontif. lib. 1: cap. 18.
Related Commentaries of 1 Samuel 1:1
1 Samuel 1:1
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, 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: