The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Notice that Elkanah and all his house went up. This wasn't just a solo trip for Hannah to fulfill her promise; it was a family affair, showing that even in personal vows, the whole household is involved in worship and obedience to God.
The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears right after Hannah has prayed intensely for a child, vowing to give her son to the Lord's service if He grants her request. Elkanah and his family are now heading to Shiloh for their annual pilgrimage to worship God and fulfill their vows, a journey that will soon lead to the fulfillment of Hannah's prayer and the birth of Samuel. The upcoming events at the tabernacle, particularly Hannah's dedication of Samuel, are directly set up by this family journey.
Hannah’s story is gripping, isn't it? But what about the vow itself? It wasn't just a casual promise; it carried significant weight in ancient Israel.
More Than Just a Promise
In the time of 1 Samuel, a vow to God was a deeply serious undertaking. It was a solemn promise, often made in times of great need or desperate longing. When someone vowed a vow to the LORD, they were dedicating something or someone to God, often involving a sacrifice or a period of separation.
Elkanah and his family faithfully made their annual pilgrimage. What does this regular act of worship reveal about their hearts and their relationship with God?
The Rhythm of Worship and Gratitude
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The text mentions the "yearly sacrifice." This points to a regular, commanded observance in Israelite life. It wasn't just a one-off event but a recurring practice.
Understand the original words
zebach · Hebrew Noun
A sacrifice offered annually to God, representing devotion, obedience, and the atonement of sins, often accompanied by celebrations or festivals.
neder · Hebrew Noun
A solemn promise or pledge made to God in which a person binds themselves to do or give something, typically as a response to divine favor or as a petition for help.
This verse places us in the period of the Judges, a time when Israel lacked centralized leadership and deeply felt the need for God's presence, symbolized by the Ark and the central sanctuary at Shiloh.
c. 1070 BC
Birth of Samuel
Samuel, the prophet who would play a crucial role in Israel's transition from a tribal confederacy to a monarchy, was born to Hannah and Elkanah.
c. 1070 BC— this verse
Hannah Dedicates Samuel
Hannah fulfills her vow by dedicating young Samuel to the service of the Lord at the sanctuary in Shiloh.
c. 1060 BC
Samuel Serves in Shiloh
Samuel grows up ministering before the Lord under the High Priest Eli at the tabernacle.
c. 1040 BC
The Ark is Captured
The Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant in battle, a devastating blow to Israel's spiritual and national life.
c. 1025 BC
Saul Anointed King
Samuel, now a recognized prophet and judge, anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, marking a significant shift in governance.
This passage details the Feast of Tabernacles, which was a yearly festival involving vows and sacrifices, highlighting the context of Elkanah's annual pilgrimage and offering.
Deuteronomy 16:16This verse states that all the males in Israel were to appear before the LORD three times a year for the appointed feasts, reinforcing the importance and obligation of Elkanah's yearly trip.
Proverbs 3:9-10This proverb speaks to honoring the LORD with our wealth and possessions, which directly relates to Elkanah's act of fulfilling his vow through his yearly sacrifice and offering.
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5This passage discusses the seriousness of making vows to God and the responsibility to fulfill them promptly, underscoring why Elkanah was so determined to pay his vow to the LORD.
Notice that Elkanah and all his house went up. This wasn't just a solo trip for Hannah to fulfill her promise; it was a family affair, showing that even in personal vows, the whole household is involved in worship and obedience to God.
This verse appears right after Hannah has prayed intensely for a child, vowing to give her son to the Lord's service if He grants her request. Elkanah and his family are now heading to Shiloh for their annual pilgrimage to worship God and fulfill their vows, a journey that will soon lead to the fulfillment of Hannah's prayer and the birth of Samuel. The upcoming events at the tabernacle, particularly Hannah's dedication of Samuel, are directly set up by this family journey.
This verse appears right after Hannah has prayed intensely for a child, vowing to give her son to the Lord's service if He grants her request. Elkanah and his family are now heading to Shiloh for their annual pilgrimage to worship God and fulfill their vows, a journey that will soon lead to the fulfillment of Hannah's prayer and the birth of Samuel. The upcoming events at the tabernacle, particularly Hannah's dedication of Samuel, are directly set up by this family journey.
"The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow." — Notice that Elkanah and all his house went up. This wasn't just a solo trip for Hannah to fulfill her promise; it was a family affair, showing that even in personal vows, the whole household is inv…
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Last reviewed October 2026