According to 1 Samuel 1, Elkanah was an Ephraimite, the son of Jeroham, who was the son of Elihu, who was the son of Tohu, who was the son of Zuph. ... The fact that Elkanah, a Levite, was denominated an Ephraimite is analogous to the designation of a Levite belonging to Judah (Judges 17:7, for example).

Was Samuel a Levite?

In the Book of Chronicles, Samuel is described as a Levite, rectifying this situation; however critical scholarship widely sees the Book of Chronicles as an attempt to redact the Book(s) of Samuel and of Kings to conform to later religious sensibilities.

Is Eli and Elkanah the same person?

This story of Hannah, with which the Books of Samuel begin, involves Eli. Hannah was the wife of Elkanah. She was childless. Elkanah also had another wife (Peninnah) who bore him children.