Elkanah Leads Israel to Shiloh and Prayer Above Sacrifice

"And he had two wives, the name of one was Hannah" (1 Samuel 1:2). Rabbi Ḥaggai in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Scripture opens with his praise. Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Ḥama bar Rabbi Ḥanina said: Scripture opens with his praise and mentions his disgrace. And the Rabbis say: Scripture opens with his praise, and mentions his disgrace, and then returns and opens again with his praise. "And that man went up from his city" (1 Samuel 1:3). The man was elevated in his house, the man was elevated in his courtyard, he was elevated in his city, he was elevated among all Israel; and all of his elevation came only from himself. "From year to year" (1 Samuel 1:3). This is Elkanah, who guides Israel and brings them up to Shiloh. And not by the road on which he went up in this year did he go up in another year, but [by a different road], and so forth. "To bow down and to sacrifice to the LORD" (1 Samuel 1:3). Rabbi Abba bar Madya in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Prayer is greater than the sacrifices, as it is written "to bow down" and afterward "and to sacrifice."