Hannah (1 Samuel 1:1–8; 1 Samuel 1:9–11; 1 Samuel 1:12–18; 1 Samuel 1:19–20; 1 Samuel 1:21–23; 1 Samuel 1:24–28; 1 Samuel 2:1–10; 1 Samuel 2:11; 1 Samuel 2:18–21)

Mother of Samuel, Woman of Prayer

The wife of Elkanah of Ramathaim-zophim, childless while her rival Peninnah had children, who prayed at Shiloh and vowed a man-child to the LORD, bore Samuel, gave him to the LORD when he was weaned, praised the LORD in her prayer, and later bore three sons and two daughters.

Her husband Elkanah “had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children” (1 Samuel 1:2). Elkanah “gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb” (1 Samuel 1:5), and year by year her rival provoked her so that “she wept, and did not eat” (1 Samuel 1:7). At Shiloh “she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto Jehovah, and wept sore” (1 Samuel 1:10), and vowed that if the LORD gave her a man-child she would give him to the LORD all the days of his life. Eli the priest, seeing only her lips move, thought her drunken; she told him, “I poured out my soul before Jehovah” (1 Samuel 1:15), and “her countenance was no more sad” (1 Samuel 1:18).

“Jehovah remembered her” (1 Samuel 1:19), and she bore a son and “called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Jehovah” (1 Samuel 1:20). She stayed home from the yearly sacrifice until the child was weaned, then brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh with three bullocks, an ephah of meal and a bottle of wine, saying, “as long as he liveth he is granted to Jehovah” (1 Samuel 1:28). There “Hannah prayed, and said: My heart exulteth in Jehovah” (1 Samuel 2:1), a prayer that declares “Jehovah maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, he also lifteth up” (1 Samuel 2:7).

Afterward “his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year” (1 Samuel 2:19). Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and “Jehovah visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters” (1 Samuel 2:21). Scripture does not name her again after that verse.

Strengths

• Pouring out her soul in prayer
• A vow kept
• Respect toward the priest
• Rejoicing in the LORD
• Yearly care for her son

Themes

• Barrenness and the petition
• Prayer at Shiloh
• A vow kept
• Giving to the LORD
• The lowly lifted up

The barren wife and her rival (1 Samuel 1:1–8)

Elkanah has two wives; Peninnah has children and Hannah has none, and Peninnah provokes her to fret year by year while Elkanah gives her a double portion.

The vow at Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:9–11)

Hannah rises after the meal at Shiloh, prays in bitterness of soul, and vows to give a man-child to the LORD all the days of his life.

The vow at Shiloh

Each year Elkanah went up to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice, and each year Hannah was provoked, “therefore she wept, and did not eat” (1 Samuel 1:7). Her husband asked, “Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8).

“So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of Jehovah. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto Jehovah, and wept sore” (1 Samuel 1:9-10).

“And she vowed a vow, and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto Jehovah all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head” (1 Samuel 1:11).

Eli misreads her lips (1 Samuel 1:12–18)

Eli, seeing her lips move without a voice, takes her to be drunken; Hannah answers that she has poured out her soul before the LORD, and Eli sends her away in peace.

Eli misreads her lips

“Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee” (1 Samuel 1:13-14).

“And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Jehovah. Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto” (1 Samuel 1:15-16).

“Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thy handmaid find favor in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat; and her countenance was no more sad” (1 Samuel 1:17-18).

Remembered, and Samuel born (1 Samuel 1:19–20)

After they return to Ramah, the LORD remembers Hannah; she conceives, bears a son, and calls his name Samuel.

Waiting until the child is weaned (1 Samuel 1:21–23)

Elkanah goes up with his house to offer the yearly sacrifice, but Hannah stays home until she has weaned her son, with her husband's consent.

Presenting Samuel at Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:24–28)

Hannah brings the weaned child with three bullocks, meal and wine to the house of the LORD at Shiloh, tells Eli she is the woman who prayed there, and grants the child to the LORD.

Presenting Samuel at Shiloh

“And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of Jehovah in Shiloh: and the child was young. And they slew the bullock, and brought the child to Eli” (1 Samuel 1:24-25).

“And she said, Oh, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto Jehovah. For this child I prayed; and Jehovah hath given me my petition which I asked of him: therefore also I have granted him to Jehovah; as long as he liveth he is granted to Jehovah” (1 Samuel 1:26-28).

The chapter ends, “And he worshipped Jehovah there” (1 Samuel 1:28).

Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 2:1–10)

Hannah prays and says that her heart exults in the LORD, who is holy, who brings low and lifts up, and who keeps the feet of his holy ones.

Hannah's prayer

“And Hannah prayed, and said: My heart exulteth in Jehovah; My horn is exalted in Jehovah; My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; Because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as Jehovah; For there is none besides thee, Neither is there any rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:1-2).

She speaks of reversals: “The bows of the mighty men are broken; And they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; And they that were hungry have ceased to hunger: Yea, the barren hath borne seven; And she that hath many children languisheth. Jehovah killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to Sheol, and bringeth up” (1 Samuel 2:4-6).

“He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, He lifteth up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, And inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the earth are Jehovah's, And he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his holy ones; But the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness” (1 Samuel 2:8-9).

The prayer closes, “Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth; And he will give strength unto his king, And exalt the horn of his anointed” (1 Samuel 2:10).

The little robe, and more children (1 Samuel 2:18–21)

While Samuel ministers before the LORD in a linen ephod, his mother brings him a little robe each year; Eli blesses Elkanah and his wife, and the LORD visits Hannah, who bears three sons and two daughters.

Elkanah (1 Samuel 1:5; 1 Samuel 1:8; 1 Samuel 1:23)

Her husband, who loved her and gave her a double portion, asked why she wept, and bade her tarry until she had weaned the child.

Peninnah (1 Samuel 1:2; 1 Samuel 1:6–7)

Her rival, Elkanah's other wife, who had sons and daughters and provoked Hannah sore, to make her fret, year by year.

Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20; 1 Samuel 1:28; 1 Samuel 2:19)

Her son, whom she called Samuel, granted to the LORD, and to whom she brought a little robe from year to year.

Eli the priest (1 Samuel 1:12–17; 1 Samuel 1:25–28; 1 Samuel 2:20)

Marked her mouth and thought her drunken, then bade her go in peace; she later brought the child to him, and he blessed Elkanah and his wife.

The LORD (1 Samuel 1:5; 1 Samuel 1:19; 1 Samuel 2:21)

Had shut up her womb, remembered her, gave her petition, and visited her so that she bore three sons and two daughters.

Her other children (1 Samuel 2:21)

Three sons and two daughters whom she bore after Samuel; the text does not name them.

Major sections

• 1 Samuel 1–2

More illuminations · Harbinger's Lamp