Hannah, the Mother of Israel’s Last Judge Samuel
The attributes we find in Hannah is persistence in prayer, endurance, dedication to the LORD and unselfishness dedication to her principles like taking a coat to her son yearly.
1 Samuel 1:1- 28; 1 Samuel 2:1-21
Hannah, who means “grace”, is introduced to us in 1 Samuel 1. She was married to Elkanah of mount Ephraim who had two wives. His wives were Peninnah who had children and Hannah who had no children. They lived in Ramah, a town in Benjamin on the border of Ephraim about 5 miles (8 km) from Jerusalem and near to Gibeah. Elkanah went to Shiloh to sacrifice unto the LORD. He gave a sacrifice offering. He gave to Peninnah, his wife, and to all her son and her daughters a portions or part. Hanna he gave a worthy portion; because he loved Hannah even though she was barren. A worthy portion means a double portion.
Hannah is a woman who has sorrow. Peninnah would provoke Hanna to grief so she would tremble because the LORD had not allowed her to have a child. This happened year after year. When Hanna went up to the house of the LORD she wept and did not eat. Elkanah, her husband, did not understand her sorrow, why she didn’t eat or why her heart was grieved. Yet he did try to comfort her. Elkanah asked her if he was not better than ten sons. That must have made Hannah feel a little better because she did take his advice and did eat and they drank. Then Hannah went out to the tabernacle.
Eli, the priest, sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. Hannah was in “bitterness of soul” and she prayed unto the LORD weeping and lamenting. She vowed a vow unto the LORD that if He would look on the affliction and remember her and will give her a little boy; then she will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall be or razor come upon his head. This means the child would be a Nazarene and separated to the LORD. The long hair was a visible sign that the person was dedicated to the LORD.
Eli continued to watch Hannah and he could not hear her speak no sound came out of her mouth. She was speaking in her heart and only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she had been drunk. Eli said unto her she should put away her wine and how long she had been drunken?
Hannah answered Eli telling him she was a sorrowful spirit, that she was not drunk with either wine or strong drink. She was there to pour out her soul before the LORD. It was important for Eli to understand that Hannah was not a “daughter of Belial” which is a wicked woman. She was only there to pour out her heart into the LORD. Eli understood and told Hannah to go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant her the petition that she had asked of Him.
Hannah left and she ate and she was happier. They rose in the morning and worshipped before the LORD, and returned to their house in Ramah. Elkanah “knew his wife” and Hannah had been remembered by the LORD. Hannah had become pregnant. Hannah had conceived and bares a son they called Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the LORD.”
Peninnah could no longer provoke Hannah about being childless. Not only was she not childless but her son was going to be given to the LORD God to serve Him for the rest of his life. Hannah had her prayers answered by the LORD God and had in her arms a special baby boy.
The next year Elkanah and his entire house went up to offer unto the LORD for their yearly sacrifice and his vow. Hannah did not go with them and said she would not go up until her child was weaned then she would take him to appear before the LORD and he would abide with the LORD forever. That is exactly what Hannah did once Samuel was weaned she took hip up with her and the sacrificial offerings and brought him to the LORD in Shiloh.
When Hannah saw Eli she reminded him that she was the woman that stood by him and prayed to the LORD to give her a son. Therefore she brought Samuel to give to the LORD and he shall worship Him as long as he shall live.
The prayer of Hannah that she prayed to the LORD was to say her heart rejoices in the LORD, her strength is exalted in the LORD, and here ability to speak is enlarged over her enemies; because she rejoiced in His salvation. Hannah allowed the praises to flow saying there is none as holy as the LORD, there is none beside the LORD, neither is there any rock like our God. There is no need to be exceeding proud or arrogant because the LORD is a God of knowledge and by Him actions are weighed.
The bows of mighty men are broken; those who stumble are girded with strength. Those who are full hire themselves out for bread; and they that were hungry cease. Those who were barren had born seven; and she that has many children grows feeble. Hannah points out that the LORD kills, and makes alive: He brings down to the grave, and brings up. The LORD makes poor, and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.
It is so nice to hear that the LORD is more than just love and joy. Hannah continued in her prayer and praise of the LORD by saying; He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, and set them among princes, and makes them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and He has set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and He shall give strength unto His king, and exalt the strength of His anointed.
Samuel ministered before the LORD and was girded with a linen ephod. Hannah made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Eli, the priest, blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, “The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.” (1 Samuel 2:20). The LORD visited Hannah so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. Samuel grew before the LORD.
Hannah is a wonderful example of persistence in prayer. Hannah went to the LORD and prayed furiously never giving up. She endured the treatment from Peninnah when she was barren There is also her dedication and unselfishness in her principles and in yearly taking a coat to her son Samuel. Hannah did not know if Samuel would be her only child. Yet she still kept her promise to the LORD that she would give Samuel to the LORD forever.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Hannah, the Mother of Israel’s Last Judge Samuel .” Becker Bible Studies Library Dec 2014.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1792,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014, December) “Hannah, the Mother of Israel’s Last Judge Samuel .” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1792,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014) “Hannah, the Mother of Israel’s Last Judge Samuel.” Becker Bible Studies Library (December), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1792, (accessed).
Joanne B. Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Master of Science degree in Psychology/Christian Counseling with honors from Liberty University. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on the history of development of the Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.
