Hannah
- A Woman of Prayer
The first book of Samuel covers a period from
the birth of Samuel, last of the judges, to the death of Saul, the first of the
kings of
The author is unknown except
it is believed that a part of the book was written by Samuel. Not all of the book could have been written
by him because it records his death (I Samuel 25:1). Also, I Chronicles 29:29 lists who another
author of this book could have been.
In the beginning of the first book of Samuel
we find a woman named Hannah, who is only mentioned in the first two chapters.
We do not know who her parents were or what
city she was from. Her early life is not
recorded only her family life after her marriage.
Verses 1-2 - Hannah's husband, Elkanah,
was a Levite and belonged to a priestly tribe, the Kohathites (1 Chron.
Levites - God provided in the Law that the
Levites would not have an assigned territory but live throughout the land in
each of the tribes.
Barren - There were many barren women
throughout the Scriptures who later conceived children who became great men:
Woman Child
Sarah Isaac
Rebekah Esau/Jacob
Rachel Joseph
and Benjamin
Manoah's wife Samson
Ruth Obed
Verse 3 - as was the yearly custom,
Elkanah went to sacrifice in
Sacrifice
- was a sacrifice based upon the system of sacrifice that was set up for their
worship in the
Verses 4-5 - Elkanah gave his wife,
Peninnah, and her sons and daughters their portion of the sacrifice. But to Hannah, the one whom he loved most, he
gave more - or possibly the best portion.
Verse 6 - Elkanah loved Hannah but
Hannah was barren. One of the only rights that a woman had at this time was the
right to bear children - it was considered God's blessing - the more children,
the more you were blessed by God. So many times, when a woman was barren - she
was not blessed by God and the blame went to God - for shutting up her
womb. Apparently, Peninnah could see how
much more Elkanah loved Hannah, and so she began to make remarks toward
her. She possibly viewed Hannah as a
rival that lived in her house.
Verse 7 - The cruel remarks were not
just a one time occurrence. Every time
that Elkanah went to offer a yearly sacrifice, Peninnah made cruel remarks to
Hannah. It is not recorded that Hannah
sought revenge or that any kind of conflict happened - only that these remarks
hurt Hannah and she wept and did not eat.
Verse 8 - At this particular time,
the remarks which were made by Peninnah caused Hannah to weep and Elkanah
noticed. He knew that Hannah, like all
women of this time, grieved because she had no children. But apparently, he did not know about the
cruel remarks because, even though he saw her weeping, the questions he asked
her indicate he assumes that she is grieved because of being barren.
Verses 9-10 - Hannah was the fourth woman
in the Bible who was barren and grieved because of it.
Sarah - (Abraham) laughed when she was told of having a son
Rebekah - (Isaac) her husband prayed for her
Rachel - (Jacob) in her grief, demanded of Jacob "Give
me children or
else I die."
Hannah - (Elkanah) took her problem to
God.
Hannah
was very prayerful and went to the
Verse 11 - The prayer that Hannah
offered to God is recorded in this verse.
In
her prayer, she made a vow/covenant with the Lord, If thou wilt remember
me...give me a man child...then I will give him back. "no razor…upon his head..." what is she promising God? Not only to give him back to the Lord but to
dedicate him to God.
This type of vow is called The
Nazarite vow. The Nazarite vow was an
oath taken to abstain from certain worldly influences and to consecrate oneself
to God. Among the Jews, the vow was an
option for most persons; it could be taken for a short period of time or for
life.
Nazarites expressed their dedication
to God by:
1. Abstaining from all
intoxicating drinks and grape products
2. Refusing to cut their
hair
3. Avoiding contact with the
dead
4. Refusing to eat food
regarded as unclean (Numbers 6:3-7)
When the specified period of time was
completed, the Nazarite could appear before the priest for a ceremony of
release. Nazarites who broke their vows
could be restored only by observing specific restoration rites (Numbers 6). Some of the persons that took this vow in the
Old Testament include Samson and Samuel.
In the New Testament because of his self-denying life-style, John the
Baptist was believed to have been a Nazarite.
To be a Nazarite, one had to have a disciplined life and a strong
commitment to God.
Notice: Hannah made this promise of dedication to God
before she
was pregnant.
Verse 12 - As Hannah prayed to the
Lord, Eli watched her and watched her lips.
Her prayer was apparently silent - Eli could hear no words.
Verse 13 - The Jews were a very festive
people - and because Eli heard nothing, he assumed that she was drunk.
Verse 14 - Eli did not ask if she had
been drinking, but just assumed because of the celebration all around that she
had been.
Verse 15 - Hannah replied that she was
a woman of a sorrowful spirit because of her circumstances (barren/being
reminded by the other wife). But notice
in her response to Eli, Hannah took her sorrow to God. She chose not to allow her circumstances to
make her a bitter person but turned to God.
Verse 16 - The "daughter of
Belial" means "worthless," has an evil affiliation.
Verse 17 - Eli's response was typical
of a priest, "Go in peace" - the Lord will grant your request.
Verse 18 - Now Hannah felt better - her
burden was lifted. She ate, and her
countenance changed.
Verse 19 - When the Lord answered her
prayers in the Scriptures, the term "the Lord remembered her” is used.
Verse 20 - A miracle has occurred to a
barren woman named Hannah. She had a son
and named him Samuel, "asked of the Lord."
Verses 21-22 - The time came to go for the
yearly sacrifice at the Temple. The last
time Hannah was there she poured her heart out to the Lord but this time she
requested that Elkanah go without her.
Verse 23 - To her request, Elkanah
agreed.
Verse 24 - It is recorded in other
Jewish writings that Hannah nutured Samuel and weaned him until about three
years old (2 Maccabees 7:27). But when
the time came Hannah took gifts: three
bullocks, 1 ephah of flour (about 65 bushels) and a bottle of wine.
Verse 25 - As part of her thanksgiving
and worship to God, the bullock was sacrificed by Eli (as a priest that was his
ordinance to perform).
Verses 26-28 - Hannah, a woman of great
faith and love, spoke to Eli.
1. She identified herself
2. Reminded him of her
prayer and told of God’s answer
3. She repeated her part of
the covenant – to lend Samuel to the Lord
for as
long as he should live
Verses 1-10 - Hannah's entire prayer is
recorded
The horn symbolized like a rock -
power, strength, protection. There are many scholars who believe that the term
"horn" used by Hannah in her prayer was a reference to the coming of
the Messiah and some believe that because of this Hannah could have been a
prophetess.
Verse 11 - Elkanah went to Ramah to his
house. He left Samuel to be taught by
Eli and minister to the Lord.
Verses 18-19 - Samuel grew and ministered
before the Lord. During his younger
years (it's not recorded how long a period of time) while Samuel was living in
the Temple, Hannah visited him. She made
a coat that she took for him each year.
Verse 20 - Eli, the priest, blessed
Elkanah and Hannah.
Verse 21 - Because Hannah had been
faithful and had "lent" or given Samuel which was "her best and
her first" the Lord blessed her with more children (3 sons and 2
daughters).
The story of Hannah, as found in the
Scriptures, now ends. She is not
mentioned again in the Old Testament or in the New Testament.
The
lessons we can learn by studying the life of Hannah:
1.
God sometimes withholds blessings until we are submissive to His will.
2.
We can handle all things with God - even cruel and thoughtless remarks.
3.
God answers prayers.
4.
When we covenant with the Lord, and we honor our part, God will send
His blessings.
5. In everything, we should rejoice.