I started reading the book of 1 Samuel this morning. The first two chapters are the only ones written about Samuel's mother, Hannah. What a great woman of faith she was. I wrote quite a lengthy post about her in
2015 and wanted to re-post it here today.
I feel like the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:11 "Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you." This is a long post, so grab some water, tea or coffee...
Studying Hannah was a great reminder to me. When I thought of Hannah, I
thought of a woman who prayed and God answered. This happened, but
there were many years of sorrow before her broken prayer and God's
beautiful answer. There was so much in just two chapters.
Verses: 1 Samuel 1:1-28, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, 18-21
Background –
parents, husband, children, siblings
Hannah was married to Elkanah. Matthew Henry said, "It is probable
that Elkanah married Hannah first, and, because he had not children by
her so soon as he hoped, he married Peninnah, who bore him children
indeed, but was in other things a vexation to him. Thus are men often beaten with rods of their own making."
Hannah did eventually have children, first Samuel whom she gave back to
God, and then three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21)
What is she
most known for? Victories?
Defeats? How can I be
like her? How can I
avoid being like her?
This is the third polygamous marriage that I have studied this year
(Abraham and Sarah/Hagar and Jacob and Rachel/Leah.) There was not
harmony in any of these homes. All three times it was because of the
husband's greater love toward one who was barren and the fruitfulness of
the other. "The conduct of Peninnah was most unbecoming. But domestic broils in the houses of polygamists are of frequent occurrence, and the most fruitful cause of them has always been jealousy of the husband’s superior affection, as in this case of Hannah." (A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown)
We don't know how many children there were, but John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible said, "how many Peninnah had is not said, perhaps ten; see 1Samuel 1:8." 1 Samuel 1:6-7 says,
"And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret,
because the LORD had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year,
when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her;
therefore she wept, and did not eat." If Peninnah really did have
ten children, then her provoking, and Hannah's barrenness, went on for a
decade or more! This was not a simple, light teasing. "Some render it, "because she thundered" against her; that is, Peninnah was exceeding loud and clamorous with her reproaches and scoffs, which were grievously provoking to Hannah." (John Gill)
It's so easy to think this happened quickly because it's all in one
chapter, but Hannah's suffering went on for many years. She finally
reached a breaking point. She wept and could not eat. "Hannah wept
at the insults, reproaches, and scoffs, cast at her by her antagonist;
insomuch that she could not eat of the peace offerings, though her
husband always gave her the best part and portion of them; but her grief
took away her stomach and appetite, that she could not eat." (John Gill)
[Funny side note: I have never been so upset that I could not
eat! There are times when I get busy and don't eat when I need to, but
my body quickly lets me know. I tend to have low blood sugar and I can
go from happy to hangry (hungry with a side of angry) in a matter of
seconds! Les knows when I say, "I have a food headache," that it's time
to get this girl some food.]
In the middle of a time of celebration, Hannah made her way to the house
of God. I don't believe this is the first time that Hannah prayed, but
she did pray with great intensity. "Her prayer was with strong
crying and tears; it was very fervent and affectionate; she prayed most
vehemently, and wept bitterly." (John Gill)
During this time of prayer, two things happened. Hannah vowed a vow and Eli the priest took note of her.
Hannah vowed, "O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the
affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine
handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will
give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no
razor come upon his head." (I Samuel 1:11)
I find this commentary very interesting: "Samuel, as a descendent of
Levi, was the Lord's property, from twenty-five years of age till fifty;
but the vow here implies that he should be consecrated to the Lord from his infancy to his death, and that he should not only act as a Levite, but as a Nazarite."
(Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and
others about 1880, with introduction by R. A. Torrey. TSK) So Samuel
would have spent time in the temple, but Hannah dedicated him to a
greater degree than called.
The next thing that happened is really interesting to me. I Samuel 1:12 says, "And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth." I've always imagined Eli hitting Hannah's mouth, but John Gill said he
"observed the motion of her lips, and no doubt her distorted
countenance, and uplifted eyes and hands, but chiefly the former; not
knowing what the woman was at, and what could be the meaning of such
motions." The Hebrew word there is "shâmar" which means to "beware, be circumspect, take heed, keep, mark, look narrowly, observe."
There's a lot to be said about Eli (I'm working on a separate post
because this one is too long already!) but he did stop Hannah in the
midst of her prayers, thinking she was drunk. "The suspicion of the
aged priest seems to indicate that the vice of intemperance was neither
uncommon nor confined to one sex in those times of disorder." (JFB)
"Hannah did not retort the charge, and upbraid Eli with the wicked
conduct of his own sons. When we are at any time unjustly censured, we
have need to set a double watch before the door of our lips, that we do
not return censure for censure. Hannah thought it enough to clear
herself, and so must we. Eli was willing to acknowledge his mistake. Hannah went away with satisfaction of mind. She had herself by prayer committed her case to God, and Eli had prayed for her. Prayer is heart's ease to a gracious soul. Prayer will smooth the countenance; it should do so." (Matthew Henry)
Eli said, "Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition
that thou hast asked of him." "He found he was mistaken in her, and
that her discourse was not only sober and rational, but religious and
spiritual; and therefore dismisses her in peace. The God of Israel
grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him; which may be
considered either as a prayer for her, he joining with her in a request
to the Lord, that what she had asked might be granted; or as a prophecy
that so it would be, it being revealed to him by the Holy Ghost, as the
high priest of the Lord; or impressed by an impulse upon his spirit that
the favour asked would be given; and therefore she might go home in
peace, and with satisfaction of mind." (John Gill)
Did she
reach a place when she needed to reset?
If so, did she? For good or evil?
It was after Hannah's time of prayer that she was able to reset. She said to Eli, "Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight." Then she went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. Hannah's faith was so strong that before Samuel was even conceived her countenance changed. "A beautiful example of the composing influence of prayer. Hannah had cast her burden upon the Lord, and so her own spirit was relieved of its load. She now returned to the family feast, and ate her portion with a cheerful heart." (Albert Barnes)
We know that Samuel was conceived not long after Hannah's prayer. She
then stayed home from the yearly trip to the tabernacle until Samuel was
weaned. John Gill gave a very thorough explanation of what it meant to
be weaned: "there was a three fold weaning of children in old times;
the first from their mother's milk, when three years old; the second
from their tender age, and care of a dry nurse, when seven years old;
the third from childish manners, when at twelve years of age; and that
it is this last and metaphorical weaning which is here meant, when
Samuel was twelve years of age, and fit to serve in the temple."
The Hebrew word for "young" used in 1 Samuel 1:24 is "nah'-ar" meaning
"a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by
implication a servant." This makes sense to me. I don't think Samuel
was still a toddler when Hannah handed him off to Eli, but he was a
young child.
1 Samuel chapter 2 opens with Hannah singing! What a difference
answered prayer made in her life! Ten verses she sang and rejoiced.
"My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my
mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy
salvation. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside
thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding
proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God
of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 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 ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath
many children is waxed feeble. The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he
bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and
maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor
out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set
them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for
the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath 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 horn of his anointed."
Matthew Henry's commentary: "Hannah's heart rejoiced, not in Samuel, but in the Lord. She looks beyond the gift, and praises the Giver. She
rejoiced in the salvation of the Lord, and in expectation of His
coming, who is the whole salvation of his people. The strong are soon
weakened, and the weak are soon strengthened, when God pleases. Are we
poor? God made us poor, which is a good reason why we should be content,
and make up our minds to our condition. Are we rich? God made us rich,
which is a good reason why we should be thankful, and serve him
cheerfully, and do good with the abundance he gives us. He respects not
man's wisdom or fancied excellences, but chooses those whom the world
accounts foolish, teaching them to feel their guilt, and to value his
free and precious salvation. This prophecy looks to the kingdom of
Christ, that kingdom of grace, of which Hannah speaks, after having
spoken largely of the kingdom of providence. And here is the first time
that we meet with the name MESSIAH, or his Anointed. The subjects of
Christ's kingdom will be safe, and the enemies of it will be ruined; for
the Anointed, the Lord Christ, is able to save, and to destroy."
Hannah is mentioned just a couple more times in this chapter, then she
is never named in the Bible again. Chapter 2 verse 19 says, "Moreover
his mother 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."
Hannah left him in Eli's hands, but continued to take care of him when she saw him each year. "This
was an outer coat to wear over others, and this also was such an one as
the priests wore; it is the same word that is used for the priest's
robe, (Exodus 28:4,) and this, it is very likely, was altogether of her
own spinning, and weaving, and making up; which were works women did in
those times: and this Hannah did partly out of her great love to her son
Samuel, and partly to lessen the expense that Eli, or the congregation,
were at in the maintenance of him." (John Gill) "She undertook
to find him with clothes during his apprenticeship at the tabernacle,
and took care he should be well provided, that he might appear the more
decent and sightly in his ministration, and to encourage him in his
towardly beginnings." (Matthew Henry)
And finally, "And Eli 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. And the LORD visited Hannah,
so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters." She prayed for a single child and God gave her five more!
"What is lent to the Lord will certainly be repaid with interest, to
our unspeakable advantage, and oftentimes in kind. Hannah resigns one
child to God, and is recompensed with five." (Matthew Henry)
This is just a beautiful story! We know that Samuel was an amazing man
of God and he was greatly influenced by this godly mother.
