Elkanah and His Family Leave Ramathaim
v1 There was a man whose name was Elkanah. He lived in the town of Ramathaim. This town was in the hills in the country of Ephraim. Elkanah was the son of Jeroham. Jeroham was the son of Elihu. Elihu was the son of Tohu. Tohu was the son of Zuph. Zuph came from the tribe of Ephraim. v2 Elkanah had two wives. The name of one wife was Hannah. And the name of the other wife was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not have any children.
Commentary
The town of Ramathaim was about 25 miles north of Jerusalem. There is a list of Elkanah’s family in verse 1. This probably means that he was quite an important man. He had two wives. In the ancient world, many men had more than one wife. A man wanted children, especially a son, to continue his family name. If his first wife was barren, he could take a second wife to give him children. A woman who could not have children felt shame, worthless and a failure. When a man had more than one wife, usually there was trouble between his wives because the one bearing children felt more important.
Elkanah and His Family Go to Shiloh
v3 Every year, Elkanah left Ramathaim and went to the town of Shiloh. He went there to worship. He gave sacrifices to the most powerful Lord. Hophni and Phinehas were the priests to the Lord at Shiloh. Eli was their father. He was the chief priest. v4 Elkanah gave his sacrifices to God. Then he gave a share of the meat to Peninnah and her sons and daughters. v5 But Elkanah always gave a double share of the meat to Hannah. Elkanah loved Hannah. But God had prevented her from having children.
Commentary
Shiloh was about 15 miles east of Ramah. Elkanah and his family worshipped and gave their sacrifices to God. The priests burned part of the animal. This was how they gave that part of the animal to God. Then the priests could eat some meat from some of the offerings. Afterward, people could eat the rest of the meat.
Peninnah and Hannah
v6 Peninnah would annoy and upset Hannah on purpose. She did this because God had not given Hannah any children. v7 This happened every year when they went to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. Peninnah would upset Hannah until she cried. Then Hannah would not eat anything. v8 Elkanah asked Hannah, "Why are you crying and not eating? Why are you sad?" He said, "I am better to you than ten sons."
Commentary
Peninnah was proud that she had many children. She worshipped God. Then she was unkind and cruel to Hannah. Peninnah did this every year and made Hannah very sad. Some women in the Old Testament could not have children. They were barren and were embarrassed to be childless. Besides not being able to have children, Hannah had to deal with Peninnah's taunting and teasing.
Elkanah did not understand Hannah's sorrow. He said, "I am better to you than ten sons." This meant that Elkanah loved Hannah very much. However, he did not understand her pain. A woman feels hurt if she cannot have children. Elkanah’s love was not enough. Hannah was desperate for a son.
Hannah and Eli
v9 One day they were at Shiloh. They had finished eating and drinking. Hannah got up. Eli the priest was next to the house of the Lord. Eli sat on a chair by the doorway of the temple. v10 Hannah was very sad. She cried and prayed to the Lord. v11 She made a promise to God. She prayed, "You are the most powerful Lord. See how sad I am. I am your servant. Remember me and do not forget me. If you give me a son, I will give him back to you for all of his life. No one will ever cut his hair off."
v12 Hannah kept praying to the Lord. Eli watched her mouth moving. v13 Hannah was praying in her spirit. Her lips moved but Eli could not hear her voice. He thought that she had drunk too much wine. v14 He said to her, ‘Stop drinking so much. Throw away your wine’. v15 Hannah said to Eli, "No, I have not been drinking wine or strong drink. I have trouble deep in my heart. I told the Lord all about my problems. v16 Please do not think that I am a wicked woman. I have been praying here because I am suffering. And I am very sad."
v17 Eli answered Hannah and said, "You can go and have peace. May the God of Israel give you what you have asked him for." v18 Hannah said, "May I always please you." Then Hannah went away and ate something. She was not sad now.
Commentary
Hannah was desperate when she prayed. But she did not pray in a selfish way. She wanted a son so that she could give him to God.
"No one will ever cut his hair off." This is a mark of the Nazirite promise (Numbers 6:1-21). The person promised to give all his life to God for a definite time, maybe months or years. Then he lived separately from ordinary life. He let his hair grow long. This showed that he had made the Nazirite promise. Hannah asked God for a son. She made this promise on his behalf. It was very unusual for someone to be a Nazirite for all of his life.
Hannah prayed in a humble way as a servant to God. She felt that God had forgotten her. But she knew that God was all-powerful. God was the only person who could help her. And she knew that. Hannah did not pray aloud. But God heard her as she prayed in her spirit. In those days, people did not say silent prayers. They prayed aloud.
Eli the priest watched Hannah. He thought that she had drunk too much wine. Eli spoke to Hannah. After her explanation, he was kind to her and spoke on behalf of God. Eli gave Hannah peace from God. Then he prayed that God would answer her prayer.
Hannah said, "May I always please you" to show respect to Eli and to God. Now Hannah ate and was not sad. She trusted God to answer her prayer.
Elkanah and His Family Go Home
v19 Elkanah and his family got up early the next morning. They worshipped God. Then they went home to Ramah. Elkanah had sex with his wife Hannah. God remembered her. v20 Hannah discovered that she was expecting a baby. She gave birth to a son. She called him Samuel. She said, "His name is Samuel because I asked the Lord for him." In the Hebrew language, the name Samuel sounds like the words, "God has heard." God heard and answered Hannah’s prayer. That is why she chose that name.
Hannah Gives Samuel to God
v21 Every year Elkanah went to Shiloh to give sacrifices. He kept the promise that he had made to God. His family went too. v22 This time Hannah did not go. She said, "I will not go until the boy is old enough to eat proper food. When he is old enough I will take him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. I will give him to the Lord and he will live there forever." v23 Elkanah said to Hannah, "You must do what you think is right. Stay here until the boy is able to eat proper food. May the Lord help you do this." So, Hannah stayed at home and looked after her son.
Hannah Keeps Her Promise
v24 When Samuel was old enough to eat proper food Hannah took him to Shiloh. She took a male cow that was three years old. She also took a large bag of flour and a leather bag full of wine. Samuel was still young. v25 They killed the male cow for the sacrifice. Then Hannah brought Samuel to Eli. v26 Hannah spoke to Eli. "Master, I am the woman that you saw standing here. I was praying to the Lord. v27 I prayed for this child and the Lord answered me. The Lord gave me what I asked him for. v28 Now I give this child back to the Lord. He will belong to the Lord all of his life." And Samuel worshipped the Lord there.
Commentary
Hannah did not return to the house of the Lord in Shiloh until she took Samuel there. A woman fed her baby with milk from her breast for about three years. The baby depended on her completely during this time. Samuel could eat proper food when he was old enough. Then the priests would be able to look after him. Hannah stayed at home with Samuel until this time.
Samuel was still young when Hannah took him to Shiloh. She kept her promise to God. The male cow was for a sacrifice to God. The bag of flour was about 22 liters. Hannah may have made bread from the flour. Then she gave the bread to God. Because many people went to the house of the Lord, Eli may not have remembered Hannah. So, she explained why she was giving her young son to God.
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