These next two books are called 1st & 2nd Samuel and they are focused on his judgeship.
1Samuel
1:1 ¶ Now
there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was
Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of
Zuph, an Ephrathite: 2 And he 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. 3 And this man went up out of his city yearly
to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons
of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. 4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered,
he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy
portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. 6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for
to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. 7 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. 8 Then said Elkanah her
husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is
thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
Samuel’s family comes from Ephraim. Hannah’s inability to have
children was from God for the purpose of showing His power. Hannah being barren
did not prevent the love her husband had for her.
See how they go yearly to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice.
1Samuel 1:9 ¶ So Hannah
rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the
priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and
prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11
And she vowed a vow, and said, 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. 12 And it came to pass, as she
continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her
lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been
drunken. 14 And Eli said unto her, How
long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 15 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
have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16
Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the
abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. 17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and
the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find
grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance
was no more sad.
Notice the fervent prayer Hannah makes and how Eli accuses her of
being drunk. This gives evidence that these services must have been deader than
a hammer with no one involved emotionally in any way. Eli realizes the error of
his thinking and blesses Hannah.
1Samuel 1:19 ¶ And they
rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and
came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD
remembered her. 20 Wherefore it came to
pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a
son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the
LORD. 21 And the man Elkanah, and all
his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 But Hannah went not up; for she said
unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then
I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
23 And Elkanah her husband said unto
her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD
establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned
him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she
took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle
of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was
young. 25 And they slew a bullock, and
brought the child to Eli. 26 And she
said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman
that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath
given me my petition which I asked of him: 28
Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he
shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
Hannah does an amazing thing. Having pleaded with God to give her
a son she gives him back to God. Her dream has been fulfilled by God and she
means to have her son serve God his entire life. Unless Samuel supported his
mother in her old age in a way not reported in the text we have an incredibly
selfless act in a world without welfare. We’ll know in heaven how Hannah’s life
went after this or if she had other children after Samuel, which I suspect she
did, but for now we have to be satisfied with what we are told.
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