Hannah's Cry for a Son in the Old Testament
Hannah's fervent prayer for a son, recorded in 1 Samuel 1, is a pivotal moment in the Old Testament, leading to the birth of the prophet Samuel. Hannah was one of Elkanah's two wives, the other being Peninnah. While Peninnah had children, Hannah remained childless, a condition that brought her great distress [1]. Each year, Elkanah would go to Shiloh to offer sacrifices, and Peninnah would provoke Hannah because of her barrenness [1].
During one such visit to Shiloh, Hannah, in her "bitter distress," prayed to the Lord and wept profusely [5]. She made a vow, promising that if God would grant her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord for his entire life, and no razor would ever touch his head, signifying a Nazirite vow [7]. This intense desire for children was common among Hebrew women [7]. Flavius Josephus notes that Hannah vowed to consecrate her first son to God's service, with a manner of living distinct from ordinary men [6].
Eli, the high priest, observed Hannah praying silently, her lips moving but no sound emerging, and initially mistook her for being drunk [6]. When he confronted her, Hannah explained her deep sorrow and that she was pouring out her soul to the Lord [6]. Eli then blessed her, saying, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him" [6].
Following this, Hannah conceived and bore a son, whom she named Samuel, explaining, "Because I have asked him of Yahweh" [2, 3]. This name, Samuel, directly reflects her prayer and God's answer. After Samuel was weaned, Hannah fulfilled her vow, bringing him to Shiloh and presenting him to Eli for service in the tabernacle [7].
Hannah's response to God's faithfulness is recorded in a song of praise found in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. This hymn is recognized for its prophetic and Messianic character [9]. Adam Clarke describes it as an "oracular declaration" with every part having respect to the future, possibly even declaring aspects of the Messiah's kingdom [10]. John Chrysostom points to Hannah's prayer as an example of watchfulness in prayer, noting her earnestness [8]. The song expresses Hannah's rejoicing and exultation in God's salvation, praising Him as the only holy One, who rules with omniscience and righteousness, bringing down the proud and exalting the humble [9]. Its poetic quality and themes of divine reversal have drawn comparisons to the Magnificat of Mary in Luke 1:46-55 [4].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hannah — Favour, grace, one of the wives of Elkanah the Levite, and the mother of Samuel (1 Sam. 1; 2). Her home was at Ramathaim-zophim, whence she was wont every year to go to Shiloh, where the tabernacle had been pitched by Joshua, to attend the offering of sacrifices there according to the law (Ex. 23:15; 34:18; Deut. 16:16), probably at the feast of the Passover (comp. Ex. 13:10). On occasion of one of these "yearly" visits, being grieved by reason of Peninnah's conduct toward her, she went forth alone, and kneeling before the Lord at the sanctuary she prayed in”
- 1 Samuel “When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Yahweh.” -- 1 Samuel 1:20”
- I Samuel “I Samuel 1:20 (YLT) — and it cometh to pass, at the revolution of the days, that Hannah conceiveth, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Samuel, `for, from Jehovah I have asked him.'”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Hannah — (grace), one of the wives of Elkanah, and mother of Samuel. 1Sam 1,2 (B.C. 1141.) A hymn of thanks giving for the birth of her son is in the highest order of prophetic poetry, its resemblance to that of the Virgin Mary comp. (1 Samuel 2:1-10) with Luke 1:46-55 See also (Psalms 113:1) ... has been noticed.”
- I Samuel “I Samuel 1:10 (BSB) — In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 10, section 2: her a mother; and to vow to consecrate the first son she should bear to the service of God, and this in such a way, that his manner of living should not be like that of ordinary men. And as she continued at her prayers a long time, Eli, the high priest, for he sat there before the tabernacle, bid her go away, thinking she had been disordered with wine; but when she said she had drank water, but was in sorrow for want of children, and was beseeching God for them, he bid her be of good cheer, and told her that God would send her c”
- 1 Samuel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Samuel 1:11: HANNAH'S PRAYER. (Sa1 1:9-18) she prayed . . . she vowed a vow--Here is a specimen of the intense desire that reigned in the bosoms of the Hebrew women for children. This was the burden of Hannah's prayer; and the strong preference she expressed for a male child originated in her purpose of dedicating him to the tabernacle service. The circumstance of his birth bound him to this; but his residence within the precincts of the sanctuary would have to commence at an earlier age than usual, in consequence of the Nazarite vow.”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: feared God, nor regarded man ( Luke xviii. 1–7 .)? And how, again, did the friend persist, remaining before the door in the dead of night, till he shamed the other into yielding by his importunity, and made him arise. ( Luke xi. 5–8 .) This is to be watchful. Wouldest thou understand what watchfulness in prayer is? Go to Hannah, hearken to her very words, “Adonai Eloi Sabaoth.” ( 1 Sam. i. 11 .) Nay, rather, hear what preceded those words; “they all rose up,” says the history, “from the table” ( 1 Sam. i. 9 .), and she, forthwith”
- 1 Samuel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Samuel 2:1: Hannah's song of praise. - The prayer in which Hannah poured out the feelings of her heart, after the dedication of her son to the Lord, is a song of praise of a prophetic and Messianic character. After giving utterance in the introduction to the rejoicing and exulting of her soul at the salvation that had reached her (Sa1 2:1), she praises the Lord as the only holy One, the only rock of the righteous, who rules on earth with omniscience and righteousness, brings down the proud and lofty, kills and makes alive, maketh poor and maketh rich (Sa1 2:2-8). She then”
- 1 Samuel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Samuel 2:1: And Hannah prayed, and said - The Chaldee very properly says, And Hannah prayed in the spirit of prophecy; for indeed the whole of this prayer, or as it may be properly called oracular declaration, is a piece of regular prophecy, every part of it having respect to the future, and perhaps not a little - of it declaratory oil the Messiah's kingdom. Dr. Hales has some very good observations on this prophetic song. "This admirable hymn excels in simplicity of composition, closeness of connection, and uniformity of sentiment; breathing the pious effusions of a devout mi”