Hannah

HANNAH, the wife of Elkanah, of the Tribe of Levi, who dwelt at Ramath, 1 Sam. i. 2, & seq.or Ramathaïm, in the Tribe of Ephraim. Elkanah going one day to Shiloh, with a design of worshipping the Lord there, carried his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah, with him. Peninnah had children, who went with her to the Feast; but Hannah had none. Elkanah therefore having offered his sacrifice, which he had provided out of pure devotion, made an entertainment for his family before the Lord, and gave several parts of the victim to Peninnah for herself and children: to Hannah, his well-beloved wife, he gave but one portion of it, because she was alone, and had no children. Hannah therefore was very melancholy, and her rival Peninnah still added to her affliction, by reproaching her with barrenness. Elkanah observing that Hannah did not eat, said to her, Why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? Am not I better to thee than ten children? Hannah therefore did eat, and when she had done so, went alone to the Tabernacle, there to pour out her heart before the Lord. She made a vow in these terms: O Lord of Hosts, if thou wilt vouchsafe to look upon the affliction of thy servant, and to bless her with a son, I will give him unto thee all the days of his life; and there shall no razor come upon his head.

As she continued very long at her devotion, the High-Priest Eli believed that she had been drinking to excess, and said to her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. But Hannah answered, Pardon me, my Lord, I am a woman overwhelmed with affliction, I have drunk no wine, nor any thing that could intoxicate, but have been pouring forth my heart before the Lord. Whereupon Eli said to her, Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition, that thou hast asked of him. Hannah went away, to her husband, took nourishment, and her countenance was no longer dejected. After this, they returned to Ramah; and soon after Hannah conceived, and was delivered of a son, whom she called Samuel; because she had asked him of the Lord. Samuel was born in the year of the World 2849, before Jesus Christ 1151, before the Vulgar Æra 1155.

Hannah went not to the Temple¹ till she had weaned her son: then she came and brought him thither. She took three bullocks, three measures of flour, and a bottle of wine, and having made her offering, and said her prayer, she presented her son to the Lord, and put him into Eli’s hands, telling him, that she was the woman, who some years before had begg’d of God to give her a son, and had obtained the effect of his promises. Wherefore, added she, I return him into the hands from which I received him, that he may be dedicated to God as long as he lives. They therefore adored the Lord; and Hannah composed an hymn of 1 Sam. ii.thanksgiving, wherein she exalts the power of God’s mercy, who produces fruitfulness or barrenness, as he pleases. What happened to Hannah, after she had made an offering of Samuel, is not known; but we shall see in another place how many blessings God heaped on Samuel, whose birth was the effect of his mother’s prayers and blessings.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages