1 Samuel
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1 Samuel 1
1 Samuel 1
Commentary · verses 1-28
1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill-country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite: 2and 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.
1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim–zophim, 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:
2And 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.
Commentary · verses 1-2
Elkanah of Ephraim was the husband of Peninnah and Hannah.
3And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice unto Jehovah of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests unto Jehovah, were there.
4And when the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: 5but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb.
3And 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.
4And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
Commentary · verses 3-5
Elkanah gave portions to Peninnah and her sons and daughters, but to Hannah he gave a double portion (also translated as a "worthy" portion). God had shut Hannah's womb. The only person God caused to be born was Jesus. Anywhere else in the Bible, God prevented pregnancies.
6And her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Jehovah had shut up her womb.
6And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
Commentary · verse 6
Because of Hannah's womb, Peninnah provoked her, more specifically "provoked her to anger."
7And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Jehovah, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8And Elkanah her husband said unto 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?
9So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of Jehovah.
7And 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.
8Then 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?
9So 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.
Commentary · verses 7-9
Eli the priest was Israel's fourteenth Judge.
10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto Jehovah, and wept sore.
11And she vowed a vow, and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto Jehovah all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11And 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.
Commentary · verses 10-11
Hannah made a vow that if God opened her womb and gave her a son she would give him to God. Also, no razor would come upon his head. This sounded like the same Nazarite Vow as Samson's in Judges 13.
12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before Jehovah, that Eli marked her mouth.
13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
Commentary · verses 12-13
Hannah prayed to God. Eli marked/watched her mouth and thought she was drunk. Either the prayer was silent or the words were said so quietly that Eli could not hear her. This verse showed we can pray in our hearts, move our lips, not have our voice be heard by others, and it will be considered as prayer.
14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Jehovah.
14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15And 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.
Commentary · verses 14-15
Hannah said she was not drunk but had poured out her soul before the Lord, like a drink offering.
16Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.
17Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
16Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
Commentary · verses 16-17
Eli agreed with her prayer, which was to dedicate the child to God's service, which would have been with Eli.
18And she said, Let thy handmaid find favor in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat; and her countenance was no more sad.
19And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before Jehovah, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Jehovah remembered her; 20and it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bare a son; and she called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Jehovah.
18And 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.
19And 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.
20Wherefore 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.
Commentary · verses 18-20
God remembered Hannah and opened her womb. God did not cause Samuel to be born, Hannah and Elkanah were responsible for that. She conceived and bore Samuel. "Samuel" meant "asked of God" or "God hears."
21And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto Jehovah the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22But 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 Jehovah, and there abide for ever.
21And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22But 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.
Commentary · verses 21-22
Hannah did not go to offer the sacrifice until Samuel was weaned so that when she did go she could give Samuel to God forever. She truly meant to fulfill her vow.
23And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only Jehovah establish his word. So the woman tarried and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.
23And 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.
Commentary · verse 23
Elkanah approved of Hannah staying until Samuel was weaned. Samuel would have stayed with his mother until he was about two or three years old. The husband followed his wife's counsel.
24And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of Jehovah in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25And they slew the bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
24And 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.
25And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
Commentary · verses 24-25
Hannah brought Samuel to Eli.
26And she said, Oh, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto Jehovah.
27For this child I prayed; and Jehovah hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28therefore also I have granted him to Jehovah; as long as he liveth he is granted to Jehovah. And he worshipped Jehovah there.
26And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28Therefore 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.
Commentary · verses 26-28
A son belonged to his mom until he was married and cleaved to another woman. Here, Hannah released her claim on her son. Eli worshipped God in response to Hannah's testimony.
This book picked up the narrative where the Book of Judges left off. The Book of Ruth gave background to events that occurred during this book.