1 Samuel 1:12

12 She prayed for a long time before ADONAI; and as she did so, 'Eli was watching her mouth.

1 Samuel 1:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 1:12

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord,
&c.] Being very earnest and importunate with him to grant her request, and therefore repeated her petition, and prolonged her prayer, being unwilling to let the Lord go, until she had a promise, or some satisfaction, that she should have the thing she liked; some think she continued an hour in prayer:

that Eli marked her mouth;
observed the motion of her lips, and no doubt her distorted countenance, and uplifted eyes and hands, but chiefly the former; not knowing what the woman was at, and what could be the meaning of such motions.

1 Samuel 1:12 In-Context

10 In deep depression she prayed to ADONAI and cried.

11 Then she took a vow; she said, "ADONAI-Tzva'ot, if you will notice how humiliated your servant is, if you will remember me and not forget your servant but will give your servant a male child, then I will give him to ADONAI for as long as he lives; and no razor will ever come on his head."

12 She prayed for a long time before ADONAI; and as she did so, 'Eli was watching her mouth.

13 Hannah was speaking in her heart - her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard -so 'Eli thought she was drunk.

14 'Eli said to her, "How long are you going to stay drunk? Stop drinking your wine!"