1 Samuel 1
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CHAPTER 1
The Birth of Samuel (1:1–20)
1–2 In these verses the writer introduces us to Samuel’s father Elkanah, who was an Ephraimite2 from the hill country of Ephraim. Elkanah had two wives, one of whom, Hannah, was barren. Though having more than one wife was never God’s ideal (Genesis 2:24), it was technically legal according to the LAW (Deuteronomy 21:15–17). In Elkanah’s case, he probably married a second wife because Hannah had produced no children.
3–8 Elkanah was a devout man. Year after year he went up to Shiloh where the tabernacle was located3 (Joshua 18:1) and offered sacrifices to the LORD Almighty4 (verse 3). At that time Eli was the leading priest in Israel; indeed, he was considered the “judge” of Israel. His two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas,5 served as priests at the tabernacle (see 1 Samuel 2:12–25).
The meat of some of the sacrificed animals could be eaten by the worshipers (verse 4), and Elkanah always gave Hannah a double share because he especially loved her and also because the LORD had closed herwomb6 (verse5). But Elkanah’slove was not enough for Hannah; she longed for a child. Elkanah’s gentle rebuke to her (verse 8) reminds us that our spouse is to be considered more dear and precious to us than any number of children.
9–11 On one visit to Shiloh, Hannah made a vow to the Lord that if He would give her a son she would dedicate him to the Lord’s service as a Nazirite: “no razor will ever be used on his head”7 (verse 11). Usually individuals made their own Nazirite vows, and then only for a limited period of time; but occasionally a parent made the vow on behalf of a child, and in Samuel’s case the vow was made for life. Samson also was committed to be a Nazirite for life, but in his case he was set apart by God Himself (see Judges 13:2–5 and comment).
12–18 While Hannah was making this vow, she was observed by Eli the priest, who was sitting by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple8 (verse 9). Because she was praying silently, he thought she was drunk (verse 13). Hannah persuaded him otherwise, and in the end Eli blessed her, saying, “May God grant you what you have asked of him” (verse 17). Eli’s blessing was soon to come true (verse 20).
19–20 The Lord remembered Hannah (verse 19). The Lord had not forgotten her! When the Lord “remembers” a person, He is getting ready to act on that person’s behalf (Genesis 8:1; 30:22–23). Then Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son (verse 20). The Lord “remembered” and Hannah “conceived”; divine activity and human activity are always present together in every event involving human beings. Hannah named her son Samuel, which sounds like the Hebrew expression for “heard by God.”
Hannah Dedicates Samuel (1:21–28)
21–23 The annual sacrifice for which Elkanah took his family to the tabernacle was probably the Feast of Tabernacles (Feast of Ingathering) at the end of the harvest season (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:33–43). Elkanah had likely made a vow at one of the earlier festivals, which he would then have to fulfill during the Feast of Tabernacles (verse 21). Hannah stayed home on this occasion and Elkanah agreed with her decision (verse 23). He only hoped that the Lord would make good his word—probably the word He had spoken through Eli (verse 17), in which the Lord’s acceptance of Samuel as His servant was implied.
24–28 When Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him to the tabernacle, together with a bull and a large amount of flour and wine for offerings (verse 24). Then Hannah gave Samuel over to the Lord for life, as she had vowed (verse 11). And [Samuel] worshiped the LORD there (verse 28).
The Lord had answered Hannah’s prayer. But this doesn’t mean that the Lord will answer all our prayers according to our wishes. The Lord answers our prayers according to “His wishes”—in His way and in His time. If He had given Hannah a son earlier, she would not have dedicated him to the Lord. Believing prayer is extremely important and God always responds to it in one way or another; but God also overrules our requests in order to work out His greater purposes. And those purposes are always good for those who put their FAITH in Him (Romans 8:28).
The story of Hannah reveals something else: God is pleased when we offer to Him our most cherished possessions (see Genesis 22:15–18). Hannah wasn’t trying to “bribe” or “manipulate” God when she vowed to give her son to Him. She was acknowledging that the children God gives belong to Him in the first place. Furthermore, by offering her son to God she was ensuring that his life would be of greatest possible use to Him and the greatest possible blessing to herself and to her nation. This is always what happens when we give our talents, our possessions, our children, and ourselves to God: He is able to best utilize the things we offer up to Him.
Finally, the story of Hannah teaches us this: we may not be ready to receive from God our greatest desires until we first agree in our heart to give them up to Him. When we have truly placed our desires in His hands, then He knows that when He grants those desires they will be surrendered to His will.