1 Samuel 1

12-18. Eli marked her mouth--The suspicion of the aged priest seems to indicate that the vice of intemperance was neither uncommon nor confined to one sex in those times of disorder. This mistaken impression was immediately removed, and, in the words, "God grant," or rather, "will grant," was followed by an invocation which, as Hannah regarded it in the light of a prophecy pointing to the accomplishment of her earnest desire, dispelled her sadness, and filled her with confident hope ( 1 Samuel 1:18 ). The character and services of the expected child were sufficiently important to make his birth a fit subject for prophecy.

1 Samuel 1:20 . SAMUEL BORN.

20. called his name Samuel--doubtless with her husband's consent. The names of children were given sometimes by the fathers, and sometimes by the mothers (see Genesis 4:1 Genesis 4:26 , 5:29 , 19:37 , 21:3 ); and among the early Hebrews, they were commonly compound names, one part including the name of God.

21. the man Elkanah . . . went up to offer . . . his vow--The solemn expression of his concurrence in Hannah's vow was necessary to make it

22. But Hannah went not up--Men only were obliged to attend the solemn feasts ( Exodus 23:17 ). But Hannah, like other pious women, was in the habit of going, only she deemed it more prudent and becoming to defer her next journey till her son's age would enable her to fulfill her vow.

24. three bullocks--The Septuagint renders it "a bullock of three years old"; which is probably the true rendering.