1 Samuel 1

1 Samuel 1:1

OF Romathaim] That is, of that Ramah which was divided into two cities, or the same city into two parts, as the Hebrew name implyeth, which is of the duall or plurall number.

Zophim] That is, of the Zophites inhabiting the land of Zuph; of which, see Chap. 9. 5.

of mount Ephraim] Which is added to distinguish it from Ramah in Benjamin, and another in Naphtali, and other places of the same name.

Elkanah] 1 Chronicles 6:27.

Ephrathite] That is, born in Ephraim, but of the tribe of Levi, which was scattered amongst the other tribes, 1 Chro. 6. 27. 35.

1 Samuel 1:2

Hannah] Who was his first and chief wife, and mother of the family, and Peninnah a secundary wife or concubine. See Judg. 19. 1, 2.

1 Samuel 1:3

yeerly] Heb. from yeer to yeer, Deuteronomy 16:6. That is, thrice in the yeer, the feast of the passeover, of weeks or pentecost, and of tabernacles, according to the law, Deuteronomy 16:16. Exod. 23. 15, 16, 17.

Shiloh] Where the tabernacle had continued from Joshuahs time till now, Joshua 18:5.

the priests] To wit, under their father Eli the high-priest.

1 Samuel 1:4

Elkanah offered] To wit, thanks-offerings and peaceofferings, of which a good part by the law, after the oblation performed, belonged to him that offered it, to be eaten by himself and his family, Levit. 3. 4, 5. 7. 15, 31, 32. Deuter. 12. 12.

portions] To wit, of the offerings, Deuteronomy 16:11.

1 Samuel 1:5

a worthy portion] Or, a double portion; That is, a choice and principall portion, by this expression of love, to comfort her in her grief, for being barren, Genesis 43. 34. 1 Samuel 9. 23.

loved Hannah] That is, in a singular manner, and above Peninnah. So Genesis 29:30.

shut up her womb] That is, had made her barren. See Genesis 16:2. and 20. 18.

1 Samuel 1:6

her adversary] To wit, Peninnah, who maligned her as her corrivall, Leviticus 18:18.

provoked her] Heb. angred her: To wit, with clamarous and bitter words, upbraiding her with her barrennesse

make her fret] To vex and grieve her.

1 Samuel 1:7

he did so] That is, thus expresse his love to Hannah.

when she went up to the house of the Lord] Or, from the time that she, &c. Heb. from her going up] That is, more then than at other times Peninnah vexed her, knowing that then she sought God in a speciall manner, that she might become fruitfull. In which suit, because she had failed divers yeers, she upbraided her with her fruitlesse and bootlesse devotion.

1 Samuel 1:9

temple] That is, tabernacle, the house where the ark was, or the court of the tabernacle where he sate, that the people might have free accesle unto him upon all their occasions.

1 Samuel 1:10

in bitternesse of soul] Heb. bitter of soul.

1 Samuel 1:11

she vowed a vow] Either upon the condition of her husbands approbation, or having already obtained it, vers. 21. and Numbers 30:8.

a man-childe] Heb. seed of men.

give him unto the Lord] That is, to consecrate and appropriate him to the Lords service, as a Nazarite, Numbers 6:5.

all the dayes] An ordinary Levite was to do service onely twenty five yeers of his life, that is, from twenty five to fifty, Numbers 4:3. and Numbers 8:25. But Hannah by her vow devoteth her son for his whole life, v. 24.

there shall no rasour come upon his head] Numbers 6:5. Judges 13:5.

1 Samuel 1:12

continued praying] Heb. multiplyed to pray.

1 Samuel 1:14

put away thine wine] That is, get thee out of this holy place, till having slept, thou shalt be more sober.

1 Samuel 1:15

of a sorrowfull spirit] Heb. hard of spirit.

poured out my soul] That is, the earnest desires of my sorrowfull heart, Psalms 6:2. 8.

1 Samuel 1:16

of Belial] One desperately wicked, who hath shaken off the yoke of the law. See Judges 19. 22. Deuter. 13. 13.

complaint] Or, meditaion.

1 Samuel 1:17

Go in peace] Quietly rest upon God, who will grant thy suit, and be no more troubled.

1 Samuel 1:18

finde grace] Namely, to further my suit with thy prayers.

no more sad] Being comforted with the prayer of the high priest, and resting upon God by faith, for the obtaining of her suit, Ecclesiastes 9:7.

1 Samuel 1:19

remembred her] That is, her prayer, to grant it, by making her fruitfull, See Genesis 21:1.

1 Samuel 1:20

when the time was come about] Heb. in revolution of dayes; That is, of womens going with childe, from conception to the birth.

Samuel] That is, asked of God.

1 Samuel 1:21

and his vow] That is, which Hannah had made, and himself had ratified, concerning the devoting of Samuel to Gods service: or to offer some sacrifice of thansgiving, vowed for the birth of their son.

1 Samuel 1:22

Hannah went not up] Because women were not bound by the law to go up, but the men onely, though they often accompanied them, Exodus 23:17.

weaned] Or educated so long, till he be fit to minister, as some think.

abide for ever] That is, as long as he liveth. See Genesis 17:8. Exodus 21:6. So vers. 11. and 28.

1 Samuel 1:23

his word] That is, that which he hath promised concerning our son, and hath already in part performed.

untill she weaned him] Which was (as it is probable in respect of the custome of those times) after he was three yeers old, 2 Maccab. 7. 27.

1 Samuel 1:24

took him up with her] Namely, to Shiloh, there to present him to the LORD.

one ephah] See Exodus 16:36. Leviticus 5:11.

1 Samuel 1:25

slew a bullock] Giving the other two to Eli, or leaving them to his disposing.

1 Samuel 1:26

as thy soul liveth] That is, as sure as thou art alive.

1 Samuel 1:28

lent him to the Lord] Or, returned him, whom I have obtained by petition to the Lord; That is, dedicated him to his service.

he shall be lent] Or, he whom I have obtained by petition shall be returned.