1 Samuel 1

Elkana goeth yearly up unto the Feast at Silo, with both his wivesm ver.1.,&c. Wherefore the one, named Hanna, was barren, 5. The otjer, namely Peninna, upbraideth Hanna with her barrenness, 6. Wherefore Hannah prayeth fervently unto the Lord for a Son, whom she promiseth to give unto the Lord to minister unto him`10. Eli the Priest, thinking that she`was drunk, rebuketh her, 12. But being better informed by her,15 comferteth her, 17. She returneth homeward with Elkana, q8. She conceiveth, 19n and beareth Samuel, 20. When she had bred him up, she dedicateth him wholly unto the ministery of the Lord, as she had promised, 24.

1. There was a man of Ramathain [This word in the Hebrew is put in the dual number, as if one should say, twofold Rama, because this city (as it is thought) was divided into two parts, Matth.27.27. it is called Arimathea] Zophin, [i.e. of the Zophites, or of the inhabitants of the land of Zuph, whereof mention is made below, chap.9.5.] of the mountain of Ephraim, [hereby this city is distinguished from Rama in Benjamin, and from Rama in the tribe of Naphtali, and other cities more, that are called Rama] whose name was Elkana, a son of Jerocham, the son of Elibu, the son of Tochu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. [Otherwise, an Ephraimite, as Judg.12.5. i.e. one that is born in the land of Ephraim: but he was by descent of the tribe of Levi, I Chron.6.27.]

2. And he had two wives, the name of the one was Hanna, and the name of the other was Peninna, but Hanna had no children.

3. Now this man went up out of his city from year to year [Heb. From dayes to dayes. The Hebrew word Jamin is often used in the holy Scripture for years: and here is mention made of the three Annual Feasts of the Jews: see Levit.25.29.] to worship, and to offer unto the LORD of Hosts at Silo, [where the Tabernacle was, Jos.18.1.] and there were the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Pinebas, the Priests of the LORD [viz. under their Father Eli, who was the High-Priest.]

4. And it came to pass on that day when Elakana offere, [viz. Thank-offering, whereof he that offered, had his part or portion, which he might eat with his family] that he gave to Peninna his wife, and all her sons, and all her daughters, portions. [viz. of the offering or sacrifice: see Deut.11.12. & 16.11.]

5. But unto Hanna he gave an honourable portion, [i.e. Which was glorious to behold. Heb. a piece of two faces. This courtesie Elkana shewed to his wife Hanna, to recreate her therewith] for he loved Hanna [i.e. he loved her exceedingly more then he did Peninna: see the like example, Gen .29.30.] but the LORD had shut up her womb. [See Gen.20.18.]

6. And her adversary [viz. Peninna, who envied her, or grudged her: see Levit.18.18.] vexed her also with vexing, to incense her, [otherwise, while she thundered; i.e. brake out into words of passion] because the LORD had shut up her womb.

7. And so [viz. As ver.4, 5. is mentioned] he [viz. Elkana] did year to year; from that time she [viz. Hanna] went up to the house of the LORD, she vexed her so: [The meaning of these words is, that Peninna vexed, disquieted, and provoked Hanna to wrath] therefore she wept, and did not eat. [i.e. she did eat very little.]

8. Then said Elkana her husband; Hanna, why weepest thou? Why eatest thou not? [oth. Why is thy heart ill-disposed (or, grieved)] am not I better then ten sons?

9. Then Hanna arose after that (he) [i.e. Elkana, for it seemeth that she did eat either nothing at all, or but very little] had eaten, and after that (he) had drank at Silo; (and Eli the Priest sat upon a stool by a post of the Temple [i.e. of the Tabernacle, for at this time the Temple was not yet built] of the LORD).

10. She then being bitterly grieved in soul, [Heb. Bitter of soul. Compare Judg.18. on v.25.] prayed unto the LORD, and she wept sore. [Heb. she wept weeping.]

11. And she vowed a vow, [i.e. With the privity and consent of her husband: for otherwise the womans vow was of no force: see Numb.30.8.] and said; LORD of hosts, if thou once lookest on [Heb. if thou seeing seest] the misery of thine hand-maid, [thus she calleth her barrenness, see Gen.29.32.] and remembrest me, and forgettest not thine hand-maid, but givest unto thine hand-maid a male-feed: [Heb. a seed of men; i.e. a son] then will I give it unto the LORD [i.e. dedicate it unto thy ministery] all the dayes of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head. [i.e. he shall be a Nazarite, see Numb.6.5.]

12. Now it came to pass, when she continued praying very much [Heb. multiplied to pray] before the face of the LORD, that Eli heeded her mouth.

13. For Hanna spake in her heart, her lips onely moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli held her to be drunk.

14. And Eli said unto her: how long wilt thou demean thy self drunk? Put away thy wine from thee. [i.e. lay thy self to sleep, that thou mayest digest, and sleep away thy wine.]

15. But Hanna answered and said; No, my Lord, I am a woman grieved in spirit [Heb, hard of spirit, or, mind] I have neither drunk wine nor strong drink; but I have powred out my soul [i.e. the trouble and anguish of my heart] before the face of the LORD.

16. Count not, I pray thee, thine hand-maid for a daughter of Belial: [See Deut.13.ver.13. Heb. Put not thine hand-maid for a daughter of Belial] for I have hitherto spoken out of the abundance of my thoughts, and of my grief.

17. Then Eli answered and said; Go thy ways in peace: and the God of Israel will grant thy petition, [Or, grant thee thy petition] that thou hast petitioned of him.

18. And she said, Let thine hand-maid find favour in thine eyes: [In these words she requesteth, that Eli henceforward would pray unto the Lord for her] so the woman went her way, and she did eat, [for Elies, words had cheared her] and her countenance was not (such) to berary more. [Heb. her counterance was not any more to her, i.e. that sad counterance, which she had had before.]

19. And they rose up early in the morning, and they worshipped [See Gen.24.on v.26. so below v.28.] before the face of the LORD, and they returned, and came to their house at Rama: [verse I. at Ramathain] and Elkana knew his wife Hanna, [i.e. lay with her, as Genes.4.1.] and the LORD remembred her. [That is, he made it appear indeed that he had heard her prayer.]

20. And it came to pass after the expiration of dayes, that Hanna conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Samuel: for (she said) I have petitioned him of the LORD.

21. And that man Elkana went up [viz. Unto Silo, as above ver.3.] with all his house, to offer unto the LORD. [viz. that which he had vowed to offer unto the Lord, for a token of thankfulness, that the Lord had given him a son by his wife Hanna, or to perform both his, and his wifes Vow, concerning the child] the yearly offering, [Heb. the offering of dayes; i.e. which was every year offered on the Feast-days,] and his Vow.

22. But Hanna went not up [The women were not enjoyned to go up every year (although they might do it, and sometimes did use to do it) but onely the men, Exod.23.17.] but she said unto her husband, when the boy is weaned, then will I bring him, that be may appear before the face of the LORD, and there to continue for ever. [i.e. his life-time: see above v.11. and below v.28.]

23. And Elkana her husband said unto her, Do that which is good in thine eyes, tarry until thou shalt have weaned him: onely the LORD establish his Word: so the woman tarried, and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.

24. Afterward when she had weaned him, she brought him up with her, with three Bullocks, and one Epha, [See Exod.16.36.& Lev.5.11.] of meal, and a bottle of wine, and she brought him into the house of the LORD at Silo: and the boy was (very) young.

25. And they slew a bullock: so they brought the child unto Eli.

26. And she said, Oh my Lord, (as true as) thy soul liveth, [i.e. As true as thou livest] my Lord, I am that woman, that stood here by thee to pray unto the LORD.

27. I prayed for this child, and the LORD hath granted me my petition, which I have petitioned of him.

28. Therefore I have also given him over, [Otherwise, Lent, viz. to minister in the Tabernancle] unto the LORD all the days that he shall be, [oth. All the days that he shall be, he shall be given to the LORD] he is begged of the LORD: and he [viz. Samuel, or Eli, or also Elkana and Hanna] worshipped the LORD there.