◄ 1 Samuel 2:21 ►
So the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.
Study Bible
So the LORD attended to Hannah
This phrase highlights the divine intervention and faithfulness of God in response to Hannah's prayers. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, barrenness was often seen as a source of shame and a sign of divine disfavor. Hannah's earlier prayer in 1 Samuel 1:10-11 shows her deep distress and her vow to dedicate her child to the LORD if He granted her a son. The LORD's attention to Hannah signifies His compassion and the fulfillment of His promises, echoing His faithfulness to other women in the Bible, such as Sarah and Rachel, who also experienced miraculous births.

and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters
This phrase underscores the abundant blessing that God bestowed upon Hannah. After the birth of Samuel, whom she dedicated to the LORD, God continued to bless her with more children. This multiplication of her offspring can be seen as a sign of divine favor and a reversal of her previous barrenness. It also reflects the biblical theme of God blessing those who are faithful to Him, as seen in the stories of other patriarchs and matriarchs. The number of children, five in total, may symbolize completeness and God's generous provision.

Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD
Samuel's upbringing in the presence of the LORD indicates his unique role and calling as a prophet and judge in Israel. Raised in the tabernacle under the guidance of Eli the priest, Samuel was set apart for God's service from a young age. This phrase foreshadows his future significance in Israel's history, as he would anoint the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. The presence of the LORD signifies not only physical proximity to the tabernacle but also spiritual growth and divine favor. Samuel's life parallels that of Jesus Christ, who also grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hannah
A devout woman who was initially barren but fervently prayed for a child. God answered her prayers, and she became the mother of Samuel, whom she dedicated to the LORD.

2. The LORD
The covenant God of Israel, who is attentive to the prayers of His people and acts according to His will and purpose.

3. Samuel
The firstborn son of Hannah, dedicated to the LORD's service. He grew up to be a significant prophet and judge in Israel.

4. Shiloh
The place where the tabernacle of the LORD was located during this time, and where Samuel was raised in the presence of the LORD.

5. Eli
The high priest at Shiloh, under whose care Samuel was raised.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness
God is faithful to His promises and attentive to the prayers of His people. Just as He remembered Hannah, He remembers us in our times of need.

The Power of Prayer
Hannah's account emphasizes the importance of persistent and heartfelt prayer. We are encouraged to bring our deepest desires and needs before God.

God's Sovereignty
The LORD's intervention in Hannah's life demonstrates His sovereign control over all circumstances, including the opening and closing of the womb.

Dedication to God
Hannah's dedication of Samuel to the LORD serves as a model for us to dedicate our lives and the lives of our children to God's service.

Growth in God's Presence
Samuel's growth in the presence of the LORD highlights the importance of spiritual growth and development in a godly environment.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Hannah's account encourage you to approach God with your personal struggles and desires?

2. In what ways can you see God's faithfulness in your own life, similar to how He was faithful to Hannah?

3. How can you apply the principle of dedicating your life or your children's lives to God's service in today's context?

4. What are some practical steps you can take to ensure spiritual growth in the presence of the LORD, as seen in Samuel's life?

5. How do the accounts of other biblical figures who experienced God's intervention in their barrenness (e.g., Sarah, Elizabeth) enhance your understanding of God's power and faithfulness?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Samuel 1:19-20
This passage describes how God remembered Hannah, leading to the birth of Samuel, showing the fulfillment of God's promise.

Genesis 21:1-2
Similar to Hannah, Sarah was also barren, and God fulfilled His promise by giving her a son, Isaac, demonstrating God's faithfulness.

Psalm 113:9
This verse speaks of God granting the barren woman a home, making her a joyful mother of children, echoing Hannah's experience.

Luke 1:13
The angel's message to Zechariah about the birth of John the Baptist parallels the divine intervention in Hannah's life.
Sermons
Growth the Best TestSpurgeon, Charles Haddon1 Samuel 2:21
People
Eli, Elkanah, Hannah, Hophni, Israelites, Pharaoh, Phinehas, Samuel
Places
Egypt, Ramah, Shiloh
Topics
Bare, Beareth, Birth, Bore, Boy, Child, Conceived, Conceiveth, Daughters, Grew, Groweth, Hannah, Meanwhile, Mercy, Older, Presence, Remembered, Samuel, Sons, Visited, Youth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Samuel 2:21

     1055   God, grace and mercy
     1652   numbers, 3-5
     6667   grace, in OT

Library
The Child Prophet
'And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 8. And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4. That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5. And he ran onto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Reverence in Worship.
"Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod."--1 Samuel ii. 18. Samuel, viewed in his place in sacred history, that is, in the course of events which connect Moses with Christ, appears as a great ruler and teacher of his people; this is his prominent character. He was the first of the prophets; yet, when we read the sacred narrative itself, in which his life is set before us, I suppose those passages are the more striking and impressive which represent him, in …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The Knowledge of God
'The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.' I Sam 2:2. Glorious things are spoken of God; he transcends our thoughts, and the praises of angels. God's glory lies chiefly in his attributes, which are the several beams by which the divine nature shines forth. Among other of his orient excellencies, this is not the least, The Lord is a God of knowledge; or as the Hebrew word is, A God of knowledges.' Through the bright mirror of his own essence, he has a full idea and cognisance …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Though the Fore-Mentioned Eternal Moral Obligations
are incumbent indeed on all rational creatures, antecedent to any respect of particular reward or punishment, yet they must certainly and necessarily be attended with rewards and punishments: Because the same reasons, which prove God himself to be necessarily just and good, and the rules of justice, equity, and goodness, to be his unalterable will, law, and command, to all created beings; prove also that he cannot but be pleased with and approve such creatures as imitate and obey him by observing …
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God

Letter xxix. To Marcella.
An explanation of the Hebrew words Ephod bad (1 Sam. ii. 18) and Teraphim (Judges xvii. 5). Written at Rome to Marcella, also at Rome a.d. 384. …
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

A Private Enquiry
"What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee?"--1 Samuel 3:17. THE Lord would not speak directly to Eli, although he was the High Priest. In ordinary circumstances it would have been so; but Eli had grieved the Lord, and thus had lost his honorable standing. God had not cast him off; but he viewed him with such displeasure that he would only speak to him through another person: even as great kings, if they are offended with their courtiers, send them messages by other hands. The Lord sent, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

Appendix xix. On Eternal Punishment, According to the Rabbis and the New Testament
THE Parables of the Ten Virgins' and of the Unfaithful Servant' close with a Discourse on the Last Things,' the final Judgment, and the fate of those Christ's Righ Hand and at His Left (St. Matt. xxv. 31-46). This final Judgment by our Lord forms a fundamental article in the Creed of the Church. It is the Christ Who comes, accompanied by the Angelic Host, and sits down on the throne of His Glory, when all nations are gathered before Him. Then the final separation is made, and joy or sorrow awarded …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Covenanting a Privilege of Believers.
Whatever attainment is made by any as distinguished from the wicked, or whatever gracious benefit is enjoyed, is a spiritual privilege. Adoption into the family of God is of this character. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (margin, or, the right; or, privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."[617] And every co-ordinate benefit is essentially so likewise. The evidence besides, that Covenanting …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Mystery
Of the Woman dwelling in the Wilderness. The woman delivered of a child, when the dragon was overcome, from thenceforth dwelt in the wilderness, by which is figured the state of the Church, liberated from Pagan tyranny, to the time of the seventh trumpet, and the second Advent of Christ, by the type, not of a latent, invisible, but, as it were, an intermediate condition, like that of the lsraelitish Church journeying in the wilderness, from its departure from Egypt, to its entrance into the land …
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse

Sixth Day. Holiness and Glory.
Who is like unto Thee, O Lord! among the gods? Who is like unto Thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou in Thy mercy hast led Thy people which Thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in Thy strength to the habitation of Thy holiness ... The holy place, O Lord, which Thy hands have established.' --Ex. xv. 11-17. In these words we have another step in advance in the revelation of Holiness. We have here for the first time Holiness predicated of God Himself. He …
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Sanctification.
VI. Objections answered. I will consider those passages of scripture which are by some supposed to contradict the doctrine we have been considering. 1 Kings viii. 46: "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near," etc. On this passage, I remark:-- 1. That this sentiment in nearly the same language, is repeated in 2 Chron. vi. 26, and in Eccl. …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity the Christian Calling and Unity.
Text: Ephesians 4, 1-6. 1 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

The Sun Rising Upon a Dark World
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon then hath the light shined. C ontrasts are suited to illustrate and strengthen the impression of each other. The happiness of those, who by faith in MESSIAH, are brought into a state of peace, liberty, and comfort, is greatly enhanced and heightened by the consideration of that previous state of misery in which they once lived, and of the greater misery to which they were justly exposed. …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Entire Sanctification
By Dr. Adam Clarke The word "sanctify" has two meanings. 1. It signifies to consecrate, to separate from earth and common use, and to devote or dedicate to God and his service. 2. It signifies to make holy or pure. Many talk much, and indeed well, of what Christ has done for us: but how little is spoken of what he is to do in us! and yet all that he has done for us is in reference to what he is to do in us. He was incarnated, suffered, died, and rose again from the dead; ascended to heaven, and there …
Adam Clarke—Entire Sanctification

The Holiness of God
The next attribute is God's holiness. Exod 15:51. Glorious in holiness.' Holiness is the most sparkling jewel of his crown; it is the name by which God is known. Psa 111:1. Holy and reverend is his name.' He is the holy One.' Job 6:60. Seraphims cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.' Isa 6:6. His power makes him mighty, his holiness makes him glorious. God's holiness consists in his perfect love of righteousness, and abhorrence of evil. Of purer eyes than …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
In order accurately to understand the position of woman in Israel, it is only necessary carefully to peruse the New Testament. The picture of social life there presented gives a full view of the place which she held in private and in public life. Here we do not find that separation, so common among Orientals at all times, but a woman mingles freely with others both at home and abroad. So far from suffering under social inferiority, she takes influential and often leading part in all movements, specially …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C.
TIGLATH-PILESER III. AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FROM 745 to 722 B.C. FAILURE OF URARTU AND RE-CONQUEST Of SYRIA--EGYPT AGAIN UNITED UNDER ETHIOPIAN AUSPICES--PIONKHI--THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS, OF BABYLON, AND OF ISRAEL. Assyria and its neighbours at the accession of Tiglath-pileser III.: progress of the Aramaeans in the basin of the Middle Tigris--Urartu and its expansion into the north of Syria--Damascus and Israel--Vengeance of Israel on Damascus--Jeroboam II.--Civilisation …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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