Dedication of Samuel by his Mother
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The dedication of Samuel by his mother, Hannah, is a significant event recorded in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of 1 Samuel. This event highlights themes of faith, prayer, and the fulfillment of vows made to God.

Biblical Context

The account of Samuel's dedication is found in 1 Samuel 1:1-28. Hannah, one of the two wives of Elkanah, was deeply distressed because she was barren, while Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, had children and often provoked Hannah. Despite Elkanah's love and attempts to comfort her, Hannah's longing for a child remained unfulfilled.

Hannah's Vow

In her anguish, Hannah went to the tabernacle at Shiloh to pray. She made a solemn vow to the LORD, saying, "O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head" (1 Samuel 1:11). This vow indicated that her son would be a Nazirite, set apart for God's service.

God's Answer to Prayer

God heard Hannah's prayer, and she conceived and bore a son, whom she named Samuel, meaning "heard of God," acknowledging that her petition had been granted. True to her vow, once Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. She brought offerings and presented Samuel to Eli, the priest, saying, "I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him, I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD" (1 Samuel 1:27-28).

Significance of the Dedication

Hannah's dedication of Samuel is a profound act of faith and obedience. It underscores the importance of fulfilling vows made to God and demonstrates a deep trust in His sovereignty. Hannah's willingness to give back to God what she had long desired illustrates a selfless devotion and recognition of God's ultimate authority over her life and the life of her son.

Samuel's Role in Israel

Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD and became one of Israel's greatest prophets and last judges. His life and ministry were pivotal in the transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. Samuel anointed both Saul and David as kings, playing a crucial role in shaping the nation's history.

Theological Themes

The dedication of Samuel by his mother highlights several key theological themes:

1. Prayer and Faith: Hannah's account is a testament to the power of earnest prayer and unwavering faith. Her persistence in prayer and her trust in God's timing serve as an example for believers.

2. Vows and Commitment: The narrative emphasizes the seriousness of making vows to God and the importance of fulfilling them. Hannah's commitment to her vow reflects a deep reverence for God and His will.

3. Divine Providence: The account of Samuel's birth and dedication illustrates God's providential care and His ability to bring about His purposes through the lives of those who are devoted to Him.

4. Consecration and Service: Samuel's life, dedicated to the LORD from a young age, exemplifies the concept of being set apart for divine service. His ministry had a lasting impact on the spiritual and political landscape of Israel.

The dedication of Samuel by his mother remains a powerful narrative of faith, dedication, and the fulfillment of God's promises.
Nave's Topical Index
1 Samuel 1:11,22
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a man child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come on his head.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Home Dedication.
... Lord all the days of his life.""1 Samuel 1. 11. ... to the Lord,"his possessions as well
as his children ... and prepared "a psalm and song at the dedication of the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter x home dedication.htm

Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... The prayer of Solomon, at the dedication of the ... was given in answer to the prayer
of his mother. ... of being overthrown by the Philistines, Samuel prayed, and God ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm

The Upbringing of Jewish Children
... There was "Chanukah," the feast of the Dedication, with its ... of this than the mother
of Samuel and the ... of Lemuel, king of Massa, with which his mother taught him ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 7 the upbringing of.htm

Kings
... of Kings, like Joshua, Judges and Samuel (in part ... 6.; and on his prayer of dedication
the Deuteronomic ... at his accession and the name of his mother are mentioned ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/kings.htm

The First Per??an Discourses - to the Pharisees Concerning the Two ...
... His return to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Dedication of the ... [4198] The reasons
for his insertion of ... Deuteronomy 4:11 (the heart of heaven'); 2 Samuel 18:14 ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xi the first peraean.htm

Christian Names.
... to some precious boon involved in the dedication of the ... was taken out of man." He
called "his wife's name ... seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew." Samuel was so ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xii christian names.htm

Footnotes:
... and of Jephthae;"of David also, and Samuel, and of ... only personal advantage he has
above his poorer brother is ... for one action of real dedication would contain ...
//christianbookshelf.org/groves/christian devotedness/footnotes .htm

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
... the princes of the tribes offered at the dedication of the ... election of David himself;
for in 1 Samuel 16.the ... princes of Israel who, [Pg 94] in his time, were ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the blessing of jacob upon.htm

Christ's Sermon on the Mount in Manner and Contents it So ...
... in the first fiat or the final dedication of the ... of His people," [3947] that is,
in His own kingdom. ... of Kings, [3948] Hannah the mother of Samuel gives glory ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xiv christs sermon on the.htm

Hymns of Christian Devotion and Experience.
... his resources and energies to the cause of Christ, writing the dedication in his ...
Samuel Medley ... O., Dec.29, 1876, while returning from a visit to his aged mother ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter iii hymns of christian.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about infant baptism / paedobaptism? | GotQuestions.org

What was/is the importance of the gates of Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.org

What was inside the ark of the covenant? | GotQuestions.org

Dedication: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Christening

Dedication

Dedication by Idolaters in Setting up Idols

Dedication of Houses

Dedication of Property often Perverted

Dedication of Samuel by his Mother

Dedication of Self: Feast of Dedication

Dedication of the Tabernacle

Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem

Dedication: Consecration of a Place of Worship

Dedication: Devoting Any Thing to Sacred Uses

Dedication: Illustrated of Devotedness to God

Dedication: Law Concerning Dedicated Things

Dedication: Must be Without Blemish

Dedication: Not Redeemable

Dedication: Offering Must be Voluntary

Dedication: Second Temple

Dedication: Solemn Confirmation of a Covenant

Dedication: Solomon's Temple

Dedication: Subjects of Houses when Built

Dedication: Subjects of Persons

Dedication: Subjects of Property

Dedication: Subjects of Second Temple

Dedication: Subjects of Spoils of War

Dedication: Subjects of Tabernacle

Dedication: Subjects of Temple of Solomon

Dedication: Subjects of Tribute from Foreigners

Dedication: Subjects of Walls of Cities

Dedication: Things Dedicated to God for Support of Priests

Dedication: Things Dedicated to God: Applied to the Repair and Maintenance of the Temple

Dedication: Things Dedicated to God: Esteemed Holy

Dedication: Things Dedicated to God: Given to Propitiate Enemies

Dedication: Things Dedicated to God: Law Respecting the Release of

Dedication: Things Dedicated to God: Levites Place Over

Dedication: Things Dedicated to God: Placed With the Treasures of the Lord's House

Dedication: Things Dedicated to God: Special Chambers Prepared For

Related Terms

Dedication-offering (3 Occurrences)

Dedication-gift (3 Occurrences)

Dedication-song (1 Occurrence)

Eriaku

Eri-aku

Ezra (28 Occurrences)

Shemaiah (40 Occurrences)

Fasts (3 Occurrences)

Feasts (45 Occurrences)

Justices (2 Occurrences)

Lyres (21 Occurrences)

Lutes (16 Occurrences)

Firstling (8 Occurrences)

Thanksgivings (6 Occurrences)

Treasurers (5 Occurrences)

Deputies (14 Occurrences)

Dedicate (17 Occurrences)

Magistrates (18 Occurrences)

Psalteries (16 Occurrences)

Provincial (7 Occurrences)

Prefects (18 Occurrences)

Burnt (392 Occurrences)

Celebrated (24 Occurrences)

Counsellors (21 Occurrences)

Counselors (21 Occurrences)

Accompaniment (1 Occurrence)

Firstborn (119 Occurrences)

Stringed (34 Occurrences)

Sheriffs (2 Occurrences)

Sherifs (2 Occurrences)

Satraps (12 Occurrences)

Solomon's (56 Occurrences)

Advisers (22 Occurrences)

Cymbals (15 Occurrences)

Hymns (6 Occurrences)

Princes (324 Occurrences)

Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)

Anointed (132 Occurrences)

Gladness (83 Occurrences)

Psalms (44 Occurrences)

Judah (802 Occurrences)

Leaders (167 Occurrences)

Nazirite (10 Occurrences)

Thanksgiving (49 Occurrences)

Crown (94 Occurrences)

Nebuchadnez'zar (55 Occurrences)

Zechariah (55 Occurrences)

Bullocks (50 Occurrences)

Singing (65 Occurrences)

Festival (62 Occurrences)

Governors (43 Occurrences)

He-goats (38 Occurrences)

Feast (209 Occurrences)

Bulls (68 Occurrences)

Celebrate (66 Occurrences)

Worship (332 Occurrences)

Provinces (40 Occurrences)

Psalm (213 Occurrences)

Honourable (72 Occurrences)

Rams (81 Occurrences)

Temple (614 Occurrences)

Fire (602 Occurrences)

Oblation (208 Occurrences)

Hallel

200 (6 Occurrences)

100 (8 Occurrences)

60 (1 Occurrence)

400 (1 Occurrence)

Nethaneel (14 Occurrences)

Nethanel (14 Occurrences)

Uzzi (11 Occurrences)

Jehohanan (9 Occurrences)

Ladles (3 Occurrences)

Gilalai (1 Occurrence)

Gloat (11 Occurrences)

Wake (34 Occurrences)

Winter (22 Occurrences)

Dedication of Samuel
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