Topical Encyclopedia Hannah is a prominent figure in the Old Testament, known for her devout faith and role as the mother of Samuel, one of Israel's greatest prophets. Her account is primarily found in the first two chapters of the First Book of Samuel.Background and Family Life Hannah was one of the two wives of Elkanah, a man from the hill country of Ephraim. Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, had children, but Hannah was barren. This situation caused Hannah great distress, as Peninnah would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, highlighting her inability to bear children (1 Samuel 1:6). Despite her barrenness, Elkanah loved Hannah deeply and sought to comfort her, saying, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?" (1 Samuel 1:8). Hannah's Prayer and Vow Hannah's deep desire for a child led her to fervent prayer. During one of the family's annual visits to the tabernacle at Shiloh, Hannah prayed to the LORD with great anguish, weeping bitterly. She made a solemn vow, 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 her willingness to dedicate her son as a Nazirite, a person set apart for God's service. Eli, the priest, initially misunderstood Hannah's silent prayer, thinking she was drunk. However, upon realizing her sincerity, he blessed her, saying, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him" (1 Samuel 1:17). The Birth of Samuel God answered Hannah's prayer, and she conceived and bore a son, naming him Samuel, which means "heard of God," reflecting her gratitude for God's response to her plea (1 Samuel 1:20). True to her vow, once Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh and presented him to Eli, 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). Hannah's Song of Praise In response to God's faithfulness, Hannah offered a prayer of thanksgiving, often referred to as Hannah's Song. This prayer is a profound expression of her faith and recognition of God's sovereignty and justice. She declared, "My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in Your salvation" (1 Samuel 2:1). Her song reflects themes of divine reversal, where the humble are exalted, and the proud are brought low, foreshadowing the Magnificat of Mary in the New Testament. Legacy and Influence Hannah's faith and dedication had a lasting impact on Israel's history. Her son Samuel became a pivotal figure, serving as a prophet, priest, and judge. He anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David, thus shaping the nation's future. Hannah's account is a testament to the power of prayer, the importance of faithfulness, and the impact of a godly mother's influence. Her life exemplifies the virtues of patience, devotion, and trust in God's timing and purposes. Nave's Topical Index 1 Samuel 1:9-18,24-28So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat on a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. Nave's Topical Index Library The Child Samuel. Concerning the Birth of Samuel; and How He Foretold the Calamity ... "And we Will --" That Thy Resurrection Might be Believed among the Gainsayers, they ... Some General Matters and Some Biblical Characters. The Bible Book ... Ephesians vi. 3-Jan Praying Saints of the Old Testaments Prayer and God's Work Blessed be the Messenger that was Laden, and Came City of God Resources What does the Bible have to say about women missionaries? | GotQuestions.orgWhat can we learn from what the Bible says about Jesus and women? | GotQuestions.org Since women preachers can be just as good as men, doesn't that mean they are called to preach? | GotQuestions.org Women: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Women are Courteous to Strangers Women are Tender to Her offspring Women of the Body (Ekklesia) of Christ Women: A Persian Queen Sat on a Throne Beside Her King Women: Active in Instigating to Iniquity Women: As Prophets: Philip's Four Unmarried Daughters Women: Athaliah, in Destroying the Royal Household and Usurping the Throne Women: Bath-Sheba, in Her Adultery, in Becoming the Wife of Her Husband's Murderer Women: Consecrated Jewels to Tabernacle Women: Converted by Preaching of Paul Women: Could not Marry Without the Consent of Parents Women: Deborah, a Judge, Prophetess, and Military Leader Women: Delilah, in Her Conspiracy Against Samson Women: Difference in Ceremonies Made Between Male and Female Children Women: Dinah, in Her Fornication Women: Eve, in Yielding to Temptation and Seducing Her Husband Women: Fall of, and Curse Upon Women: First to Whom the Risen Lord Appeared Women: Fond of Self-Indulgence Women: Forbidden to Wear Men's Costume Women: Gomer, the Adulterous Wife of Hosea Women: had Separate Apartments in Dwellings Women: Haman's Wife, in Advising Him to Hang Mordecai Women: Hannah, the Mother of Samuel Women: Help in Defensive Operations Women: Herodias, in Her Incestuous Marriage With Herod Antipas Women: Herodius, by Indirectly Causing John the Baptist to be Decapitated Women: Jezebel, in Her Conspiracy Against Naboth, to Cheat Him out of his Vineyard Women: Jezebel, in Her Evil Counsels To, and Influence Over, Ahab Women: Jezebel, in Her Persecution and Destruction of the Prophets of the Lord Women: Jezebel, in Her Persecution of Elijah Women: Job's Wife, in Suggesting to Him That he Curse God and Die Women: Leah, in Her Imitation of Rachel in the Matter of Children Women: Lot's Wife, in Her Rebellion Against Her Situation, and Against the Destruction of Sodom Women: Michal, in Her Derision of David's Religious Zeal Women: Miriam, in Her Sedition With Aaron Against Moses Women: Not to be Given in Marriage Was Considered a Calamity Women: Patriotic: The Women of Israel Women: Patriotic: The Women of the Philistines Women: Peninnah, the Wife of Elkanah, in Her Jealous Taunting of Hannah Women: Potiphar's Wife, in Her Lascivious Lust and Slander Against Joseph Women: Property Rights of in Inheritance Women: Property Rights of To Sell Real Estate Women: Punishment for Seducing, when not Betrothed Women: Punishment to be Inflicted Upon Men for Seducing, when Betrothed Women: Purifications of After Childbirth Women: Purifications of After Menstruation Women: Rachel, in Her Jealousy of Leah Women: Rachel, in Stealing Images Women: Religious Privileges of, Among Early Christians Women: Required to Attend to the Reading of the Law of Moses Women: Rules for Dress of Christian Women: Sapphira, in Her Blasphemous Falsehood Women: Sarah, in Her Jealousy and Malice Toward Hagar Women: Silly, and Easily Led Into Error Women: Social Status of in Persia Women: Social Status of in Roman Customs Women: Sold for Husband's Debts Women: Solomon's Wives, in Their Idolatrous and Wicked Influence Over Solomon Women: Symbolical of Wickedness Women: Tended Flocks and Herds Women: The Cannibalistic Mothers of Samaria Women: The Daughters of Lot, in Their Incestuous Lust Women: The Midianite Woman in the Camp of Israel, Taken in Adultery Women: The Philippian Christians Women: The Shunammite Woman, Who Gave Hospitality to Elisha Women: The Sodomites of the Southern Kingdom (Judah) Women: The Widow Who Put Her Two Mite (Small Coins, Greek: Leptas) Into the Treasury Women: The Woman Caught in the Act of Adultery and Brought to Jesus in the Temple Women: Took Part in Ancient Worship Women: Treated With Cruelty in War Women: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Women: Virtuous, Held in High Estimation Women: Wicked: Commits Forgery Women: Wicked: Full of Deceit and Licentiousness Women: Wicked: Silly and Wayward Women: Wicked: Zeal of, in Licentious Practices of Idolatry Women: Widow of Zarephath, Who Fed Elijah During the Famine Women: Worshiped in Separate Compartments Women: Zealous in Promoting Superstition and Idolatry Women: Zipporah, in Her Persecution of Moses on Account of his Religious Obligations Related Terms Women-servants (21 Occurrences) |
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