Hannah’s Prayer

Introduction

Samuel is one the two books that have his name, the firsts chapters describes event as his birth, his childhood, his calling and develops his important place in history as a prophet to introduce people like Saul and David that will mark the history of Israel in such a great way. We are focusing on the first chapter of 1 Samuel, which shows us the background of Samuel’s birth through his father Elkanah and his mother Hannah.

Scholars agree that is not revealed with precision the author of 1 and 2 Samuel, but according to the Scriptures is believed that the prophets Samuel, Nathan and Gad were authors of these wonderful events in the history of the Bible. Samuel became a man of God used for his glory, but before this happened, he was consecrated by his mother Hannah, a woman of God and faith. This first chapter will help us to learn from each character in this passage and to apply principles and to give steps of faith in our own lives.

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Context Of The Bible Study

Literary Context

The first chapter of 1 Samuel opens the introduction of a family, of a woman who is added to the list of many other women in the Bible that could not have children. The main character in this chapter is Hannah, a woman deeply broken for not having children.

• The first chapter of 1 Samuel follows Judges. “The last chapters of the book of Judges, with their refrain, there was no king in Israel, (Jdg. 21:25) prepares the way for new developments in Israel’s leadership”.
• The time at Israel was crucial in history because it was transitioning from the rule of the judges, for they did whatever the want to do. Israel felt the need of who would unite tribes, have an effective standing army, and be a match for those who led their enemies to victory”
• Israel was struggling with the different opinions of the people they were asking and desiring for a king to reign over them, and here comes in the story the leadership of Samuel who years after with God’s authority was going to set a man as the King.
• Samuel’s birth opened the new era of monarchy.

Historical Context

• It is though that the story takes place in the “era of the Judges”, but introducing new characters that will be develop in the two books of Samuel. Based on David Toshio, he mentions: “It was not until ca. 1200 B. C. that iron technology influences every phase of life. With this as the historical background, the First Book of Samuel begins. ”
• Toshio agrees with Baldwin that the first book of Samuel is placed in the “period of the judges”, probably in the mid-eleventh century.

Characters

• Elkanah: Man from Ramathaim, who had two wives. A man that yearly offered sacrifice to worship the Lord. (v. 3)
• Hannah: Wife of Elkanah who loved her and which had no children. (v. 5)
• Peninnah: one of Elkanah’s wife. A jellous woman who provoked Hannah to irritate her. v. 6)
• Eli: Priest that talked to Hannah, who thought she was drunk, but who believes that God answer prayers. (v. 18)
• Hophi and Phineas: Two sons of Eli that were priests in Shilo. (v. 3)
• Samuel: Meaning: “Because I asked the Lord for Him”. (v. 20) The son of Hannah and Elkanah, a gift from God dedicated to him, a man who years later established kingship in Israel. Places
• Ramathaim-Zophim (Ramah): means “high”
• Shiloh: city that was twelve milles far away from Ramah, place where Elkanah’s family offered sacrifices to God every year.

Exegetical Notes

• v. A man from Ramathaim; Elkanah the ephramite. “The phrase ‘the Ephrathities’: can refer either to ‘those hailing from Ephrath’ or ‘Ephraimites,’ members of the northern tribe of Ephraim” (Jdg 12:5). Toshio relates Elkanah as an ephramite but that he might have been of bethelehemite stock rather than being ephramite even he lived in the hill country of Ephraim.
• v. 2, 5 Elkanah had two wives. In Israel was acceptable under certain circumstances, when his first wife failed to have children. This was the case of Elkanah, he married Hannah for love, and this love persisted even she did not have children.
• v. -4 There was a yearly action that Elkanah and his family did. “Elkanah’s inclination and ability to take his family on an annual pilgrimage to Shiloh suggest that he was pious and also a man of some substance”. Elkanah seemed to be fair with his family.
• v. 6-8 Peninnah was her tormentor, she was jealous and provoked Hannah in despite Elkanah love her. For women in the ancient Israel the honor and reputation was measured by the amount of children they had. It was hard for Hannah to deal with her situation plus the rivalry of Peninnah, she probably felt ashamed of before Peninnah’s attitude, she felt unuseful as Elkanah’s ife, and she wept for her sorrow and for the desire of any woman in the world.
• v. 9-11 “I will give him to the Lord” suggests that Hannah that God has all the power to open the womb. “Hannah took the opportunity to pray” she had no hesitation, she did not realize Eli was there, her desperation, her cried, her sorrow moved her to pray and express to God what she was going through. She dedicated her son, the thing she was asking a son, and she made a vow to God. “Vow accounts are always prayers and they follow a typical order. By making the vow the worshipper enters into a binding relationship with God” “The sentence I will give him to the Lord has a performative force; it shows not only that Hannah promises it but also that she has already given him by faith”
• v. 12-18 It begins a dialogue with Eli, her agony captures the attention of Eli that he thought she was drunk. Can you imagine that picture? Have you prayed in that way? “The expression pouring out my soul denotes not simply an inward state of one’s heart or mind but an involvement of the whole being” Hannah responds to Eli in a positive way, after we see in v. she did not want to eat because of her pain and sadness she left and she ate v. 18 She was deeply encouraged because of the words Eli told her which she took them as God’s promise.
• v. 19 The next morning they arose and worshipped before the Lord. “Though the family made an early start, they worshipped before the setting off for home. The Lord remembered Hannah, as he had remembered Noah (Gen 8:1), and his suggest covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ex. 2:24), not to suggest that his memory was faulty but to indicate that He was about to work out his unfolding purpose”
• v. 0 Hannah named her son: SAMUEL “Because I asked the Lord for him”. These were the words Hannah said when she named her son. However scholars agree that this meaning will go better with the name of Saul, and that the meaning of Samuel comes from “the Name of God”
• v. 21-25 “Samuel was probably about three years old before he was taken to the house of the Lord at Shiloh” Elkanah and Hannah returned Samuel to God, and the boy ministered to the Lord before Eli (1 Sam 2:11)
• v. 26-28 Here the dedication of Hannah is completed and irrevocable. Hannah worshipped God and recognized the gift He gave her, recognized His power to answer her prayer and dedicated his son to the Lord.

Theology Principles

• “The consistent worship offered by Elkanah and his family year by year set a positive example of faithful and godly living”
• Hannah’s pain took her to pray and seek God’s answer of love.
• God turns our sorrows to joy and peace.
• A vow to God, talked about Hannah’s faith and trust in the Lord.
• Fulfilling a vow reflects Obedience.
• Hannah’s prayer could be a selfish prayer, but when things come from God, He answers to take all the Glory and Honor.

Application Of The Bible Study

It is amazing how the study of the Scriptures takes you to know things that maybe sometimes we do not think about them. Hannah’s is the main character in this passage, her faith in the Lord, her honest prayer the way she pours out her broken heart before God, and how God works for us to give him the glory. I will mention some applications I found through this Bible Study:

• As humans we will have to deal with people that will provoke, and through Hannah’s attitude we need to be controlled and not respond them in the same way and be humbled because God exalts the humble and listen to him. Psalms 10:17)
• The Lord closed Hannah’s womb (1 Sam 1:5); there are things that God has set already in our lives in which He has the control over them, but Hannah fought against her situation, self-esteem, and the mockery and thoughts the people had about her, we will face hard sad and desperate moments in life, but we need to be ready to fight and to know the value we have in God, no matter our situation.
• Cry out to our God in perseverance. (v. 11) God will respond. (Jer 33:3)
• Give a step in faith and make a vow to God. He will receive you. (Heb 11:6)
• Worship, worship, worship! In bad in good, in trouble in peace. Worship Him, Hannah worshipped him in her agony but also worshipped God when He provides and satisfied the desires of her heart.
• Value the people is on your side, Elkanah was a good man that loved Hannah in every situation, open your eyes and love the people that has been with you in the happy and hard moments of your life.
• Hannah was a great model of person, recognize always the sovereing and the power that only God has.

Bibliography

1. Baldwin, Joyce G. , 1 and 2 Samuel An Introduction And Commentary (England: Inter Varsity Press, 1988)
2. Toshio Tsumura, David The First Book of SAMUEL (Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 2007)
3. Buttrick, George Arthur et al. , The Interpreter’s Bible The Holy Scriptures (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1953)
4. Cartledge, Tony W. Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary 1 & 2 Samuel (Georgia: Smyth & Helwys, 2001)
5. Allen, Clifton J. The Broadman Bible Commentary Volume 3 1 Samuel-Nehemiah (Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1970)
6. Joyce G. Baldwin, 1 and 2 Samuel An Introduction And Commentary (England: Inter Varsity Press, 1988), 49
7. David Toshio Tsumura The First Book of SAMUEL (Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 2007), 34
8. Ibid. , 103
9. George Arthur Buttrick et al. , The Interpreter’s Bible The Holy Scriptures (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1953), 876
10. Toshio Tsumura, 107
11. Tony W. Cartledge Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary 1 & 2 Samuel (Georgia: Smyth & Helwys, 2001), 27
12. . Clifton J. Allen The Broadman Bible Commentary Volume 3 1 Samuel-Nehemiah (Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1970), 13

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