To be infertile was the ultimate tragedy for a married woman since only by bearing a son to her husband could she provide a means of carrying on his name and transferring his estate upon death. “But Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?’ And Abram said, ‘You have given me no child, and a servant in my house will get the heritage.’ Then said the Lord, This man will not get the heritage, but a son of your body will have your property after you.’” (Genesis 15:2-4). “And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac” (Gen. 25:5).

So it was that a man named Elkanah had two wives: the first, Hannah, and the second one, Peninnah. Now Peninnah had both sons and daughters by Elkanah but Hannah could not have children. And while this was bad enough, her rival would provoke her to irritate her. This happened especially at the Feast of Tabernacles time when Elkanah would go to make sacrifices and eat before the ETERNAL.

At that time Elkanah would give portions to his wives and their children. While he gave an double individual portion to Hannah, Peninnah received a far greater amount for herself and her children!! She evidently flaunted this before Hannah who endured this year after year to the place where she could hardly bear it.

At this particular Feast Hannah broke down - refused to eat or drink. Elkanah tried to comfort her with the words, “Why won’t you eat? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (See 1 Samuel 1).

In her sorrows she turned to God and went to the temple (tent) in Shiloh to pray. Her prayer was with tears and wholehearted. She prayed in her mind while her lips moved. In her prayer she referred to herself three times as God’s maidservant promising if God would give her a child she would dedicate him to the ETERNAL all his life through the Nazarite vow.

Eli, the high priest, happened to be sitting where he could watch her and decided she was drunk (people did drink wine or strong drink during the Feast and some over did it from time to time).

He rebuked her. But she spoke up directly and explained that she that she was not drunk but “poured out her soul” in prayer. This was an expression used to mean very fervent prayer. It is used in Psalms 42:4 and 62:8.

It is understandable that Eli would think she was drunk as most prayers in those days were audible. See Daniel 6 and Psalm 3:4.

When Eli realized that she was a totally sober and sincere woman, he said to her that he prayed that God would grant the request she made of Him.

God did remember Hannah and in due time she bore a son and named him Samuel which meant “His name is El”. This was a play on words from another Hebrew word that meant “asked of El” or “asked of God.”

Hannah refused to go to the Feast again until her son was weaned. At that time she promised she would deliver him for service in the house of God or the Tabernacle. Women of Israel used to nurse their children on average until they were about 3 years old.

When he was weaned she came to the Tabernacle and to Eli and gave her son to the service of God. She stayed away and only came to see him at the annual feasts. But each year she made him a robe to wear and delivered it to him at the annual Feast. See 1 Sam. 2:18-19.

As a result of her blessings Hannah sang a song of praise to the ETERNAL. This song has similarities to Psalm 113:7-8. It also has similarities to 2 Samuel 22. Both songs begin by using “horn” for “strength and by referring to God as the Rock and by reflecting on divine deliverance (1 Sam. 2:1-2 and 2 Sam 22:2-3. Both end by paralleling “his king” with “his anointed” - 1 Sam 2:10 and 2 Sam 22:51.

Another woman was blessed with a child. She no doubt had access to the song of Hannah and there are parallel themes. Mary the mother of Jesus no doubt had access to the manuscripts containing Hannah’s jubilant song. Compare: 1 Sam 2: 4, 7-8 with Luke 1:52 and 1 Sam 2:5 with Luke 1:53.

The name Hannah is unique in the O.T. to 1 Samuel 1-2. There are no other Hannah’s in the OT. But in the N.T. we read of a prophetess whose name was Hannah but transliterated as “Anna”. It is found in Luke 2:36-37. Hannah in the NT was a prophetess and Jewish tradition says the OT Hannah was also.

Interestingly enough the name Hannah means “Grace.” Today in modern America, I am told that Hannah is one of the most popular names for girl babies. And we all know many women named “Grace.”