Infertility in Scripture IV: Hannah
Hannah
Hannah is introduced to us in 1 Samuel 1, where we learn that she is one of two wives of Elkanah. Like in the story of Rachel, the "other wife" (Peninnah) is fertile while Hannah is not. Elkanah obviously loves Hannah, as he is especially gracious to her b/c she has no children. Peninnah, on the other hand, is a constant source of grief:
Elkanah begs Hannah not to weep and to resume eating, saying, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?" (Isn't that sweet?)
While the whole clan is in Shiloh for worship and sacrifice, Hannah goes to the Temple to pray.
She is essentially saying to God, "Look, I want a child so much that if You will just give one to me, I will give him straight back to You!" She also made a vow that her child would be Nazarite.
Eli, the priest, sees Hannah praying, but he assumes she is drunk because her lips are moving while no words or sounds are coming. Hannah responds,
Eli comforts her by saying that God will grant her request, and she goes on her way and resumes normal life (including eating). Here's how God answers her prayer:
Samuel means "heard of God." (I really love how Biblical names have meaning and not just pretty sounds, kwim?)
Over the next couple of years (the text isn't clear about how long she nurses Samuel, but given the culture, it was probably a couple of years at least), Hannah does not accompany the rest of the clan to Shiloh for worship and sacrifice. She remains at home with her son, nursing him and treasuring her time with him. However, when he is weaned,
Hannah dioes not forget her promise to God, that she would return to Him her most treasured possession. God had given Samuel to her, and she gave him back to the hands that had formed him.
Hannah's prayer of thanksgiving is found in 1 Samuel 2. Here are portions:
Each year when the family goes up to Shiloh for sacrifices, Hannah brings along a new robe for him. I really love that picture of maternal providing. Even though she has returned him to his Maker, Hannah still holds Samuel in her heart and provides him with something tangible from her, the work of her own hands.
Hannah is introduced to us in 1 Samuel 1, where we learn that she is one of two wives of Elkanah. Like in the story of Rachel, the "other wife" (Peninnah) is fertile while Hannah is not. Elkanah obviously loves Hannah, as he is especially gracious to her b/c she has no children. Peninnah, on the other hand, is a constant source of grief:
And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.
Elkanah begs Hannah not to weep and to resume eating, saying, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?" (Isn't that sweet?)
While the whole clan is in Shiloh for worship and sacrifice, Hannah goes to the Temple to pray.
She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."
She is essentially saying to God, "Look, I want a child so much that if You will just give one to me, I will give him straight back to You!" She also made a vow that her child would be Nazarite.
Eli, the priest, sees Hannah praying, but he assumes she is drunk because her lips are moving while no words or sounds are coming. Hannah responds,
"No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation."
Eli comforts her by saying that God will grant her request, and she goes on her way and resumes normal life (including eating). Here's how God answers her prayer:
And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the LORD."
Samuel means "heard of God." (I really love how Biblical names have meaning and not just pretty sounds, kwim?)
Over the next couple of years (the text isn't clear about how long she nurses Samuel, but given the culture, it was probably a couple of years at least), Hannah does not accompany the rest of the clan to Shiloh for worship and sacrifice. She remains at home with her son, nursing him and treasuring her time with him. However, when he is weaned,
she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD."
Hannah dioes not forget her promise to God, that she would return to Him her most treasured possession. God had given Samuel to her, and she gave him back to the hands that had formed him.
Hannah's prayer of thanksgiving is found in 1 Samuel 2. Here are portions:
"My heart exults in the LORD;
my strength is exalted in the LORD.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
my strength is exalted in the LORD.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
There is none holy like the LORD;
there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
there is no rock like our God.
...
The LORD kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The LORD kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
Each year when the family goes up to Shiloh for sacrifices, Hannah brings along a new robe for him. I really love that picture of maternal providing. Even though she has returned him to his Maker, Hannah still holds Samuel in her heart and provides him with something tangible from her, the work of her own hands.
Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "May the LORD give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the LORD." So then they would return to their home.
Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the young man Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.
What do we learn from Hannah? First, God answers prayers. He may not always give us the answer we're looking for, but He does respond. Second, God takes our vows very seriously, and so should we. If we make a promise to God, we should keep it, even at great cost to ourselves. Third, don't underestimate God's generosity. :) Hannah was incredibly blessed...her first son was a valuable part of the worship in Shiloh (and became an amazing leader for Israel), and then God gave her five more children of her own. As the old saying goes, "You can't outgive God!"
