1 Now there was a certain H259 man H376 of Ramathaimzophim, H7436 of mount H2022 Ephraim, H669 and his name H8034 was Elkanah, H511 the son H1121 of Jeroham, H3395 the son H1121 of Elihu, H453 the son H1121 of Tohu, H8459 the son H1121 of Zuph, H6689 an Ephrathite: H673
2 And he had two H8147 wives; H802 the name H8034 of the one H259 was Hannah, H2584 and the name H8034 of the other H8145 Peninnah: H6444 and Peninnah H6444 had children, H3206 but Hannah H2584 had no children. H3206
3 And this H1931 man H376 went up H5927 out of his city H5892 yearly H3117 H3117 to worship H7812 and to sacrifice H2076 unto the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 in Shiloh. H7887 And the two H8147 sons H1121 of Eli, H5941 Hophni H2652 and Phinehas, H6372 the priests H3548 of the LORD, H3068 were there.
4 And when the time H3117 was that Elkanah H511 offered, H2076 he gave H5414 to Peninnah H6444 his wife, H802 and to all her sons H1121 and her daughters, H1323 portions: H4490
5 But unto Hannah H2584 he gave H5414 a H259 worthy H639 portion; H4490 for he loved H157 Hannah: H2584 but the LORD H3068 had shut up H5462 her womb. H7358
6 And her adversary H6869 also provoked H3707 her sore, H3708 for to make her fret, H7481 because the LORD H3068 had shut H5462 up H1157 her womb. H7358
7 And as he did H6213 so year H8141 by year, H8141 when H1767 she went up H5927 to the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 so she provoked H3707 her; therefore she wept, H1058 and did not eat. H398
8 Then said H559 Elkanah H511 her husband H376 to her, Hannah, H2584 why weepest H1058 thou? and why eatest H398 thou not? and why is thy heart H3824 grieved? H3415 am not I better H2896 to thee than ten H6235 sons? H1121
9 So Hannah H2584 rose up H6965 after H310 they had eaten H398 in Shiloh, H7887 and after H310 they had drunk. H8354 Now Eli H5941 the priest H3548 sat H3427 upon a seat H3678 by a post H4201 of the temple H1964 of the LORD. H3068
10 And she was in bitterness H4751 of soul, H5315 and prayed H6419 unto the LORD, H3068 and wept H1058 sore. H1058
11 And she vowed H5087 a vow, H5088 and said, H559 O LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 if thou wilt indeed H7200 look H7200 on the affliction H6040 of thine handmaid, H519 and remember H2142 me, and not forget H7911 thine handmaid, H519 but wilt give H5414 unto thine handmaid H519 a man H582 child, H2233 then I will give H5414 him unto the LORD H3068 all the days H3117 of his life, H2416 and there shall no razor H4177 come H5927 upon his head. H7218
12 And it came to pass, as she continued H7235 praying H6419 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 that Eli H5941 marked H8104 her mouth. H6310
13 Now Hannah, H2584 she spake H1696 in her heart; H3820 only her lips H8193 moved, H5128 but her voice H6963 was not heard: H8085 therefore Eli H5941 thought H2803 she had been drunken. H7910
14 And Eli H5941 said H559 unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? H7937 put away H5493 thy wine H3196 from thee.
15 And Hannah H2584 answered H6030 and said, H559 No, my lord, H113 I am a woman H802 of a sorrowful H7186 spirit: H7307 I have drunk H8354 neither wine H3196 nor strong drink, H7941 but have poured out H8210 my soul H5315 before H6440 the LORD. H3068
16 Count H5414 not thine handmaid H519 for H6440 a daughter H1323 of Belial: H1100 for out of the abundance H7230 of my complaint H7879 and grief H3708 have I spoken H1696 hitherto.
17 Then Eli H5941 answered H6030 and said, H559 Go H3212 in peace: H7965 and the God H430 of Israel H3478 grant H5414 thee thy petition H7596 that thou hast asked H7592 of him.
18 And she said, H559 Let thine handmaid H8198 find H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight. H5869 So the woman H802 went H3212 her way, H1870 and did eat, H398 and her countenance H6440 was no more sad.
19 And they rose up H7925 in the morning H1242 early, H7925 and worshipped H7812 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and returned, H7725 and came H935 to their house H1004 to Ramah: H7414 and Elkanah H511 knew H3045 Hannah H2584 his wife; H802 and the LORD H3068 remembered H2142 her.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time H3117 was come H8622 about after Hannah H2584 had conceived, H2029 that she bare H3205 a son, H1121 and called H7121 his name H8034 Samuel, H8050 saying, Because I have asked H7592 him of the LORD. H3068
21 And the man H376 Elkanah, H511 and all his house, H1004 went up H5927 to offer H2076 unto the LORD H3068 the yearly H3117 sacrifice, H2077 and his vow. H5088
22 But Hannah H2584 went not up; H5927 for she said H559 unto her husband, H376 I will not go up until the child H5288 be weaned, H1580 and then I will bring H935 him, that he may appear H7200 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and there abide H3427 for H5704 ever. H5769
23 And Elkanah H511 her husband H376 said H559 unto her, Do H6213 what seemeth H5869 thee good; H2896 tarry H3427 until thou have weaned H1580 him; only the LORD H3068 establish H6965 his word. H1697 So the woman H802 abode, H3427 and gave her son H1121 suck H3243 until she weaned H1580 him.
24 And when she had weaned H1580 him, she took him up H5927 with her, with three H7969 bullocks, H6499 and one H259 ephah H374 of flour, H7058 and a bottle H5035 of wine, H3196 and brought H935 him unto the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 in Shiloh: H7887 and the child H5288 was young. H5288
25 And they slew H7819 a bullock, H6499 and brought H935 the child H5288 to Eli. H5941
26 And she said, H559 Oh H994 my lord, H113 as thy soul H5315 liveth, H2416 my lord, H113 I am the woman H802 that stood H5324 by thee here, praying H6419 unto the LORD. H3068
27 For this child H5288 I prayed; H6419 and the LORD H3068 hath given H5414 me my petition H7596 which I asked H7592 of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent H7592 him to the LORD; H3068 as long as he liveth H3117 he shall be lent H7592 to the LORD. H3068 And he worshipped H7812 the LORD H3068 there.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Samuel 1
Commentary on 1 Samuel 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 1
1Sa 1:1-8. Of Elkanah and His Two Wives.
1, 2. a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim—The first word being in the dual number, signifies the double city—the old and new town of Ramah (1Sa 1:19). There were five cities of this name, all on high ground. This city had the addition of Zophim attached to it, because it was founded by Zuph, "an Ephrathite," that is a native of Ephratha. Beth-lehem, and the expression "of Ramathaim-zophim" must, therefore, be understood as Ramah in the land of Zuph in the hill country of Ephratha. Others, considering "mount Ephraim" as pointing to the locality in Joseph's territory, regard "Zophim" not as a proper but a common noun, signifying watchtowers, or watchmen, with reference either to the height of its situation, or its being the residence of prophets who were watchmen (Eze 3:17). Though a native of Ephratha or Beth-lehem-judah (Ru 1:2), Elkanah was a Levite (1Ch 6:33, 34). Though of this order, and a good man, he practised polygamy. This was contrary to the original law, but it seems to have been prevalent among the Hebrews in those days, when there was no king in Israel, and every man did what seemed right in his own eyes [Jud 21:25].
3. this man went up out of his city yearly to worship in Shiloh—In that place was the "earth's one sanctuary," and thither he repaired at the three solemn feasts, accompanied by his family at one of them—probably the passover. Although a Levite, he could not personally offer a sacrifice—that was exclusively the office of the priests; and his piety in maintaining a regular attendance on the divine ordinances is the more worthy of notice because the character of the two priests who administered them was notoriously bad. But doubtless he believed, and acted on the belief, that the ordinances were "effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in those who administered them, but from the grace of God being communicated through them."
4. when … Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah … portions—The offerer received back the greater part of the peace offerings, which he and his family or friends were accustomed to eat at a social feast before the Lord. (See on Le 3:3; De 12:12). It was out of these consecrated viands Elkanah gave portions to all the members of his family; but "unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion"; that is, a larger choice, according to the Eastern fashion of showing regard to beloved or distinguished guests. (See on 1Sa 9:24; also see on Ge 43:34).
6. her adversary also provoked her sore—The conduct of Peninnah was most unbecoming. But domestic broils in the houses of polygamists are of frequent occurrence, and the most fruitful cause of them has always been jealousy of the husband's superior affection, as in this case of Hannah.
1Sa 1:9-18. Hannah's Prayer.
11. she prayed … she vowed a vow—Here is a specimen of the intense desire that reigned in the bosoms of the Hebrew women for children. This was the burden of Hannah's prayer; and the strong preference she expressed for a male child originated in her purpose of dedicating him to the tabernacle service. The circumstance of his birth bound him to this; but his residence within the precincts of the sanctuary would have to commence at an earlier age than usual, in consequence of the Nazarite vow.
12-18. Eli marked her mouth—The suspicion of the aged priest seems to indicate that the vice of intemperance was neither uncommon nor confined to one sex in those times of disorder. This mistaken impression was immediately removed, and, in the words, "God grant," or rather, "will grant," was followed by an invocation which, as Hannah regarded it in the light of a prophecy pointing to the accomplishment of her earnest desire, dispelled her sadness, and filled her with confident hope [1Sa 1:18]. The character and services of the expected child were sufficiently important to make his birth a fit subject for prophecy.
1Sa 1:20. Samuel Born.
20. called his name Samuel—doubtless with her husband's consent. The names of children were given sometimes by the fathers, and sometimes by the mothers (see Ge 4:1, 26; 5:29; 19:37; 21:3); and among the early Hebrews, they were commonly compound names, one part including the name of God.
21. the man Elkanah … went up to offer … his vow—The solemn expression of his concurrence in Hannah's vow was necessary to make it obligatory. (See on Nu 30:3).
22. But Hannah went not up—Men only were obliged to attend the solemn feasts (Ex 23:17). But Hannah, like other pious women, was in the habit of going, only she deemed it more prudent and becoming to defer her next journey till her son's age would enable her to fulfill her vow.
24. three bullocks—The Septuagint renders it "a bullock of three years old"; which is probably the true rendering.