The big picture
Hannah, a woman who has no children, lives with a painful family rivalry. Her husband Elkanah loves her, but his other wife, Peninnah, has children and taunts her. Each year the family visits Shiloh, the town where they worship God and bring offerings. Eli, the priest who serves there, will hear Hannah's request. The book begins with her grief and a promise about a child she does not yet have.
In this chapter
- A Loved Wife Still Grieves 1 Samuel 1:1-8
Elkanah takes his family to worship God each year.
- Hannah Explains Her Silent Prayer 1 Samuel 1:9-18
Hannah goes to pray while Eli sits near the entrance to God's house.
- A Son Arrives and Grows 1 Samuel 1:19-23
The family returns home after worship.
- Hannah Brings Samuel to Eli 1 Samuel 1:24-28
Once Samuel is weaned, Hannah takes him to Shiloh with animals, flour, and wine for offerings.
Central truth
Hannah asks God for a son and keeps her promise to give that son to God's service.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Samuel · King James Version · 281 Samuel 1:1-8
A Loved Wife Still Grieves
Elkanah takes his family to worship God each year. Their offerings include food shared among family members. He gives Hannah a special portion because he loves her. Yet she has no children, and Peninnah repeatedly uses that sorrow to hurt her. The account says God has kept Hannah from bearing children. It does not explain why. Hannah cries and cannot eat. Her husband asks why his love is not enough to make her happy. His care is real, but it does not remove her loss.
In everyday life
A childless wife sets down her fork at a family birthday meal. Her sister keeps making remarks about the empty chair beside her. Her husband squeezes her hand and points to the life they share. She loves him, yet still cannot eat. Hannah's grief also includes a rival wife within her own household.
Notice
1 Samuel 1:8 Elkanah compares his love with having ten sons. He means to comfort Hannah, but his question shows that he does not fully grasp her grief.
1 Samuel 1:1-8
King James Version1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
4And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
6And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
7And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
1 Samuel 1:9-18
Hannah Explains Her Silent Prayer
Hannah goes to pray while Eli sits near the entrance to God's house. She asks God for a son and promises that he will serve God all his life. She also promises never to cut his hair, a visible part of that dedication. Her lips move, but she makes no sound. Eli mistakes her silent grief for drunkenness and rebukes her. She explains that she is deeply troubled, not drunk. Eli then asks God to grant her request. She leaves able to eat, with her sadness changed.
In everyday life
An exhausted mother sits beside a hospital bed, moving her lips without making a sound. A passing nurse assumes she is confused and starts to correct her. The mother explains that she is praying. The nurse listens and speaks gently before leaving. Eli also gives Hannah a blessing about her unanswered request.
Notice
1 Samuel 1:13 Eli sees Hannah's mouth but cannot hear her words. His first judgment rests on appearance, so her explanation changes how he responds to her.
1 Samuel 1:9-18
King James Version9So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
1 Samuel 1:19-23
A Son Arrives and Grows
The family returns home after worship. Elkanah and Hannah have sexual relations, and God answers her request for a child. She gives birth to a son and names him Samuel, connecting his name with asking God for him. When the family next goes to offer sacrifices, Hannah stays home. She plans to take Samuel once he no longer needs breast milk. Elkanah agrees to the delay. Keeping her promise includes caring for the baby until he is ready to live at God's house.
In everyday life
One foster carer folds tiny clothes into a drawer while the baby sleeps. A long agreed placement lies ahead, but the child still needs daily feeding and care. She checks the date, then returns to the cot. Preparing for a later handover does not cancel today's bond. Samuel's future service follows Hannah's promise to God.
Notice
1 Samuel 1:22 Hannah's decision to stay home has a stated end point. She delays the trip until Samuel is weaned, rather than backing away from her promise.
1 Samuel 1:19-23
King James Version19And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
21And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
23And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
1 Samuel 1:24-28
Hannah Brings Samuel to Eli
Once Samuel is weaned, Hannah takes him to Shiloh with animals, flour, and wine for offerings. The family sacrifices a bull and brings the young child to Eli. Hannah reminds the priest that she stood there praying for this son. She says God granted her request. Now she gives Samuel to God's service for his whole life. Her words about lending him do not describe a short visit. The child she longed for will remain where she once prayed in tears.
In everyday life
The scholarship donor signs the transfer that sends her late father's savings to a nursing school. She has spoken about this gift for years. Now the money leaves her account, and the promise has a lasting cost. She keeps the signed receipt beside his photograph. Hannah gives a beloved child's lifelong service, not money.
Notice
1 Samuel 1:28 Hannah says the gift lasts as long as Samuel lives. The language of lending therefore means a lifelong commitment, not a temporary loan.
1 Samuel 1:24-28
King James Version24And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Samuel 1:1 begins with “Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son…”
Where the chapter turns
1 Samuel 1:14 forms a natural hinge: “And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.”
The final note
1 Samuel 1:28 leaves the reader with “Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Hannah, Elkanah, child, handmaid, house help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- vowed a vow
- Made a solemn promise, here a promise made to God.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
