Originally posted 9/10/24
Our story of Hannah begins in 1 Samuel. 1Sa 1:1-2, “There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 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.” It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that there will be problems. Two wives would have been enough reason for conflict. When you add the stigma of not being able to have a child, the scene is ripe for conflict.
Www.gotquestions.org states, “The Ephrathites were people from Ephrath (or Ephrathah), which the Bible tells us was associated with Bethlehem south of Jerusalem. The word Ephrath in Hebrew means “fruitful,” and Bethlehem means “house of bread.” Most scholars believe that Ephrath and Bethlehem are actually two names for the same place—a view supported by Genesis 35:19 and Ruth 4:11. Most likely, Ephrath was the ancient name for the Canaanite city, and Bethlehem was the Jewish label.”
Www.gotquestions.org also states, “Whenever Ephrathites are mentioned in Scripture, they are associated with the city of Bethlehem in Judah. The most famous mention of the area of Ephrathah is the prophecy of Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” The Messiah would be born among the Ephrathites in Bethlehem. Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, fulfills this prophecy (see Luke 2:4–7)”.
1Sa 1:4-7, “On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. 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.”
We don’t know if he gave Hannah an extra portion just because he loved or or because he knew how troubled she was to be chilldless. Even today when a woman is unable to conceive or carry a child, there is great sadness and pressure. It can create conflict within a marriage. With two wives, you can easily visualize the ways in which these women would needle each other. Hannah was loved by her husband and received a double portion. Peninnah had the children, but she would have known that Elkanah loved Hannah. They each had what the other wanted. Pininnah held an honor that Hannah didn’t have. In that time period, it would have been considered the fault of the woman no matter what. Hannah’s name means “grace’. I am sure she did not feel like she was experiencing God’s grace.
My heart goes out to women who have difficulty either getting pregnant or carrying babies. My husband and I did not have much trouble in that area. The first month that we tried, we were unsuccessful. I was heartbroken. The doubts filled my head. I just knew I was going to struggle the way my mother did. The disappointment only happened once. We were blessed with two uneventful pregnancies. In so many ways, I cannot identify with Hannah.
We have already looked at Sarah and Rebecca who also longed to have a child. Things were not any different for Hannah. Hannah is unique because she did not attempt to help God. We don’t know the circumstances of how Elkanah married Pininnah. We can assume it was because Hannah was unable to conceive. Nothing in Scripture leads us to believe that Hannah orchestrated the other marriage.
Hannah did the only thing she knew to do. She took her request to her God. 1Sa 1:4-7 and 10-20 says, “On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. 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. … 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.” As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “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.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. 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.””
She went to God in her desperation. The priest saw her and thought she was drunk. She was crying out to her Lord. Is there something that you need to go to the Father and share a desperate prayer? God hears our cries.
Hannah’s prayer appears in 1 Samuel chapter 2. 1Sa 2:1-11 states, “And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world. “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.”
According to 31 Women of the Bible, “Hannah worshiped God with a beautiful prayer (see 1 Sam 2:1–10). God wasn’t done “gracing” the woman whose name means “grace.” He later gave her five other children: three sons and two daughters (see 1 Sam 2:21). But it was her firstborn, Samuel, who became a great prophet, a beloved and respected spiritual leader, and an influential adviser to Israel’s kings.” p. 60
Hannah named her son, Samuel, which means “heard by God”. She dedicated Samuel to the Lord for his service. He would have been considered a Nazarite. According to www.gotquestions.org, “The Nazirite/Nazarite vow is taken by individuals who have voluntarily dedicated themselves to God. The vow is a decision, action, and desire on the part of people whose desire is to yield themselves to God completely. By definition, the Hebrew word nazir, simply means “to be separated or consecrated.” We can also look to Num 6:2-8 to learn more about Nazarites, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. “All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long. “All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body. Not even for his father or for his mother, for brother or sister, if they die, shall he make himself unclean, because his separation to God is on his head. 8 All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD.”
Hannah was barren for God’s purposes, not because of any sin. After Samuel is born the Lord blesses them with more children. 1Sa 2:21 states, “Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.”
We can learn a number of lessons from Hannah. The first thing we can learn is that she took her anguish to God in prayer. She made a vow to him that she kept. Samuel became a great prophet. She didn’t always feel that way. She did like so many of us do–go to God when all else fails. She spent much time being jealous of Pennineh’s ability to have children. Hannah remained faithful to God. She was known as a woman of faith after Eli told her that God would bless her. She was a devoted mother to Samuel. She was a woman of her word.
Do you take your deepest desires to the Lord? Do you trust Him to fulfill His will in your life? Anyone who has become an empty nester knows how difficult it can be. Hannah recognized that children are a gift from God. It is difficult to submit them to the Lord, but it is the best thing for them. We don’t raise our children to live in the basement for their entire lives. Trust God with them.
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