1.
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 of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
mount = hill country of.
Elkanah = Acquired by God, i.e. perhaps in exchange
for firstborn (Numbers 3:13 , Numbers 3:45 ), a son of Korah. See Exodus 6:24 .
2.
And 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.
Hannah = Grace.
Peninnah = Pearl. Note the Figure of speech Antimetabole. App-6 .
children = offspring. Hebrew. yalad.
3.
And 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.
yearly . Hebrew "from days to days". Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , to emphasise the regularity.
the LORD of hosts = Jehovah Sabaioth, one of the Jehovah-titles. The first of 281 occurrences. Denotes the God of Israel as the Lord of all the hosts of heaven and earth. See App-4 . This title specially characterises this book.
Shiloh. Where the Tabernacle and Ark were. Joshua 18:1 ; Joshua 19:51 ; Joshua 22:9 . Judges 18:31 .
the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .
4.
And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
time = day . Punctuality thus emphasised.
5.
But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
worthy = double.
6.
And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
7.
And 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.
8.
Then 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?
why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Compare John 20:13 , John 20:15 . . . . than ten sons. Probably a Parcemia ( App-6 ). It is so to-day among the Arabs: such a woman being called moonejeba = ennobled.
9.
So 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.
a seat = the seat. First occurrence. Compare Zechariah 6:13 .
a post = door post, or side post.
the temple = palace. Hebrew. heykal. Seven mentioned in Scripture: (1) The Tabernacle, 1 Samuel 1:9 ; (2) Solomon's, 1 Kings 6:5 , 1 Kings 6:17 ; (3) Zerubbabel's, Ezra 4:1 , Ezra 4:2 ; (4) Herod's, John 2:20 ; (5) The future one of 2 Thessalonians 2:4 ; (6) The millennial temple of Ezekiel 41:1 ; and (7) the heavenly temple of Revelation 21:3 , Revelation 21:22 . Also seven references to believers as a temple in N.T.: 1 Corinthians 3:9-17 ; 1 Corinthians 6:19 . 2 Corinthians 6:16 . Ephesians 2:20 , Ephesians 2:21 . Heb 3:6 . 1 Peter 2:5 ; 1 Peter 4:17 .
10.
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
soul . Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
11.
And 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 rasor come upon his head.
vowed a vow = made a solemn vow. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . See note on Genesis 26:28 .
remember me , and not forget. Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ) for great emphasis.
no razor . See Numbers 6:5 .Judges 13:5 ; Judges 16:17 .
12.
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13.
Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14.
And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
How long . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
15.
And 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.
spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
16.
Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17.
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
God . Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .
18.
And 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.
19.
And 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.
Ramah . Hence this was Samuel's residence. remembered. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
20.
Wherefore 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.
bare a son . Thus Samuel was a descendant of Korah. See Exodus 6:24 .
Samuel . See note on Title, in the book comments for Samuel.
21.
And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .
offer = sacrifice. App-43 .
22.
But 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.
child = young child.
for ever . Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Whole), App-6 . The whole put for a portion; i.e. as long as he lives. Put literally in 1 Samuel 1:28 .
23.
And 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.
24.
And 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.
weaned . From 2 Macc. 7.27 it has been inferred that the time of weaning included the periods of nourishment and up-bringing, which would bring Samuel to the age of at least twelve years. Compare Isaac's weaning at the age of five years, and see Genesis 21:8 . three bullocks. Septuagint and Syriac read "a bullock of three years". Compare 1 Samuel 1:25 , and Genesis 15:9 .
ephah . See App-51 .
a bottle = a skin bottle. and the child was young. Hebrew vehannar na ' ar. Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ) = "now the boy was a child". Note also the Figure of speech Parenthesis. App-6 .
25.
And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
a = the.
26.
And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
thy soul = thyself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
27.
For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28.
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.
the LORD = Jehovah. Punctuate thus, "to Jehovah as long as he liveth. He shall be", &c. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ) in verses: 1 Samuel 1:27-28 . "Jehovah hath given me my petition (sh e 'elathi) which I asked of Him (sha'alti): therefore also I have lent him (hishiltihu) to Jehovah. "