Hannah

The story of Hannah

Hannah was one of two wives of Elkanah and lived in the hill country of Ephraim. For many years she suffered the deep pain of barrenness and was frequently taunted by her rival, Peninnah, who had many children. During the family's annual visit to the Tabernacle at Shiloh, Hannah's distress was so great that she prayed with such intensity that Eli the priest thought she was drunk. She made a solemn vow that if God gave her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord for life.

God heard Hannah's petition, and she gave birth to a son whom she named Samuel. Once he was weaned, she faithfully kept her promise and brought the young boy to the Tabernacle to serve under Eli. This act of sacrifice was followed by her magnificent Song of Thanksgiving, which praised God's sovereignty and His power to reverse human fortunes, lifting up the lowly and bringing down the proud. Her prayer anticipated many themes later found in Mary's Magnificat.

Though she left her eldest son at the sanctuary, Hannah continued to visit Samuel every year, bringing him a little robe she had made. Her faithfulness was further rewarded as God blessed her with five more children—three sons and two daughters. Her son Samuel grew up to become one of Israel's greatest prophets and judges, the man who would eventually anoint the first two kings of the nation. Hannah's legacy is one of persistent prayer and the honoring of commitments made to God.