Character Studies
Hannah
The name Hannah means “gracious.” We have no details of Hannah’s parents or her life before she married
Elkanah. The only record we have of her is found in the first two chapters of 1 Samuel.
1 Samuel 1:1-10
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 ofTohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite;
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.
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.
4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her
daughters, portions:
5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.
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?
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.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
Even though the times were marked with indifference to the Lord and Eli’s sons were making a mockery of the
offerings to the Lord, one man tried to live faithfully, “And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship
and sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh . . .” (verse 3). Elkahah lived in Ramah in the tribe of Ephraim’s
land but he was a priest of the tribe of Levi (1 Chronicles 6:33-38). He followed the common custom of polygamy
in those days.
Since Hannah was mentioned first in the second verse, it is likely that she was his first wife and probably older
than Peninnah. There is one crucial distinction between these two women: Hannah had no children; Peninnah had
several children (. . . all her sons and daughters). It is hard for us in our culture to understand but a childless
woman in Old Testament times was considered a failure. Sons were a source of labor for the family and it was their
duty to care for their parents in their old age. A wife’s barrenness was a social embarrassment for her husband and
a man was permitted to divorce a barren wife.
When they went to Shiloh to worship, Elkanah would give portions to Peninnah and her children and would give
Hannah “a worthy portion” (a double portion) because he loved her.
Peninnah used Hannah’s barrenness to ridicule her. Added to that problem was the evident favoritism Elkanah
showed Hannah. Those things combined to make Peninnah an “adversary.” This adversary (in her own house)
often provoked her (literally “thundered against her”) to bring hurt feelings. Peninnah continually goaded Hannah,
and brought her much grief.
(vs. 8) “why is thy heart grieved?”
Grieved can refer to an angry, sullen or resentful look. Elkanah wanted to know why Hannah was acting in such
a fashion. He wondered if she was angry and resentful because she was barren. He loved her and she knew it but
he couldn’t comfort her. Her barrenness had colored her whole outlook on life. She entered a state of depression
because she wept often and would not eat. She was downhearted and, no doubt, in a state of constant misery.
“better to thee than ten sons”
The word “better” here carries the idea of something beneficial or good and often referred to economic or
material benefits. How could this refer to Hannah? If she became a widow, her only source of security was in
having sons to provide for her in her old age. Elkanah had already provided for Hannah better than ten sons could.
Through Elkanah’s questions, God was getting Hannah’s attention. Her resentful attitude revealed a wrong
focus: she was intent on looking at her barrenness and her rival; not at the Lord and the evident love of her
husband. Hannah had to deal with her heart attitude as well as with her despair.
(vs. 10) “. . . she was in bitterness of soul” (deeply grieved).
1 Samuel 1:11-19
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 razor come upon his head.
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.
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.
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.
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.
(vs. 11) “. . . O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt . . .”
Hannah came before the Lord in prayer with a broken and contrite heart. She knew she could pour out all of her
heart to the Lord and He would understand. He had closed her womb, but because He was the Creator and the
Giver of life, He could open her womb and give her children if He chose to do so.
(vs. 10) “. . . (she) wept sore”
She recognized her condition, her circumstances and her hurts, but her focus was now on her Lord.
In the vow Hannah made, she offered to give Samuel back to the Lord so that he might serve the Lord all the
days of his life. Her statement about a razor never touching his head was very similar to the requirements for a
Nazirite.
At times we can let issues haunt us continually. Sometimes these things can keep your attention so focused on
them that you find it hard to think straight on anything else. Cry out to the Lord. He wants to hear—He waits to
hear your earnest petitions.
Be careful what you promise in prayer because God may take you up on it. We are not in a position to barter
with God because, in actuality, we have nothing to offer the Almighty Creator of the world. If we do make
promises to the Lord know that He doesn’t forget them. Often people make promises to the Lord that, at the time,
is sincere—they have every intention of fulfilling the promise. But when the time comes to make good on their
word, circumstances are different and the carrying out of the pledge seems too hard or too great. Certainly giving
up a firstborn child would be a very hard promise to keep but, to Hannah’s credit, she fulfilled her part.
Hannah was praying silently but moving her lips. She was so intense that Eli noticed her and thought she was
drunk. He advised her to put away the wine and she explained her plight to him. He told her God would answer
her prayer.
(vs. 17) “. . . go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition”
(vs. 18) “. . . and her countenance was no more sad.”
Her countenance no longer revealed a troubled heart. Her encounter with the Lord and His representative, Eli,
had sent a message to her heart and now she would wait. It is important to realize that her countenance changed
after she met with God—not after she received the answer. Her heart was at rest regardless of the outcome.
1 Samuel 1:20-28
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.
21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
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.
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.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
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.
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.
(vs. 20) “. . . called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.”
Samuel means “heard by God.” This play on words reflected Hannah’s heart in petitioning the Lord for a son.
He had heard her cry and He answered her prayer.
(vs. 21) Elkanah went to Shiloh to offer his sacrifice and his vow. This vow was the offering of Samuel whom
Elkanah and Hannah had promised to give if the Lord answered their prayers for a son.
(vs. 22) “. . . I will not go up until the child be weaned”
Children were usually weaned at about three years old.
(vs. 24) Numbers 15:8-10 states the sacrifices to be offered in fulfillment of a vow were a bull, flour and wine.
Hannah brought all three in larger measure than required.
(vs. 28) “Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord”
The word “lent” here means “lent on request.” The son Hannah had requested—God had given and she gives
her gift back to the Giver. This was a great sacrifice for Hannah to have to live up to her bargain. These verses
show the kind of gifts the Lord is pleased with. Sometimes we give things to the Lord that, in reality, cost us little
such as Sunday mornings or a few dollars in the offering plate. Are we giving God thoughtless presents or are we
giving something that makes us sacrifice something?
1 Samuel 2:1-10
1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth
is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of
knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the
barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among
princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath
set the world upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man
prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the
Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his
anointed.
Hannah faces the prospect of giving up the only child she has. We might think this would throw her back into
despair, having to give up her only child that she had been nursing for three years. When she faced the prospect of
barrenness, the Bible says she was “in bitterness of soul” when she prayed. Now, rather than being depressed or
sad, she says “. . . My heart rejoiceth in the Lord.” God had answered her prayer and she praised Him for that.
Hannah was now able to look beyond her own desires. As her song of praise shows, she could trust the Lord and
praise Him for all things. Hannah had given her son to God and she could trust Him to take care of him.
(vs. 2) “. . . neither is there any rock like our God.”
Hannah proclaims the holiness of the Lord and states there is none like Him. She also praises Him for being a
solid rock that is firm and unchanging. There are many things in this life that people cling to for security. People
sometimes trust pensions and IRA’s for stability in their retirements and there is nothing wrong with planning for
the future. People trust their family and friends for strength and support during trying times and they should be able
to. But people, possessions and things are all changeable and finite. God is always present and there is no rock like
Him to lean on.
In verse 3, Hannah speaks of the proud and arrogant who should silence themselves. She recognized that the
Lord Himself is watching and weighing all that is going on. The word “knowledge” refers to knowledge gained by
experience, a knowledge gained from interaction with someone or something. It was sometimes used of a sailor
sailing a vessel, a hunter skilled in the hunt, or a musician playing his instrument.
God is ever interacting with His creation—ever watching and weighing the actions and attitudes of men and
women. He knows fully all they do, think or say, as well as their motives. Therefore, no one should ever act or
speak out of an arrogant heart.
In light of this, Hannah exalted the sovereign Lord. In verses 4-9, she mentions over a dozen types of people:
the mighty, the feeble, the full, the hungry and others. The Lord is over all of them.
(vs. 10) “. . . his king . . . his anointed”
We know from the rest of First and Second Samuel that Hannah’s son, Samuel, would be the one used to anoint
and appoint Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David.
David, of course, was the king who foreshadowed the greater Son of David, the one who would come as the
Lord’s King and Anointed One—the Messiah, Jesus Christ! Her prayer of triumphant worship in the present was
also a prophecy of the greater work the Lord would do in the future.
Lessons
When we first met Hannah, we saw a woman barren and growing increasingly bitter. But she did not stay that
way. She began to see her Lord, her circumstances and herself in a new light. This is what happens when we bring
our burdens to the Lord.
She could have chosen to stay resentful, or she could humble herself under the mighty hand of the Lord of hosts.
She chose to humble herself and in brokenness she took the road to blessing. There are really only two ways to turn
when we experience barrenness—either we take the path to bitterness, or we take the path to brokenness, which
ultimately leads to blessing.
One of the things that helped Hannah was seeing who the Lord is. She recognized Him as the Lord of hosts.
The turning point in her life came when she saw her circumstances as orchestrated by Him—and prayed to Him
according to His nature and power as sovereign Lord.
Hannah was grateful for having Samuel. When she said, “My heart rejoiceth in the Lord . . .” she was
glorifying the Lord. To glorify means to praise. It is important to praise the Lord for everything He gives us.