FREE GOSPEL TRACTS - Hannah the Mother of Samuel

HANNAH THE MOTHER OF SAMUEL

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. 1 Samuel 2:1

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1 Samuel 1

1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, 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:

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.

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.

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.

1 Samuel 2

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.

Commentary

The story of Hannah, found in 1 Samuel chapters 1 and 2, is one of the most powerful biblical narratives on sorrow, persistent prayer, faith, and divine vindication.

Part 1: Verse-by-Verse Breakdown of Hannah’s Story

1 Samuel Chapter 1: Sorrow, Prayer, and Promise

Verses 1–2 (Elkanah and His Two Wives): The story opens by introducing Elkanah, a Levite from Mount Ephraim, and his two wives: Peninnah (who had children) and Hannah (who was barren).

Verses 3–5 (Annual Worship and Favoritism): The family travels yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Though Peninnah has children, Elkanah gives Hannah a "worthy portion" (or double portion) because he deeply loves her, despite the Lord having closed her womb.

Verses 6–8 (Peninnah’s Provocation): Peninnah constantly taunts and provokes Hannah because of her barrenness, causing her to weep and refuse food. Elkanah tries to comfort her with tender words ("Am I not better to thee than ten sons?"), but Hannah's heart remains heavy.

Verses 9–11 (Hannah’s Bitter Prayer and Vow): After a meal in Shiloh, a deeply grieved Hannah rises and goes to the temple. Weeping bitterly, she prays to the Lord and makes a vow: if God will give her a male child, she will dedicate him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever touch his head.

Verses 12–14 (Eli’s Misjudgment): As Hannah continues praying silently in her heart (only her lips move, but no voice is heard), Eli the high priest watches her and mistakenly assumes she is drunk, telling her to put away her wine.

Verses 15–16 (Hannah’s Defense): Hannah respectfully corrects Eli, explaining that she is not drunk with wine, but is instead a "woman of a sorrowful spirit" who has been pouring out her soul before the Lord out of great complaint and grief.

Verses 17–18 (Eli’s Blessing and Hannah’s Peace): Eli responds with a blessing: "Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him." Hannah's countenance changes immediately; she goes her way, eats, and is no longer sad.

Verses 19–20 (The Birth of Samuel): The family worships the next morning and returns home to Ramah. Elkanah knows his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembers her. She conceives and bears a son, naming him Samuel (meaning "Heard of God"), saying, "Because I have asked him of the Lord."

Verses 21–23 (Staying Behind Until Weaned): When Elkanah goes up to Shiloh for the yearly sacrifice, Hannah stays home, declaring she will go only after the child is weaned, so she can present him permanently before the Lord. Elkanah supports her decision.

Verses 24–28 (Fulfilling the Vow): Once Samuel is weaned, Hannah brings him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh along with a generous offering (three bullocks, flour, and wine). She reminds Eli of the woman who stood praying by him years prior, declares that this is the child she prayed for, and lends him to the Lord for as long as he lives.

1 Samuel Chapter 2:1–10: Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving

Verses 1–3 (Rejoicing in God’s Holiness): Hannah bursts into a prophetic prayer of praise. Her heart rejoices in the Lord, her horn is exalted, and she rejoices in His salvation. She declares that there is none holy like the Lord, nor any rock like Him.

Verses 4–5 (The Reversal of Human Circumstances): Hannah celebrates God's sovereignty over human fortunes: the bows of the mighty men are broken, the stumbling are girded with strength, the full have to hire themselves out for bread, and the barren has borne seven while she who had many children has languished.

Verses 6–8 (God’s Power Over Life and Death): The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. He raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the beggar from the dunghill to set them among princes, for the pillars of the earth belong to the Lord.

Verses 9–10 (The Protection of the Righteous): God keeps the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness, for by strength shall no man prevail. The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth and give strength and exalt the horn of His anointed.

Part 2: Key Lessons and Life Applications

1. Radical Honesty in Prayer

The Lesson: Hannah didn't hide her pain behind polite religious language. She wept bitterly, poured out her soul, and laid raw grief before God.

Life Application: God invites us to bring our authentic emotions—sadness, frustration, bitterness, and longing—straight to Him. You do not need to clean up your emotions before talking to God; He handles honest grief better than anyone else.

2. Overcoming the Judgment and Misunderstanding of Others

The Lesson: Even a spiritual leader (Eli) misjudged Hannah, accusing her of drunkenness when she was actually in deep communion with God. Hannah didn't retaliate or argue defensively; she humbly and respectfully clarified her position.

Life Application: When people misunderstand your motives, struggles, or quiet moments of spiritual battle, maintain your composure. Keep your focus on God rather than defending yourself to every critic.

3. Trusting God Beyond the Breakthrough (Integrity of Vows)

The Lesson: Having prayed so desperately for a child, Hannah kept her promise, willingly giving up her long-awaited son to the service of the Lord at the temple once he was weaned.

Life Application: When God answers our deepest prayers, it is easy to hold onto the blessing tightly as our own possession. Hannah reminds us to hold our blessings loosely, remembering that everything we receive comes from God and is ultimately meant to honor Him.

4. Turning Suffering into a Song of Praise

The Lesson: Hannah’s story transitions from silent weeping in Chapter 1 to a soaring, prophetic song of victory in Chapter 2. Her focus shifted entirely from her past humiliation to God’s ultimate character and sovereignty.

Life Application: Pain has an expiration date, but worship endures. When God brings you through a season of testing or answers a long-awaited prayer, let your response be a testimony of His goodness that encourages others.

Key Takeaway: Hannah’s journey teaches us that no season of barrenness or humiliation is permanent in the hands of God. He sees the overlooked, hears the silent cries of the brokenhearted, and is able to turn mourning into dancing.

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