Hannah was the wife of Elkanah, who was a person very much like
herself--unromantic and plain, never having fought a battle or been
the subject of a marvelous escape. Neither of them would have been
called a genius. Just what you and I might be, that was Elkanah and
Hannah. The brightest time in all the history of that family was the
birth of Samuel. Although no star ran along the heavens pointing down
to his birthplace, I think the angels of God stooped at the coming of
so wonderful a prophet.
As Samuel had been given in answer to prayer, Elkanah and all his
family, save Hannah, started up to Shiloh to offer sacrifices of
thanksgiving. The cradle where the child slept was altar enough for
Hannah's grateful heart, but when the boy was old enough she took him
to Shiloh and took three bullocks, and an ephah of flour, and a bottle
of wine, and made offering of sacrifice unto the Lord, and there,
according to a previous vow, she left him; for there he was to stay
all the days of his life, and minister in the tabernacle.
Years rolled on, and every year Hannah made with her own hands a
garment for Samuel, and took it over to him. The lad would have got
along well without that garment, for I suppose he was well clad by the
ministry of the temple; but Hannah could not be contented unless she
was all the time doing something for her darling boy. "Moreover his
mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to
year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly
sacrifice."