Hannah's prayer was heard. At the end of six months and a few days (13)
Samuel was born to her, in the nineteenth year of her married life,
(14) and the one hundred and thirtieth of her age. (15) Samuel was of a
frail constitution, (16) and required tender care and nurture. For this
reason he and his mother could not accompany Elkanah on his
pilgrimages. Hannah withheld her boy from the sanctuary for some years.
Before Samuel's birth a voice from heaven had proclaimed that in a
short time a great man would be born, whose name would be Samuel. All
men children of that time were accordingly named Samuel. As they grew
up, the mothers were in the habit of getting together and telling of
their children's doings, in order to determine which of them satisfied
the expectations the prophecy had aroused. When the true Samuel was
born, and by his wonderful deed excelled all his companions, it became
plain to whom the word of God applied. (17) His preeminence now being
undisputed, Hannah was willing to part with him.
The following incident is an illustration of Samuel's unusual qualities
manifested even in infancy. He was two years old when his mother
brought him to Shiloh to leave him there permanently. An occasion at
once presented itself for the display of his learning and acumen, which
were so great as to arouse the astonishment of the high priest Eli
himself. On entering the sanctuary Samuel noticed that they were
seeking a priest to kill the sacrificial animal. Samuel instructed the
attendants that a non-priest was permitted to kill the sacrifice. The
high priest Eli appeared at the moment when, by Samuel's directions,
the sacrifice was being killed by a non-priest. Angered by the child's
boldness, he was about to have him executed, regardless of Hannah's
prayer for his life. "Let him die," (18) he said, "I shall pray for
another in his place." Hannah replied: "I lent him to the Lord.
Whatever betide, he belongs neither to thee nor to me, but to God."
(19) Only then, after Samuel's life was secure, Hannah offered up her
prayer of thanksgiving. Beside the expression of her gratitude, it
contains also many prophecies regarding Samuel's future achievements,
and it recited the history of Israel from the beginning until the
advent of Messiah. (20) Her prayer incidentally brought relief to the
Sons of Korah. Since the earth had swallowed them, they had been
constantly sinking lower and lower. When Hannah uttered the words, "God
bringeth down to Sheol, and bringeth up," (21) they came to a
standstill in their downward course.
Hannah was spared to witness, not only the greatness of her son, but
also the undoing of her rival. Every time Hannah bore a child, Peninnah
lost two of hers, until eight of her ten children had died, and she
would have had to surrender all, had not Hannah interceded for her with
prayer. (22)