The story of Hannah
1 ① There was a man from Ramathaim, in the hills of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah. He was son of Tohu, son of Jeroham, of the clan of Zuph. 2He had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children but Hannah had none.
3Every year Elkanah went to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of hosts at Shiloh. The priests there were the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas. 4Whenever Elkanah offered sacrifice, he gave portions to his wife, Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5To Hannah, however, he gave the more delightful portion because he loved her more, although she had no child. 6Yet Hannah’s rival used to tease her for being barren.
7So it happened every year when they went to Yahweh’s house. Peninnah irritated Hannah and she would weep and refuse to eat. 8Once Elkanah, her husband, asked her, “Hannah, why do you weep instead of eating? Why are you sad? Are you not better off with me than with many sons?”
9After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah stood up not far from Eli, the priest: his seat was beside the doorpost of Yahweh’s house. 10Deeply distressed she wept and prayed to Yahweh 11and made this vow, “O Yahweh of hosts, if only you will have compassion on your maidservant and give me a son, I will put him in your service for as long as he lives and no razor shall touch his head.”
12As she prayed before Yahweh, Eli observed the movement of her lips. 13Hannah was praying silently; she moved her lips but uttered no sound and Eli thought Hannah was drunk. 14He, therefore, said to her: “For how long will you be drunk? Let your drunkenness pass.” 15But Hannah answered: “No, my lord, I am a woman in great distress, not drunk. I have not drunk wine or strong drink, but I am pouring out my soul before Yahweh. 16Do not take me for a bad woman. I was so afflicted that my prayer flowed continuously.” 17Then Eli said, “Go in peace and may the God of Israel grant you what you asked for.” 18Hannah answered, “Let your maidservant deserve your kindness.” Then she left the temple and when she was at table, she seemed a different woman.
19Elkanah rose early in the morning and worshiped before Yahweh with his wives. Then they went back home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with his wife, Hannah, Yahweh took compassion on her, 20and she became pregnant. She gave birth to a son and called him Samuel because she said: “I have asked Yahweh to give him to me.”
21Once more Elkanah went to the temple with his family to offer his yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow to Yahweh. 22Hannah would not go along but she said to her husband, “I will bring the child there as soon as he is weaned. He shall be presented to Yahweh and stay there forever.” 23Her husband answered, “Do what seems best to you. Stay here until you have weaned the child and may Yahweh confirm your vow.” So Hannah stayed behind and continued to nurse her son until he was weaned.
24When the child was weaned, Hannah took him with her along with a three-year-old bull, a measure of flour and a flask of wine, and she brought him to Yahweh’s house at Shiloh. The child was still young.
25After they had slain the bull, they brought the child to Eli. 26Hannah exclaimed: “Oh, my lord, look! I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to Yahweh. 27I asked for this child and Yahweh granted me the favor I begged of him. 28Now, I think, Yahweh is asking for this child. As long as he lives, he belongs to Yahweh.”
And they worshiped Yahweh there.
- 1 S 1,1 It all starts with an ordinary couple living a familiar drama in a hill town. The woman, in an inferior situation, as it will always be in Israel, is only worth the children she bears. A man has as many wives he is able to maintain. Elkanah loves Hannah, but in the way he loves his children. God likes to choose his servants precisely from those families who have no hope of having children. It is God who gives life to the dead and hope to those who have none. The same happens with the birth of Isaac and John the Baptist (Lk 1:5). In the book of Isaiah is a poem which starts with these words: Shout out for joy, oh you who were barren! (Is 54:1). These pages depict for us the religious life of those days. The campaign tent which shelters the ark is at Shiloh. There is no temple yet in Israel, so pilgrims bring their animals; and the father as head of the family and priest of his household sacrifices the victims. Only after David's time will the priests of Levi's tribe be the exclusive intermediaries between Yahweh and his people.
