- HANNAH favour, grace, one of the wives of Elkanah the Levite, and the
mother of Samuel (1 Samuel 1; 2). Her home was at Ramathaim-zophim,
whence she was wont every year to go to Shiloh, where the tabernacle had
been pitched by Joshua, to attend the offering of sacrifices there according
to the law (Exodus 23:15; 34:18; Deuteronomy 16:16), probably at the
feast of the Passover (comp. Exodus 13:10). On occasion of one of these
“yearly” visits, being grieved by reason of Peninnah’s conduct toward her,
she went forth alone, and kneeling before the Lord at the sanctuary she
prayed inaudibly. Eli the high priest, who sat at the entrance to the holy
place, observed her, and misunderstanding her character he harshly
condemned her conduct (1 Samuel 1:14-16). After hearing her explanation
he retracted his injurious charge and said to her, “Go in peace: and the God
of Israel grant thee thy petition.” Perhaps the story of the wife of Manoah
was not unknown to her. Thereafter Elkanah and his family retired to their
quiet home, and there, before another Passover, Hannah gave birth to a
son, whom, in grateful memory of the Lord’s goodness, she called Samuel,
i.e., “heard of God.” After the child was weaned (probably in his third
year) she brought him to Shiloh into the house of the Lord, and said to Eli
the aged priest, “Oh my Lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here,
praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me
my petition which I asked of him: therefore I also have granted him to the
Lord; as long as he liveth he is granted to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:27, 28,
R.V.). Her gladness of heart then found vent in that remarkable prophetic
song (2:1-10; comp. Luke 1:46-55) which contains the first designation of
the Messiah under that name (1 Samuel 2:10, “Annointed” = “Messiah”).
And so Samuel and his parents parted. He was left at Shiloh to minister
“before the Lord.” And each year, when they came up to Shiloh, Hannah
brought to her absent child “a little coat” (Hebrews meil, a term used to
denote the “robe” of the ephod worn by the high priest, Exodus 28:31), a
priestly robe, a long upper tunic (1 Chronicles 15:27), in which to minister
in the tabernacle (1 Samuel 2:19; 15:27; Job 2:12). “And the child Samuel
grew before the Lord.” After Samuel, Hannah had three sons and two
daughters. - HANNIEL grace of God. (1.) A chief of the tribe of Manasseh (Numbers
34:23). (2.) A chief of the tribe of Asher (1 Chronicles 7:39). - HANUN graciously given. (1.) The son and successor of Nahash, king of
Moab. David’s messengers, sent on an embassy of condolence to him to
kiana
(Kiana)
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