\OTHERWISE CALLED \ \THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS \ This book, in the Hebrew copies, is commonly called Samuel, or the Book of Samuel; in the Syriac version, the Book of Samuel the Prophet; and in the Arabic version, the Book of Samuel the Prophet, which is the First Book of the Kings; and the…

Now there was a man of Ramathaimzophim, of Mount Ephraim, &c.] Ramathaim is a word of the dual number, and signifies two Ramahs; the city consisted of two parts, being built perhaps on two hills, and were called Zophim; because, as the Rabbins say, they looked one to another; or rather, because…

And he had two wives Which, though connived at in those times, was contrary to the original law of marriage; and for which, though a good man, he was chastised, and had a great deal of vexation and trouble, the two wives not agreeing with each other; perhaps not having children by the one so soon…

This man went up out of his city yearly From year to year; or, as the Targum, from the time of the solemn appointed feast to the solemn appointed feast, from one to another; there were three of them in the year, at which all the males in Israel were to appear at the tabernacle; and being a Levite,…

And when the time was that Elkanah offered That is, brought his offering to the priest, to offer it for him, which was at one of the three festivals. According to R.

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion Or, one choice portion, as the Targum; the best part or portion in the peace offering, of what the priest had not; he had the breast and the right shoulder, the next best piece he gave to Hannah; and the word being of the dual number, some render it a double…

And her adversary also provoked her sore That is, Peninnah, the other wife of Elkanah; for when a man had more wives, two or more, they were usually at enmity to one another, as the two wives of Socrates were, being always jealous lest one should have more love and respect than the other from the…

And as he did so year by year Elkanah went up every year to Shiloh, and offered sacrifices, taking his family with him, and gave to Peninnah and her children their portion, and to Hannah a double portion, or if but one yet the best: when she went up to the house of the Lord; that is, Peninnah,…

Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? &c.] Since it was a time of rejoicing, as every festival was, especially at the ingathering of the fruits of the earth: and why eatest thou not? since they were at a feast, and she had the best part and portion of the provision: and…

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drank After dinner, after Elkanah and Peninnah, and their children, had eaten heartily, and drank freely, and made a comfortable meal, and even a feast of it, at the place where the tabernacle and altar were, and their peace…

And she was in bitterness of soul Because of her barrenness, and the taunts and reflections she had met with on that account; her life was bitter to her, she could take no pleasure in any of the comforts of it: and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore; her prayer was with strong crying and tears; it…

And she vowed a vow Which might be confirmed by her husband; otherwise the vow of a woman, if disapproved of by her husband, was not valid, and Elkanah might make the same vow his wife did, and so it stood; for as this was a vow of Nazariteship, it is a tradition of the Jews [[16]], that a man may…

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, &c.] Being very earnest and importunate with him to grant her request, and therefore repeated her petition, and prolonged her prayer, being unwilling to let the Lord go, until she had a promise, or some satisfaction, that she should…

Now Hannah, she spake in her heart It was mental prayer she used, some ejaculations of her mind she sent up to God, which she was sensible were well known to him, and she needed not to express vocally: only her lips moved; as her heart spoke, and sent up her petitions, as if she had used words and…

And Eli said unto her, how long wilt thou be drunken? &c.] What, every day drunk? what, continually in this wicked practice? when will it be stopped? for Eli might have observed on other days, and at other times, odd looks, and a strange behaviour in her, which he took for the effects of drinking…

And Hannah answered and said, no, my lord That is not my case, you have greatly mistaken it; she answered with great mildness and meekness, without falling into a passion at such a scandalous imputation upon her, and with great respect and reverence to Eli, suitable to his office; so in later times…

Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial A yokeless, a lawless, impudent, and abandoned creature; one of the most wicked, vilest, and most profligate wretches; as she must be to come drunk into the sanctuary of God; see (1 Sam. 25:17, 1 Sam. 25:25) .

Then Eli answered and said, go in peace He found he was mistaken in her, and that her discourse was not only sober and rational, but religious and spiritual; and therefore dismisses her in peace, and bids her not distress herself with what he had said to her, nor with anything she had met with from…

And she said, let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight She had found favour in his sight she perceives, and she desires it might be continued and increased; and that as he had prayed for her, he would still use his interest at the throne of grace for her: so the woman went her way; took her leave…

And they rose up in the morning early Partly for devotion, and partly for the sake of their journey: and worshipped before the Lord; went up to the tabernacle, and prayed with their faces towards that part of it, the western part, where stood the ark of the Lord, the symbol of the divine Presence;…

Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about, after Hannah had conceived Or, “at the revolutions of days” [[1]]; at the end of a year, of a complete year, as Ben Melech, from their return from Shiloh; for it might be some time after their return that she conceived; or rather the sense…

And the man Elkanah, and all his house All his family, excepting Hannah, and her son Samuel; or all the men of his house, as the Targum; for only the males were obliged to appear at the three festivals: went up to Shiloh; to the house of God there: to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice;…

But Hannah went not up For women, though they might go if they pleased to the yearly feasts, yet they were not obliged to it; whether she went up at the time for her purification, and for the presenting and redemption of the firstborn, is not certain; some say the Levites were not obliged by that…

And Elkanah her husband said unto her, do what seemeth thee good He spake like a kind and indulgent husband, knowing that she would not thereby break any law of God; and it might be more for her own health, and the health of the child, to stay longer: tarry till thou have weaned him; when he would…

And when she had weaned him At the usual time of weaning children; (See Gill on 1 Sam. 1:23) some refer this not only to the milk of the breast, from which he was weaned, but to such food as was common to children, and so supposes him grown up to nine or ten years of age: she took him up with her;…

And they slew a bullock One of the three Hannah brought, unless the singular is put for the plural, and so all three were slain, some for sacrifice, and some for food perhaps; or if only one was slain, it might be offered as a sacrifice previous to the presentation of Samuel; or else was made a…

And she said, O my lord According to the Targum, it is a supplication or request, I beseech thee, my lord; that is, to look upon her son, and take him under his care as his disciple or scholar, to instruct him in the law of God, and enter him into his service; to which Eli might be very backward…

For this child I prayed Which she now had in her hand, and was presenting to Eli: and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him; and which he also desired might be granted her, or foretold that it would be, though perhaps he knew not then particularly what it was she asked; nor did…

Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord To be employed in his service, not for a few days, months, or years, but for his whole life. The Targum is, “I have delivered him, that he may minister before the Lord;” as she had received him front him as an answer of prayer, she gave him up to him again…