Hannah

The Biblical Account

Hannah appears in 1 Samuel 1–2. Her husband, Elkanah, was a man of Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. Elkanah had two wives. His other wife, Peninnah, had children, but Hannah had none. Each year, when Elkanah went up to Shiloh to offer sacrifice, he gave Hannah a double portion. Peninnah, however, provoked Hannah, and Hannah wept and would not eat (1 Samuel 1:1–8).

At the sanctuary in Shiloh, Hannah made a vow (a promise made to God) that if He would give her a son, she would give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor would come upon his head (1 Samuel 1:11). Because she prayed silently, with only her lips moving, the priest Eli thought she was drunk. When he learned of her circumstances, Eli blessed her. Hannah later bore a son and named him Samuel. After he was weaned, she brought the child to Shiloh and entrusted him to Eli. The song she sang on that occasion is the "Song of Hannah" in 1 Samuel 2:1–10. Each year Hannah made a little coat and brought it to Samuel, and she later bore three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:19–21).

Significance Within the Bible

The Song of Hannah celebrates God as the One who brings low the proud and raises up the poor. At its close the song mentions God's "king" and His "anointed" (1 Samuel 2:10). Many interpreters see the song as anticipating the central theme of the books of Samuel as a whole, which trace the transition from the period of the judges to the monarchy.

The New Testament does not mention Hannah by name. However, the song of Mary in Luke 1:46–55 resembles the Song of Hannah in both wording and theme, and there is a long tradition of reading the two passages together. The prophetess Anna in Luke 2:36 is a different person with the same name.

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

• The text of 1 Samuel does not use the word "Nazarite." Because of the vow that no razor would come upon the child's head, however, many interpreters connect it with the Nazarite vow in Numbers 6.
• 1 Samuel 1:1 introduces Elkanah as an Ephraimite, whereas 1 Chronicles 6 places him in the genealogy of the Levites. Some explain this by distinguishing his place of residence from his lineage, while others hold that the textual traditions differed.
• In Jewish tradition, Hannah's silent prayer is said to have been regarded as a model of prayer.
• Some sermons read Hannah's story as a formula: "If you pray earnestly, you will receive the child you desire." Critics respond that the focus of the text lies on God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of the vow. Pastoral concerns have also been raised that such preaching can wound childless church members.
• Details not found in the text, such as Peninnah's character or how long Hannah prayed, are imaginative additions made in preaching and should be distinguished from the biblical record.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, Hannah is frequently cited as the archetypal mother who prays for her children. Sermons on "Hannah's prayer" are common on Parents' Sunday, at Women's Missionary Society gatherings, and at prayer meetings held for children during the college entrance examination season. Because praying aloud together is a familiar practice in the Korean church, sermons sometimes draw attention to the contrast with Hannah's silent prayer. In Sunday school, her story is taught as the opening of the account of Samuel's birth and his service at the temple. Hannah is also said to be a common name for daughters in Christian families.