Wife of Elkanah and mother of Samuel, the prophet and judge.
About Hannah
Wife of Elkanah from Ephraim’s tribe and the mother of the prophet Samuel. The childless Hannah prayed annually at Shiloh for a son. She promised to dedicate him to the Lord.
The Lord answered her prayer, and she called her son Samuel. When he was weaned (at about age three) she dedicated him at Shiloh to the Lord's service in the sanctuary. From then on, Samuel lived with Eli the priest. His parents visited him on their yearly trips to worship at the temple. Hannah had three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 1:1–2:21). Hannah's prophetic song of praise in 1 Samuel 2:1–10 is very similar to the song Mary would later sing, called the “Magnificat” (Luke 1:46–55).
Family Relationships
Key References
He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
So the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.
All Scripture References (11)
1 Samuel (11)
He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.
“Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
So after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.
Hannah was praying in her heart, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk
“No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.
The next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.
So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
but Hannah did not go. “After the boy is weaned,” she said to her husband, “I will take him to appear before the LORD and to stay there permanently.”
At that time Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation.
So the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.