the birth of samuel - bible study workshop

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell

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The Birth of Samuel

Hannah Dedicates Samuel

1 Samuel 1:1-28

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org


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The Birth of Samuel

Hannah Dedicates Samuel

Commentary

by

Ron Thomas Text: 1 Samuel 1:1-28, 1. There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2. He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 3. Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. 4. Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6. And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.




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8. Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" 9. Once when 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 LORD's temple. 10. In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. 11. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." 12. As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14. and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." 15. "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." 17. Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him." 18. She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. 19. Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.




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20. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him." 21. When the man Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, 22. Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always." 23. "Do what seems best to you," Elkanah her husband told her. "Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word." So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. 24. After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. 25. When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, 26. and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 28. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. (NIV) Commentary: 1 Samuel 1:1, 2, There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. (NIV)




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I. A Time To Worship. 1 Samuel 1:1-2 A. Location and family.

1. It has been noted that the start of First Samuel has a similar start as that of Judges 13:2, and Samson’s heritage.

a. Judges 13:2, A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless. (NIV)

2. Both Samson and Samuel were Nazarites. 3. Elkanah, the father of Samuel, was an Ephraimite.

a. However, in 1 Chronicles 6:22-34, Samuel is said to be a Levite.

i. 1 Chronicles 6:22-34, The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son and Shaul his son. The descendants of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth, Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son and Samuel his son. The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second son. The descendants of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, Shimea his son, Haggiah his son and Asaiah his son. The Temple Musicians These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house




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of the LORD after the ark came to rest there. They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them. Here are the men who served, together with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, (NIV)

b. Thus, it is probably best to understand the reference to Ephraim to be a reference to the location of his residence and not his descendents (Youngblood, p. 570). c. Josephus also recognizes his status as a Levite (Antiquities, 5.10.2 (342), p. 149).

B. It has been suggested that Samuel was born in an affluent family.

1. Perhaps the fact that Elkanah had two wives and was able to provide offerings for his children at the time of the religious occasions is indicative of this. 2. Elkanah, being a faithful Israelite, was unable to provide for his wife that which she really desired, a child.

1 Samuel 1:3-8, Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give




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portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" (NIV) I. Elkanah and His Two Wives: Hannah and Peninnah. 1 Samuel 1:3-8

A. The yearly worship in Shiloh. 1:3, Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. (NIV)

1. What yearly feast is in view? a. Most think this was the Feast of Tabernacles.

b. The males were required to attend yearly feasts three (3) times yearly.

i. Exodus 34:23, Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD, the God of Israel. (NIV)

ii. Deuteronomy 12:5-7, But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your




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tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you. (NIV)

2. We are given a “time marker” in this chapter. a. Eli is the High Priest, and his two sons were priests. b. Also, we are told the Tabernacle is in Shiloh.

c. This is where the Lord had it set up (Joshua 18:1,8,9,10).

i. Joshua 18:1,8,9,10, The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control, As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, "Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it. Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD." So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD, and there he distributed the land to the




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Israelites according to their tribal divisions. (NIV)

B. Confusion in the home. Samuel 1:4-8, Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" (NIV)

1. At the time of the offerings Elkanah gave to his family members portions they could offer.

a. “The distributions of portions by Elkanah was in accordance with the worshipper’s right to share of the flesh of his sacrificial animal, as was the case of the peace offering (or communion offering) in the priestly tariff (Lv. 7:11-18)” (Gordon, p. 73).

i. Leviticus 7:11-18, "'These are the regulations for the fellowship offering a person may present to the LORD: "'If he offers it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with this thank offering he is to offer cakes of bread made without yeast and mixed with oil, wafers made without yeast and spread with oil, and cakes of fine flour well-kneaded and mixed




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with oil. Along with his fellowship offering of thanksgiving he is to present an offering with cakes of bread made with yeast. He is to bring one of each kind as an offering, a contribution to the LORD; it belongs to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the fellowship offerings. The meat of his fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; he must leave none of it till morning. "'If, however, his offering is the result of a vow or is a freewill offering, the sacrifice shall be eaten on the day he offers it, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day. Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be burned up. If any meat of the fellowship offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted. It will not be credited to the one who offered it, for it is impure; the person who eats any of it will be held responsible. (NIV)

2. To Hannah, however, he gave a double portion. Others would note the favoritism.

a. Perhaps it is easy to see and understand the rivalry that existed between the two women. b. Why was Hannah a favorite? c. There is no way to know. but perhaps it had to do with her being Elkanah’s wife originally but since she was unable to bear children and Elkanah’s inheritance was to go to his sons, he took a “concubine” (married) Peninnah.




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c. Remember Leah and Rachel? (Genesis 29:30-34;30:1)

i. Genesis 29:30-34, Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years. When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, "It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now." She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon. Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." So he was named Levi. (NIV)

ii. Genesis 30:1, When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!" (NIV)

3. But Peninnah was not such a virtuous women (in this context); she provoked her in such a way to make her miserable.

a. Elkanah’s response to Hannah has been thought by some to be insensitive.




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b. However, that is not the case. John Gill gave a good sense: “his meaning is, that the share she had in his love and affections ought to have been esteemed by her more than if she had ten or many children by him; and it suggests that Peninnah would have been glad to have such a share in his affections as Hannah had; and it would have been more eligible to her, than to have borne him so many children as she had” (E Sword).

4. Caird has an interesting note on the reasons for the presence of two wives:

a. “The reason for having two wives is found in the Israelite’s terror of childlessness. A man could not look forward to personal survival after death, for the shadowy existence of Sheol was death rather than life (cf. 2:6). But he could survive in his children, who would keep his name alive among men . . .” (emphasis his, p. 877).

i. 1 Samuel 2:6, "The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. (NIV)

b. It should state that the belief of man, at the time as not existing after life on this earth was mistaken, though common. Hence, the reason for revelation.

1 Samuel 1:9-18, Once when 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 LORD's temple. In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying,




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"O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him." She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. (NIV) I. Hannah’s Prayer. 1 Samuel 1:9-18

A. Eli was the High Priest. At this time, Eli was very old (cf. 1:3 and 2:22).

1. 1 Samuel 1:3, Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. (NIV)

2. 1 Samuel 2:22, Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. (NIV)

3. He was sitting at the “doorposts” (nearby the entrance).




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a. The place where Eli sat was a place where the High Priest would sit to officiate his duties.

b. Barnes calls this a pontifical chair of state.

4. As Eli watched the young lady pray, he interpreted her actions in a most unfortunate way; he thought she was inebriated, thus the rebuke (1 Samuel 1:14).

a. 1 Samuel 1:14, and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." (NIV)

5. When he learned differently, his tone changed completely.

B. Hannah was anguishing in her soul. The NKJV says she was in bitterness of soul and she wept continually.

1. The Lord closed her womb, and she appealed to the Lord for Him to open her womb.

a. She vowed that he would be a Nazarite; the word “Nazarite” is not used, but the phrase “and no razor will come upon his head” is equivalent. b. Gordon brings to out attention Numbers 30:6-15; in this passage, the Lord allowed the husband “the power of confirmation or veto of any vow undertaken by his spouse” (p. 77).

i. Numbers 30:6-15, "If she marries after she makes a vow or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself and her




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husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. But if her husband forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the LORD will release her. "Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her. "If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand. Her husband has nullified them, and the LORD will release her. Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself. But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them. If, however, he nullifies them some time after he hears about them, then he is responsible for her guilt." (NIV)

2. Hannah’s prayer, it appears, was one of intensity.

a. Youngblood says that prayer in the ancient world was almost always audible (p. 573).




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b. I can well imagine one closing the eyes, prostrate before the appropriate object of worship and moving the lips as one speaks in the heart.

3. When Hannah was called into question because Eli misinterpreted her actions, she comes to her own defense and vindicates her name and actions.

1 Samuel 1:19-28, Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, 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 asked the LORD for him." When the man Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always." "Do what seems best to you," Elkanah her husband told her. "Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word." So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. NIV I. The Birth of Samuel to Elkanah and Hannah. 1 Samuel 1:19-28




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A. A son is born to Elkanah and Hannah. 1 Samuel 1:19-23

1. 1 Samuel 1:19-23, Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, 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 asked the LORD for him." When the man Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always." "Do what seems best to you," Elkanah her husband told her. "Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word." So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. (NIV)

2. They returned home to Ramah after their worship of the Lord.

3. A child of prayer is born and weaned before Hannah returns again to the Tabernacle.

a. “The Lord ‘remembered’ her in the sense of granting her earlier request for a child. The Hebrew verb is often used in the OT for considering the needs or desires of people with favor and kindness” (NET, footnote). b. The weaning period was about 2-3 years (breast fed; Gordon cites a reference from the apocrypha that states it as late as the 3rd or 4th year, p. 77).




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c. As Elkanah went up yearly with his family to the Tabernacle, Hannah stayed behind.

i. When she did go up, it would be at that time that Hannah would fulfill her vow to the Lord and Eli, in effect, would raise Samuel.

4. Why was Hannah’s prayer granted? Two things: a. First, it was the Lord’s will. b. Second, it was Hannah’s appeal and trust in the Lord. B. Hannah dedicates the child to the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:24-28

1. 1 Samuel 1:24-28, After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. (NIV)

2. Samuel is brought to the house of the Lord in Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:24).

a. There is some uncertainty about whether it was three bulls Hannah brought or one three-year old bull.




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Gordon (p. 78) thinks the evidence favors “a three-year old bull” (in the price of life – Youngblood, p. 574).

3. Hannah’s words to Eli (1 Samuel 1:25-28).

a. 1 Samuel 1:25-28, When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. (NIV)

b. Hannah reminds Eli that she is the woman who prayed intensely before the Lord. c. She praises the Lord for the granting of her prayer. d. She now delivers the child to Eli, saying the child is “lent to the Lord.” e. They worship the Lord.




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Questions

on

1 Samuel 1:1-28

by

John C. Sewell (Questions based on NIV text.)

1. “There was a certain man from _____________, a _______________ from the _______________ _________________ of _______________, whose name was _________________ son of _________________, the son of _________________, the son of _________________, the son of _______________, an _______________. He had _________________ _________________; one was called _________________ and the other ________________. ________________ had _________________, but _________________ had none.” 2. Locate Ramathaim. Who were the Zuphites? ___________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What do you know about Elkanah and his ancestors? Are there other references in the Bible to these people? __________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Was it wrong for Elkanah to have more than one wife? Give reasons for your answer. ____________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Specify ways in which what is said here of Elkanah is similar to what is said elsewhere about Samson. _______________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Elkanah is referenced as a certain man. Give examples of the use of this phrase in the New Testament. ______________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Who were Nazarites? Name all the Nazarites of whom you know. Include at least one New Testament example. Was Jesus a Nazarite? __ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. What was Elkanah’s yearly custom? __________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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9. Locate Shiloh. Why was Shiloh important? ____________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. Who was high priest at that time? Who were his sons? Were these religionists people of honorable character? _______________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Why did Elkanah give Hannah a double portion for sacrificial purposes? Was Hannah Elkanah’s favorite wife? What is meant by double portion? _____________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. Was Peninnah nice to Hannah? Did Elkanah contribute to this rivalry, jealousy? How did Hannah react to Peninnah’s provocations? Explain your answers to all three questions. ______________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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13. How many times each year were Israelites required to attend feasts? What were these occasions? What was the occasion of the visits to Shiloh referenced in verses 3 and 7? ____________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14. Why was Hannah Elkanah’s favorite wife? ____________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 15. Give other Biblical examples of spousal rivalry, jealousy. ________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 16. What was Elkanah’s view of life after death? How did this relate to Hannah’s sorrow because of her being childless? __________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17. “Once when they had finished _______________________ and ___________________ in _________________, _________________




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___________________ _________________.” What had Hannah been drinking? __________________________________________________ What is the significance of the fact that Hannah stood up to pray? _____ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 18. Define temple as used in verse 9. Contrast this temple with later temples in Jerusalem. ________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 19. “In ________________ of ________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ and _________________ to the _________________. And she made a _________________, saying, “O Lord ____________________, if you will only look upon your _________________’s _________________ and _________________ me, and not ______________ your ______________ _______________ but give her a _________________, then I will _________________ _______________ to the _______________ for all the ______________ of his _______________, and ________________ _________________ will ever be used on his _________________.” 20. Hannah prayed at some length. Eli observed her mouth. “_______________ was ________________ in her ________________, and her _____________ were ______________ but her _____________ was not _________________. _________________ thought she was




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_________________ and said to her, ‘How _________________ will you _____________ on getting ______________? Get _____________ of your _________________.’” 21. Did Eli sin when he misjudged Hannah? What lesson does this teach us? _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 22. “Not so, my Lord,” _______________________ replied, “I am a _________________ who is _________________ _________________. I have not been ____________________ _________________ or _________________; I was _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ to the _________________. Do not take your _________________ for a _________________ _________________; I have been _________________ here out of my _________________ _________________ and _________________.” 23. How concerned should we be about our reputations? Was Hannah properly concerned about her reputation? ________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 24. “_________________ answered, ‘Go in ___________________, and may the _______________ of _______________ _________________ you what you have _________________ of him.’”




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25. “She said, ‘_________________ your ____________________ find ______________________ in your ____________________.’ Then she went her ________________ and ________________ something, and her ______________ was no _______________ _________________.” 26. Did Elkanah concur in Hannah’s vow? Support your answer with Scripture. _________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 27. When your children were born, did you dedicate them to the Lord? If not, why not? If yes, how did you dedicate them to the Lord? ______ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 28. “Hannah ____________ and gave ___________ to a ____________. She ________________ him _________________, saying, ‘Because I _______________ the _________________ for _________________.’” 29. Hannah did not go to Shiloh on the occasion of the following journey. Why did she not make this trip? ________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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30. When Samuel was weaned, what happened? Give details. ________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 31. Hannah said to Eli, “As surely as you _________________, my _______________, I am the _______________ who ________________ here beside you _________________ to the _________________. I _______________for this ______________, and the _______________ has ______________ me what I asked of him. So now I ____________ him to the _____________. For his _____________ _______________ he will be ______________ ______________ to the _______________! And he _________________ the _________________ there.” 32. Hophni and Phinehas didn’t turn out so well. What made Hannah think Eli would do a better job rearing Samuel than he had done with his own sons? _________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 33. Why was Hannah’s prayer for a son granted? __________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 34. Can you always “believe your eyes”? Do we always correctly interpret what we see, perceive? Remember Eli. __________________




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__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 35. What have you learned from your study of 1 Samuel 1 that will help you in your Christian life? ____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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