I Samuel 1:10 "And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed
unto the LORD, and wept sore."

This is another way of saying that her heart was broken. It
appears, she was kneeling, and praying to the LORD. This prayer was
coming from her innermost being.

I Samuel 1:11 "And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if
thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and
remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine
handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days
of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head."

The three times she speaks of herself as the LORD's handmaid,
shows her willingness to serve the LORD. She vows to God, if He will
let her have a man child {to take away her reproach}, she will
dedicate him to the LORD's service all of His life. We do not read
here, that she promises for him to be under a Nazarite vow. She does,
however, promise that she will never cut his hair, which is one sign
of a Nazarite vow. He will be ordained from birth to the service of
the LORD.

I Samuel 1:12 "And it came to pass, as she continued praying
before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth."

It appears that, Hannah was praying in her heart, and very
softly. So softly that Eli marked her mouth. He did not see her lips
moving in prayer, but when he touched her, he realized they were
moving. It seemed, it was the custom to pray aloud, not just to God.
He, now, realizes that she is saying something under her breath.

I Samuel 1:13 "Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips
moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been
drunken."

When he does not hear the words of her mouth, he thinks the
worst. He assumes she has had too much to drink.

I Samuel 1:14 "And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be
drunken? put away thy wine from thee."

He is telling her to stop drinking, and especially in the
tabernacle. He wants her to go home, and sober up, and then, come back
and pray.

I Samuel 1:15 "And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I [am]
a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong
drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD."

She quickly tells him, that she has not been drinking. She is
praying to God, because her heart is broken. She did not intend for
others to hear her request to God. She had prayed her hearts desire to
the LORD, alone. She is sad, because she is barren.

I Samuel 1:16 "Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial:
for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken
hitherto."

We see that Hannah associates women who are drunk with someone
controlled of the devil. "Belial", in this particular instance, means
worthlessness.

I Samuel 1:17 "Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the
God of Israel grant [thee] thy petition that thou hast asked of him."

This is tremendous encouragement to Hannah. The high priest is
speaking for God, when he says this to Hannah. The high priest
represented the people to God, and God to the people. This is telling
Hannah, that she will, indeed, have a son.

I Samuel 1:18 "And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy
sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was
no more [sad]."

Hannah needs to fast no longer. God has answered her prayer. Her
confidence that her prayer is answered, is shown in her now eating.
She is happy. She is going to have a son.

I Samuel 1:19 "And they rose up in the morning early, and
worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to
Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her."

They worshipped the LORD, before they set out on their journey
home. As soon as they were home, Hannah slept with Elkanah, and she
conceived. God had answered her prayer. She is assured she will have a
man child.

I Samuel 1:20 "Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come
about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his
name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of the LORD."

We spoke earlier that "Samuel" means asked of God, or heard of
God. Hannah is totally aware this son is a gift from God. She knows he
is the answer to her prayer.

I Samuel 1:21 "And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to
offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow." I Samuel 1:22
"But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, [I will not go
up] until the child be weaned, and [then] I will bring him, that he
may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever."

The baby Samuel would have been just a very small baby at the
time of the next Passover Feast. Hannah did not take the baby at this
time, because he was not weaned. He will need to stay with his mother,
until he is weaned. This will give Hannah some time with him, but it
will also take a burden off Eli. He was not equipped to care for a
tiny baby. She had no intention of breaking her vow to the LORD. She
would keep her vow, since the LORD had done as she asked.
I Samuel 1:23 "And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what
seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD
establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until
she weaned him."

Samuel was breast fed by his mother, until he was old enough to
wean. It was permitted of God for mothers with small children to not
go to the yearly feast, so they could stay and care for their babies.
It appears, that Elkanah and Hannah remembered that babies born under
these circumstances are born for a special purpose of God. It had not
been long, since a very similar thing had happened with Samson. The
LORD will establish the baby's work when he is old enough to fulfill
it.

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