Ramathaim-zophim may signify “the two hills 1 Samuel 9:11 of the watchmen,” so called from its being a post from which the watchmen looked out. But since Zuph is the name of the head of the family, it is more probable that Zophin means the Zuphites, the sons of Zuph (see Zophai, 1 Chronicles 6:26),... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HAD TWO WIVES - Compare Genesis 4:19. This was permitted by the law Deuteronomy 21:15, and sanctioned by the practice of Jacob Genesis 29, Ashur 1 Chronicles 4:5, Shaharaim 1 Chronicles 8:8, David 1 Samuel 25:43, Joash 2 Chronicles 24:3, and others. HANNAH - i. e. “Beauty or charm,” is t [ Continue Reading ]
It is likely that during the unsettled times of the Judges Judges 21:25 the attendance of Israelites at the three Festivals Exodus 34:23; Deuteronomy 16:16 fell into desuetude or great irregularity, and this one feast (see the marginal reference), which may have coincided with the Feast of Pentecost... [ Continue Reading ]
A WORTHY PORTION - Probably as in the margin. Naturally she would have had a single portion of the sacrifice (compare 1 Samuel 9:23), but because of his love to her he gave her a double portion, enough for two people (compare Genesis 43:34).... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS HE DID SO ... - It should rather be “And so she did year by year, as often as she went up to the House of the Lord, so she provoked her.” Though the verb is masculine, Peninnah must be the subject, because as often as SHE went up follows. The Vulgate has “they went up.”... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THEY HAD EATEN ... - Rather, “after she had eaten and after she had drunk,” which is obviously right. Hannah, in the bitterness of her spirit, could not enjoy her feast, and so, after eating and drinking a little, she arose and went to the temple, leaving her husband and Peninnah and her child... [ Continue Reading ]
vows are characteristic of this particular age of the Judges. (Compare Judges 11:30; Jdg 21:5; 1 Samuel 14:24.) For the law of vows in the case of married women, see Numbers 30:6; and for the nature of the vow, see the marginal references.... [ Continue Reading ]
See 1 Samuel 1:2 and note. She means that wine was not the cause of her present discomposure, but grief of heart.... [ Continue Reading ]
A beautiful example of the composing influence of prayer. Hannah had cast her burden upon the Lord, and so her own spirit was relieved of its load. She now returned to the family feast, and ate her portion with a cheerful heart. Acts 2:46. The word “sad” is not in the Hebrew text, but it fairly sup... [ Continue Reading ]
SAMUEL - i. e. heard of God, because given in answer to prayer. The names “Ishmael” and “Elishama” have the same etymology.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE CHILD BE WEANED - Hebrew mothers, as elsewhere in the East, usually suckled their children until the age of two complete years, sometimes until the age of three.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THY SOUL LIVETH - This oath is unique to the Books of Samuel, in which it occurs six times, and to the Books of Kings, in which however, it is found only once. See the note to 1 Samuel 1:11.... [ Continue Reading ]