1 Samuel 1
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Samuel 1
NJB (MT versing) Elkanah and His Wife The Family of Elkanah The Birth and Consecration of Samuel Elkanah and His Family at Shiloh The Pilgrimage to Shiloh 1:1-2 1:1-7 1:1-2 1:1-8 1:1-3 1:3-8 1:3-8 Hannah's Vow 1:4-8 1:8-11 Hannah and Eli Prayer of Hannah 1:9-11 1:9-11 1:9-11 1:9-11 1:12-18 1:12-18 1:12-18 1:12-14 1:12-18 1:15-16 1:17 1:18 Samuel Is Born to Hannah Samuel is Born and Dedicated Samuel's Birth and Dedication Birth and Consecration of Samuel 1:19-20 1:19-23 1:19-20 1:19-20 1:19-23 1:21-28 1:21-28 1:21-22 1:23 1:24-28 1:24-28b 1:24-28 1:28c Etc.
1 Samuel 1:1-2
1:1 "Ramathaim-sophim" From vv. 19; 2:11; 7:17, we know this family was from "Ramah" (BDB 928 II, which means "height" and , therefore, was a common name). ABD, vol. 5, p. 613, suggests the emendation to "from Ramah, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim" (i.e., central Palestine). Zuph was near the border of Benjamin but still associated with Ephraim's territory. The MT has literally, "the two heights." The UBS Text Project, p. 146, suggests "from Ramathaim of the Zuphites" (cf. 1 Chr. 6:35-36 and LXX). The MT has "Ramathaim-Zophim." UBS Text Project gives "Zuphim" a "C" rating (considerable doubt). ▣ "Elkanah" See his lineage in 1 Chr. 6:22-28; see note online there. If this is the same Elkanah then he is a Levite, but this is uncertain. Nothing in the book of Samuel states he was of the tribe of Levi. Verse 1:1 implies he is of the tribe of Ephraim possibly Benjamin or even Judah See Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, p. 361 and Hard Sayings of the Bible, p. 220. 1:2 "he had two wives" This was allowed in the Mosaic Law (cf. Deut. 21:15-17; see full note online at Deut. 21:15). For a brief discussion on polygamy see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 24-26. ▣ "Hannah" The name (BDB 336) is a FEMININE form of the NOUN "favour," "grace," or "elegance."
1 Samuel 1:3-8
1:3 "go up from his city yearly" This is surprising because all male Israelites were to appear before the Lord at the temple three times a year (cf. Exod. 34:23). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL ▣ "worship" See SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP. ▣ "sacrifice" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SACRIFICIAL SYSTEMS OF THE ANE. ▣ "Lord of hosts" See SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord OF HOSTS. ▣ "Hophni and Phinehas" These were selfish, evil men but because of their tribal lineage, they were priests. 1:4 "he would give portions" This implies the sacrifice was a "Peace Offering," where the offerer got some of the meat back to eat. SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE OFFERING 1:5 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, Peshitta "a double portion" TEV, NJB, REB "only one share" "one portion only" "one portion" Targum "choice portion" The MT has "one portion" but with the added word "faces," which seems, in context, to imply a double share (Aramaic usage). ▣ "a double portion" This was normally the way to distinguish the firstborn son who became the leader of the family, but here, it just denotes that Hannah was the favorite wife. ▣ "but the Lord had closed her womb" The OT attributes all causality to YHWH. It was a way to assert His sovereignty (i.e., 2 Chr. 20:6; Eccl. 7:14; Isa. 14:24-27; 43:13; 45:7; 54:16; Jer. 18:11; Lam. 3:33-38; Amos 3:6). Several times in Genesis the Patriarchs had many barren women. This allowed God to demonstrate His power by "opening" their wombs. Sarai, Gen. 11:30; 16:1 Rebekah, Gen. 25:21 Leah, Gen. 29:31 Rachel, Gen. 30:1 Manoah's wife, Jdgs. 13:2,3 generic, Ps. 113:9 1:6 Peninnah would make fun of Hannah's barrenness, possibly in ways similar to Job 24:21. 1:7 "the house of the Lord" This refers to the tabernacle of the wilderness to which they had added a tent for eating and fellowship. SPECIAL TOPIC: TABERNACLE OF THE WILDERNESS (chart) ▣ "Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. 1:8 "weep. . .not eat" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES. ▣ "heart" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART. ▣ "better than ten sons" This was the symbolic number of "completeness." SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #5
1 Samuel 1:9-11
1:9 "was sitting on the seat by the doorpost" This seat was positioned on the wall between the holy place and the tent of fellowship (cf. 1 Sam. 4:13,18). 1:10 "greatly distressed" This is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 113, KB 129), which was a grammatical way to denote intensity. 1:11 "she made a vow" Vows were very binding in Israel because they involved the name of YHWH (cf. Leviticus 27). SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH (OT) ▣ "indeed look" This is another INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 906, KB 1157). ▣ "then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life" This was the vow. ▣ "a razor shall never come on his head" See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAZIRITE VOW.
1 Samuel 1:12-18
1:12 Apparently this verse denotes two things. Most people prayed out loud in this period (v. 13). There was a lot of drunkenness connected to worship and sacrifice at the tabernacle (v. 14). 1:14 "Put away your wine from you" This is a Hiphil IMPERATIVE (BDB 693, KB 747). It must be remembered that wine was a part of sacrifices and special dinners. It is not wine that is condemned but drunkenness. SPECIAL TOPIC: WINE AND STRONG DRINK 1:15 "oppressed in spirit" "of sorrowful spirit" "deeply troubled" "I am desperate" "in great trouble" "a heart-broken woman" "a very unhappy woman" "a woman full of grief" "I am a woman for whom this is a hard day" The MT has an ADJECTIVE (BDB 904) and NOUN (BDB 924) CONSTRUCT which means "troubled in spirit." SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE 1:16 "Do not consider" This is a Qal IMPERFECT (BDB 678, KB 733) used in a JUSSIVE sense." ▣ NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB, JPSOA "worthless" NKJV, Peshitta, NET "wicked" "devoid of shame" "pestilent" The MT has "a daughter of worthlessness" (BDB 815 CONSTRUCT BDB 123 I and BDB 116). "Worthlessness" is related to the false god Belial (cf. 1 Sam. 2:12; 10:27; 25:17; 30:22; 2 Cor. 6:14-18). 1:17 Eli responds to her Go in peace, BDB 229, KB 246, Qal IMPERATIVE May the God of Israel grant your petition, BDB 678, KB 733, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense. SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE (OT)
1 Samuel 1:19-20
1:19 "had relations" This is literally "know." SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW SPECIAL TOPIC: HUMAN SEXUALITY 1:20 The one possible meaning of the name Samuel comes from this verse, "asked of El."
1 Samuel 1:21-28
1:22 "weaned" This weaning of children in the ANE was a long process, even up to four years of age (i.e., II Macc. 7:27). The ancients believed that a woman could not become pregnant as long as they were nursing (i.e., a type of birth control mythology). ▣ "that he may appear before the Lord and stay there forever" The VERB "appear" (BDB 906, KB 1157, Niphal PERFECT with waw) is literally "see," but in sacrificial context, it denotes the action of a priest approaching the altar of sacrifice or entering the holy place (i.e., Exod. 23:25,27). In some texts it refers to offering in general (i.e., Exod. 34:20,23,24; Deut. 16:16; 31:15). Notice the vow had a time element (cf. 1 Sam. 1:11,28). This was a permanent Nazirite Vow. For "forever" see SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam). 1:23 "only may the Lord confirm His word" Samuel's father is asking for a sign from YHWH that the permanent gift of his son was accepted by Him. The LXX, NEB/REB and DSS have "your word." the UBS Text Project, p. 148, gives the MT a "B" rating (some doubt). 1:24 NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB, Peshitta, LXX, DSS "a three-year-old bull" NKJV, JPSOA "three bulls" The MT has "three bulls." The UBS Text Project gives the emendation a "B" rating (some doubt). It is possible the age of the bull corresponded to the age of Samuel when he was presented to YHWH at the tabernacle. ▣ "ephah" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. ▣ "wine" It was obviously part of the sacrifice. SPECIAL TOPIC: WINE AND STRONG DRINK 1:28 NASB, NET "dedicated" NKJV, REB, JPSOA, LXX "be lent" "given" "belongs to" "petitioned" The MT has the VERB "to ask" or "to borrow" (BDB 981, KB 1371, Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE; the Hiphil PERFECT form occurs early in the verse). This word can have the connotation of "give permanently" (cf. Exod. 12:35-36; Jdgs. 8:24).