Womeninthechurch46

Women in the Bible

Lesson Forty-Six: by turtle

One of the most heart wrenching problems of a woman that is not able to have children is to hear
friends, family or stranger make fun of her for not having kids. Unless you have experienced it you do
not know what it is like. It is worse then all the bullying on the playground. The hurt and sorrow is
great. Hannah is who we are studying today. She could not have children. She was a treasure to her
husband though he had another wife. He loved Hannah greatly and when he took his family to the
temple yearly to sacrifice he gave a large portion to Hannah because he loved her.

Hannah was hurt by the rival of her husband’s affection constantly. The other wife would chastise her
for not having children. Hannah was so grieved because of this she spent alot of time weeping at the
temple. Her husband tried to convince her of her worth but it did not help. Even ask her isn’t he more
valuable to her then ten sons. Yet this did not cheer her. Her husband greatly loved her.

1 Samuel 1:1-8 KJV
(1) Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was
Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
(2) And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and
Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
(3) And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in
Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
(4) And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and
her daughters, portions:
(5) But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her
womb.
(6) And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up
her womb.
(7) And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her;
therefore she wept, and did not eat.
(8) Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and
why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

She did eat yet Hannah continues her grieving, . In fact her crying gets the attention of the priest to the
point he thinks she is drunk. He sees her mouth moving but no sound coming out. Had not Eli heard of
silent prayer. I have to wonder. Yet Hannah was praying a vow to the Lord. That she would give Him
her son if He would enable her to conceive. She would never shave her son’s head meaning she would
make him a Nazarite like Samson, but Hannah would go even a step further and bring him to the
temple at the age of three to be raised in the temple and do service to God.

1 Samuel 1:9-13 KJV
(9) So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat
upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
(10) And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
(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.
(12) And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
(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.

Eli confronts Hannah because of her praying disturbs him. He is unsure if he needs to kick her out of
the temple or leave her to her weeping. The temple was no place for drunkenness. Yet when Hannah
explains her prayer, Eli heart melts, and he blesses her by telling her to go that may her desire of her
heart be granted.

1 Samuel 1:14-18 KJV
(14) And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
(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.
(16) Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and
grief have I spoken hitherto.
(17) Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou
hast asked of him.
(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 sorrow left her and she believed what the priest told her and she went and ate and left to go
home. When at home she conceived and bore a son and named him Samuel. She did not go back to
the temple tell her son was three years old and then then she dedicated Samuel to the Lords work and
gave him to Eli to raise.

1 Samuel 1:19-28 KJV
(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.
(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.
(21) And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice,
and his vow.
(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.
(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.
(24) And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of
flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was
young.
(25) And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
(26) And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here,
praying unto the LORD.
(27) For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
(28) Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD.
And he worshipped the LORD there.

Samuel would be one of the greatest prophets in his day and time. He would annoint kings to rule the
people. He would obey the Lord word with out question. Many might wonder how could Hannah give
up her child. She gave up her child because she loved God. She wish to honor her vow after God
answer her prayer. Do we keep our vows to God after God answers our prayer. If not why not. It is
important that we keep our vow to God when he answers. Hannah heart was so sadden by no son, that
God granted her desire. See God loves his children and wish to give good gifts to his people.

Those who do not have children, I can not promise you will have children, but God knows your heart
and knows what is best. Trust and yield to Him and allow Him to make your joy complete.