1 SAMUEL LESSON 1


     The books of first and second Samuel were originally thought of
as one book. It is not known who penned the books of Samuel. Perhaps,
Samuel, himself penned some of it. The main theme of the study is
Israel wanting a king like all the other nations around them. This was
displeasing to God, but He allowed it. In this book, we will see the
prayers of a mother for a son. Samuel is a product of prayer. He was
dedicated to God, before his birth, and lived his entire life in the
service of God. The three main characters of the book are Samuel, Saul
and David. The name "Samuel" means heard of God, or asked of God.

     We will now begin the verse by verse study. I Samuel 1:1 "Now
there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, 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:"

     Samuel was of the tribe of Levi. It will not be stressed that he
is a Levite, because of the miracle way he became a prophet, seer, and
judge. There are just a few in the Bible that this type of thing
happened to. One other in the Old Testament was Samson, and one in the
New Testament was John the Baptist. They were all servants of God from
birth. Samuel is the same name as Shemuel. "Elkanah" means whom God
possess. Elkanah is a common name among the Kohathites. Perhaps, this
was because they were to serve the LORD all the days of their lives.
Ramathaim-zophim is, probably, the same place as Ramah, where Samuel
lived. Zophim was the name of the district, and Ramah was the central
city. Elkanah was their leader. This was an inheritance of Ephraim. It
had first been allotted to Benjamin, but was at the time of this
writing of Ephraim.

     I Samuel 1:2 "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."

     Elkanah was a very wealthy, influential man. "Hannah" means
grace, or prayer. She was the favorite of Elkanah, even though she had
no children. "Peninnah" means coral, or red pearl. It was legal for
men to have two wives, but it generally did not work out very well. In
nearly every case, there was extreme jealousy between the women. God
really did not intend for the dual marriage to be allowed. {They two
are to become one flesh}.

     I Samuel 1:3 "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."

     This is speaking of Elkanah going once a year to Shiloh {where
the ark was} to worship. We remember, they were supposed to go three
times a year, but many of them had reduced this to the one time in the
year. We know that Elkanah was a religious man and was even from the
Levitical tribe. He, probably, went up at Passover, because it was the
most important of the three Feasts. Eli was the judge for 40 years and
was, also, high priest. It appears, his sons were acting priests in
the tabernacle. "Eli" means my god. "Hophni" means
pugilist. Pugilist means fighter, or professional boxer. "Phinehas"
means mouth.

     I Samuel 1:4  "And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he
gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters,
portions:" I Samuel 1:5 "But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for
he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb."

     We know that the family ate the Passover lamb, so this makes it
seem even more like this is the feast they have gone to celebrate.
The "worthy portion" is speaking of Hannah getting twice as much. It
appears, that Hannah was the favorite of Elkanah.

     I Samuel 1:6 "And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to
make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb."

     The adversary of all of us is the devil. In this case, the devil
was stirring up jealousy between the two wives. Hannah was jealous
because of Peninnah's children. Peninnah was jealous, because Elkanah
loved Hannah the most. Hebrew women felt that they were cursed of God,
if they did not have children.

     I Samuel 1:7 "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."

     It seems, the hurt that Hannah felt had been going on for several
years. It seemed, also, the family being together at Passover just
made it worse. Peninnah, probably, was saying ugly things to Hannah
about her being barren. Hannah was so heartsick about not having
children, that she wept, and refused to eat. Peninnah tried to provoke
her, too.

     I Samuel 1:8 "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?"

     It seemed that, Elkanah truly loved Hannah. He was concerned that
she was upset.

     I Samuel 1:9  "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."

     This does not mean that Hannah drank and ate. It is speaking of
the rest of the family eating and drinking. Hannah is in the
sanctuary. Eli, the high priest, is in the tabernacle at this time.
This "post" is speaking of the entrance to the holy place. Eli was
sitting on something like a throne. He was there, so all who
worshipped walked before him.

     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.

     I Samuel 1:24  "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."

     This would be terribly difficult for a mother to do, but she had
made a vow to the LORD, and she kept it. The three bullocks, one ephah
of flour, and the wine were all an offering to the LORD. It appears,
that Samuel was just a toddler, when he was brought to the LORD.

     I Samuel 1:25 "And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to
Eli."

     This one bullock was, possibly, to be for a burnt offering for
the dedication of Samuel.

     I Samuel 1:26 "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."

     We remember that, Eli had not heard what she had prayed for. He
had answered her request, by saying God had answered her prayer. This
is the first time that Eli is aware she had promised her son to God.
It had been awhile since he had seen her, so she had to remind him of
who she is.

     I Samuel 1:27 "For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given
me my petition which I asked of him:"  I Samuel 1:28 "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."

     What she is really saying is, that she has given her son back to
the LORD. She had promised she would give him to the service of the
LORD all the days of his life, and she is fulfilling that vow. Eli
realizes what the magnitude of this is, and worships the LORD. Samuel
will never stop being her son, but he will never stop being God's
servant either. He will be trained by Eli, the high priest, in the
ways of the LORD.


                        1 Samuel 1 Questions


1.  Who penned the books of Samuel?
2.  What is the main theme?
3.  Samuel is the product of ___________.
4.  When was Samuel dedicated to the LORD?
5.  Who are the three main characters in this book?
6.  Samuel was of the tribe of _________.
7.  Why is it not stressed in this lesson?
8.  Samuel is the same name as __________.
9.  What does "Elkanah" mean?
10. In what branch of the Levitical tribe, is Elkanah a common name?
11. Ramathaim-zophim is the same place as __________.
13. Zophim was the name of the ___________.
14. Elkanah was their ________.
15. Elkanah was a very __________, __________ man.
16. Which of the wives was Elkanah's favorite?
17. What does "Hannah" mean?
18. What was one reason it was not wise to have two wives?
19. Where did Elkanah go once a year to worship?
20. Who was the high priest at this time?
21. Who were his two sons, who served as priests?
22. What particular feast did he, probably, attend?
23. What does "Hophni" mean?
24. What does "Phinehas" mean?
25. Who ate the passover lamb?
26. Why did Elkanah give Hannah twice as much as the others?
27. Who is the adversary?
28. How did Hebrew women feel about not having children?
29. How did Hannah show her grief?
30. What questions did Elkanah ask Hannah?
31. What is the "post", in verse 9, speaking of?
32. Why was Eli there?
33. What is verse 10 really saying?
34. What vow did Hannah make to the LORD?
35. What did Eli think was wrong with Hannah?
36. What does "Belial" mean in verse 16?
37. Who is Eli speaking for in verse 17?
38. What happened, soon after they returned home?
39. What did she name her son?
40. What does "Samuel" mean?
41. Why did she not take him to the tabernacle his first year of life?
42. When did she take Samuel to Eli?
43. They slew a __________, and brought the child to Eli.
44. What did Hannah remind Eli of?
45. How did she fulfill the vow she had made to God?