(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
1 Samuel 1:19–28, “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. 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. And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 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. 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. 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. And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 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. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 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.”
Hannah left the Tabernacle after the time for pilgrimage was finished with joy because she had faith in her heart. She followed her regular pattern of life but made sure she did what was essential for the Lord to give her the son that she requested. In the course of time she fell pregnant and was delivered of a healthy boy. Hannah had made a solemn promise to the Lord that she would dedicate her child as a lifelong Nazarite when he was born. She also promised that she would give her son to serve the Lord at the Tabernacle as soon as he was old enough to leave his mother. When the time for pilgrimage arrived again she stayed at home and remained there until her son was weaned. She then went up to the Tabernacle with some animals and other food to offer as a sacrifice. When she had offered the sacrifices she took the boy, who she called Samuel, which means “the Lord hears” to Eli and told him that this was the child that she had prayed for. Samuel was dedicated to the Lord’s service for the rest of his life but his mother visited him on a regular basis as long as she was able. Samuel was to be one of the great men of Israel’s history and play a very important role in the history of redemption.
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