1 Samuel 1:19-23

Samuel's birth. 1 Samuel 1:19-23

19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshiped 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.

26.

Where was Ramah? 1 Samuel 1:19

Ramah was on the site of the present village Ar-Ram, a hill-top two hour's journey northwest of Jerusalem. People like to live on the tops of hills. This has been true throughout the history of the human family. It is especially true that cities were set on hills. Jesus makes reference to the fact that a city set on a hill cannot be hid (Matthew 5:14 b). The word Ramah means height. Samuel's home was on a high place evidently, and it was a unique place with a couple of prominent spots. For that reason it was called Ramathaim-zophim in the first verse of this chapter. Here is is called only Ramah.

27.

What does Samuel mean? 1 Samuel 1:20

There has been a great deal of controversy and doubt surrounding this name for generations. There have been theories proposed and definitions offered such as meaning name of God and asked of God. Some of these are not satisfactory. These different interpretations are due to the falling of the word samu from the Israelitish tongue. The original meaning, as borne out by a student of ancient Assyrian dialect, is name of God. Hannah may have named him this because she had asked him and received him from the Lord. Probably the name means God-heard, the implication being that his mother realized that Samuel was a direct answer to her prayer.

28.

What were Elkanah's sacrifice and vow? 1 Samuel 1:21

Every Israelite was expected to go to the Tabernacle to make sacrifice. He might make a burnt offering, a peace offering, a meal offering, a sin offering, or a trespass offering (Leviticus 1-6). In addition to offerings and sacrifices which he was to make, he might perform different vows. He could vow some of his land, his buildings, his servants, his children, or some of his animals (Leviticus 27). These were free and voluntary vows. We are not told what Elkanah's vow was, but he went to the Tabernacle to perform it. It may have been that he was making a sacrifice regularly until such time as he could join Hannah in fulfilling the vow to give Samuel to the Lord.

29.

How long was it before Samuel was weaned? 1 Samuel 1:22

Hebrew children were not weaned as early as modern American children. It was not uncommon for them to be nursed by their mother for several years. Some of these practices are carried over in more primitive civilizations today, and we are led to believe that Samuel stayed at home until he was able to take care of himself with very little help. This is the meaning of his being weaned. We doubt that he would be presented to Eli before he was able to care for himself, to wash, and to dress, and be content away from home.

30.

Why did Elkanah expect the Lord to establish His word? 1 Samuel 1:23

Elkanah evidently expected conditions to prevail in such a way that they would be able to fulfill their vow to present Samuel as the Lord's servant. They had only the word of Eli, the High Priest, that the prayer of Hannah would be heard. God had confirmed this benediction of Eli in that Hannah had conceived and borne a son. No doubt Elkanah was anxious that no misfortune befall Samuel and make it impossible for them to carry out their end of the vow.