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HANNAH:
THE POWER OF CONVERSATIONAL PRAYER
There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the region of Zuph
in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of
Tohu, son of Zuph, of Ephraim. Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and
Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. Each year Elkanah
would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of Heaven’s
Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the Lord at that time were the two
sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas. On the days Elkanah presented his
sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her
children. And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice
portion[a] because the Lord had given her no children. So Peninnah would
taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from
having children. Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt
Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be
reduced to tears and would not even eat. “Why are you crying, Hannah?”
Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just
because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having
ten sons?” Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went
to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance
of the Tabernacle. Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she
prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if
you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son,
then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as
a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.” As
she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but
hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. “Must you come here
drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I
haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged,
and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Don’t think I am a wicked
woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” “In that
case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you
have asked of him.” “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back
and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad. The entire family got
up early the next morning and went to worship the Lord once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, I’mthe Lord remembered her plea, and in due time she gave birth to a son
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