Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 1 Samuel 1:11 She made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Samuel 1:11 She made a vow, saying, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction (suffering) of Your maidservant and remember, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life; a razor shall never touch his head." |
Bible Question: I have spent a lot of time recently reading the story of Hannah. I have read her prayer for Samuel, and I have read her song from when she delivered Samuel to Eli. I don't believe that Hannah made a "deal" with God, but the wording of her prayer gave me that idea at first. I have spent a lot of time reading the books that precede this story in an attempt to understand what her spiritual heritage would have been, hoping to understand what she meant, not what I read in a translation of a text written down long after the fact. I need some perspective on this. Who can help? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Katherine! The story of Hanna is an excellent one for study! I don't believe that Hanna "made a deal" with God either.. In her song she did mention that "Even the barren gives birth to seven, but she who has many children languishes." (1 Sam. 2:5) God often reverses human circumstances, and God answered her prayer! (1 Sam. 1:11) God took notice of how she reacted, immediately after her request was made: her face was no longer sad and she did not fast (v. 18), and He granted her request with a son (v. 19-20). Such a reaction is evidence of faith and devotion! And sure enough, when it came time for her son to be weaned, and she gave him to the Lord's service! (1 Sam. 1:26-28) Surely, the Lord could have raised up any prophet that He liked. But He chose barren and humble Hanna, who displayed a pure devotion to her Lord, to bring Samuel into the world, who would eventually become the Judge of all Israel. Blessings to you, Makarios |