14 Questions
What was Hannah's main reason for praying to YHWH in the temple?
To ask for a child
What did Eli the priest assume about Hannah when she was praying in the temple?
She was drunk
What did Hannah vow to do with her son after he was weaned?
To give him back to YHWH
What did Hannah name her son?
Samuel
What is the Song of Hannah?
A hymn of praise to YHWH for good fortune
What did Hannah bring to Samuel during her annual visit with her husband?
A little robe
What did Eli prophesy to Hannah after she presented Samuel and sacrifices to him?
That she would have other children
What was Hannah's main reason for praying in the temple?
To ask for a son
Why did Eli the priest wrongly accost Hannah?
He thought she was drunk
What did Hannah name her son and what did this signify?
Samuel, expressing women's authority over children
What did Hannah do with Samuel when he was weaned?
She presented him and sacrifices to Eli
What is the significance of the Song of Hannah?
It is a hymn of praise to YHWH for good fortune
What did Eli prophesize about Hannah's future?
She will have other children because of her vow to YHWH
What is the significance of Hannah's vow and sacrifice?
It links the realms of private and public religious life
Study Notes
The Story of Hannah in the Bible
- Hannah was a woman who was tormented by her husband's other wife, Peninnah, for being barren.
- She turned to YHWH in the temple, praying fervently for a son and vowing to give him back to YHWH after weaning him.
- Eli the priest assumed she was drunk and wrongly accosted her, skeptically regarding her personal and private prayer.
- Hannah's prayers were answered by YHWH, and she gave birth to a son whom she named Samuel, expressing women's authority over children.
- She chose to remain at home until Samuel was weaned, and when she finally relinquished him to YHWH, she presented him and sacrifices to Eli.
- The Song of Hannah, a hymn of praise to YHWH for good fortune, interrupts the narrative, distinguishing her among biblical personages.
- Hannah's annual visit with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice emphasizes her motherhood, as she brings a little robe to Samuel.
- Eli prophesies that she will have other children because of her vow to YHWH, and Hannah's story concludes with fulfillment of YHWH's blessing in the form of three additional sons and two daughters.
- Hannah's story demonstrates women's activity in family ritual practices and social responsibility by making a vow that is upheld by her husband.
- She links the realms of private and public religious life by vowing dedication of her son and by bringing her own sacrifice to YHWH in fulfillment of that vow.
- The earliest translation and transmission traditions show "patriarchalizing" of the text in removing Hannah's agency in performing the sacrifice, depriving her of a cultic role that legitimately belongs to her.
- Hannah is recognized as mother of Samuel, who becomes a prophet, judge, and king-maker, and as a good woman who proves herself independent and resourceful.
Discover the inspiring story of Hannah in the Bible by taking this quiz! Test your knowledge on Hannah's struggles with infertility, her fervent prayer to God, and her vow to dedicate her son to the Lord. Learn about Hannah's strength and resourcefulness as a woman in biblical times, and how her story paved the way for women's roles in family and religious practices. Don't miss out on the chance to deepen your understanding of this remarkable biblical figure!
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
