1 Samuel 1:4-20

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • VI.12, VII.7, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • On the Lord's Prayer -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Hannah mingled tears with her prayers; she considered the mercy of our God, who knows the troubled soul. God gives us leave, in prayer, not only to ask good things in general, but to mention that special good thing we most need and desire."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "This circumstance is noted as the occasion of the contention, because at such times they were forced to more society with one another, by the way, and in their lodgings; whereas at home they had distinct apartments, where they might be asunder; and then her husband's extraordinary love and kindness was shewed to Hannah, whereby Peninnah was the more exasperated; then also Hannah prayed earnestly for a child, which hitherto she had done in vain; and this possibly she reproached her with."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "The suspicion of the aged priest seems to indicate that the vice of intemperance was neither uncommon nor confined to one sex in those times of disorder. This mistaken impression was immediately removed, and, in the words, "God grant," or rather, "will grant," was followed by an invocation which, as Hannah regarded it in the light of a prophecy pointing to the accomplishment of her earnest desire, dispelled her sadness, and filled her with confident hope [1Sa 1:18]. The character and services of the expected child were sufficiently important to make his birth a fit subject for prophecy."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Ted A. Smith, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "Hannah has always been more than the "type" of the righteous, barren woman who ultimately conceives a child."
  • "Praise the Holy One," Kate Huey, Weekly Seeds, i.UCC.org, 2009.
    • "What does 'returning grace' look like in your life?"
  • 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Pentecost 24, 2009, The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
    • "The Lord works in and through those who are, in many ways, oppressed or sorely placed in the world."
  • 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Pentecost 24, Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "It is true that as we receive the grace and love of God in our lives we are expected to give it back to God and to God's people. Hannah's story becomes a symbol for our lives."
  • Commentary, 1 Samuel 1, Teresa L. Fry Brown, The African American Lectionary, 2008.
    • "This mother’s sacrifice was the son she prayed for in faith. Her actions are ultimately the prelude to a change in leadership for Israel."
  • "Faith and Infertility," study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Cloning," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2005.
  • "The Son and the Psalm of Hannah (1 Samuel 1:1 - 2:10)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "Ironically, the word Hannah uses (“worthless”) is the very term the author uses in chapter 2 (verse 12) to describe the two sons of Eli. She informs him that she has, up to this moment, been speaking out of her agony of soul."
• Articles & Background:
  • "The Nazirite's Secret," Abraham Milgrom. In Jewish Heritage Online Monthly's Topic of the Month: "Hair."
    • "The possibility exists that during Israel's early wars to conquer the land of Canaan, whole armies would vow not to cut their hair until victory was won. This would explain Samson's lifelong dedication to battle the Philistines, the association of Nazirites (and prophets) with the conquest in Amos 2:10-11, and the possible Nazirite vow taken by Deborah's soldiers."
  • Eli and his Two Sons of Belial, from And Adam Knew Eve: A Dictionary of Sex in the Bible by Ronald L. Ecker.
  • Hannah: "Give Thy Handmaid a Manchild," from And Adam Knew Eve: A Dictionary of Sex in the Bible by Ronald L. Ecker.
  • "Who Is in Control?" Francine Fritsch Gikow, Word Among Us, 2005.
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  • Aberbach, David, "MNH 'CHT 'PYM (1 Sam. 1.5): A New Paradigm," Vetus Testamentum, 1974.
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  • Brenner, Athalya, "Female Social Behavior: Two Descriptive Patterns within the 'Birth of the Hero' Paradigm," Vetus Testamentum, 1986.
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  • Brettler, Marc, "The Composition of 1 Samuel 1-2," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1997.
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  • Cartledge, Tony W., "Hannah Asked, and God Heard," Review and Expositor, 2002.
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  • Crafton, Barbara, "We Want Them To Make Up Their Own Minds When They're Older," The Living Pulpit, 2003.
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  • Dyrness, William A., "Waiting in Hope," The Christian Century, 1994.
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  • Firth, David G., "'Play it again, Sam': The Poetics of Narrative Repetition in 1 Samuel 1-7," Tyndale Bulletin, 2005.
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  • Havrelock, Rachel, "The Myth of Birthing the Hero: Heroic Barrenness in the Hebrew Bible," Biblical Interpretation, 2008.
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  • Hill, Robert C., "St John Chrysostom's Homilies on Hannah," St Vladimir's Theological Quarterly, 2001.
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  • Keown, Gerald L., "Prophecy in 1 and 2 Samuel," Review and Expositor, 2002.
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  • Leuchter, Mark, "'Now There Was a [Certain] Man': compositional Chronology in Judges - 1 Samuel," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2007.
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  • Menaul, Marjorie, "Between Text & Sermon: 1 Samuel 1 & 2," Interpretation, 2001. See also the rest of this issue: The Child, Interpretation, 2001.
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  • Spina, Frank Anthony, "Eli's Seat: The Transition from Priest to Prophet in 1 Samuel 1-4," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 1994.
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  • Srubas, Rachel M., "Midrash for Hannah (After 1 Sam. 1:1-20)," Journal for Feminist Studies in Religion, 2001. (Poetry)
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  • Stansell, Gary, "The Gift in Ancient Israel," Semeia, 1999.
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  • Walters, Stanley D., "Hannah and Anna: The Greek and Hebrew Texts of 1 Samuel 1," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1988.
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  • Weingreen, J., "A Rabbinic-Type Gloss in the LXX Version of 1 Samuel 1.18," Vetus Testamentum, 1964.
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  • Westbrook, Raymond, "1 Samuel 1:8," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1990.
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• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "Hannah Rose," James Forbes, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1988.
• With Children:
  • "God Gives Hannah a Baby," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "Hannah," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
  • "Hannah, The Power of Grace," Tim Baker, Debbie Gowensmith, Dennis R. McLaughlin, Erika Moss, Group, 2000. (Youth/teen activities.)
• Drama:
  • "Hannah & Penninah," Linda Wyke, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • Clip Art: Hannah Prays for Child, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: 1 Samuel 1:19. The Cyber Hymnal.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of 1 Samuel