The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-05-02
Samuel, The Last OF The Judges

Samuel, The Last OF The Judges
There was a certain man of Rama
thaim-zophim named Elkanah, who
had two wives: the name of one was
Hannah, and the name of the other
Peninnah. Peninnah had children, bur
Hannah had no children. The family
of Elkanah were scrupulous in the OBJ
servance of the established religion,
going up yearly to worship at Shiloh,
and to sacrifice there to the Lord Of
hosts. Elkanah believed that every
member of his family should share
personally in the offering, so he gave
to Peninnah, his wife, and to all her
sons and daughters, portions; but
unto Hannah he gave worthy por-
ton, even more generous than to the
others; for he greatly loved Hannah.
But Hannah grieved because chill
dren were denied her, fretting about
the matter until she could not eat.
Despite all that Elkanah could do TO
comfort her, she remained .disconso-
late. Nevertheless she made her
affection a subject of prayer; and
while thus agonizing before the Lord
at Shiloh, Eli the priest who sat by
a pillar of the temple marked her, and
was convinced that she was intoxi-
Gated, seeing her lips move and hear
ing no words, and being unaccustomed
to silent prayers on the part OF
worshippers. He therefore rebuked
Hannah numerically, saying, GLOW
long wilt thou be drunken? Put away
wine from thee" And Hannah mildly
defended herself and said, "No, my
lord, | am a woman of sorrowful
spirit: l have drunk neither wine nor
strong drink, but have poured out my
soul before the Lord. Count not thine
handmade for a daughter of Belial:
for out of the abundance of my COM
plant and grief have spoken hither-
to-"
Then Eli repented of his harshness
and said, go in peace; and the God CT
Israel grant thee thy petition that
thou hast asked of him."
Now Hannah had vowed vow, and
said, o Lord of hosts, if thou wilt
indeed look on the affection of thine
handmade, and remember me, and not
forget thine handmade, but wilt give
unto thine handmade man child, then
l will give him unto the Lord all the
days of his life, and then shall no razor
come upon his head. Thus Samuel
was devoted as a Nazirite unto the
Lord, and consecrated to the service
of the Temple when he was only al
desire in the heart of a good woman.
The Lord answered Hannah's
prayer, and in the joy of her heart she
named him Samuel-Asked of the
Lord. Hannah resolved that she would
not go again to Shiloh for the yearly
sacrifice until the child should be old
enough to wean, for she determined to
keep her vow in the minutest details.
Said she, 81 will not go up until the
child be weaned, and then will bring
him, that he may appear before the
Lord, and there abide forever"
There was the best of understanding
between Elkanah and Hannah about
this and all family matters, as is evi-
denced by his ready acceptance of his
wife's plan for the little boys future,
expressed by him in the carte blanche
authority given her, 'Do what seemeth
thee good; only the Lord establish his
word"
The offering given by Elkanah on
occasion of the presentation of Samuel
was far more elaborate than any pre-
vious gift brought by him to Shiloh,
namely three bullocks, and ephah of
flour, and bottle of wine. By bottle
let us understand a wine skin, probab
ly the skin of full grown sheep, con-
tanning several gallons.
When they had come to Eli, Hannah
said: ooh, my lord, as thy soul liv
eth, l am the woman that stood by
thee here, praying unto the Lord. For
this child l prayed; and the Lord hath
given me my petition which I asked OF
him: therefore also have lent him to
the Lord as long as he liveth."