It happened, as she continued praying before Yahweh, that Eli marked her mouth.
Prayer in the ancient world was usually audible (cf. Psalms 3:4; Psalms 4:1; Psalms 6:9; et al.; Daniel 6:10-11). [Note: Ronald F. Youngblood, "1, 2 Samuel," in Deuteronomy-2 Samuel, vol. 3 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, p. 573.] Pouring out one’s soul before God (1 Samuel 1:15) graphically describes earnest, burdened praying. [Note: G. W. Ahlstrom, "1 Samuel 1, 15," Biblica 60:2 (1979):254.] This kind of praying normally results in a release of anxiety, as it did in Hannah’s case (1 Samuel 1:18; cf. Philippians 4:6-7).