Women of Note in the Old Testament
35
and Eli the high priest, observing Hannah, supposed that she was
overcome with wine. Thinking to administer a deserved rebuke, he
said sternly, “How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from
thee.”
Pained and startled, Hannah answered gently, “No, my lord, I am
a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong
drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Count not thine
handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my
complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.”
The high priest was deeply moved, for he was a man of God; and
in place of rebuke he uttered a blessing: “Go in peace: and the God of
Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of Him.”
[41]
Hannah’s prayer was granted; she received the gift for which she
had so earnestly entreated. As she looked upon the child, she called
him Samuel—“asked of God.”—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 569, 570
(1890)
.
During the first three years of the life of Samuel the prophet, his
mother carefully taught him to distinguish between good and evil. By
every familiar object surrounding him, she sought to lead his thoughts
up to the Creator. In fulfillment of her vow to give her son to the
Lord, with great self-denial she placed him under the care of Eli the
high priest, to be trained for service in the house of God. Though
Samuel’s youth was passed at the tabernacle devoted to the worship
of God, he was not free from evil influences or sinful example. The
sons of Eli feared not God, nor honored their father; but Samuel did
not seek their company nor follow their evil ways. His early training
led him to choose to maintain his Christian integrity. What a reward
was Hannah’s! And what an encouragement to faithfulness is her
example!—
The Review and Herald, September 8, 1904
.
From Shiloh, Hannah quietly returned to her home at Ramah,
leaving the child Samuel to be trained for service in the house of God,
under the instruction of the high priest. From the earliest dawn of
intellect, she had taught her son to love and reverence God, and to
regard himself as the Lord’s. By every familiar object surrounding
him, she had sought to lead his thoughts up to the Creator. When
separated from her child, the faithful mother’s solicitude did not cease.
Every day he was the subject of her prayers. Every year she made,
with her own hands, a robe of service for him; and as she went up with