1 Samuel 1: "For This child I Prayed"

Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, (2002), 90–91

President Spencer W. Kimball said, “Someday, when the whole story of this and previous dispensations is told, it will be filled with courageous stories of our women, of their wisdom and their devotion, their courage, for one senses that perhaps, just as women were the first at the sepulchre of the Lord Jesus Christ after his resurrection, our righteous women have so often been instinctively sensitive to things of eternal consequence” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1978, 6; or Ensign, May 1978, 5).Samuel’s mother, Hannah, could certainly be considered one of the women President Kimball referred to. As you read 1 Samuel 1, look for instances that show her greatness. Consider what it means for children to have parents like Hannah and Elkenah. Learning about them gives us examples to follow when we become parents.
Spencer W. Kimball

Understanding the Scriptures

1 Samuel 1

Gave … portions (v. 4)The law of Moses allowed the priest to keep some of the meat of a sacrifice offering for food. Some of the rest was returned to the family after the meat was cooked on the altar. Each family member received “portions,” or parts, of what was returned to the family. 
Worthy portion (v. 5)Greater part 
Adversary (v. 6)Enemy, meaning the other wife, who was her rival 
Provoked her sore (v. 6)Continually tried to upset her 
Fret (v. 6)Unhappy and worried 
Grieved (v. 8)Sad 
Bitterness (v. 10)Sadness 
Sore (v. 10)Much 
Vow (vv. 11, 21)Promise 
Affliction (v. 11)Trouble or misery 
No razor come upon his head (v. 11)Not cut his hair (see Bible Dictionary, “Nazarite,” p. 737) 
Abundance of my complaint and grief (v. 16)Great pain and sadness 
Petition (vv. 17, 27)Request 
Countenance (v. 18)Face, expression 
Knew his wife (v. 19)Conceived a child with his wife 
Weaned (vv. 22–24)No longer fed by a mother’s milk. Among the Israelites at this time, mothers usually breast-fed their children for three years. 
Establish (v. 23)Fulfill 
Abode (v. 23)Stayed home 
Suck (v. 23)Milk from the breast 
Lent (v. 28)Given 

Studying the Scriptures

Do two of the following activities (A–C) as you study 1 Samuel 1.

Activity A iconHow to Meet Challenges

From the events you read about in 1 Samuel 1, what can you learn from Hannah to apply to your own life’s experiences?

Activity B iconWhat Do You Think It Would Be Like?

Describe what you think it would be like to be Hannah’s child. Include in your answer some qualities you read about in 1 Samuel that show what kind of mother Hannah was.

Activity C iconHow Do You Dedicate Yourself to God?

Because Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord’s service, Samuel would grow up with the priests and work with the tabernacle all his life. Obviously, we do not dedicate our children to the Lord in the same way today; however, what do you think you could do as a parent to give your children the feeling Samuel had growing up, the feeling that he belonged to the Lord and was specially dedicated to the Lord’s service all his life?

Eli, the boy Samuel, Hannah