I Samuel 1
ืฉืืืื ืืณ ืคืจืง ืืณ
Section: ื ืืืืื ยท ื ืืืืื ืจืืฉืื ืื | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 1 of 31 | Day: 46 of 742
Date: March 29, 2026
ืงืืืื ืขื ืื ืดื
The opening chapter of I Samuel is one of the great threshold narratives of the Hebrew Bible, marking the transition from the chaotic period of the Judges to the era of prophecy and monarchy. At its center stands Hannah, a barren woman whose personal anguish becomes the catalyst for national transformation. The Talmud (Berakhot 31a-b) derives numerous laws of prayer from Hannahโs silent supplication, recognizing in her not merely a desperate mother but a theological innovator who modeled a new form of communion with God.
The chapterโs opening genealogy situates Elkanah in Ramathaim-Zophim, in the hill country of Ephraim. Rashi, following the Talmud (Megillah 14a), explains that the name Zophim alludes to prophecy, hinting that this family already carries prophetic lineage. Radak elaborates that Elkanah was a Levite from the sons of Korah who dwelt in Ephraimite territory, and he notes the deliberate contrast with the previous narrative of the concubine at Gibeah โ another Levite from Mount Ephraim whose story brought catastrophe, whereas this one brings redemption.
The domestic drama between Hannah and Peninnah plays out against the backdrop of annual pilgrimage to the Tabernacle at Shiloh. Peninnahโs provocation of Hannah is described with the verb โthunder,โ suggesting a sustained campaign of humiliation. Yet Elkanahโs love for Hannah, expressed through the double portion, cannot compensate for her barrenness.
Hannahโs vow to dedicate her son as a nazirite โall the days of his lifeโ echoes the Samson narrative but with crucial differences. Where Samsonโs mother received a passive angelic announcement, Hannah actively initiates her covenant with God. Eli the priest, witnessing her moving lips without sound, mistakes her for a drunkard โ an irony the rabbis note with care. The chapter concludes with the birth of Samuel and Hannahโs fulfillment of her vow, bringing the weaned child to Shiloh for lifelong service.
ืคืจืง ืืณ ยท Chapter 1
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1
Hebrew:
ืึทืึฐืึดืึฉ ืึดึจืืฉื ืึถืึธึื ืึดืึพืึธืจึธืึธืชึทึืึดื ืฆืึนืคึดึืื ืึตืึทึฃืจ ืึถืคึฐืจึธึืึดื ืึผืฉืึฐืึกืึน ืึถึ ืึฐืงึธื ึธึ ื ืึผึถืึพืึฐืจึนืึธึงื ืึผึถืึพืึฑืึดืืึืึผื ืึผึถืึพืชึผึนึฅืืึผ ืึถืึพืฆึืึผืฃ ืึถืคึฐืจึธืชึดึฝืื
English:
There was a man from Ramathaim of the Zuphites,aRamathaim of the Zuphites Heb. โRamathaim-zophim.โ In 1.19; 2.11; 7.17; 15.34; 19.18, etc., the town is called Ramah; and 9.5ff. shows that it was in the district of Zuph. in the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 2
Hebrew:
ืึฐืืึนึ ืฉืึฐืชึผึตึฃื ื ึธืฉืึดึืื ืฉืึตึคื ืึทืึทืชึ ืึทื ึผึธึื ืึฐืฉืึตึฅื ืึทืฉืึผึตื ึดึืืช ืคึผึฐื ึดื ึผึธึื ืึทืึฐืึดึคื ืึดืคึฐื ึดื ึผึธืึ ืึฐืึธืึดึืื ืึผืึฐืึทื ึผึธึื ืึตึฅืื ืึฐืึธืึดึฝืืื
English:
He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah; Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 3
Hebrew:
ืึฐืขึธืึธืึฉ ืึธืึดึจืืฉื ืึทืึคืึผื ืึตึฝืขึดืืจืึนึ ืึดืึผึธืึดึฃืืโืโืึธืึดึืืึธื ืึฐืึดึฝืฉืึฐืชึผึทืึฒืึบึงืช ืึฐืึดืึฐืึผึนึืึท ืึทืืึนืึธึฅื ืฆึฐืึธืึืึนืช ืึผึฐืฉืึดืึนึื ืึฐืฉืึธึื ืฉืึฐื ึตึฃื ืึฐื ึตึฝืึพืขึตืึดึื ืืืคึฐื ึดืึ ืึผืคึดึฃื ึฐืึธึืก ืึผึนืึฒื ึดึืื ืึทืืึนืึธึฝืื
English:
This manbThis man I.e., he with his household. used to go up from his town every year to worship and to offer sacrifice to GOD of Hosts at Shiloh.โHophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of GOD there.
Elkanah's annual pilgrimage to the Tabernacle at Shiloh is described. The Midrash says he would take a different route each year to encourage others to join. The mention of Eli's corrupt sons Hophni and Phinehas foreshadows the crisis at Shiloh.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึฐืขึธืึธื ืึธืึดืืฉื. ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืืึนืึถื ืืึผื, ืึธืึธื ืขืึนืึถื ืึดืึฐึผืึทื ืืึนืขึตื ืึฐืืึนืขึตื ืึฐืฉึดืืืึนื. ืึผืึดืึฐืจึทืฉื ืึทืึธึผืึธื (ืืืงืื ืฉืืขืื ื ืฉื): ืึฐึผืึถืจึถืึฐ ืฉึถืืึธืึธื ืขืึนืึถื ืึฐึผืฉึธืื ึธื ืืึน, ืึนื ืึธืึธื ืขืึนืึถื ืึฐึผืฉึธืื ึธื ืึทืึถืจึถืช, ืึฐึผืึตื ืึฐืึทืฉึฐืืึดืืขึท ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืึฐืึทืขึฒืฉืืึผ ืึฐืืึนืชืึน:
This man would go up. This is the present tense, i.e., he would go up from one appointed season to another, to Shilo.8He would go to Shiloh on the three pilgrimage festivals of Pesach, Shavuos and Sukkos. The Midrash Aggadah [renders] that the route he followed this year he did not take the next year in order to publicize [his pilgrimage] to the Bnei Yisroel that they should do likewise.9See Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachos 9:5.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืขืื ืืืืฉ ืืืื. ืืขืืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืขืืืช ืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืฉื ื, ืืืฉืชืืืช ืืืืืื ืืืณ: ืืื ืื. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืกืื ื ืืืืื ื, ืื ืขืื ืืืืื ืฉืืืฉ ืืืืื ื ืืืืื:
This man used to go up: His custom was always to go up to Shiloh every year, to bow down and sacrifice to God. Priests: Meaning to say, assistants of the [high] priesthood. As their father, Eli, served as the high priest.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืขืื. ืื ืืื ืขืืฉื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืฉื ื ืฉืืื ืขืืื ืืฉืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืขืืจื ืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืืืจื ืื ื ืขืืจื ืืขืืืช, ืืืืจืฉ ืื ืืืจื ืฉืืื ืขืืื ืืฉื ื ืื ืืื ืขืืื ืืฉื ื ืืืจืช ืืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืื ืขืืื ืืืจื ืืืจืช ืืฉืืื ืืืฉืืืข ืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืืืขืืืช ืืืชื ืืฉืืื: ืืืืื ืืืืื. ืืฉื ื ืืฉื ื ืืื ืืฉืืจืช ืืช ืืืงื ืืืืช ืืืืขืื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืื ืคื' ืืืืขื ืืืืขื ืืืช"ื ืืืื ืืืขื ืืืืขื: ืืืฉืชืืืืช ืืืืืื. ืืืชืคืื ืืคื ื ื' ืืืืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืืขื, ืืืืจืฉ ืจ' ืืืขื ืืฉื ืจืื ืืฆืืง ืฉืงืืื ืชืคืืื ืื ืื ืืงืจืื ืืช ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืฉืชืืืืช ืืืืืื ืืจืื ื ืืืจื ืืืืื ืชืคืืื ืืืชืจ ืืื ืืงืจืื ืืช ืืืชืื ืืืฉืชืืืืช ืืืืจ ืื ืืืืื: ืืฉื ืฉื ื ืื ื ืขืื. ืืืจื ืขื ืืืืืื ืืคื ืื ืฉืขืชืื ืืืืืจ ืขืืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืขืืฉืื ืืงืจืื ืืช:
And he went up: So would he do every year, as he would go up to Shiloh to sacrifice. And that which it stated, "from his city," is to say that he would encourage the people of his city to go up. And in the homiletical teachings - he would not go next year the way that he went this year, but would rather go a different way each year in order to make Israel know [about this] and to bring them up to Shiloh. Year by year (lit., from days to days): From year to year, as in, "And you shall keep this statute in its time, from days to days" (Exodus 13:10). Or (alternatively), its explanation is from the set time to the set time; and likewise Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, "from the time of the set time to the set time." To bow down and to sacrifice: To pray before the Lord and to sacrifice the sacrifice of the holiday there. And in the homiletical teachings: Rabbi Elah in the name of Rabbi Yitzchak, "Prayer is equal to the sacrifices, as it is stated, 'to bow down and to sacrifice.'" But the Sages say, "Prayer is more beloved than all of the sacrifices, as it is [first] written, 'to bow down,' and afterwards, 'to sacrifice.'" And the sons of Eli were there: It mentioned them concerning the sacrifices, on account of what it will mention in the future about them, that which they would do with the sacrifices.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 4
Hebrew:
ืึทืึฐืึดึฃื ืึทืึผึืึนื ืึทืึผึดืึฐืึผึทึื ืึถืึฐืงึธื ึธึื ืึฐื ึธืชึทึื ืึดืคึฐื ึดื ึผึธึฃื ืึดืฉืึฐืชึผึืึน ืึผึฝืึฐืืืึพืึผึธื ึถึืืึธ ืึผืึฐื ืึนืชึถึืืึธ ืึธื ึฝืึนืชื
English:
One such day, Elkanah offered a sacrifice. He used to give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters;
Elkanah distributes portions of the peace-offering to Peninnah and all her children. Radak explains this was customary at pilgrimage festivals, and the multiple portions given to Peninnah's family highlighted Hannah's painful isolation.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึทืึฐืึดื ืึทืึผืึนื. ืดืชึทึผืจึฐืึผืึผื: ืดืึทืึฒืึธื ืืึนื ืืึนืขึฒืึธื:
It happened on the day. It happened on the festive day.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืื ืืืื. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ ; ืืืืฉืจ ืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืืืช ืงืจืื ืืชืื, ืืื ืืืงื ื ืืืื ืฉืืืื, ืืืื ื ืืชื ืืคื ืื ื ืืืืณ ืื ืืช ืืืื ืืฉืืืื:
And it was on that day: Meaning to say, when the day came that he would bring his sacrifices, Elkanah would sacrifice peace-offerings and he would give portions to Peninah, etc. from the sacrifice of the peace-offerings.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืื ืืืื. ืืื ืืืขื ืืืช"ื ืืืื ืืืืขืื ืืืืจืฉ ืจ' ืืืืฉืข ืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืฉื ืขืฆืจืช: ืื ืชื ืืคื ืื ื. ืื ืืฉืืืื ืฉืืื ืืืื:
And it was on that day: The day of the set time; and likewise did Yonatan translate it [in the Targum] as, "the day of the set time." And in the homiletical teachings: Rabbi Yehoshua be Levi said, "This was the day of Shavuot." And he would give to Peninah from the peace-offerings that he would sacrifice.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 5
Hebrew:
ืึผืึฐืึทื ึผึธึื ืึดืชึผึตึื ืึธื ึธึฅื ืึทืึทึืช ืึทืคึผึธึืึดื ืึผึดึคื ืึถืชึพืึทื ึผึธืึ ืึธืึตึื ืึทืืึนืึธึื ืกึธืึทึฅืจ ืจึทืึฐืึธึฝืึผื
English:
but to Hannah he would give one portion onlyโthoughconlyโthough Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Hannah was his favoriteโfor GOD had closed her womb.
Elkanah gives Hannah a single distinguished portion, expressing his love despite her childlessness. The commentators debate the meaning of 'apayim' -- Rashi reads it as a choice portion meant to show affection, while Radak's father interprets it as given 'in anger' at her barrenness.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึธื ึธื ืึทืึทืช ืึทืคึธึผืึดื. (ืชืจืืื:) ืดืืึผืึทืง ืึทื ืึฐึผืึดืืจืด, ืึธืจึธืืึผื ืึฐืึดืชึฐืงึทืึตึผื ืึฐึผืกึตืึถืจ ืคึธึผื ึดืื ืึธืคืึนืช:
One choice portion. One choice portion which is fit to be accepted with a friendly countenance.10ืึทืคึผึธืึดื referring to the face rather than to the portion. Ralbag renders โa double sized portion.โ
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืื ื ืืืช. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืืืืืช ืืืืคื, ืืืชืืกืคืช ืืืืืจ ืืืจ ืณืืคืืืณ, ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืจืืืื ืืงืื ืืืชื ืืกืืจ ืคื ืื ืืคืืช: ืืืณ ืกืืจ ืจืืื, ืืื ืืืื, ืืืืชื ืืฆืืจื ืืืื ืืจืื ืื ืืืื ืืชืืจื ืืืคืื ืฆืขืจื:
One portion: Meaning to say, unique in its fineness. And to explain further, it said, "apayim (face)" - one fitting to be received with a joyful face. But the Lord had closed her womb: So she did not give birth and she was distressed. And that is why he showed her extra love, to mitigate her pain.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืื ื ืืชื. ืืื ื ืชื ืืื ืื ืืื ื ืืืืฉืข ืื ืืืืื ืืฉื ืืืืืืื ืืื: ืื ื ืืืช ืืคืื. ืื ื ืืืช ื ืืืืช ืืืฉืื ืืคื ืืืขืกื ืืื ืืจื ืืคืื ืืจื ืืขืก ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืืืืง ืื ืืืืจ ืจ"ื ืื ื ืืจืืืื ืืืชืงืื ืืกืืจ ืคื ืื ืืคืืช, ืืืืจืฉ ืืื ืืคืื ืื ืคืืืช ืืคืื ืืกืืจ ืคื ืื ืืคืืช ืืคืื ืื ืื ืคื ืื ื ืืืืืื ืืืืื ื ืืื ื"ื ืคื' ืืคืื ืืขืก ืืืืืจ ืืืขืก ืืื ื ืืชื ืื ืื ื ืืืช ืืื ืืคื ืฉืืฉ"ื ืกืืจ ืืช ืจืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืื ืฉืืชื ืื ืื ืืช ืืื ืืื ื ืคื ืื ื ืืื ืื ืืขืก ืืขืฆื ืืื ืืคื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืื ื ืืืื ืืชืืื ืืืืืช ืื ืืื ื ืื ืื: ืื' ืกืืจ ืืช ืจืืื. ืชืจืื ืืื ืชื ืื ืงืื ื' ืืืชืื ืข ืื ืืื:
But to Hannah he would give (lit., he will give): It is like, he gave - like (other examples of the future tense indicating the past), "Then Yehoshua will build" (Joshua 8:30); "Then Moshe will separate" (Deuteronomy 4:41). One portion, apayim (face)": One distinguished portion to assuage her rage and her anger. And likewise, "long of face (arekh apayim)," is long to anger. And Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, "a choice portion" - meaning to say, a portion fitting to be received with a joyful face. And in the homiletical teachings: What is "face?" For the falling of the face, with a pleasant face. Face corresponding to Peninah and her children. But my master, my father, may his memory be blessed, explained apayim as anger. That is to say, he would give her only one portion in anger, because God, may He be blessed, sealed her womb, and she did not have children for him to give portions to her, like with the children of Peninah. He was angry and sad about this, since he loved Channah and desired to have children from her. But the Lord had closed her womb: Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, "She was prevented from having a child before God. "
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 6
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึดืขึฒืกึทึคืชึผึธื ืฆึธืจึธืชึธืึผึ ืึผึทืึพืึผึทึืขึทืก ืึผึทืขึฒืึืึผืจ ืึทืจึผึฐืขึดืึธึืึผ ืึผึดึฝืึพืกึธืึทึฅืจ ืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึผึฐืขึทึฅื ืจึทืึฐืึธึฝืึผื
English:
Moreover, her rival, to make her miserable, would taunt her that GOD had closed her womb.
Peninnah deliberately provokes Hannah about her barrenness, asking mocking questions about buying clothes for children she does not have. The Talmud (Bava Batra 16a) controversially suggests Peninnah had good intentions -- to drive Hannah to pray more fervently.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืฆึธืจึธืชึธืึผ. ืึตืฉึถืืช ืึทึผืขึฐืึธืึผ, ืคึฐึผื ึดื ึธึผื: ืึทึผื ืึทึผืขึทืก. ืึทึผืขึทืก ืึทืึทืจ ืึทึผืขึทืก, ืชึธึผืึดืื, ืึฐืึธืึฐ ื ึถืึฑืึทืจ ืณืึทึผื ืึทึผืขึทืกืณ, ืึธืึฐืชึธื ืืึนืึถืจึถืช ืึธืึผ: ืึฐึผืืึผื ืงึธื ึดืืช ืึทืึผืึนื ืึทืขึฒืคืึนืจึถืช ืึดืึผึฐื ึตืึฐ ืึธึผืืึนื, ืืึน ืึธืืึผืง ืึดืึผึฐื ึตืึฐ ืงึธืึธื: ืึทึผืขึฒืืึผืจ ืึทืจึฐืขึดืึธืึผ. ืฉึถืืชึดึผืชึฐืืึนื ึตื, ืึฐืจึทืึผืึนืชึตืื ืึผ ืึธืึฐืจืึผ (ืืื ืืชืจื ืื.): ืึทึผืขึฒืืึผืจ ืึทืจึฐืขึดืืึธืึผ, ืฉึถืืชึดึผืชึฐืคึทึผืึตึผื, ืึฐืึฐืฉึตืื ืฉึธืืึทืึดื ื ึดืชึฐืึทึผืึฐึผื ึธื: ืึฐึผืขึทื ืจึทืึฐืึธืึผ. ืึฐึผื ึถืึถื ืจึทืึฐืึธืึผ, ืึฐืึตื ืึธึผื ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืณืึฐึผืขึทืืณ:
Her rival. Her husband's other wife, Penina. Frequently anger. Anger after anger, i.e., always.' Therefore it is written 'also [ืึตื] anger.' She would say to her, "Did you buy your older son a cloak today, or your younger son, a shirt?" In order that she should complain. In order to make her complain. Our Rabbis explain, 'in order to make her storm,' that she pray. Penina had good intentions.11 Maseches Bava Basra 16a. Her womb. Lit., opposite her womb, and so is every expression of the word .12See Rashi, Bereishis 7:16.ืึผึฐืขึทื
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืขืกืชื ืฆืจืชื. ืคื ืื ื ืฆืจืชื, ืืืชื ืืืขืกืช ืืืชื, ืืืืจืื: ืื ืืขืก. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืืืืจืช ืืืืขืกืช ืคืขืืื ืจืืืช: ืืขืืืจ ืืจืขืืื. ืืืื ืฉืชืืื ืื ื ืืขืืคื ืืงืฆืืคื: ืื ืืณ ืกืืจ ืจืืื. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืืื ืืื ืืงืื ืืคื ืื ื ืืืืขืืกื, ืืืื ืฉืืืจื ืจืืืชืื ื ืืดื (ืืืงืื ืฉืืขืื ื ืจืื ืขื): ืฉืืืจื ืื ืืืจื ืืขื, ืืืื ืงื ืืช ืืขืคืืจืช ืืื ื ืืืืื, ืื ืืืืง ืืื ื ืืงืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ื ืคืฉื ืืจื ืื ืืขืืืจ ืขืงืจืืชื, ืื ืื ืืืืจ ืืืืขืืกื:
And her rival would anger her: Peninah, her rival wife, would anger her with words. Very much anger: Meaning to say, she would repeat it and anger [her] often. So that she should complain: In order that Channah would be furious and fume. Because the Lord had shut up her womb: Meaning to say, and there was room for Peninah to anger her with this. And it is like our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, said, "She said to her mockingly, 'Did you buy your older son a cloak today, or your younger son, a shirt?'" And she was bitter-spirited as well on account of her barrenness, and the matter would easily anger her.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืฆืจืชื. ืคื ืื ื ืฉืืืชื ืฆืจื ืื ืืื ืื ืฉืชื ื ืฉืื ืืืืฉ ืืื ื ืงืจืืืช ืฆืจืืช ืืคื ืฉืื ืืืืืืช ืื ืืื ืืจืื ืืื ืืืฉื ื ืคืืืจืืช ืฆืจืืชืืื: ืื ืืขืก. ืืขืก ืืืจ ืืขืก ืืืชื ืืืืจืช ืื ืืืจืื ืฉื ืืขืก ืืคื ืฉืื ืืื ืื ืื ืื, ืืืืจืฉ ืืืขืกืช ืืืืืจืช ืืืืขืกืช ืื ืืืชื ืืืืจืช ืื ืืื ืช ืืืจืื ืจืื ืกืืืจ ืื ืืชื ืืื ื ืืืืง: ืืขืืืจ ืืจืขืืื. ืื ืจืขืื ืคื ืื ืขื ืื ืืขืฃ ืืจื"ืฉ ืืจืขืืื ืืืืฉื ืฉืื ืืืฉืคื ืืื ืื ืืืืง ืงืจืืืช ืืจื"ืฉ ืืื ืงืืฃ ืื ืชืงื ืืื ืื ืืขืืจ ืืืืืชื ืื ืืืืืฉืื ืืชืคืืจืช ืืงืจืืื ืื"ืช ืืจืขืื' ืืืงื ืืืช' ืืืืืจ ืฉืชืื ืื ืงื ืื ืืื ื ืืืชื ืืืืจืช ืืคื ืื ืืืจืื ืฉื ืืืืืื ืื ืื ืืืืืฆื ืืื ืืื ืฉืชืื ืื ืงื ืื ืืืืื ืืื: ืืขื ืจืืื. ืขื ืจืืื ืืื ืืขื ืืฉืื ืืคืืื ืืืคืจ ืืขืื:
Her rival (tzarah): Peninah, who was a tribulation (tzarah) to her. And likewise, all two wives [married] to the same man are called tribulations (tzarot), since they are generally each other's enemies. And likewise in the Mishnah (Yevamot 1), "exempt their tzarot." Very much anger: One anger after another. She would say things [that cause] anger, since she did not have children. And in the homiletical teachings: She would anger [her] and anger [her] again. What would she say to her? "Did you buy your older son a cloak today, or your younger son, a shirt?" So that she should harraeim: From [the same usage as] (Ezekiel 27:35), "raamu panim (contorted [their] faces)." And the [letter], reish, in harraeimah is accented, against the rules, to strengthen the reading - as with the kof in (Judges 20:13), "netakkenhu (we shall draw them) from the city," and others that are accented for the beauty of the reading. And Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, harraeimah, as "to make her jealous." Meaning to say, in order that she would be jealous, she would say things about childraising in front of her and that which is similar, so that she would be jealous and her heart would ache. Before (be'ad) her womb: Upon her womb, like (Joel 2:8), "before they fell before (be'ad) the loopholes"; (Leviticus 16:6), "and atoned before (be'ad) him" (in both of these cases, be'ad means, upon).
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 7
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึตึจื ืึทืขึฒืฉืึถึื ืฉืึธื ึธึฃื ืึฐืฉืึธื ึธึื ืึดืึผึตึคื ืขึฒืึนืชึธืึผึ ืึผึฐืึตึฃืืช ืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึผึตึื ืชึผึทืึฐืขึดืกึถึื ึผึธื ืึทืชึผึดืึฐืึผึถึื ืึฐืึนึฅื ืชึนืืึทึฝืื
English:
This happeneddThis happened Lit. โThus he did.โ year after year: Every time she went up to the House of GOD, the other would taunt her, so that she wept and would not eat.
The cycle of suffering repeats annually: Elkanah shows Hannah love through his portion, Peninnah responds with intensified taunting, and Hannah is reduced to weeping and refusing food. Rashi explains that the greater Elkanah's affection, the more Peninnah provoked her.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึฐืึตื ืึทืขึฒืฉึถืื. ืึถืึฐืงึธื ึธื: ืฉึธืื ึธื ืึฐืฉึธืื ึธื. ื ืึนืชึตื ืึธืึผ ืึตืึถืง ืืึผืึฐืึธืจ, ืึฐืึทืจึฐืืึนืชึธืึผ ืฉึถืืึฐึผืึทืึฐึผืึธืึผ. ืึฐืฆึธืจึธืชึธืึผ, ืึฐืคึดื ืึดืึธึผื ืฉึถืืึทึผืขึฐืึธืึผ ืึทืจึฐืึถื ืึธืึผ, ืึตึผื ืชึทึผืจึฐืึถึผื ืึทึผื ืึดืื ืึฐืึทืึฐืขึดืืกึธืึผ:
He would do this. Elkonoh. Year after year. He would give her a choice portion to demonstrate to her that he loved her; and her rival, according to the affection which her husband demonstrated to her, would anger her more and more.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืื ืืขืฉื. ืื ืขืฉื ืืืงื ื ืืื ืฉื ื, ืืชืช ืืื ื ืื ื ืืืช ืืคืื: ืื ืชืืขืืกื ื. ืืื ืืื ืชืืขืืกื ื, ืืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืื ืขืฉื ืืช ืฉืื ืืืจืืืช ืื ืืืื, ืืื ืคื ืื ื ืขืฉืชื ืืช ืฉืื: ืืชืืื. ืืื ืขืช ืืืื ืื ืฉืืื, ืืืชื ืืจืื ืืชืืื, ืืืขืืืจ ืื ื ืื ืข ืืื ื ืชืืืช ืืืืืื:
And as he would do this: Elkanah would do this each year, to give Channah a choice portion. So she would anger her: Like, so she would anger her (the spelling of the word could also be read as, "So would she get angry.") And it is meaning to say, he would do his [part] to show love to her, and Peninah would likewise do her [part, to anger her]. And she wept: Every time they would come to Shiloh, she would cry from the great grief. And because of that, she was prevented from having the desire to eat.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืื ืืขืฉื. ืืืงื ื ืืื ืขืืฉื ืื ืฉื ื ืืฉื ื ืืขืืืช ืืืช ื' ืขื ืืืชื ืืคื ืื ื ื"ื ืืืชื ืืืขืืกื ืื ื ืืื ืคืขื ืืื ืขืืืชื ืืืช ื' ืื ืืืืจ ืืื ืืช ืืืชื ืืืขืกืช ืืืชื ืฉืืื ืื ืืืื ืื ืื ืืช ืืืื ื ืื ืืืชื ืืื ืื ื ืืืช ืืคื ืฉืื ืืื ืื ืื ืื ืฉืืงืื ืื ืืช:
And as he would do this: Elkanah would do this every year, to go up to the House of the Lord with his household. And Peninah would also anger Channah each time when she would go up to the House of the Lord, since she would anger her about the matter of the portions - that there were portions for her and her children, whereas Channah only had one portion since she did not have children who would take portions.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 8
Hebrew:
ืึทืึผึนึจืืึถืจ ืึธึืึผ ืึถืึฐืงึธื ึธึฃื ืึดืืฉืึธึืึผ ืึทื ึผึธืึ ืึธึฃืึถื ืชึดืึฐืึผึดึื ืึฐืึธึืึถืึ ืึนึฃื ืชึนึฝืืึฐืึดึื ืึฐืึธึืึถื ืึตืจึทึฃืข ืึฐืึธืึตึืึฐ ืึฒืึคืึนื ืึธึฝื ึนืึดืึ ืึฃืึนื ืึธึืึฐ ืึตืขึฒืฉืึธืจึธึื ืึผึธื ึดึฝืืื
English:
Her husband Elkanah said to her, โHannah, why are you crying and why arenโt you eating? Why are you so sad? Am I not more devoted to you than ten sons?โ
Elkanah tries to comfort Hannah with three questions and an expression of devotion. Radak debates whether 'ten sons' refers literally to Peninnah's children or is a figurative expression of great love. Despite good intentions, his words reveal he cannot fully understand her pain.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึธื ึนืึดื ืืึนื ืึธืึฐ. ืึฐืึทืึฐึผืึธืึฐ: ืึตืขึฒืฉึธืืจึธื ืึธื ึดืื. ืฉึถืืึธึผืึฐืึธื ืึดื ืคึฐึผื ึดื ึธึผื:
Am I not better to you. Don't I love you more dearly. Than ten sons. That Penina has borne to me.13Others interpret that Elkonoh did not mean literally ten sons and with reference to Penina, but rather he was expressing his love to Chana and happened to pick that number , as we find the same number in Vayikra 26:26.โRadak
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืื ืืจืข ืืืื. ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ื ืฉืืจ ืืชืืืืื ืืกืจืื ืื ืื: ืืื ืื ืื. ืชืจืื ืืื ืชื: ืืื ืจืขืืชื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืื ืจืฆืื ื ืืืื ืืืืืชื ืื, ืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืช ืขืฉืจื ืื ืื:
And why is your heart grieved: Why should your heart be broken from grieving for the lack of children? Am I not: Yonatan [ben Uzziel] translated [it as], "Is not my wish" - meaning to say, "Is not my wish towards you and my love for you better to you than if you had given birth to ten sons?"
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืื ืื ืื. ืืชืจืืืื ืืื ืจืขืืชื ืืื ืืื ืืืืืจ ืจืฆืื ื ืืืื ืืืืืชื ืืืชื ืืื ืื ืืขืฉืจื ืื ืื ืื"ื ืื ืื ืืื ืื ืืืชืจ ืืื ืฉืื ื ืืื ืืขืฉืจื ืื ืื ืฉืืฉ ืื ืืคื ืื ื ืืืืืจ ืืืชืจ ืื ื ืืืื ืืืชื ืืื ืฉืื ื ืืืื ืืช ืื ื ืืืืจื ืื ืขืฉืจื ืื ืื ืืื ืืคื ืื ื ืืืคืืจืืฉื ื ืืืื ืืขื ืขืฉืจื ืืจื ืืื ืืฉืืื ืืื ืืืคื ืขืฉืจ ื ืฉืื ืืขืฉืจื ืฉืืืืื ืฉืืข ืืืืืชืืื ืฉืืข ืืคืื ืฆืืืง ืืืืืืื ืืื:
Am I not: It is like the Targum [Yonatan], "Is not my wish better to you" - meaning to say, "Is not my wish towards you and my love for you better to you than ten sons?" But some explain, "Am I not better to you than I am to the ten sons I have from Peninah" - meaning to say, I love you more than I love my sons. And he said this because Peninah had ten sons. But according to our explanation, the reason for [the word], "ten," is by way of a general (figurative) count - as in (Leviticus 26:26), "and ten women will bake"; "than ten rulers" (Ecclesiastes 7:19); "seven times like your sins" (Leviticus 26:21); "seven times does a righteous one fall" (Proverbs 24:16); and that which is similar to them.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 9
Hebrew:
ืึทืชึผึธึฃืงืื ืึทื ึผึธึื ืึทืึฒืจึตึื ืืืึฐืึธึฅืึฟ ืึฐืฉืึดืึนึื ืึฐืึทืึฒืจึตึฃื ืฉืึธืชึนึื ืึฐืขึตืึดึฃื ืึทืึผึนืึตึื ืึนืฉืึตืึ ืขึทืึพืึทืึผึดืกึผึตึื ืขึทืึพืึฐืืึผืึทึืช ืึตืืึทึฅื ืึฐืึนืึธึฝืื
English:
After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose.erose Septuagint adds โand stood before GOD.โโThe priest Eli was sitting on the seat near the doorpost of the temple of GOD.โ
Hannah rises after the meal to pray at the Tabernacle. Rashi notes that this was the day Eli was first appointed judge over Israel, sitting on a large seat by the doorpost. The Talmud derives from this scene that prayer should follow a settled state of mind.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึธืึฐืึธื ืึฐืฉึดืืึนื. ืึนื ืึทืคึดึผืืง ืืดื, ืึฐืึธืึทืึถืดืฃ ืึฒืึทืฃ ืงึธืึทืดืฅ, ืึฐืืึผื ืึฐึผืืึน: ืึทืึฒืจึตื ืึธืึนื ืึฐึผืฉึดืืึนื ืึฐืึทืึฒืจึตื ืฉึธืืชึนื. ืึฐืึทืึธึผืฉืืึนื ื ืึนืคึตื ืึตึผืื ืึฐืึธืึธืจ ืึตึผืื ืึดื ึฐืงึตืึธื, ืึทืึฒืจึตื ืึธืึฐืึธื, ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืคึธึผืขืึผื, ืึฐึผืืึน ืึฐืึธืึฐืึธื, ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึดืคึฐืขืึนื: ืึฐืขึตืึดื ืึทืึนึผืึตื ืึนืฉึตืื ืขึทื ืึทืึดึผืกึตึผื. ืืึนืชืึน ืึทืึผืึนื ืึธืฉึทืื ืขึทื ืึดึผืกึตึผื ืึธึผืืึนื, ืฉึถืื ึดึผืชึฐืึทื ึธึผื ืฉืืึนืคึตื (ืืืืืงืื ืฉืืขืื ื: ืึนึผืึตื ืึธึผืืึนื) ืขึทื ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื: ืขึทื ืึฐืืึผืึทืช. ืึฐึผืืึน: ืึตืฆึถื ืึฐืืึผืึทืช:
Eating in Shilo. The 'ื' is not dotted and the 'ื' is voweled with a short kametz and its [meaning is] 'after eating in Shilo and after drinking,'14Eili therefore suspected that she was drunk because prayer usually takes place before eating or drinkingโDaโas Sofrim. and this expression is properly used both for masculine and feminine. After ืึธืึฐืึธื is a gerund. It is constructed like ,15Vayikra 25:6.ืึฐืึธืึฐืึธื an expression equivalent to an infinitive [i.e., ืึถืึถืืึนื]. And Eili the kohen was sitting on the chair. On that day he was seated on a large chair,16The defective spelling of ืืฉืึตื [instead of ืืึนืฉืึตื] indicates that he just recently sat down because he was a newly appointed judge. See Rashi Bereishis 19:1. for he was appointed Judge over Yisroel. Near the doorpost. [Lit. on the doorpost] meaning near the doorpost.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืชืงื ืื ื. ืืืืช ืื ืืืช ืืณ: ืืืจื ืืืื. ืขื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืขืื ืืชืืื ืืื ืชืืื, ืืื ืืงืื ืืืื ืืขื ืืืืืืช ืืช ืื ืคืฉ:
Channah rose to go to the House of the Lord. After eating: Even if it is stated above (I Samuel 1:7), "and she wept and would not eat," she nevertheless ate a little to keep herself alive.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืื. ืืงืืจ ืืชืืกืคืช ื"ื ืืืื ืื"ื ืื ืงืื ืื ืืื ื ื ืืคืืง ืืื ืฉืชื ืืงืืจ ืืคืืจืืฉ ืืืจื ืฉืืืื ืืฉืชื ืืืคืฉืจ ืื ืื ื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืืืจ ืืชืืื ืืื ืชืืื ืืคืฉืจ ืื ืืืจ ืฉืืืจ ืื ืืขืื ืืืื ืื ืชืืืื ืืคืฆืจ ืื ืืืื ืืขื ืืืขื ืืืจืฉ ืืืจ ืฉืชื ืืื ืฉืชืชื ืื ืืงืืง: ืืขืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืขื ืืืกื ืขื ืืืืืช ืืืื ื'. ืคืืจืืฉ ืกืืื ืืืืืืืช ืื ืืืืืืืช ืื ืืืื ืืฉืขืจืื ืื ืืืคืชื ืืื ืืขืืื ืืื ืื ืฉื ืกืืื ืื ืืืืืช ืขืืื ืกืืื ืื ืืืช"ื ืืกืืจ ืกืืคื ืืืืืื ืื' ืืืฉ ืืจืืืชืื ื ื"ื ืฉืืืจื ืื ืืื ืืฉืืื ืืขืืจื ืืคื' ืืืืื ืืืช ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืขืื ืืืื ืืืฉื ืขื ืืืกื ืขื ืืืืืช ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืฉื ืืคื ื ื' ืคืืจืฉืืื ืฉืืฉื ืขืฆืื ืืชืคืื ืืืจืฉื ืจืืืชืื ื ืืฉื ืฉืืื ืืกืจ ืื"ื ืืืืจื ืืฉื ืืชืื ืืืื ืฉืืืืชื ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื:
Eating (Achlah): It is the infinitive with the addition of a hey; but the hey is not for the feminine, as it is not dotted (mapik). And likewise, drinking (shatah) is the infinitive. So its explanation is that they ate and they drank. But it is possible that Channah also ate. Even though it stated (I Shmuel 1:7), "and she wept and would not eat," it is possible that after her husband said to her, "But why don't you eat," and pleaded with her, she ate a little. And a master of homiletical teachings said (Ketuvot 65a), "'He drank (shatah),' but she did not drink (shatatah). But he was not exact. And Eli the priest was sitting on the seat upon (al) the doorpost of (mezuzat) the chamber of the Lord: The explanation [of, "upon,"] is close to the doorposts. For the doorposts (mezuzat) are the sides of the gates, not the lintel. And likewise (Numbers 2:20), "And upon it, the tribe of Menashe," is, close to it; "and sacrifice upon it" (Exodus 20:21), is, close to it. And likewise did Yonatan translate it [in the Targum] as, "at the side of the gate of the chamber of the Lord." And there are some of our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, who said that not even the kings of the House of David may sit in the [Temple] courtyard - only the high priest - as it is stated, "And Eli the priest was sitting on the seat upon (al) the doorpost." And the explanation of, "And [...] David came and sat before the Lord," is that he sat himself down to pray [elsewhere]. And our Rabbis expounded (Seder Olam 13) - sitting (yoshev) is lacking a [letter,] vav (making the default reading, yashav, in the past). So they said, it is written, "he sat" - teaching that they appointed him high priest that day.
ืคืกืืง ืืด ยท Verse 10
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึดึืื ืึธึฃืจึทืช ื ึธึืคึถืฉื ืึทืชึผึดืชึฐืคึผึทืึผึตึฅื ืขึทืึพืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึผืึธืึนึฅื ืชึดืึฐืึผึถึฝืื
English:
In her wretchedness, she prayed to GOD, weeping all the while.
Hannah's prayer emerges from the depths of anguish -- she is described as 'bitter of soul.' The phrase 'prayed to God' (al Hashem) rather than the usual 'el Hashem' suggests she prayed with extraordinary intensity, directing her words upon God's mercy.
โถCommentaries (2)
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืื ืืจืช ื ืคืฉ. ืืืืื ืืืชืคืื, ืืืชื ื ืคืฉื ืืจื ืื ืืืืื:
And she was bitter in spirit: When she came to pray, her spirit was very bitter.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืชืชืคืื ืขื ื'. ืืื ืื ื' ืืื ืื ืชื ืืกืคืจ ืขื ืืืืข ืกืคืจ ืืื ืื ืืืืข ืกืคืจ ืขื ืฉืคื ืืื ืื ืฉืคื:
So she prayed upon (al) the Lord: It is like, to (el) the Lord. Likewise (Isaiah 29:11-12), "And he gave the book upon someone who [...] knows books," is like, to someone; (II Kings 22:8) "upon Shafan," is like to Shafan.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 11
Hebrew:
ืึทืชึผึดืึผึนึจืจ ื ึถึืึถืจ ืึทืชึผึนืืึทึืจ ืึฐืึนืึธึจื ืฆึฐืึธืึืึนืช ืึดืึพืจึธืึนึฅื ืชึดืจึฐืึถึฃืโื ืึผืืขึณื ึดึฃื ืึฒืึธืชึถึืึธ ืึผืึฐืึทืจึฐืชึผึทึื ึดืึ ืึฐืึนืึพืชึดืฉืึฐืึผึทึฃื ืึถืชึพืึฒืึธืชึถึืึธ ืึฐื ึธืชึทืชึผึธึฅื ืึทืึฒืึธืชึฐืึธึ ืึถึฃืจึทืข ืึฒื ึธืฉืึดึืื ืึผื ึฐืชึทืชึผึดึคืื ืึทึฝืืึนืึธืึ ืึผืืึพืึฐืึตึฃื ืึทืึผึธึืื ืึผืืึนืจึธึื ืึนืึพืึทืขึฒืึถึฅื ืขึทืึพืจึนืืฉืึฝืึนื
English:
And she made this vow: โO GOD of Hosts, if You will look upon the suffering of Your maidservant and will remember me and not forget Your maidservant, and if You will grant Your maidservant a child like the othersfthe others I.e., Peninah and Elkanah; cf. Josephus. have, I will dedicate it to GOD for all the days of its life; and no razor shall ever touch its head.โga child โฆ its head Or โa male child, I will dedicate him to GOD for all the days of his life; and no razor shall ever touch his head.โ
Hannah's vow is remarkable for its structure and ambition -- she pledges to dedicate her son as a nazirite for life. The Talmud (Berakhot 31b) notes her bold use of 'Lord of Hosts,' and the triple repetition of 'Your maidservant' from which the rabbis derive laws about the structure of petition in prayer.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืืณ ืฆึฐืึธืืึนืช. ืึธืึธึผื ื ึดืชึฐืึทืึตื ืฉึตืื ืึถื ืึธึผืื, ืึธืึฐืจึธื ืึฐืคึธื ึธืื: ืจึดืึผืึนื ืึน ืฉึถืื ืขืึนืึธื, ืฉึฐืื ึตื ืฆึฐืึธืืึนืช ืึธึผืจึธืืชึธ ืึฐึผืขืึนืึธืึฐืึธ. ืึธืขึถืึฐืืึนื ึดืื, ืึนื ืคึธึผืจึดืื ืึฐืึนื ืจึธืึดืื ืึฐืึนื ืึตืชึดืื. ืึฐืึทืชึทึผืึฐืชึผืึนื ึดืื, ืคึธึผืจึดืื ืึฐืจึธืึดืื ืึผืึตืชึดืื. ืึดื ืึฒื ึดื ืึดื ืึทืชึทึผืึฐืชึผืึนื ึดืื, ืึถืึฐืึถื ืคึธึผืจึธื ืึฐืจึธืึธื ืึผืึตืชึธื, ืึฐืึดื ืึฒื ึดื ืึดื ืึธืขึถืึฐืืึนื ึดืื, ืึนื ืึธืืึผืช. ืืึน ืึธืฆึธืืชึดื ืึฐึผืึทืึธึผืึธื ืฉึถืื ืจึทืึดึผื ืืึนืกึตื ืึทืึฐึผืึดืืึดื (ืคืกืืงืชื ืจืืชื). ืึฐืจึทืึผืึนืชึตืื ืึผ ืึธึผืจึฐืฉืืึผ ืึฐึผืึทืกึถึผืึถืช ืึฐึผืจึธืืึนืช (ืื:) ืึทื ืฉึถึผืืึธึผืจึฐืฉืืึผ: ืขึทื ืึตื ึธึผื ืึนื ืึธืึธื ืึธืึธื ืฉึถืืงึฐึผืจึธืืึน ืึฐืึทืงึธึผืึธึผืดื ืณืฆึฐืึธืืึนืชืณ, ืึถืึธึผื ืึธึผืึฐ ืึธืึฐืจึธื ืึฐืคึธื ึธืื: ืจึดืึผืึนื ืึน ืฉึถืื ืขืึนืึธื, ืึดืึธึผื ืฆึฐืึธืืึนืช ืฉึถืืึธึผืจึธืืชึธ ืึฐึผืขืึนืึธืึฐืึธ ืงึธืฉึถืื ืึฐึผืขึตืื ึถืืึธ ืึดืืชึตึผื ืึดื ืึตึผื ืึถืึธื: ืึดื ืจึธืึนื ืชึดืจึฐืึถื. ืจึทืึผืึนืชึตืื ืึผ ืึธึผืจึฐืฉืืึผ ืืึน ืึฐึผืึทืกึถึผืึถืช ืึฐึผืจึธืืึนืช (ืฉื) ืึทื ืฉึถึผืืึธึผืจึฐืฉืืึผ: ืึฒืึธืชึถืึธ. ืึธืึธืืึผืจ ืฉืึธืืึนืฉ ืคึฐึผืขึธืึดืื ืึทึผืึดึผืงึฐืจึธื, ืึฐึผื ึถืึถื ืฉึฐืืึนืฉึธืื ืึฐืึธืจึดืื ืฉึถืืึธืึดืฉึธึผืื ืึฐืฆึปืึธึผื ืขึฒืึตืืึถื: ืึถืจึทืข ืึฒื ึธืฉึดืืื. ืดืฆึทืึดึผืืงึดืื, ืึฐึผืึธื ืึฐืึทืชึฐึผ ืึธืึทืจ (ืืืืื ื ื:ืื): ืดืึดึผืฉึฐืื ึตื ืึฒื ึธืฉึดืืื ืฆึทืึดึผืืงึดืื: ืึฒื ึธืฉึดืืื. ืดืึฒืฉืืึผืึดืื, ืึฐึผืึธื ืึฐืึทืชึฐึผ ืึธืึทืจ (ืืืจืื ื:ืื): ืดืึฒื ึธืฉึดืืื ืึฒืึธืึดืื ืึดืืึปืขึดืื: ืึผื ึฐืชึทืชึดึผืื ืึทืืณ. ืฉึถืืึฐึผืึตื ืจึธืืึผื ืึฐืชึดืชึผืึน ืึทืืณ: ืึผืืึนืจึธื. ืดืชึดึผืจึฐืึตึผื ืืึนื ึธืชึธื: ืดืึผืึธืจืึผืช ืึฑื ึธืฉื ืึธื ืชึฐืึตื ืขึฒืืึนืึดื:
Adonoy of Hosts. Why was this Name designated here? She [Chana] said before Him, "Lord of the universe, You created two hosts in Your world. The heavenly beings neither multiply nor do they die; the earthly beings both multiply and die. If I am of the earthly beings, let me multiply and die, and if I am of the heavenly beings, let me not die." I found [this explanation] in the Aggadah of R. Eliezer the son of R. Yose Haglili. Our Rabbis in Maseches Berachos,17 expounded what they expounded: โUntil then, there was no one person who called the Holy One, Blessed is He, [Master of] Hosts. She said thus before Him; "Lord of the universe, of all the hosts which You created in Your world, is it difficult for you to grant me one son?" If You look at. In Maseches Berachos,18Ibid. our Sages expounded what they expounded. Your maidservant. [The word 'maidservant'] is stated three times in this verse, corresponding to the three mitzvos which a woman is commanded to observe.19They are the laws of: 1. Menstruation .2 ื ึดืึผึธื Separation of the dough .3 ืึทืึผึธื Kindling of the Shabbos lights [ืึทืึฐืึธืงึทืช ืึทื ึผึตืจ]. Male offspring. I.e., righteous men, as it is written, "Two men [ืึฒื ึธืฉืึดืื] who were righteous."20I Melachim 2:32. Males. I.e., important men,21 See Maseches Berachos 31b. as it is written, "wiseโฆ and known men ]ืึฒื ึธืฉืึดืื[.22Devarim 1:13. Then I will give him to Adonoy. I.e., that he be fit to be given to Adonoy. And a razor.23See Maseches Nazir 66a where the very same difference of opinion is discussed. R. Nehorai renders ืืึนืจึธื meaning a razor as Scripture states regarding Shimshon, in Shoftim 13:5, โthe razor [ืืึนืจึธื] must not be wielded on his head.โ And R. Yose holds that [ืืึนืจึธื] is a connotation referring to the fear of man. Targum Yonoson renders, "and the fear [ืึผืึทืจึฐืึทืช] of man will not be upon him."
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืขื ื. ืืื ืฉืื ื ืืขืื ื ืืฆืขืจ ืืชืืืืื: ืืืืจืชื ื ืืื ืชืฉืื. ืืคื ืืืืจ ืืืืืช ืฉืื ืืช ืืชืืกืคืช ืืืืืจ, ืืืืจื ืืืชืคืืืื: ืืจืข ืื ืฉืื. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืื ืื ืืืจืื: ืื ืชืชืื ืืืณ. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืงืื ืขืื ืื ืืจ, ืฉืืชื ืืืชื ืืืณ: ืื ืืื ืืืื. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืชืืื ืืชืืืื ืืขืืืืช ืืณ: ืืืืจื ืืืืณ. ืืืื ื ืืืจ ืขื ืขืืื, ืืื ืืชืืื ืืืืื ืื ืืืจ:
Upon the affliction: Upon that which I am afflicted with pain and grief. And You will remember me and not forget: It repeated the thing with different words for further clarification and in the way of those praying. The offspring of men: Meaning to say, male children. Then I will give him to the Lord: Meaning to say, I will take it upon myself as a vow that I will give him to the Lord. All the days of his life: Meaning to say, he will always dedicate himself to the service of the Lord. And a razor, etc.: He will be a nazerite forever without shaving, and like the law of a nazerite.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืชืืืจ ื ืืจ. ืื ื ืชืื ืืื ืื ื ืืจื ืขื ืื ื ืฉืืืื ื ืืืจ ืืขืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืืืื ืื ืื ืืจ ืขืืื ืืืคืืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืืจื ืืืจื ืืืืฉ ืืืืจ ืืช ืื ื ืื ืืืจ ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืืจืช ืืช ืื ื ืื ืืืจ ืืืคืืื ืืืืฉ ืื ืืฆืื ืื ืืขื ืืื ืืืจื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืจ ืืื ืชืืืจ ืื ืืืงื ื ืขืฉื ืื ืืจ ืื ืื ืืืจื ืฉืฉืืข ืืืฉืชื ืื ืื ืจืืื ื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืืคืกืืง ืืกืคืืจ ืขืืงืจ ืื ืืจ ืืืชื ื ืืจ ืื ื ืฉืืื ื ื ืืจ ืื ืจืืืง ืืืืชืจ ืื ื ืชืืื ืืื ืื ืืืจื ืจืืืชืื ื ื"ื ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืื ืืฆืืชื ืืืืจืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืืจ ืื ืืืืจืฉ ืืื ืืชืืืื: ื' ืฆืืืืช. ืืจืฉื ืจืืืชืื ื ื"ื ืืคื ืฉืื ืืฆืื ื ืขื ืื ื ืืื ืฉืงืจืื ื' ืฆืืืืช ืื ืื ืฉืื' ืืืขืื ืื' ืฆืืืืช ืืฉืืื ืืื ืกืืคืืจ ืืืจืื ืืืืืจ ืืกืคืจ ืืคืืื ืืืจื ืืื ื ืชืืื ืืื ืืฉื ืืื ืืืจื ืื ื ืืคื ื ืืงื"ื ืฉื ื ืฆืืืืช ืืจืืช ืืขืืืื ืืขืืืื ืื ืื ืคืจืื ืืื ืจืืื ืืื ืืชืื ืืชืืชืื ืื ืคืจืื ืืจืืื ืืืชืื ืื ืื ืืชืืชืื ืื ืื ื ืืืื ืคืจื ืืจืื ืื ืื ืืขืืืื ืื ืื ื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืช ืืขืื ืืืจื ืจืืืชืื ื ื"ื ืืืจ ืจื ืคืขืื ืจืืืื ืืื ืขืืืื ืืืจื ืื ื ืืคื ื ืืงื"ื ืจืืื ืืขืืืืื ืืื ืืืืืืกืื ืฉืืฉ ืืคื ืื ืืื ืืชื ืคืืงืื ื ืืืื ืืื: ืื ืจืื ืชืจืื. ืืจืฉื ืืคื ื ืืืคื ืืืื ืฆืจืื ืื ืื ืื ืื ืืืฉืื ืืฆืจืฃ ืืืงืืจ ืขื ืืคืขืืื ืืื ืื ืฉืืืข ืชืฉืืขืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืืง ืืืืจ ืืื ืื ืืฆืืจืืฃ ืืื ื"ื ืืจืฉื ืื ืื ืจืื ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืชืจืื ืื ื ืืงื ืื ืืืืงื ื ืืขืื ืืื ื ืืืืืช ืืื ืฉืืชืืช ืืชืืจืชื ืืื ืื ื ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืืืืจื ืืื ืืื': ืืขื ื ืืืชื. ืฉืืฉื ืืฉ ืืคืกืืง ืืื ืืื ืชืืืืืช ื ื ืืืฉืจืื ืืืฉื ืืคืกืืง ืื ืื ืืจื ืืืงืจืืืช ืืฆืืืช ืืืจืฉื ืื ืืืจื ืื ื ืฉืืฉ ืืฆืืช ื ืฆืืืชื ืืืฉื ืืื ืขืืจืชื ืขื ืืืช ืืื: ืืืืจืชื ื ืืื ืชืฉืื ืืช ืืืชื. ืืืคื ืืืืง ืืชืคืื ืืืืงืฉื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื ืื ืขืืืง ืื ืชืฉืื ืืืืง ืืืฆืื ืืืจืฉื ืจืืืชืื ื ื"ื ืืืืจืชื ื ืืืืจืื ืืื ืชืฉืื ืืช ืืืชื ืื ืงืืืช: ืืจืข ืื ืฉืื. ืคื' ืืืจืื ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืืจื ืื ืืขืื ืขื ืจืืฉื ืืืืื ืื ืขื ืืืจืื ืืืจื ืื ืื ืืืืจ ืื ืขื ืื ืงืืืช ืื"ืช ืืจ ืืื ืื ื ืื ืฉื, ืืืืจืฉ ืืจืข ืื ืฉืื ืฉืื ืืื ืคื ืืื ืืืืื ืื ืืงืืฃ ืืื ืืกืจืืก, ื"ื ืืจืข ืื ืฉืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืช ืืืจ ืื ืฉืื ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืื ืฉืื ื ืืืืื ืื"ื ืืืฉืืจื ืฉื ื ืื ืฉืื ืืขืื ืืืจื ืืจืข ืฉืฉืงืื ืืฉื ื ืื ืฉืื ืืืื ื ืื ืื ืืฉื ืืืืจื ืฉื ื' ืืฉื ืืืืจื ืืืื ืื ืืฉืืืื ืืงืืจืื ืฉืื: ืื ืชืชืื ืื'. ืฉืืืื ื ืืืจ ืงืืฉ ืื' ืื"ืช ืืืืกืจืื ืื ืืืื ืืฉืืฉ ืงืื ื' ืืื ืื ืืืืจืื ืื ื ืชื ื ืื ืื ื ืืืื ืื ืืืืื ืื' ื ืชืื ืื ื ืืื ืืคืจืฉ ืื ืฉืืจ ืืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืขืืืืช ื' ืืื ืขืฉืจืื ืืืืฉ ืฉื ื ืืืื ื ืชื ื ืืืชื ืื' ืื ืืืื ืืืืจืฉ ืืืจื ืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืช ืืืงืฉืช ืืจืข ืื ืฉืื ืืืืื ืืจืข ืื ืฉืื ื ืืืืื ืืืจื ืืื ืฉืืื ืจืืื ืืชืชื ืื' ืืืื ืื ืชืชืื ืื': ืืืืจื. ืชืขืจ ืืื ืืืืจื ืื ืืขืื ืขื ืจืืฉื ืืฉืืฉืื ืื"ืช ืฉื ืฉืืฉืื ืืืกืคืจ ืืชืจืื ืื ืืืจืืช ืื ืฉ ืื ืชืื ืขืืืื ืืขื ืืื ื ืืคื ืืขืชื ืืื ืืื"ืฃ ืืืืืจื ืจืืืชืื ื ื"ื ืืืืืงืช ืืื ืจ' ื ืืืจืื ืืืืจ ื ืืืจ ืืื ืฉืืืื ืฉื ืื' ืืืืจื ืื ืืขืื ืขื ืจืืฉื ืื ืืืจื ืืืืืจื ืืฉืืฉืื ื ืืืจ ืืฃ ืืืจื ืืืืืจื ืืฉืืืื ื ืืืจ ืืืจ ืจ' ืืืกื ืืื ืืืจื ืืื ืฉื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืืืจ ืื ืจ' ื ืืืจืื ืืืื ืืชืื ืืฉืืข ืฉืืื ืืืจืื ื ืืจื ืฉืืืจ ืืื ืขืืื ืืืจื ืฉื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืืืจ ืจื ืืืกืฃ ืืืื ืืชืจืืื' ืืืจืืช ืื ืฉ ืื ืชืื ืขืืืื ืืืื ืืจืื ืืืกื ืืืืจืฉ ืืค' ืืื ื ืงืจื ืชืขืจ ืืืจื ื"ืจ ืืื ืื ืชืื ืฉืื ืืจืืช ืฉืืืจ ืืฉืืช ืื ืืืื ืืืจื ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืื ืคืจืืื ืืฃ ืืืื ืฉืขืจื ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืื ืคืจืืื:
And she made a vow: I wonder how her vow attached itself upon her son, such that he be a nazerite? Moreover, he was not in the world, so how could the vow attach itself to him? And even if he was in the world, behold they said (Sotah 3:8), "A man can vow that his son be a nazirite, but a woman cannot vow that her son be a nazirite!" And even with a man, they did not find a reason, but rather said it is a law [transmitted without explanation] in the case of a nazerite. And if you would say that Elkanah also made the vow after he heard [it] from his wife - we have not seen this! And how did the verse leave out the main vow and write the vow of Channah, which is not a [true] vow? That is remote. And I wonder [even] more how our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, did not say anything about this thing. For I did not find anything at all about this in their words, not in the Midrash and not in the Talmud. O Lord of hosts: Our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, expounded - since until then, we did not find one person who called the Lord, the Lord of Hosts. For what it stated above (I Samuel 1:3), "to the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh," is the narrative from the writer of the book. Hence they said, "Why did this name come specifically here? Channah said before the Holy One, blessed be He, 'You created two hosts in Your world. The heavenly beings neither multiply nor do they die; the earthly beings multiply and die. If I am of the earthly beings, let me multiply, and if I am of the heavenly beings, let me not die." And our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, also said, "Rav said, 'The steps of the pilgrims were going up. Channah said before the Holy One, blessed be He, "Master of the worlds, From all of these masses that you have before You, can you not remember me with one of them?"'" If You will surely look (lit., look, you will look): They expounded because of the doubling (of the word, look). But it is not necessary, for this is the way of the language, to join the infinitive with verbs, like (Jeremiah 17:24), "if you will surely listen (lit., listen, you will listen). And it said [it], because this combination is to strengthen the matter. And they, may their memory be blessed, expounded about it (Berakhot 31b), "If You will look, fine; but if not, You will look: I will go and have Elkanah, my husband, be jealous of me, and I will give birth, as You have written in Your Torah, (Numbers 5:28), 'But if the woman was not defiled and she is pure [... and shall bear seed].'" Upon the affliction of your maidservant: [The word, "your maidservant," appears] three times in the verse; like [Noach, in] "These are the generations of Noach" (Genesis 6:9); and Israel, five times, in the verse (Numbers 8:19). For this is the way of the Scriptures, to embellish. But they expounded about it (Pesikta Rabbati 43:1) - Channah said, "A woman is commanded with three commandments, and I have not transgressed [even] one of them." And You will remember me and not forget your maidservant: The repetition is to strengthen the prayer and the request. And likewise (Deuteronomy 25:17-18), "Remember that which Amalek did to you [...] do not forget," is to strengthen the commandment. And our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, expounded (Pesikta Rabbati 43:1), "'And You will remember me,' with males; 'and not forget your maidservant,' with females." The offspring of men: Its explanation is males; and that which it stated, "and a razor shall never come on his head," shows that she said it about males. For this is not said about females. And Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, "a son amidst people." And in the homiletical teachings: The offspring of men, that their faces not be similar to a monkey, nor to a eunuch. Another explanation - the offspring of men, wise men, as you say (Deuteronomy 1:13), "wise and understanding men"; men, prophets, as you say (Numbers 11:26), "And two men remained." And they also said, offspring that is equivalent to two men. And who were they? Moshe and Aharon, as it is stated (Psalms 99:6), "Moshe and Aharon among His priests, and Shmuel among those who call His name." Then I will give him to the Lord: That he should be a holy nazirite before the Lord. And Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, "and I will give him over to serve before the Lord." But if it is like his words, what did Channah give to Him; are not all Levites given to the Lord? We can [however] explain that the other Levites would come to the service of the Lord from twenty-five years old, whereas she gave him to the Lord "all his days." And in the homiletical teachings: They said to Channah, "Why are you requesting the offspring of wise men, the offspring of prophetical men?" She said to them, "So that he be suitable to give him to the Lord." And a morah: It is a razor, like (Judges 13:5), "And no razor (morah) shall come upon his head," about Shimshon. But Yonatan translated the one about Shimshon [in the Targum], "razor," and this one, "and there shall be no fear of people upon him." And its content, according to his opinion, is like it would be with an alef [at the end of the word, instead of a hey]. And there is a disagreement about this in the words of our Rabbis (Nazir 9:5): Rabbi Nehorai says, "Shmuel was a nazirite, as it is stated, 'and no morah shall come upon his head.' Just as that which is stated with regard to Shimson [means he was] a nazirite, so too morah that is stated with regard to Shmuel [means he was] a nazirite." Rabbi Yose said, "Morah means nothing other than [the fear of] flesh and blood." [Rabbi Yosef said, "Like whom do we translate, 'and there shall be no fear of people upon him?' Like whom? Like Rabbi Yose."] And in the homiletical teaching, it explains why a razor is called a morah: Rabbi Ammi said, "'The fear yiratof worm and snail will not come there' (Isaiah 7:25) - just as this stalk only fears iron, so too does this hair only fear iron."
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 12
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึธืึธืึ ืึผึดึฃื ืึดืจึฐืึผึฐืชึธึื ืึฐืึดืชึฐืคึผึทืึผึตึื ืึดืคึฐื ึตึฃื ืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึฐืขึตืึดึื ืฉืึนืึตึฅืจ ืึถืชึพืคึผึดึฝืืึธื
English:
As she kept on praying before GOD, Eli watched her mouth.
As Hannah continues her prolonged prayer, Eli the priest observes her mouth moving. This sets up the pivotal misunderstanding that follows, and the Talmud derives from Eli's watching that a person's prayer should be visible through lip movement.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืฉึนืืึตืจ ืึถืช ืคึดึผืืึธ. ืดืึฐืฆึทืคึถึผื ืึธืชึทื ืชึทึผืคึฐืกึดืืง, ืึธึผืึฐ ืชึดึผืจึฐืึฐึผืืึน ืืึนื ึธืชึธื: ืดืึฐืขึตืึดื ืืึนืจึดืืึฐ ืึธืึผ ืขึทื ืึฐึผืชึดืคึฐืกืึนืง: ืฉึนืืึตืจ. ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึทืึฐืชึธึผื ึธื, ืึฐึผืืึน: ืดืฉึธืืึทืจ ืึถืช ืึทืึธึผืึธืจืด (ืืจืืฉืืช ืื:ืื); ืดืึนื ืชึดืฉึฐืืึนืจ ืขึทื ืึทืึธึผืืชึดืืด (ืืืื ืื:ืื):
Watched her mouth. He waited for her to stop, as Targum Yonoson renders, 'and Eili waited until she stopped.' Watched. An expression of waiting, as in, "[and his father] kept the matter in mind ]ืฉืึธืึทืจ["24Bereishis 37:11. i.e., waited, [and similarly] "do not wait [ืชึดืฉืึฐืืึนืจ] for my sin."25Iyov 14:16.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืฉืืืจ ืืช ืคืื. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืื ืืกืชืื ืืฉืืืจ ืืืฆื ืฉืคืชืื, ืืฉืืืข ืืืืจืื:
Watched her mouth: Meaning to say, he would watch what came out of her lips, to hear her words.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืื ืื ืืจืืชื. ืืืจืฉ ืจ"ืฉ ืืฉื ืจืื ืืืคืชื ืืืฉื ืจ"ื ืืืื ืื ืืืจืื ืืชืคืืื ื ืขื ื ืืืืคื ืฉืืชืื ืืจ"ื ืชืื ืืืจ ืจืื ืืืื ืืจืื ืืจื ืคืคื ืืจ' ืืืืฉืข ืืกืื ืื ืืฉื ืืจืื ืืื ืืฉื ืจ' ืืืืจ ืืื ืขืฆื ืืืื ืืืชืจ ืืืืจ ืฉืคืชืื ืื ืืืืกืืจ ืื ื ืขื ืืื ืฉืืจืืชื ืืชืคืื ืงืฆืจื ืืืื ืฉื ืฉืืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืฉื ืฉื ืขื ืขืืื ืืืื ืขืืื ืฉื ืืืื ืืื ืืืฉืื ืฉื ื ืืืชืื ืืืื ืืืฉืื ืฉื ื ืืื' ืืื ืืื ืื ื "ื ืืืจ ืจ' ืืืกื ืืจ ืืื ืชืจืชื ืฉืืืืชื: ืฉืืืจ ืืช ืคืื. ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืขืืื ืืช ืคืื ืื ืืืชื ืืืช ืืชืคืื ืืืจืืื ืื ืืฉืืข ืงืืื ืจืง ืฉืคืชืื ื ืขืืช ืืคืืื ืืื ืืืฉื ืืืชื ืฉืืื ืฉืืืจื ืืช"ื ืฉืืืจ ืืื ืืืชืื ืืื ืฉืืจ ืืช ืืืืจ ืื ืชืฉืืจ ืขื ืืืืชื ืืคืืจืืฉ ืืช ืคืื ืืื ืืืืจื ืืืืจืื ืืื ืชืจืื ืืื ืชื ืืขืื ืืืจืื ืื ืขื ืืชืคืกืืง:
And as she kept on: In the homiletical teachings (Talmud Yerushalmi Berakhot 4:1): Rebbi Levi said [that] Rabbi Shimon [said] in the name of Rabbi Chalafta and in the name of Rabbi Meir, "From here, [we learn that] everyone who increases his prayers will be answered." The position of Rabbi Meir is inverted. There Rabbi Abbahu, the son of Rabbi Pappai and Rabbi Yehoshua of Sakhnin in the name of Rebbi Levi say, "'In all excitement there is something superfluous; and the word of the lips is but for deficit' (Proverbs 14:23) - Hannah, because she prayed too long, reduced the years of Samuel. As it is stated (I Samuel 1:22), 'He shall dwell there forever'; and 'forever,' for a Levite is only fifty years, as it is written (Numbers 8:25), 'And from age fifty, [he should return, etc.].'" Yet he was fifty-two! Rabbi Yose bar Bun said, "[That was because of the] two [years until] she weaned him." Watched (shomer) her mouth: He watched and analyzed her mouth - what was this long prayer? He did not hear her voice, "only her lips moved." Therefore he thought her to be drunk. And Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, shomer, like, await - as in (Genesis 37:11), "he shamar the thing"; (Job 14:16), "and not tishmor my sin." And the explanation of, "her mouth," is like her utterance and her speech. And likewise did Yonatan translate it as, "and he waited for her until she ceased."
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 13
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึทื ึผึธึื ืึดึืื ืึฐืึทืึผึถึฃืจึถืช ืขึทืึพืึดืึผึธึืึผ ืจึทึืง ืฉืึฐืคึธืชึถึฃืืึธ ื ึผึธืขึืึนืช ืึฐืงืึนืึธึืึผ ืึนึฃื ืึดืฉืึผึธืึตึืขึท ืึทืึผึทืึฐืฉืึฐืึถึฅืึธ ืขึตืึดึื ืึฐืฉืึดืึผึนืจึธึฝืื
English:
Now Hannah was praying in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.
This verse is the primary source for the laws of the Amidah prayer (Berakhot 31a). Hannah innovated silent prayer -- lips moving, heart speaking, voice inaudible. Eli's mistaking devotion for drunkenness reveals the spiritual decline at Shiloh, where such prayer was unknown.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึทืึทึผืึฐืฉึฐืืึถืึธ ืขึตืึดื ืึฐืฉึดืืึผืึนืจึธื. ืฉึถืืึนึผื ืึธืืึผ ืจึฐืึดืืึดืื ืึฐืึดืชึฐืคึทึผืึตึผื ืึฐึผืึทืึทืฉื:
Eili thought she was drunk. Because they were not accustomed to praying silently.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืื ื. ืืื ืื ื ืืืชื ืืืืจืช ืขื ืืื, ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืืืฉ, ืืืื ืืืืจืช ืื ืืื, ืืื ืืื ื ืฉืืข ืืขืื: ืืืืฉืื ืขืื ืืฉืืืจื. ืื ืื ืืจื ืืฉืืืจ ืื ืขื ืข ืืฉืคืชืื, ืืืื ืืืืจ ืืืื ืืืจืื:
And Channah: But, "Channah was praying in her heart" - meaning to say, in a whisper, as if she was speaking to her heart, so it was not audible to Eli. And he thought she was drunk: For this is the way of a drunkard to move his lips, but there is 'no speech and no words.'
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืืจืช ืขื ืืื. ืืชืจืืืื ืืื ืืฆืืื ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืฉืืืชื ืืืืื ืช ืืช ืืื ืืชืคืืชื:
Spoke in her heart: It is like its translation [in Targum Yonatan], "she prayed in her heart." Meaning to say, she concentrated [with] her heart in prayer.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 14
Hebrew:
ืึทืึผึนึคืืึถืจ ืึตืึถึืืึธึ ืขึตืึดึื ืขึทืึพืึธืชึทึื ืชึผึดืฉืึฐืชึผึท๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึผึธืจึดึืื ืึธืกึดึฅืืจึดื ืึถืชึพืึตืื ึตึืึฐ ืึตืขึธืึธึฝืึดืึฐื
English:
Eli said to her, โHow long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Sober up!โhSober up Lit. โRemove your wine from you.โ
Eli rebukes Hannah harshly, demanding she remove her wine. The commentators note the irony -- the high priest who should recognize sincere prayer instead assumes the worst. Rashi points out this was a sharp accusation for a woman praying at the Tabernacle.
โถCommentaries (2)
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืชืฉืชืืจืื. ืชืจืื ืืขืฆืื ืืช ืืฉืืจืืช ืื ืืื ืืจืืื, ืืขื ืืชื: ืืกืืจื ืืช ืืื ื. ืื ืฉืชืืช ืืื ืืจืื, ืขืกืงื ืืืกืืจ ืฉืืจืืช ืืืื ืืฉืื ื ืืืืืื:
Will you be drunk: Will you show yourself to be drunk a long time; and until when? Remove your wine: If you drank much wine, do something to remove the drunkenness of the wine, through sleep and that which is similar.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืขื ืืชื ืชืฉืชืืจืื. ืขื ืืชื ืชืจืื ืขืฆืื ืืืืื ืืช ืฉืืืจื ืฉืืช ืืชื ืืขืขืช ืืฉืคืชื ืคืื ืืืื ืืืจืื ื ืฉืืขืื: ืืกืืจื ืืช ืืื ื. ืืืชืคืงืื ืื ืืช ื ืจืืช ืืฉืืืจื ืืืื ืืช ืขืืฉื ืืฉืืจ ืืืชืคืืืื ืฉืืืืจืื ืืงืฉืชื ืืืจื ืฉืชืืื ืืฉืืืข ืืืฃ ืข"ืค ืฉืืคืขืืื ืืืชืคืื ืืืืจ ืืืจืื ืืืฉืื ืงืฆืช ืืคื' ืืื ืฆืืขืง ืืืชืคืื ืืืงืฆืช ืืืจืื ืื ืื ืืืช ืืจืืืช ืื ืื ืืืชืคืื ืืื ื ืฉืืข ืงืืื ืืืชืื ืื ื ืจ' ืื ืฉืืืจื ืืช ืื"ืช ืขื ืืืืชื ืืช ืืฉืชืืื ืืื ืชืคืืืื ืืช ืืืจืื ืื ืื:
Will you be drunk: Until when will you show yourself as if you were drunk; since you move the lips of your mouth, but your words are not heard. Remove your wine: And sober up, since you appear like a drunkard and you do not act like other people who pray, who say their requests in a way that you can hear. And even though sometimes someone who prays says his words a little secretly, nevertheless he also yells out and prays some of his words. But you proceeded to pray so much, yet your voice was not heard. And from this, it appears that you are drunk. And Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, "Until when will you act foolishly; will you not temper the wine from yourself?"
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 15
Hebrew:
ืึทืชึผึทึจืขึทื ืึทื ึผึธึคื ืึทืชึผึนึืืึถืจึ ืึนึฃื ืึฒืึนื ึดึื ืึดืฉืึผึธึคื ืงึฐืฉืึทืชึพืจึืึผืึทึ ืึธื ึนึืึดื ืึฐืึทึฅืึดื ืึฐืฉืึตืึธึืจ ืึนึฃื ืฉืึธืชึดึืืชึดื ืึธืึถืฉืึฐืคึผึนึฅืึฐ ืึถืชึพื ึทืคึฐืฉืึดึื ืึดืคึฐื ึตึฅื ืึฐืึนืึธึฝืื
English:
And Hannah replied, โOh no, my lord! I am a very unhappy woman. I have drunk no wine or other strong drink, but I have been pouring out my heart to GOD.
Hannah's dignified response corrects Eli without disrespect, calling herself 'hard of spirit' rather than drunk. The Talmud (Berakhot 31b) derives from her reply that one who is wrongly suspected must inform the accuser of the truth.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึนื ืึฒืึนื ึดื. ืึนื ืึธืืึนื ืึทืชึธึผื ืึฐึผืึธืึธืจ ืึทืึถึผื, ืึดึผืึดึผืืชึธ ืึฐึผืขึทืฆึฐืึฐืึธ ืฉึถืืึตืื ืจืึผืึท ืึทืงึนึผืึถืฉื ืฉืืึนืจึธื ืขึธืึถืืึธ ืฉึถืืชึตึผืึทืข ืฉึถืืึตืื ึดื ืฉึดืืึผืึนืจึทืช ืึทืึดื:
No, my lord. You are not master in this matter. You have revealed that the Holy Spirit is not resting upon you, otherwise you would have known that I am not intoxicated from wine.26Maseches Berachos 31b.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืื ืืื ื. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืชื ืืืื ื, ืื ืื ืืืืจ, ืืื ืื ื ืืฉื ืงืฉืช ืจืื, ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืฆืจื ืืืืื, ืืืืขืช ืืืชื ืื ื ืืืชืคืื, ืืื ืืืื ืืขืช ืืฉืืืจ, ืื ืืื ืืฉืืจ ืื ืฉืชืืชื: ืืืฉืคืื ืืืืณ. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืื ืชืชืื ืขื ืื ืื ืฉืคืชื ื ืขืืช ืืงืืื ืื ืืฉืืข, ืื ืืื ืืคื ื ืืณ ืืฉืคืื ื ืคืฉื, ืืื ืื ืืืจืื ืงืื ืืืฉืืืข ืืืืืช:
No, my lord: Meaning to say - you, my lord, the matter is not like this. Rather, "I am a woman of troubled spirit," meaning to say, distressed and worried. But I have come here knowingly to pray; and not without intention like a drunkard. For "I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink." But I have been pouring out, etc.: Meaning to say, and do not wonder about that which my lips move but my voice is not heard. For is it not that it is before the Lord that I have been pouring out my soul? So why should I raise my voice to make it heard to another?
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืื ืืื ื. ืืื ื ื ืฉืืืจื ืืื ืฉืชืืฉืื ืืื ืืฉื ืงืฉืช ืจืื ืื ืื ืจืืื ืงืฉื ืขืื ืืจืื ืฆืจืชื ืืกืืืืืช ืงืฉืช ืจืื ืืกืืืืืช ื ืืืืช ืขืืื ืืืืื ืืงื ืงืจืืขื ืืืืื ืืืืืืื ืืื: ืืืื ืืฉืืจ. ืืชืจืืืื ืืืจ ืืืช ืืขืชืืง ืืื ืืืืจ ืืืจืฉ ืืื ืื ืืืฉ ืฉืืจ ืื ืืฉื ืืืชืื ืืคืจืฉ ืฉืืจ ืื ืขืฉื ืืืคืืจืืช: ืืืฉืคืื ืืช ื ืคืฉื. ืืจืื ืืชืคืื ืืืืื ืฉืคืื ื ืคืฉื ืืื ืฉืคืื ืืคื ืื ืืืืื ืื"ืช ืืืืจืืช ืขืืืื ื ืคืฉื ืืฆืื ืงืื ื':
No, my lord: I am not drunk, as you think. Rather, "I am a woman of a troubled spirit" - my spirit is troubled about me, from my great distress. And the construct form (smikhut) [of, "a troubled spirit"] is like, "of fallen leaves" (Isaiah 1:30); "of shaven beards" (Jeremiah 41:5); of torn clothes" (II Samuel 13:31). Wine nor strong drink: It is like its translation [in Targum Yonatan], "new wine and old." And likewise is it said in the homiletical teachings - wine is new and strong drink (shekhar) is old [wine]. But it is likely to be explained, shekhar is that which is made from [other] fruits. But I have been pouring out my soul with much prayer. It was as if she poured out her soul - like (Psalms 62:9), "they poured their hearts before Him." And Yonatan translated it as, "and she said, 'My soul is humbled in prayer before the Lord.'"
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 16
Hebrew:
ืึทืึพืชึผึดืชึผึตืึ ืึถืชึพืึฒืึธึฃืชึฐืึธึ ืึดืคึฐื ึตึื ืึผึทืชึพืึผึฐืึดืึผึธึืขึทื ืึผึดึฝืึพืึตืจึนึฅื ืฉืึดืืึดึื ืึฐืึทืขึฐืกึดึื ืึผึดืึผึทึฅืจึฐืชึผึดื ืขึทืึพืึตึฝื ึผึธืื
English:
Do not take your maidservant for a worthless woman; I have only been speaking all this time out of my great anguish and distress.โ
Hannah explains that her extended prayer came from overwhelming grief, not worthlessness. The term 'daughter of Belial' (worthless woman) is strong language, and her willingness to use it shows both her emotional state and her insistence on being taken seriously.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึทื ืชึดึผืชึตึผื ืึถืช ืึฒืึธืชึฐืึธ. ืึฐึผืึทืคึตึผื ืฉึถืืึธืึฐืจึธื ืืึน ืึธึผืึธืจ ืงึธืฉึถืื, ืึธืึฐืจึธื ืึผืคึดืึฐึผืกึธืชืึน, ืฉึถืืึนึผื ืึดืชึฐึผื ึถื ึธึผื ืึถืคึฐืงึตืจ ืึผืึดืึธึผืืึนื ืึดืคึฐื ึตื ืฆึธืจึธืชึธืึผ ืึทึผืช ืึฐึผืึดืึทึผืขึทื: ืึดึผื ืึตืจึนื ืฉึดืืืึดื. ืึดึผืึทึผืจึฐืชึดึผื ืึฐืคึธื ึถืืึธ ืงืึนืฉึดืื: ืฉึดืืืึดื. ืึตืฉื ืึฐืงืึนืืึนืช ืฉึถืืืึผื ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึฒื ึดืื ืึผืช ืึตื. ืึธึผืึธืจ ืึทืึตืจ: ืึตืจึนื ืฉึดืืืึดื; ืดืึฐึผืชึทืจึฐืึผืึผืืึน: ืดืึฒืจึตื ืึดืกึฐืึตื ืึทืงึฐื ึธื๏ฌตืชึดื ืึฐืึทืจึฐ๏ฌฒึธืึฐืึธืชึดื ื๏ญืจึตืืึดืืช ๏ฌฑึดืฆึฐื๏ญ ืขึทื ๏ฌปึฐืขึทื: ืึฐืึทืขึฐืกึดื. ืฉึถืืฆึธึผืจึธืชึดื ืึทืึฐืขึถืกึถืช ืืึนืชึดื: ืึทื ืชึดึผืชึตึผื. ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึฐืกึดืืจึธื, ืึฐึผืืึน: ืดืึทื ืชึดึผืชึฐึผื ึตื ึดื ืึฐึผื ึถืคึถืฉื ืฆึธืจึธืืด (ืชืืืื ืื:ืื):
Do not deliver your maidservant. Because she had spoken harshly to him, she tried to appease him, so that he deliver her not, unprotected and disgraced, to her rival, the wicked woman. For it is out of much grievance. That I have spoken harshly to you. Grievance. In some instances, it [ืฉึนึดืืึดื] is an expression of heartache. Another explanation of ืึตืจึนื ืฉึนึดืืึดื, according to Targum, "because of much provocation and anger, I have prolonged my prayer until now." And anger. My rival angers me. Do not deliver. An expression of giving over, as in, "'Do not deliver me to the will of my tormentors."27Tehillim 27:12.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืื ืชืชื. ืื ืชืืฉืื ื ืืืช ืืืืขื ืืืื ืฉืืืจื ืืืืช ืืณ, ืืืืืจ, ืื ืืืืช ืืืืจืื, ืื ืื ืืืืจืื ืืชืคืื ืื ืื: ืื ืืจืื ืฉืืื ืืืขืกื. ืื ืืขืืืจ ืจืื ืกืคืืจ ืืชืืืืช ืืืืขืก ืืฉืจ ืคื ืื ื ืืืขืกืช ืืืชื, ืืืจืชื ืืคื ื ืืณ ืขื ืื ื, ืืืืช ืจืืื ืื:
Do not take: Do not think of me as an unbridled woman, to come drunk to the House of the Lord. Meaning to say, if the truth is like your words, why should I prolong my words so much in prayer? For it is out of the greatness of my grievance and my anger: For it is due to the greatness of the telling of the troubles and the anger with which Peninah angered me that I spoke in front of the Lord until now, as they are great.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืคื ื ืืช ืืืืขื. ืืคื ื ื' ืืืช ืืืืขื ืืืืืจ ืื ืชืืฉืื ืฉืืขืืื ืฉืืืจื ืืคื ื ื' ืืช' ืืืช ืจืฉืข ืื"ืช ืื ืชืืืื ืืช ืืืชื ืงืื ืืช ืจืฉืืขื ื ืจืื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืช ืืืืขื ืืืจื ืขื ืคื ืื ื ืฆืจืชื ืืืืจื ืื ืื ืชืืืืื ื ืืคื ืื ืื ืืื ืชืฉืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืืขืืกื ืืืชื, ืืคืืจืืฉ ืื ืชืชื ืื ืชืชื ื ื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืจืข ืื ืชืืืืื ื ืื ืืคื ื ืืืช ืืืฉื ืืช ืืืืขื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืคืืจืืฉ: ืื ืืจืื ืฉืืื ืืืขืกื. ืืชืจืืืื ืืจื ืืกืื ืืงื ืืืชื ืืืจืืืืืชื ืืืจืืืช ืืฆืื ืขื ืืขื, ืืืืืจ ืืจืื ืฉืืฉ ืื ืืฉืื ืืคื ื ืืื ืืงื ืืืช ืฉืืงื ืื ืืืชื ืฆืจืชื ืืืืขืืกื ืืืชื ืืืจืชื ืืคื ื ื' ืืช' ืขื ืื ื:
As (lit., before) an unbridled woman: Before the Lord, as an unbridled woman. Meaning to say, do not think that I would stand drunk like an evil woman in front of the Lord, may He be blessed. And Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, "Do not embarrass your maidservant before an evil woman." It appears from his words that she said, "unbridled woman," about Peninah, her rival. So she said to him, "Do not embarrass me in front of her, for she will rejoice at my misfortune, and she angers me." And the understanding of, "Do not place," is do not place me in this bad thing - do not embarrass me with it in front of this woman that is unbridled. And this explanation is correct. For it is out of the greatness of my grievance and my anger: It is like its translation [in Targum Yonatan], "because of the abundance of my provocations and my anger did I prolong my prayer until now." Meaning to say, it is from the abundance that I have to speak before God [of] provocations that my rival provokes and angers me that I spoke in front of the Lord, may He be blessed, until now.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 17
Hebrew:
ืึทืึผึทึงืขึทื ืขึตืึดึื ืึทืึผึนึืืึถืจ ืึฐืึดึฃื ืึฐืฉืึธืึืึนื ืึตืืึนืึตึฃื ืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตึื ืึดืชึผึตืึ ืึถืชึพืฉืึตึฃืึธืชึตึืึฐ ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ืฉืึธืึทึืึฐืชึผึฐ ืึตืขึดืึผึฝืึนื
English:
โThen go in peace,โ said Eli, โand may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked.โ
Eli's response transforms from rebuke to blessing -- he invokes God to grant her petition. The Talmud discusses whether this constituted a prophetic statement or simply a priestly blessing, and whether Eli understood what she had actually requested.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึถืช ืฉึตืืึธืชึตืึฐ. ืึธืกึตืจ ืืณ, ืึดืึฐืจืึนืฉื ืึผืึน ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึธึผื ึดืื, ืึฐึผืืึน: ืดืึผืึฐืฉึดืืึฐืึธืชึธืึผ ืึทืึผืึนืฆึตืืช ืึฐืืึนืณืด (ืืืจืื ืื:ืื): ืึดืชึตึผื ืึถืช ืฉึตืืึธืชึตืึฐ. ืึดึผืฉึฐึผืืจึธืึผ ืฉึถืื ึดึผืชึฐืงึทืึฐึผืึธื ืชึฐืคึดืึธึผืชึธืึผ:
Your request. The ื is missing, to infer [ืฉืึตืึธืชึตืึฐ] an expression of children,28Others render ืฉืึตืึธืชึตื as being derived from ืฉืึธืึธื [=plunder], meaning that her soon to be born son will โtake of the goods [ืฉืึธืึธื of the Torah,โ i.e., he will gain much knowledge and understanding of the Torah.โRadak as in, "and her young [ืึผืึฐืฉืึดืึฐืึธืชึธืึผ] who emerges fromโฆ."29Devarim 28:57. Will grant the request. He foretold to her that her prayer had been accepted.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืชื ืืช ืฉืืชื. ืืืื ืืช ืืงืฉืชื, ืืืืจื ืชืคืื ืืืจ:
He grant what you have asked: Fulfill your request. And he said [this] in the way of a prayer.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืชื ื' ืืช ืฉืืชื. ืืกืจ ืืื"ืฃ ืืืืืื ืชื ืืขืชื ืขื ืืฉื"ื ืื ืืฉืคืื ืฉืืืชื ืืคื' ืืจื ืชืคืื ืื ืืืจ ืื ืื ืืจื ื ืืืื ืื ื ืืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืื ืืฉืืื ืื ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืชื ืืช ืฉืืืชื ืืคืืื ืืืืื ืืช ืืื ืืืืื ืื ืงืืชื ืืืืจื ืื ืืื ืืืืจื ืื ืชืืฆื ืฉืคืืชื ืื ืืขืื ืื ืขื ืืจื ืืืฆื ืื ืืขืื ื ืืืื ื ืื ื ืืืชื ื ืืืคื' ืืจืืฉืื ืืืื ืคื' ืชืืฆื ืฉืคืืชื ืื ืืขืื ืื ืฉืชืชืคืื ืขืื ืขืื ืืืคืืื ืืืืื ืืช ืืื ืืืืื ืื ืืฉืื ืื ืชืคืืช ืขืื ืชืืขืื ืื, ืืืืจืฉ ื ืจืื ืื ืืจื ื ืืืื ืืืจ ืื ืืื ืืฉืืื ืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืื ืืืื ืืจื ืฉืืืื ืื ืืจืืื: ืืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืชื ืืช ืฉืืชื. ืฉืืชื ืืชืื ืืืจ ืื ืืื ืืื ืฉืืชื ืขืชืืื ืืืขืืื ืืจืื ืฉืื ืขืชืื ืืื ืืฉืืื ืื ืืชืืจื:
May [the Lord] grant what you have asked: The [letter,] alef is missing (in shelatekh) and its movement is placed upon the shin. As its rule (it usual spelling) is [with an alef]. And its explanation is that it is in the way of a prayer. Or he said it in the way of prophecy, for he was a prophet. So he said to her, "Go in peace," because "the Lord of Israel will grant you what you asked." Hence her heart was gladdened and she ate, for she hoped [about the fulfillment of] the words of the prophet. And she said, "May your maidservant find favor in your eyes" - in the way of (Ruth 2:13), "May I find favor in the eyes of my master, since you have comforted me." But according to the first explanation, the explanation would be, may your maidservant find favor in your eyes, that you should still pray more for me. And hence her heart was gladdened and she ate, since she thought that Eli's prayer would be effective for her. And in the homiletical teachings, it appears that he spoke in the way of prophecy: He said to her, "Go in peace" - he said to her, "This peace is from me; however your peace is from your children." And may the God of Israel grant what you have asked (shelatekh): It is written, shaltekh - he said to her, "This son that you will establish in the future will capture much booty (lishlol harbeh shelal) from the Torah.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 18
Hebrew:
ืึทืชึผึนึืืึถืจ ืชึผึดืึฐืฆึธึงื ืฉืึดืคึฐืึธืชึฐืึธึ ืึตึื ืึผึฐืขึตืื ึถึืืึธ ืึทืชึผึตึจืึถืึฐ ืึธืึดืฉืึผึธึคื ืึฐืึทืจึฐืึผึธืึผึ ืึทืชึผึนืืึทึื ืึผืคึธื ึถึฅืืึธ ืึนืึพืึธึฝืืึผึพืึธึืึผ ืขึฝืึนืื
English:
She answered, โYou are most kind to your handmaid.โ So the woman left, and she ate, and was no longer downcast.
The immediate transformation in Hannah is striking -- she eats and her face is no longer sad. The commentators explain that Eli's blessing gave her confidence that her prayer was accepted, demonstrating the power of a priestly blessing to provide certainty and peace of mind.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืชึดึผืึฐืฆึธื ืฉึดืืคึฐืึธืชึฐืึธ ืึตื. ืึฐืึทืงึตึผืฉื ืขึธืึถืืึธ ืจึทืึฒืึดืื: ืึผืคึธื ึถืืึธ ืึนื ืึธืืึผ ืึธืึผ. ืคึธึผื ึดืื ืฉึถืื ืึทืขึทื:
May your maidservant find favor. To beg for compassion on her behalf. And no longer had the [sad] look on her face. Meaning the face of anger.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืชืืฆื. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืื ื ืืฆืืชื ืื ืืขืื ืื, ืื ืื ืฉืืงืฉืช ืขืื ืจืืืื, ืืืฉื ืื ืืืฆืืืืช ืื, ืืืืืืงื ืื ืืืื ืืืืจืื: ืืชืืื. ืืขืชื ืืืื ืื ืฆืจืื, ืืื ืืื ืื ืขืื ืืืขื ืฉืืื ืื ืืื, ืื ืืืื ืืชืคืืช ืขืื:
May she find: Meaning to say, behold I have found favor in your eyes. For I consider that which you requested mercy upon me, to be finding favor. So she showed thankfulness with her words. And she ate: From now on, she ate all she needed and she no longer had the fury that she had for a long time. For she trusted in Eli's prayer.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืจืื. ืืืื ืื ืืืืชื ืืืืื ื ืจืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืขื ืืขืื ืื ืืคืฉืจ ืื ืืืื ืืขื ืืืคืฆืจ ืืขืื ืืขืืฉืื ืืืืื ืืช ืืื ืืืืื, ืืืืจืฉ ืืื ืืืจืื ืฉืคืืจืกื ื ืื ืืื ืื ืืจื ื ืฉืื ืื: ืืคื ืื. ืคื ืื ืืจืขืื ืื ืืื ืื ืขืื ืืืช"ื ืืืคืื ืืืฉืื:
On her way: She went to her home and ate. It appears that she had not eaten with her husband; or it is possible that she ate a little when her husband had pleaded. But now her heart was gladdened and she ate. And in the homiletical teachings: What is, "on her way" - that she began to menstruate, like (Genesis 31:35), "since the way of women is with me." And her face: She no longer had a [long] face. And likewise did Yonatan translate [in the Targum], "and a bad face."
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 19
Hebrew:
ืึทืึผึทืฉืึฐืึผึดึฃืืึผ ืึทืึผึนึืงึถืจ ืึทืึผึดึฝืฉืึฐืชึผึทืึฒืืึผึ ืึดืคึฐื ึตึฃื ืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึทืึผึธืฉืึปึืืึผ ืึทืึผึธืึนึฅืืึผ ืึถืึพืึผึตืืชึธึื ืึธืจึธืึธึืชึธื ืึทืึผึตึคืึทืข ืึถืึฐืงึธื ึธืึ ื๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝืชึพืึทื ึผึธึฃื ืึดืฉืึฐืชึผึืึน ืึทึฝืึผึดืึฐืึผึฐืจึถึืึธ ืึฐืึนืึธึฝืื
English:
Early next morning they bowed low before GOD, and they went back home to Ramah. Elkanah knewiknew Cf. note at Gen. 4.1. his wife Hannah and GOD remembered her.
The family returns home to Ramah after morning worship. The phrase 'God remembered her' echoes the language used for Rachel (Genesis 30:22) and signals divine response to sincere prayer. Conception follows as a direct answer to Hannah's vow.
โถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึทืึธึผืึนืืึผ ืึถื ืึตึผืืชึธื ืึทืึตึผืึทืข ืึถืึฐืงึธื ึธื. ืึดืึธึผืื ืึฐืึทืึฐืกึฐื ึทืื ืฉึถืืึธืกืึผืจ ืึฐึผืชึทืฉึฐืืึดืืฉื ืึทืึดึผืึธึผื:
And came to their homeโฆ and Elkonoh knew. From here [we learn] that a traveler is forbidden to have marital relations.30Maseches Kesubos 65a.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืืืจื ืืณ. ืขืืชื ืืืจืื ื ืืคื ืื ืืืืื:
And the Lord remembered her: Her recollection came up before Him for the good.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 20
Hebrew:
ืึทึฝืึฐืึดืึ ืึดืชึฐืงึปืคึฃืึนืช ืึทืึผึธืึดึืื ืึทืชึผึทึฅืึทืจ ืึทื ึผึธึื ืึทืชึผึตึฃืึถื ืึผึตึื ืึทืชึผึดืงึฐืจึธึคื ืึถืชึพืฉืึฐืืึนึ ืฉืึฐืืึผืึตึื ืึผึดึฅื ืึตืึฐืึนืึธึื ืฉืึฐืึดืึฐืชึผึดึฝืืื
English:
Hannah conceived, and at the turn of the year bore a son. She named him Samuel,jSamuel Connected with shaสผul me-สผEl โasked of Godโ; cf. vv. 17, 27โ28. meaning, โI asked GOD for him.โ
The naming of Samuel (Shmuel) embodies Hannah's experience -- 'because I asked him from God.' Rashi and Radak note the wordplay: 'shemu-El' means 'heard by God' or 'asked of God,' permanently encoding the miracle of answered prayer into the child's identity.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึดืชึฐืงึปืคืึนืช ืึทืึธึผืึดืื. ืึดืืขืึผื ืชึฐึผืงืึผืคืึนืช ืฉึฐืืชึทึผืึดื, ืึดืืขืึผื ืึธืึดืื ืฉึฐืื ึทืึดื, ืึฐืฉึดืืฉึธึผืื ืึณืึธืฉึดืืื ืึผืฉึฐืื ึตื ืึธืึดืื. ืึดืึธึผืื ืึทืึผืึนืึถืึถืช ืึฐืฉึดืืึฐืขึธื, ืืึนืึถืึถืช ืึดืึฐืงึปืึธึผืขึดืื: ืฉึฐืืืึผืึตื. ืขึทื ืฉึตืื ืึตื ืึฐืขึทื ืฉึตืื ืึทืึทึผืขึฒืฉึถืื ืืึผื ื ึดืงึฐืจึธื, ืึดึผื ืึดืึถึผื ึผืึผ ืฉึฐืืึดืึฐืชึดึผืื:
And as the seasons and days passed. The minimum of seasons [ืชึผึฐืงืึผืคืึนืช] is two, and the minimum of days [ืึธืึดืื] is two. Hence, [she gave birth] after six months [=two seasons] and two days.31Maseches Rosh Hashanah 11a. From here [we learn] that a woman who gives birth in her seventh month of pregnancy, can give birth after entering part of the seventh month. Shmuel. After the Name of God [ืึพื], and in reference to the incident he was so called, for I requested [ืฉืึธืึทื] him of ืึทืฉืึตื[=ืืึพื].
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืชืงืืคืืช ืืืืื ืืชืืจ ืื ื. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืขืช ืืงืืฃ ืชืฉืืื ืืื ืืืจืืื, ืืขืช ืืฉืจ ืืจืชื ืื ื: ืืชืื ืื. ืืชืฉืืื ืืืืงืฃ: ืื ืืืณ ืฉืืืชืื. ืืืื ืืฉืื ื ืืคื ืขื ืืืฉืื:
As the cycles and days Channah conceived passed: Meaning to say, at the time of the completion of the cycle of days of the pregnancy from the time that Channah conceived. And she gave birth to a son, at the end of the cycle. For I requested him from the Lord: And it is a play on words.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืชืงืืคืืช ืืืืื. ืืื ืืขืืืจ ืืชืจืืืื ืืืื ืืฉืื ืืืืื, ืืคื' ืืชืืจ ืื ื ืฉืืจืชื ืืืจ ืื ืืืฉืจ ืฉืื ืืฉืืื ืืืขื ืืืงื ื ืืขืื ืืืจืชื ืื"ืฉ ืืืืืจื ื' ืืชืงืืคืช ืืืืื ืืื ืืฉืืฉืืื ืืื ืืืจืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืฉ ืืื"ื ืืืืช ืืืจืืช ืืฉืขืืจ ืืื ืื ืืชื ืงืฆืคืช ืื ืืื ืืืืงืขื ืืืื ืืืืืืื ืืื ืืืืจื ืจืืืชืื ื ื"ื ืื ืืื ืืจืืื ื ืืื ื' ืืืฉืื ืืฉื ื ืืืื ืืืขืื ืชืงืืคืืช ืฉืชืื ืืืขืื ืืืื ืฉื ืื ืืืชืงืืคื ืืื ื' ืืืฉืื ืืืืื ื ืืื ืืืืืืช ืืฉืืข' ืืืื' ืืืงืืืขืืช: ืฉืืืื. ืืืจืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืขื ืื ืื ืื' ืฉืืืชืืื ืื ืืฉ ืืืืชืืืช ืฉืืืื ืฉืืื ืืืฉ ืืืืชืืืชืื ื"ื ืืื ืืืืื ืืืจื ืฉืืื ืืื: ืื ืื' ืฉืืืชืื. ืืกืจ ืืืช ืืืจื ืืื' ืืื ืงืจืื ืฉืื ืฉืืืื ืื ืืืจื ืื' ืฉืืืชืื. ืืืชืจืืื ืืื ืชื ืืจื ืืืจืช ืื ืงืื ื' ืฉืืืชืื:
As the cycles and days passed: The days of her pregnancy - like its translation [in Targum Yonatan], "at the time of the completion of the days." And the explanation of, "and Channah conceived," is that she had already conceived. For when they returned from Shiloh, Elkanah, her husband, knew her intimately; and she conceived - as it is written [in the previous verse], "and the Lord remembered her." "The cycles and days" - that is when the days of pregnancy were completed, she gave birth to a son. And there are [instances of the letter,] vav [such as at the beginning of this verse] like this, indicating the past - like (Isaiah 64:4), "indeed, You were angry and we sinned" (the vav here changes the second phrase from being future to being past); (Exodus 14:21) "and the waters were split" (the vav here too changing the future to past); and those similar to them. And our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, said that the days of her pregnancy were six months and two days - the minimum of "cycles" is two, and the minimum of "days" is two; and a cycle is three months. And we learn from this [that] a woman who gives birth in her seventh month can give birth with cut off (partial) [months]. Shmuel: This word is constructed for this reason from, "I requested him from the Lord." As there are the letters of, shaul (requested), in Shmuel, and there are also the letters of, me'El (from God). It as is if she said, "Requested from God." For I requested him from the Lord: It is lacking the word, said. Meaning to say, why did she call his name Shmuel? Because she said, "I requested him from the Lord." And it is like the Targum Yonatan, "For I said, 'I requested him before the Lord.'"
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 21
Hebrew:
ืึทืึผึทึืขึทื ืึธืึดึฅืืฉื ืึถืึฐืงึธื ึธึื ืึฐืืืึพืึผึตืืชึืึน ืึดืึฐืึผึนึงืึท ืึทืืึนืึธึื ืึถืชึพืึถึฅืึทื ืึทืึผึธืึดึืื ืึฐืึถืชึพื ึดืึฐืจึฝืึนื
English:
And when this man Elkanah and all his household were going up to offer to GOD the annual sacrifice and his votive sacrifice,
Elkanah goes up for the annual pilgrimage with his household, now also bringing a votive offering. The mention of a special votive sacrifice alongside the regular annual offering suggests Elkanah too had made commitments connected to Hannah's prayer.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึถืช ืึถืึทื ืึทืึธึผืึดืื. (ืชืจืืื:) ืดืึธืช ืึฐึผืึทื ืืึนืขึฒืึทืึธึผืืด: ืึฐืึถืช ื ึดืึฐืจืึน. ื ึฐืึธืจึดืื ืฉึถืื ึธึผืึทืจ ืึตึผืื ืจึถืึถื ืึฐืจึถืึถื ืึธืึธื ืึทืงึฐืจึดืื ืึธึผืจึถืึถื:
The festival offering. [Targum renders] the sacrifices of the appointed seasons. And his vow. The vows he made between festivals he would offer on the next festival.32Ibid., 6a.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืขื. ืืฉืื ืขืช ืขืืืชื, ืขืื ืืืืื: ืืช ืืื ืืืืื. ืื ืฉืืื ืจืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืฉื ื: ืืืช ื ืืจื. ืื ืฉื ืืจ ืื ืืฉื ื ืืืื ืืืืชื, ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืขืช ืขืืืชื:
Went up: When the time of his going up arrived, he went up to sacrifice. The annual sacrifice: What he was accustomed to sacrificing every year. And his vow: He brought that which he vowed the whole year and was in his house, to sacrifice them at the time of his going up.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืื ืืืชื. ืืชืจืืืื ืืื ืื ืฉ ืืืชืื: ืืช ืืื ืืืืื. ืืชืจืืืื ืืช ืืื ืืืขืืื: ืืืช ื ืืจื. ืืืืื ืืช ืืื ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืจืืื ืืืืื ืืช ืืื ืืืืขื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืขืื ืื ืื ืืืืื ื ืืจื ืื ื ืืจ ืงืจืื ืื' ืขื ืื ื ืืื ืชืืจืื ืืื ืชื ืืืืฉืืื ืืช ื ืืจืื:
And all his household (lit., house): It is like its translation [in Targum Yonatan], "And all the people of his house." The annual sacrifice (lit., of the days): It is like its translation [in Targum Yonatan], "the sacrifice of the appointed time." And his vow: [He went up] to sacrifice the yearly sacrifice that he was accustomed to sacrificing and the sacrifice of the appointed time as of yore, but he also went up to sacrifice his vow-offering. For he had vowed a sacrifice to the Lord for his son. And so did Yonatan translate [in the Targum], "and to fulfill his vow."
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 22
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึทื ึผึธึื ืึนึฃื ืขึธืึธึืชึธื ืึผึดึฝืึพืึธืึฐืจึธึฃื ืึฐืึดืืฉืึธึืึผ ืขึทึฃื ืึดืึผึธืึตึคื ืึทื ึผึทึืขึทืจึ ืึทืึฒืึดืึนืชึดึืื ืึฐื ึดืจึฐืึธืึ ืึถืชึพืคึผึฐื ึตึฃื ืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึฐืึธึฅืฉืึทื ืฉืึธึื ืขึทืึพืขืึนืึธึฝืื
English:
Hannah did not go up. She said to her husband, โWhen the child is weaned, I will bring him. For when he has appeared before GOD, he must remain there for good.โ
Hannah delays her pilgrimage, explaining she will bring Samuel to Shiloh only after weaning -- and then he will stay permanently. This verse reveals the weight of her vow: she is preparing to give up her long-awaited son forever, fulfilling her promise to dedicate him to lifelong Temple service.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืขึทื ืึดืึธึผืึตื. ืึฐืกืึนืฃ ืขึถืฉืึฐืจึดืื ืึผืฉืึฐื ึทืึดื (ืกืคืจืื ืืืจืื: ืขึถืฉืึฐืจึดืื ืึฐืึทืจึฐืึผึธืขึธื) ืึณืึธืฉึดืืื, ืฉึถืืึธึผืึฐ ืึฐืึทื ืชึดึผืื ืึนืง ืึดืื ึทืง: ืึฐืึธืฉึทืื ืฉึธืื ืขึทื ืขืึนืึธื. ืขืึนืึธืึธื ืฉึถืื ืึฐืึดืึดึผื ืึฒืึดืฉึดึผืืื ืฉึธืื ึธื, ืฉึถืื ึถึผืึฑืึทืจ: ืดืึผืึดืึถึผื ืึฒืึดืฉึดึผืืื ืฉึธืื ึธื ืึธืฉืืึผื ืึดืฆึฐึผืึธื ืึธืขึฒืืึนืึธืืด (ืืืืืจ ื:ืื), ืึฐืึธืึฐ ืึธืืึผ ืึธืึธืื ืฉึถืื ืฉึฐืืืึผืึตื, ืึฒืึดืฉึดึผืืื ืึผืฉึฐืืชึทึผืึดื, ืฉึถืืึฒืจึตื ืขึตืึดื ืฉึธืืคึทื ืึถืช ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืึทืจึฐืึธึผืขึดืื ืฉึธืื ึธื, ืึผืึฐืืึนื ืชึฐึผืคึดืึทึผืช ืึทื ึธึผื ื ึดืชึฐืึทื ึธึผื ืฉืืึนืคึตื, ืฆึตื ืืึนืชึธืึผ ืฉึธืื ึธื ืึฐืขึดืึผืึผืจืึน ืฉึถืื ืฉึฐืืืึผืึตื, ื ึดืฉึฐืืชึทึผืึฐึผืจืึผ ืฉืึฐืืึนืฉืึดืื ืึธืชึตืฉืึทืข, ืึผืฉึฐืืืึผืึตื ืคึดึผืจึฐื ึตืก ืึถืช ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืึดืฉึถึผืืึตึผืช ืขึตืึดื ืฉืึฐืืึนืฉื ืขึถืฉืึฐืจึตื ืฉึธืื ึธื, ืฉึถืืึฒืจึตื ืืึนื ืฉึถืืึตึผืช ืขึตืึดื ืึธึผืึธื ืึธืึธืจืึนื ืึฐืึธืฉึทืื ืึดึผืฉึฐืืึตื ืคึฐืึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผืื ืฉืึดืึฐืขึธื ืึณืึธืฉึดืืื (ืฉืืืื ื ื:ื), ืึดืฉึธึผืื ืึธึผื ืึฐืงึดืจึฐืึทืช ืึฐืขึธืจึดืื, ืขึทื ืฉึถืืึถืขึฑืึธืืึผ ืึธืึดื, ืึดืฉึถึผืืึธึผืึทืึฐ ืฉึถืืึทืข ืฉึธืื ึดืื ืึฐึผืึถืึฐืจืึนื ืขึทื ืึฐืืึผืึธื, ืึฐืึดืึฐืึดืืืึผืืึผ ืึธึผื ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืขึฒืึตืืึถื, ืึผืึฐืชึดืื (ืฉืืืื ื ื:ื): ืดืึทืึฐืึดื ืึดืึผืึนื ืฉึถืืึถืช ืึธืึธืจืึนื ืึฐึผืงึดืจึฐืึทืช ืึฐืขึธืจึดืื ืึทืึดึผืจึฐืึผืึผ ืึทืึธึผืึดืื ืึทืึดึผืึฐืืึผ ืขึถืฉึฐืืจึดืื ืฉึธืื ึธืืด, ืฆึตื ืึตืึถื ืฉึถืืึทืข ืฉึธืื ึดืื ืฉึถืืึธึผืึทืึฐ ืึธึผืึดื ืึฐึผืึถืึฐืจืึนื, ื ึดืึฐืฆึธื ืึดืฉึถึผืืึธึผืึธื ืึธืึธืจืึนื ืขึทื ืฉึถืืึตึผืช ืฉึธืืืึผื ืฉึฐืืึนืฉื ืขึถืฉึฐืืจึตื ืฉึธืื ึธื ืึฐืฉึดืืึฐืขึธื ืึณืึธืฉึดืืื, ืึผืฉึฐืืืึผืึตื ืึตืช ืึดืคึฐื ึตื ืฉึธืืืึผื ืึทืจึฐืึธึผืขึธื ืึณืึธืฉึดืืื:
When [the boy] will be weaned. At the end of twenty-two (other versions, twenty-four) months, for that is the period for a child to nurse. And shall remain there forever. Forever in the Levitic sense,33It can also refer to the fifty year period of Yoveil. i.e., fifty years as it is said, "from the age of fifty he shall retire from the work force."34Bamidbar 8:25. Figuring as follows, we determine that Shmuel's lifetime was fifty-two years: Eili judged Yisroel for forty years.35I Shmuel 4:18. On the day of Chana's prayer he was appointed judge.36Above verse 9. By subtracting the year in which Chana conceived Shmuel, there remain thirty-nine years. Shmuel governed Yisroel from the time of Eili's death for thirteen years, as follows: On the day of Eili's death, the Ark was captured, and it remained in the land of the Philistines for seven months.37Below 6:1. From there, it was brought to and remained in Kiryas Yearim until Dovid brought it up after he had reigned seven years in Chevron over Yehudah, and all of Yisroel had accepted him as their king. And it is written, "From the day the Ark came to rest in Kiryas Yearim, there ensued many days, and they became twenty years."38I Shmuel 7:2. Subtracting from them seven years which Dovid reigned in Chevron discloses that from the time the Ark was captured until Shaul's death, were thirteen years and seven months; and Shmuel died four months before Shaul.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืื ืขืืชื. ืืืฉื ื ืืืื: ืขื ืืืื ืื ืขืจ. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืื ืืืื ืืืืชื ืขื ืืืื ืื ืขืจ, ืืืืจื ืืืืื, ืืืื ืื ืืืชื ืื ืืืช ืืณ, ืื ืจืื ืืช ืคื ื ืืณ ืืืฉืชืืืืช ืืคื ืื ืืืืืืืช ืื ืขื ืื ืขืจ ืืืืื: ืืืฉื ืฉื. ืื ืขืจ ืืฉื ืฉื ืขื ืขืืื, ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืื ืืื ืขืื, ืืืื ืืฉืืฉ ืืืชื:
Did not go up: That year. Until the boy will be weaned: Meaning to say, I will not move from here "until the boy will be weaned." But after he is weaned, "I will bring him" also to the House of the Lord, "that he may appear before the Lord," to bow down before Him; and to thank Him for the boy that was born. And he shall abide there: The boy will abide there forever - meaning to say, all the days of Eli, so that he may serve him.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืขื ืืืื. ืขื ืชืฉืื ืื ืืงืชื ืืืื ืขืฉืจืื ืืืจืืข ืืืฉ ืฉืืชืื ืืง ืืื ืง ืืืขืค"ื ืฉืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืื ืืฉืื ืืจืื ืื ืืืืจื ืืืจื ืจืืืชืื ื ื"ื ืื ืจืืชื ืื ื ืื ืขืจ ืฉืืื ืืขืื ื ืืืืืฉ ืืืฉืฉื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืคื ื ืืืจื: ืืืฉื ืฉื ืขื ืขืืื. ืืื ืฉื ืืจื ืขืืื ืื ืชืชืื ืื' ืืคื' ืขื ืขืืื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืจืืืชืื ื ื"ื ืืจืฉื ืขื ืขืืื ืขืืื ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืืฉืจืชืื ืขื ื ' ืฉื ื ืืื ืฉืืชืื ืืืื ืืืฉื' ืฉื ื ืืฉืื ืืฆืื ืืขืืืื ืืืืจื ืื ืฉื ืืชืื ืฉื ืฉืืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ื "ื ืฉื ื ืื ืืืจ ืืืจื ืื ื ืื ืชืชืื ืื' ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืจ ืืืฉื ืฉื ืขื ืขืืื ืืืื ืขืืื ืฉื ืืืื ืฉืื ื ' ืฉื ื ืืืฉืื ืืืืช ื' ืขื ืืื ืืืชื ื ' ืฉื ื ืืฉืชื ืฉื ืื ืฉืื ืง ืื"ืฉ ืขื ืืืื ืื ืขืจ ืืืจื ืื ืขืจ ืืื ืง ื"ื ืืืฉืื ืืจื ื "ื ืฉื ื:
Until the boy will be weaned: Until the end of his nursing, and that is the twenty-four months that an infant nurses. And even though they were obligated to bring him [to Shiloh] on account of, "every male shall appear" (Exodus 23:17) - our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, said it was because she saw that he was pampered and weak, so she was concerned lest he fall sick because of the travel. And he shall abide there forever: As she had vowed about him, "and I will give him to the Lord" (I Samuel 1:11). And the explantion of, "forever," is all the days of his life. And our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, expounded - the forever of the Levites, since they would serve fifty years, as it is written (Numbers 8:25), "From the age of fifty he shall retire from the work force." And they said that all the days of Shmuel were only fifty-two years: As Channah had already said, "and I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life." And she said, "And he shall abide there forever" - and that is the forever of the Levites, which is fifty years. And from when he came to the House of the Lord until the day of his death was fifty years. And the [other] two years were when he nursed, as it is written, "until the boy will be weaned." And it is the way of a child to nurse twenty-four months. There you have fifty-two years.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 23
Hebrew:
ืึทืึผึนึฃืืึถืจ ืึธืึผึฉ ืึถืึฐืงึธื ึธึจื ืึดืืฉืึธึืึผ ืขึฒืฉืึดึงื ืึทืึผึฃืึนื ืึผึฐืขึตืื ึทึืึดืึฐ ืฉืึฐืึดืึ ืขึทืึพืึผืืึฐืึตึฃืึฐ ืึนืชึืึน ืึทึืึฐ ืึธืงึตึฅื ืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึถืชึพืึผึฐืึธืจึืึน ืึทืชึผึตึคืฉืึถื ืึธึฝืึดืฉืึผึธืึ ืึทืชึผึตึฃืื ึถืง ืึถืชึพืึผึฐื ึธึืึผ ืขึทืึพืึผืืึฐืึธึืึผ ืึนืชึฝืึนื
English:
Her husband Elkanah said to her, โDo as you think best. Stay home until you have weaned him. May GODโs word be fulfilled.โkGODโs word Septuagint and 4QSamแต (a Samuel fragment from Qumran) read โthe utterance of your mouth.โ So the woman stayed home and nursed her son until she weaned him.
Elkanah defers entirely to Hannah's judgment about when to bring the child to Shiloh, adding only a prayer that God fulfill 'His word.' Radak notes this may refer to Eli's blessing, treating it as a divine promise that extends beyond the birth itself.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึทืึฐ ืึธืงึตื ืืณ ืึถืช ืึฐึผืึธืจืึน. ืึถืช ืฉึถืืฉึธึผืืึทืึฐืชึฐึผ ืึดืึถึผื ึผืึผ ืึถืจึทืข ืึฒื ึธืฉึดืืื, ืึฐืขึตืึดื ืึดึผืฉึฐึผืืจึตืึฐ ืึฐึผืจืึผืึท ืึทืงึผืึนืึถืฉื ืดืึฑืึนืึตื ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืึดืชึตึผื ืึถืช ืฉึตืืึธืชึตืึฐืด โ ืึธืงึตื ืืณ ืึถืช ืึฐึผืึธืจืึน, ืึฐืึถืืึผ ืึฐืคึดื ืคึฐืฉืืึผืืึน. ืึผืึดืึฐืจึทืฉื ืึทืึธึผืึธื: ืจึทืึดึผื ื ึฐืึถืึฐืึธื ืึฐึผืฉึตืื ืจึทืึดึผื ืฉึฐืืืึผืึตื ืึทึผืจ ืจึทื ืึดืฆึฐืึธืง ืึธืึทืจ: ืึฐึผืึธื ืืึนื ืึธืืึนื ืึทึผืช ืงืึนื ืืึนืฆึตืืช ืึผืึฐืคืึนืฆึถืฆึถืช ืึธึผืขืึนืึธื ืึฐืืึนืึถืจึถืช: ืขึธืชึดืื ืฆึทืึดึผืืง ืึถืึธื ืึทืขึฒืืึนื ืึผืฉึฐืืืึน ืฉึฐืืืึผืึตื, ืึฐืึธื ืึดืฉึธึผืื ืฉึถืืึธืึฐืชึธื ืืึนืึถืึถืช ืึตึผื, ืึธืึฐืชึธื ืงืึนืจึฐืึธื ืฉึฐืืืึน ืฉึฐืืืึผืึตื, ืึตึผืืึธื ืฉึถืืึธืืึผ ืจืึนืึดืื ืึถืช ืึทืขึฒืฉึธืืื, ืึธืืึผ ืืึนืึฐืจึดืื ืึตืื ืึถื ืฉึฐืืืึผืึตื, ืึฐืึตืืึธื ืฉึถืื ึผืึนืึทื ืึถื ืึฐืจึธืืึผ ืึทืขึฒืฉึธืืื, ืึธืึฐืจืึผ ืึผืึนืึถื ืฉึถืืึถึผื ืืึผื, ืึฐืึถืืึผ ืฉึถืืึธืึทืจ: ืึธืงึตื ืืณ ืึถืช ืึฐึผืึธืจืึน, ืฉึถืืึฐึผืึตื ืึถื ืฉึฐืืืึผืึตื ืึทืฆึทึผืึดึผืืง:
But may Adonoy fulfill His word. Because you requested of Him male offspring,39Above, verse 11. and Eili foretold you through Divine inspiration, "the God of Yisroel will grant your request,"40Above, verse 17. may 'ื fulfill His word. This is the simple interpretation. In Midrash Aggadah, however, Rabbi Nechemyah said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel, the son of Rabbi Yitzchok: Every day a Divine voice would resound throughout the world and say, "A righteous man is destined to arise, by the name of Shmuel." Thereupon, every woman who bore a son, would name him Shmuel. Once they saw his deeds, they would say, "This is not [the] Shmuel." But when this one [Shmuel] was born and people saw his deeds, they said, "Apparently this one is the one [i.e., expected righteous man]." This is what he [Elkonoh] meant when he said, "May Adonoy fulfill His word," i.e., that this be the righteous Shmuel.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืื ืืขืื ืื. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืคื ืืคืฆื ืขืฉื, ืืฉืื ืขื ืืืื ืืืชื: ืื ืืงื ืืณ ืืช ืืืจื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ: ืื ืฉืืืจืช ืคื ืฉืชืฉืื ืขื ืืืื, ืื ื ืืืืจ ืืื ืืกืืจ ืืืื ืืขืฉืืช ืืขืฆืื ืืืฉืจ ืชืจืฆื, ืื ืืฉืจ ืืืจืช ืขื ืื ืขืจ, ืฉืืื ืืฉื ืืืืช ืืณ ืขื ืขืืื, ืื ื ืืืจ ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืืจื, ืื ืืณ ืืงื ืืช ืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืืืจืช ืขื ืื ืขืจ, ืืืื ืืชื ืืืื ืืฉืืช ืืืืชื ืขื ืขืืื (ืืืืช ืืืจื ืืืกื ืขื ืื ืขืจ, ืจืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืืจ ืื ืืืจ ืื ืืขืืื): ืืชืฉื ืืืฉื. ืืืืชื, ืืื ืขืืชื:
What is proper in your eyes: Meaning to say, do according to your wish, and remain until you wean him. But may the Lord fulfill His/his word: Meaning to say, that which you said here that you will remain until you wean [him], behold this thing is given over to your hands, to do with yourself as you want. But that which you said about the boy, that he should abide in the House of the Lord forever, behold that thing is not in your hands to vow it. However, "May the Lord fulfill" the word that you said about the boy, and He place it into his heart to abide in His house forever. (And the word, "his word," is referring to the boy, meaning to say, the word that was said about the boy and regarding him.) So the woman remained in her home and did not go up.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืงื ื' ืืช ืืืจื. ืืคืกื' ืืืืื ืื ืื ืฉืืืจ ืขืื ืืชื ื' ืืช ืฉืืืชื ืืจื ื ืืืื ืืืจ ืฉืืชื ืื ื' ืืช ืฉืืืชื ืืื ื ืฉืืืชื ืืืชื ืฉืืืื ืื ืืจืข ืื ืฉืื ืืฉืืืื ืื' ืืคื' ืืืจ ืืงื ื' ืืช ืืืจื ืคื' ืืฉืจ ืืืจ ืข"ื ืื ืืื ืฉืืชื ืฉืืืชื ืืืื ืื ืฉืืืื ืืืืื ืื', ืืืืจืฉ ืื ืืงื ื' ืืช ืืืจื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืชื ืืช ืงืื ืืืฆืืช ืืืคืืฆืฆืช ืืขืืื ืืืืืจืช ืขืชืื ืฆืืืง ืืื ืืขืืื ืืฉืื ืฉืืืื ืืื ืืฉื ืฉืืืชื ืืืืืช ืื ืืืชื ืืืฆืืื ืฉืื ืฉืืืื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืจืืืื ืืช ืืขืฉืื ืืื ืืืืจืื ืืื ืื ืฉืืืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืื ืื ืืจืื ืืขืฉืื ืืืจื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืื ืื"ืฉ ืืงื ืืช ื' ืืช ืืืจื:
May the Lord fulfill His word: The verses show that what Eli said (I Samuel 1:17), "May (the Lord) grant what you have asked," was by way of prophecy - that the Lord would grant her what she asked. And behold what she asked was that she should have offspring of men and that he should be for the Lord. Hence [Elkanah] said, "May the Lord fulfill His word" - the explanation of which is, that which he spoke through the prophet, that He will grant you what you asked. And that is a son that will live and who will be for the Lord. And in the homiletical teachings: "But may the Lord fulfill His word" - every day, a heavenly voice would come out and clamor in the world and say, "In the future, a righteous one will arise, and his name is Shmuel." So every woman who would give birth to a son, would bring out his name as Shmuel. Once they saw his deeds, they would say, "This is not Shmuel." When this one was born and they saw his deeds, they said, "It appears that this is he." And that is what is written, "May the Lord fulfill His word"
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 24
Hebrew:
ืึทืชึผึทืขึฒืึตึจืืึผ ืขึดืึผึธึืึผ ืึผึทืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ืึผึฐืึธืึทึืชึผืึผ ืึผึฐืคึธืจึดึคืื ืฉืึฐืึนืฉืึธ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึ ืึฐืึตืืคึธึจื ืึทืึทึฅืช ืงึถึืึทืึ ืึฐื ึตึฃืึถื ืึทึืึดื ืึทืชึผึฐืึดืึตึฅืืึผ ืึตืืชึพืึฐืึนืึธึื ืฉืึดืึืึน ืึฐืึทื ึผึทึืขึทืจ ื ึธึฝืขึทืจื
English:
When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with three bulls,lthree bulls Septuagint and 4QSamแต read โa three-year-old [cf. Gen. 15.9] bull and breadโ; cf. v. 25. one ephah of flour, and a jar of wine. And though the boy was still very young,mthough the boy was still very young Meaning of Heb. uncertain. she brought him to the House of GOD at Shiloh.
Hannah brings the weaned Samuel to Shiloh with substantial offerings -- three bulls, flour, and wine. The generous sacrifices underscore the solemnity of the moment, as she fulfills her vow by presenting both offerings and her son to the service of God.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึฐืึตืืคึธื ืึทืึทืช ืงึถืึทื. ืฉึธืืึทืขึฐืชึดึผื ืึฐึผืฉึตืื ืจึทืึตึผืื ืึผ ืึดืฆึฐืึธืง ืึทืึตึผืึดื, ืึตืืคึธื ืึทืึทืช ืงึถืึทื, ืฉึธืืึนืฉื ืกึฐืึดืื, ืึฐืืึนืฆึดืื ืึดืึถึผื ึธึผื ืฉึฐืืึนืฉึธืื ืขึถืฉึฐืืจืึนื ึดืื ืกึนืึถืช ืึธืจึธืืึผื ืึทืคึธึผืจ ืึธืึถืึธื, ืึฐึผืึดืชึฐื ึทื (ืื ืืืช ืขื:) ืดืึถืึถื ืึทืคึธึผื ึดืื ืขึถืฉืึฐืจึดืื ืึฐืึทืจึฐืึผึธืขึธื ืขึถืฉึฐืืจืึนื ึดืื ืึตืขึถืฉืึฐืจึดืื ืึฐืึทืจึฐืึผึทืข ืกึฐืึดืืืด, ืขึดืฉึธึผืืจืึนื ืกึนืึถืช ืึดืกึฐืึธื ืึดืึดึผืื: ืึฐื ึตืึถื ืึธืึดื. ืึฐื ึทืกึตึผืึฐ: ืึฐืึทื ึทึผืขึทืจ ื ึธืขึทืจ. (ืชืจืืื:) ืดืึฐืจึทืึฐืึธื ืึฒืึธื ืึธื ึดืืงืด:
One eiphah of flour. I heard in the name of Rabbi Yitzchok Halevi, that she brought one eiphah of flour, the equivalent of three seahs, from which to extract three tenths of an eiphah of fine flour, the required amount for one bull.41See Bamidbar 15:8-9. As we learned in the Mishnah:42Maseches Menachos 76b. The showbread was made of twenty-four tenths of an eiphah from twenty-four seahs; i.e., one tenth part of an eiphah of fine flour from each seah of wheat. And a flask of wine. For a libation. Though the child was still a lad. The Targum renders, 'though the child was still young.'
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืคืจืื ืฉืืฉื. ืขื ืฉืืฉื ืคืจืื ืืืืื ืืืณ, ืืืงืื ืืื ืืืช, ืืืืื ืื ืกืืื: ืืชืืืืื. ืืช ืื ืขืจ: ืืื ืขืจ ื ืขืจ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ: ืื ืขืจ ืืื ืขืืื ื ื ืขืจ ืงืื ืืจื, ืืขื ืื ืื ืื ื ืื ืขื ืืืืืืื ืืืฉืจ ืืืืชื:
With three bulls: With three bulls to sacrifice to the Lord, and the flour for the grain offering and the wine for the libations. And she brought him: The lad. And the lad was a lad: Meaning to say, the lad was a small and delicate lad. Yet, in spite of all this, it did not prevent her from bringing him when she weaned him.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืคืจืื ืฉืืฉื. ืืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืื' ืืื ืืืืคื ืื' ืงืื ืืืืื ืืืืงืจืื ืืื ื ืื ืื ืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืฉืชืืช ืืืืกืื ืืื ื ืืคืืื ืืืจ ืืืฉืืื ืืช ืืคืจ ืืื ืืืจ ืืคืจืื ืจ"ื ืืคืจ ืฉืืงืจืืื ืื': ืืื ืขืจ ื ืขืจ. ืืืืืจ ืขืืื ื ื ืขืจ ืงืื ืืจื ืืืขืค"ื ืื ืื ืืืชืื ื ืื ืขื ืฉืืชืืืง ืืื ืืืื ืฉืืืืชื ืืื' ืฉืืฉืืืื ืื ืื ืืงืชื ืืกืืฃ ื"ื ืืืฉืื ืฉื ืืื ืืื ืืขืืชืื ืขืื ืืืช ื' ืื"ืช ืืจืืื ืืื ืื ืืง ืืืื ืจ"ื ืฉืืื ืืื ืง ืขืืืื ืฉืืจื ืืืืจ ืืืฉืจ ืืืืชื ืฉืฉืืื ืื ืืงืชื ืืื ืื ืืง ืจ"ื ื ืขืจ ืงืื ืื ืื ืืฉืื ืืจืื ืงืืจืืื ืื ืขืจ ืื ืืง ืืื ืฉืืฆืื ื ืืืืจื ืจืืืชืื ื ื"ื ืื ืืง ืืืืื ืืจ ืื ืืงื ืืืจ ืงืฉืืฉื, ืื"ื ืืื ืขืจ ื ืขืจ ืืจืืฃ ืืืืข ืืื ืืื ืืจืข ืืื ืืื ืขืจ ืฉืื ืขืจ ืืช ืืคืกืืืช ืื ืืคืฉืชื:
With three bulls: Some of them to eat and some of them to slaughter to the Lord. And likewise, "one ephah of flour," to eat and to offer a grain-offering from it; and likewise, "and a jar of wine," to drink and to pour [a libation] from it. Hence it stated (I Samuel 1:25), "And they slaughtered the bull," and it did not say, "the bulls" - meaning to say, the bull that they offered to the Lord. And the lad was a lad: Meaning to say, the lad was still a small and delicate lad. Yet, in spite of this, she did not wait for him until he became stronger, but rather once she weaned him - meaning to say, when she completed his nursing at the end of twenty-four months [from] when he was born - she brought him up immediately with her to the House of the Lord. And Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, "and the lad was a yanik." But this does not mean that he was still nursing (yonek). For behold, it states, "when she weaned him" - when she finished nursing him. Rather yanik means to say, a young lad. For this is the way of Aramaic, they call a lad a yanik - as we have found in the words of our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, "a yanik who is wise"; "the yanuka master and the old master." But some explain, "and the lad was a lad (naar) is [that] he was sharp and knew [the difference] between good and evil, like a shaker (menaer), who shakes off the waste from the flax.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 25
Hebrew:
ืึทึฝืึผึดืฉืึฐืึฒืึืึผ ืึถืชึพืึทืคึผึธึืจ ืึทืึผึธืึดึฅืืึผ ืึถืชึพืึทื ึผึทึืขึทืจ ืึถืึพืขึตืึดึฝืื
English:
After slaughtering the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.
The sacrifice precedes the presentation of the child to Eli, following proper ritual order. This moment marks the formal transfer of Samuel from his parents to the priesthood at Shiloh, beginning his lifelong service.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึทืึธึผืึดืืืึผ ืึถืช ืึทื ึทึผืขึทืจ ืึถื ืขึตืึดื. ืึดืจึฐืืึนืช ืฉึถืื ึดึผืชึฐืงึทืึฐึผืึธื ื ึฐืืึผืึธืชืึน. ืึฐืจึทืึผืึนืชึตืื ืึผ ืึธึผืจึฐืฉืืึผ ืึทื ืฉึถึผืืึธึผืจึฐืฉืืึผ, ืฉึถืืืึนืจึธื ืึฒืึธืึธื ืฉึถืืึตืื ืึน ืฆึธืจึดืืึฐ ืึนึผืึตื ืึดืฉึฐืืึดืืึทืช ืงึธืึธืฉึดืืื, ืึดึผืึฐืึดืืชึธื ืึดึผืึฐืจึธืืึนืช (ืื:):
They brought the child to Eili. To show that his prophecy was fulfilled. Our Sages expounded what they expounded, explaining that he [Shmuel] ruled on a point of law, that a kohein is not necessary for sacrificial slaughter, as it is stated in [Maseches] Berachos.43 31b.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืฉืืื ืืืืณ. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืืฉืจ ืฉืืื ืืคืจ ืืจืืฉืื, ืืืืื ืืช ืื ืขืจ ืื ืขืื, ืืืจืืืชื ืฉื ืชืงืืื ืชืคืืชื:
And they slaughtered, etc.: Meaning to say, when they slaughtered the first bull, they brought the lad to Eli to show him that his prayer was accepted.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืืืื ืืช ืื ืขืจ. ืืืงื ื ืืื ื ืืืจื ืฉืฉืืื ืืช ืืคืจ ืืงืจืื ืืืืื ืืช ืื ืขืจ ืืืช ื' ืื ืขืื ืืืืืช ืืืฉื ืืืืื ืืคื ืื ืืฉืืื ื ืืืชื ืืื ืชืืจื ืืืฆืื ืืืืจืฉ ืืื ืฆืจืื ืืืชืื ืื ื ืืืข ืืื ืืืื ืจืืืง:
They brought the boy: After they slaughtered the bull for a sacrifice, Elkanah and Channah brought the boy to the House of the Lord to Eli, to reside and study before him; and that [Eli] should educate him about all the Torah and the commandment[s]. And there is no reason to write the homiletical teaching, as it is well-known and it is remote.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 26
Hebrew:
ืึทืชึผึนึืืึถืจึ ืึผึดึฃื ืึฒืึนื ึดึื ืึตึฅื ื ึทืคึฐืฉืึฐืึธึ ืึฒืึนื ึดึื ืึฒื ึดึฃื ืึธืึดืฉืึผึธึื ืึทื ึผึดืฆึผึถึคืึถืช ืขึดืึผึฐืึธืึ ืึผึธืึถึื ืึฐืึดืชึฐืคึผึทืึผึตึื ืึถืึพืึฐืึนืึธึฝืื
English:
She said, โPlease, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you and prayed to GOD.
Hannah identifies herself to Eli as the very woman he once accused of drunkenness. This moment of recognition transforms their earlier encounter -- the woman Eli misjudged now stands before him with proof of God's answer to the prayer he had dismissed.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึดึผื ืึฒืึนื ึดื. ืึธืชึตืช ืขึตืื ึถืืึธ ืขึธืึธืื ืฉึถืืึฐึผืึตื ืชึทืึฐืึดืืึฐืึธ. ืึผืึฐืคึดื ืึดืึฐืจึทืฉื ืจึทืึผืึนืชึตืื ืึผ: ืฉึถืืึนึผื ืึทืขึฒื ึดืืฉึตืืืึผ ืึดืืชึธื:
Please my lord. Take care of him, that he become your disciple. But according to the Midrash of our Sages, [she asked of Eili] not to punish him with death.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืื ืืื ื. ืืงืฉื ืืขืื ืืืฉืืืขืชื ืืืื ื ืคืฉื, ืืฉืื ืขืื ื ืขื ืื ืขืจ: ืื ืฆืืช. ืืฉืจ ืขืืืชื ืคื ืืืืืชื ืื ืืชื ืืืฉื ืคื, ืืื ืฉืืชืื ืืืขืื: ืืขืื ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืืืณ:
Please, my lord: She requested from Eli, and made him swear by his own soul, to keep his eye on the lad. Who stood: Who stood here when you too were here sitting, as it is written above (I Samuel 1:9), "and Eli the priest sat, etc."
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืื ืืืื ื. ืขื ืื ืชืื ื ืืืงืฉื ืืชืจืืืื ืืืขื ืจืืื ื ืื ื ืคืฉื ืฉืชืชื ืขืื ืื ืขื ืื ืขืจ ืืื ืืชืืืืื ืื ืื ื ืืืฉื ืฉืืชืคืืืชื ืื ื': ืขืืื. ืืืืืจ ืืคื ืื ืืืืขืืื ืฉืืืืช ืืชื ืฉื ืืืชืคืืืชื ืืืขืืืจ ืื ืขืจ ืืื ืืชืคืืืชื ืื ืชื ืื ื' ืืช ืฉืืืชื ืืื ืฉืืฉืจืชื ื ืืชื ืื"ื ืขืืื ืื"ื ืืฉืจ ืฉืืืชื ืืฉืืื ืกืคืจืื ืืืื ืืืืช ืขื ืืืื ืืืืืืื ืื ืื ืื ื ืคืขืืื ืืืชื ืืคืขื ืื ืืืชื ืืืฉ ืื ืืจืฉ ืืืื ืื' ืืืืช ืฉื ืชืคืื:
Please, my lord: It is a matter of a supplication and a request - like its translation [in Targum Yonatan], "please, my master" - as you live, that you should keep your eyes upon this lad and teach him, for "I am the woman" who prayed to the Lord. With you: Meaning to say, before you and in your presence - as you were there when I prayed. And I prayed for this lad and the Lord granted me what I asked, as you proclaimed to me. And the [letter,] hey [at the end of the word, imcha (with you)] is like the hey in (Jeremiah 29:25), "that you sent books in your name"; (Exodus 13:16) "and they will be a sign upon your hand"; and those that are similar to it. As leave it alone - sometimes it is written and sometimes it is not written. And there is a homiletical teaching about it - from here, [we learn about] the four cubits of prayer.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 27
Hebrew:
ืึถืึพืึทื ึผึทึฅืขึทืจ ืึทืึผึถึื ืึดืชึฐืคึผึทืึผึธึืึฐืชึผึดื ืึทืึผึดืชึผึตึจื ืึฐืึนืึธึฅื ืึดืึ ืึถืชึพืฉืึฐืึตึฃืึธืชึดึื ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ืฉืึธืึทึืึฐืชึผึดื ืึตืขึดืึผึฝืึนื
English:
It was this boy I prayed for; and GOD has granted me what I asked.
Hannah declares that Samuel is the living fulfillment of her prayer. The verb 'sha'al' (asked) connects directly to the child's purpose and foreshadows the wordplay with 'Shaul' (Saul) -- the one who was asked for, who will himself anoint the one who is asked for.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึถื ืึทื ึทึผืขึทืจ ืึทืึถึผื ืึดืชึฐืคึทึผืึธึผืึฐืชึดึผื. ืึทื ืชึนึผืืึทืจ: ืึถื ืึธืืึผืช ืึฐืึดื ึธึผืชึตื ืึฐืึธ ืึทืึตืจ:
This is the child that I prayed for. Do not say, "this one shall die and another shall be given to you."44Ibid.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืื ืื ืขืจ ืืื ืืชืคืืืชื. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืืชืคืื ืฉืืชืคืืืชื ืื, ืืืชื ืืฉืืืช ืื, ืืื ื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืชื:
It was this boy I prayed for: Meaning to say, the prayer that I had prayed then was to ask for a son. And behold, this is the one to whom I gave birth.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืื ืื ืขืจ. ืืขืืืจ ืื ืขืจ:
To (el) the boy: For the boy.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 28
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึทึฃื ืึธื ึนืึดึื ืึดืฉืึฐืึดืึฐืชึผึดึืืึผึ ืึทึฝืืึนืึธึื ืึผืืึพืึทืึผึธืึดืืึ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ืึธืึธึื ืึฅืึผื ืฉืึธืึืึผื ืึทืืึนืึธึื ืึทืึผึดืฉืึฐืชึผึทึฅืืึผ ืฉืึธึื ืึทึฝืืึนืึธึฝืืย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
I, in turn, hereby lendnlend From the same root as that of the verb rendered โasked forโ in v. 20. him to GOD. For as long as he lives he is lent to GOD.โ And theyothey Heb. โheโ; cf. 2.11. A reading in the Talmud (Berakhot 61a) implies that Elkanah was there. bowed low there before GOD.
Hannah completes the circle of her vow: she 'asked' the child from God and now 'lends' him back. The Hebrew root sh-a-l serves double duty -- asking and lending -- capturing the theology that what we receive from God is ultimately returned to divine service.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึฐืึทื ืึธื ึนืึดื ืึดืฉึฐืืึดืึฐืชึดึผืืืึผ ืึทืืณ. ืึฐึผืึธืึธื ืึทืึทึผืฉึฐืืึดืื ืึฐึผืึดื ืึฐืจึทืึผืึน, ืืึน ืึทืฉึฐืืึดืืืึน ืึฐึผื ืึน ืึฐืฉึทืืึฐึผืฉืืึน: ืืึผื ืฉึธืืืึผื. ืื ืคืจืืฆืืืดืฅ ืึฐึผืึทืขึทืดื, ืึฐึผืืึนืึทืจ ืึตืื ืึทืชึธึผื ืจึทืฉึทึผืืื ืึฐืขึธื ึฐืฉืืึน, ืึทืงึธึผืึธึผืดื ื ึทืขึฒืฉึธืื ืขึธืึธืื ืฉืืึนืึตื, ืึดึผื ืึดืฉึฐืืึดืึฐืชึดึผืื ืืึน, ืึฐืขึธืึธืื ืึฐืึทืึฒืึดืืจืึน ืึดื: ืึทืึดึผืฉึฐืืชึทึผืืึผ ืฉึธืื. ืฉึฐืืืึผืึตื, ืึฐืึตืฉื ืืึนืึฐืจึดืื ืึถืึฐืงึธื ึธื:
And I have dedicated him to Adonoy. Just as a person who lends a utensil to his master, or lends him his son to serve him. He is dedicated. Enpruntez in Old French, i.e., you have no right to punish him, for the Holy one, Blessed is He, has become his borrower; because I have lent [Shmuel] to Him, He must return him to me.45Another interpretation of โืฉืึธืืึผืโ is that it refers to Shaul. She stated by Divine inspiration, โas long as Shmuel lives, Shaul will live.โ Shmuel was no longer alive at the time of Shaulโs death. He then prostrated himself. Shmuel. Others say, Elkonoh.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืื ืืืืณ. ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืื ืืขืช ืืชืคืื ื ืืจืชื ืื ืืืฉืืืื ืืืณ, ืืืชืืืื ืชืืื ืืขืืืืชื: ืืฉืจ ืืื. ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืื, ืจืืฆื ืืืืจ: ืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืื ืืขืืื, ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืณ: ืืืฉืชืื ืฉื ืืืณ. ืืฉืชืืื ืืืืืืช ืืืณ, ืืฉืจ ืฉื ืืืงื ืืขืืืื ืืณ:
And also: Meaning to say, also at the time of the prayer, I then vowed to lend him to the Lord, to always dedicate himself to His service. That he was (lived): It is like, as he will be - meaning to say, all the time that he will be in this world, he is lent to the Lord. And he bowed down to the Lord there: He bowed down to thank the Lord, who set up his portion to be among the servants of the Lord.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืฉืืืชืืื. ืืืืจืชื ืื ืืฉืืื ืฉืืื ื ืชื ืื ืื"ืช ืืกืจืชืื ืืืื ืืฉืืฉ ืงืื ื': ืืฉืจ ืืื. ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืจืืื ืืืืื: ืืื ืฉืืื. ืืื ื ืชืื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืฉืืื ืฉืืื ืื ื ืืื ื ืชืื ืื' ืืืฉ ืื ืืจืฉ ืืืืชื ืฉืขื ื ืฆื ืฆื ืื ืจืื ืืงืืฉ ืืืืจื ืื ืืื ืฉืฉืืืื ืงืืื ืฉืืื ืงืืื ื"ืฉ ืฉืืื ืื': ืืืฉืชืื. ืืืงื ื ืื ืืื ืจืฉืืช ืืฆืืช ืืืืช ื' ืื ืคืืจืืฉื ืืืฉืชืื ืฉืืืื ืืขืค"ื ืฉืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืฉืชื ืฉื ืื ืืืืืื ืืืฉืชืืืช ืื':
I lent him: I returned the loan to Him that He gave me. And Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, "I gave him over, that he should serve before the Lord." That he was (lived): It is like, that he would be. And there are many [cases] like this. He is lent (shaul): It is like, given - meaning to say, he who was lent is now truly given to the Lord. And there is a homiletical teaching about it: At that time, the holy spirit blossomed in her, and she said, "All the time that Shmuel is alive, Saul is alive." And that is [the meaning of] that which it is written, "shaul to the Lord." And he bowed down: Elkanah, like someone getting permission to leave the House of the Lord. Or the explanation of, "And he bowed down," is Shmuel - even though he was only two years old, they taught him to bow down to the Lord.
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