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Hannah

Hannah or Hana (חנה "Grace; charm; mercy", Standard Hebrew Ḥanna, Tiberian Hebrew Ḥannāh), was a wife of Elkanah and the mother of the prophet Samuel as recorded in the Book of Samuel. Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, had provided him with children, but Hannah was childless. Elkanah favored Hannah, but her rival Penninah taunted her because the Lord had not allowed her to bear children yet.

Hannah beseeched God to grant her a child, and vowed to give that child back to God. God granted her request, and she and Elkanah conceived the baby Samuel, whom she gave to the House of the Lord at Shiloh once he had been weaned. From that day, Samuel was in the care of the high priest Eli, living his life as a Nazirite.

In Judaism she is regarded as the prime role model for how to pray. Hannah's famous prayer in 1 Samuel 2 exalts the Lord's providence, power, sovereignty and holiness. This is read on the first day of Rosh Hashanah as the haftarah.


Last updated: 02-10-2005 05:42:39
Last updated: 04-30-2005 10:37:28