Hannah Conceives

Hannah prayed to have a son who would serve Yahvah all his days. What kind of son was she given? One like Jeremiah.

1 Samuel 1:1-20

¹There was 1 man from Ramah of Zuphim from the mount of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph the Ephrathite. ²He had 2 wives. The name of 1 was Hannah L Judges 13:2 L Luke 1:27 and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had sons and Hannah had no sons. 1 Samuel 1:1-2³This man used to go up out of his town yearly to bow and to sacrifice to the Master FE of hosts in Shiloh and there were the 2 children of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Master. ⁴The time came and Elkanah sacrificed and gave to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters portions. ⁵To Hannah he gave 1 double portion, for he loved Hannah and the Master had shut up her womb. ⁶Her rival taunted her severely to make her fret, because the Master had shut up her womb. ⁷Peninnah did this year by year when she went up to the house of the Master and thus she provoked her. Therefore Hannah wept and did not eat. ⁸Elkanah her husband said to her, Why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than 10 sons? 1 Samuel 1:3-8⁹Hannah rose up after she had eaten in Shiloh and from after she had drunk and she went up to the house of the Master and Eli the priest was sitting on a seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Master. ¹⁰She was bitter of soul and she prayed before the Master and wept bitterly. ¹¹She made a vow and said, The Master FE of hosts, if you will look on the affliction of your female servant, and remember me and not forget your maid, but will give to your female servant a seed, then I will give him to the Master all the days of his life FE and no razor will come on his head. 1 Samuel 1:9-11¹²It came to pass as she continued praying before the Master that Eli watched her mouth. ¹³Hannah spoke in her heart only and her lips moved, but her voice was not heard, therefore Eli thought her to be drunk. ¹⁴Eli said to her, How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine. 1 Samuel 1:12-14¹⁵Hannah answered and said to him, No my master. I am a woman full of grief. I have not drunk wine nor strong drink. I have poured out my soul before the Master. ¹⁶Do not count your female servant before you a daughter of sin, for out of the abundance of my sorrow and grief I spoke until now. 1 Samuel 1:15-16¹⁷Eli answered and said to her, Go in peace and the god of Israel will give your petition that you have asked of him. I Isaiah 8:2 1 Samuel 1:17¹⁸She said, Let your female servant find favor in your eyes. The woman went her way and her countenance was not sad any longer. 1 Samuel 1:18¹⁹They rose up early in the morning and bowed before the Master and returned and came to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife and the Master remembered her. ²⁰It came to pass in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son I Isaiah 8:3 and called his name, Samuel, L Judges 13:24 saying, Because I have asked him of the Master. 1 Samuel 1:19-20 (1 Samuel 1:1-20 BRB)

Count

2+2+10 = 14 = Jeremiah

Jeremiah

The book of Jeremiah begins with a famous line about how Yahvah knew him even before he was conceived in the womb.

⁴The word of the Master was on me, saying: ⁵Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you, and before you came out of the womb, I made you holy, and a prophet to the peoples, I ordained you. L 1 Kings 21:1 Jeremiah 1:4-5 (Jeremiah 1:4-5 BRB)

Since the math in Hannah's story points to this passage the same can be said of her son Samuel, Yahvah knew him even before he was formed in the womb. It's probably safe to assume that not only did Yahvah know Samuel before his mother conceived, but Yahvah caused Hannah to ask for him so he would be conceived.

Given the way the math links the births of Samuel and Jeremiah, it's probably the case that Jeremiah's mother was like Hannah. There's no other account about her praying and asking for a son, like Hannah, but the math links the two and suggests it was the same kind of thing.

Ryan Eaton 2013-03-26