A pious woman, the wife of Elkanah. She deeply lamented that she had no child, and was on that account provoked by Peninnah, the other wife of Elkanah. She represented the feeble condition of Israel at that time, and in that condition prayer was her resource. In pouring out her soul before the Lord, she vowed that if God would hear her prayer and give her a man-child, she would give him unto Jehovah all the days of his life, and no razor should come upon his head. God heard her prayer, and she became the mother of Samuel (which means “asked of God”), who, when he had been weaned, was given to be servant of Eli the priest. He was “lent” or “returned” to the Lord who gave him (see 1 Sam. 1:28, margin).
Hannah prayed to the Lord, and the joy of her heart flowed out in a beautiful prophetic song, praising and exalting God for His salvation and wonderful doings, which would cause the poor to inherit the throne of glory. Led by the Spirit she spoke of Jehovah giving strength to His king and exalting the horn of His Anointed. Her son Samuel anointed David who was a type of Christ. Thus the prayer of a feeble and barren woman brings in intervention and blessing of God by His Messiah. Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and she became the mother of three sons and two daughters (1 Sam. 1:1-28; 1 Sam. 2:1-21).