1 Samuel 2:20-21
Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the LORD give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the LORD.” So then they would return to their home. Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to overlook the beautiful humility here: Eli doesn't just bless them generally, he specifically acknowledges Hannah's personal petition to God. This highlights how Hannah's intimate, specific request became a public blessing, showing God's deep care for individual hearts.
This scene unfolds after Hannah, who was barren, poured out her heart in tearful prayer to God at the Tabernacle, vowing to dedicate her child to service if God answered her. Eli the priest witnessed her anguish and spoke words of blessing, and shortly after, God remembered Hannah, who conceived and bore Samuel. This passage shows Eli's continued role as a father figure and the fulfillment of Hannah's desperate, faith-filled prayer.
Eli, the high priest, offers a specific blessing to Elkanah and Hannah. What does this reveal about true faith, even amidst his own family's failures?
Eli's words here are more than just a formality. He blesses them based on Hannah's specific prayer, "May the LORD give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the LORD." This highlights a crucial aspect of faith: it's active and directed toward God's specific promises and answers. Even though Eli's own household was in disarray due to his sons' sin, he still recognized and affirmed God's power to answer prayer. His blessing is a testament to upholding God's honor, even when his own life is a mess.
This is faith in action – not just believing in God, but believing God for something specific, and seeing His hand at work in the lives of others.
After the blessing, Elkanah and Hannah return home. What does this simple action signify about their trust and the completeness of their encounter with God?
The phrase "So then they would return to their home" is brief but significant. It marks the end of their time at the sanctuary, but not the end of their faith journey. It shows a settled trust in God's faithfulness. They didn't linger in anxious anticipation or doubt; they returned home, presumably to continue their lives, now with peace and the assurance that God had heard Hannah's prayer.
This return signifies that their faith wasn't just about the moment of petition or the blessing received. It was about entrusting the outcome to God and living with the confidence that He would fulfill His Word. It's a picture of completing the cycle: bringing the need to God, receiving His word (through the priest's blessing and their own faith), and then trusting the result.
Understand the original words
barak · Hebrew Verb
To invoke divine favor, protection, or prosperity upon someone. In a biblical context, it is an authoritative declaration of God’s grace and goodwill toward individuals.
she'elah · Hebrew Noun
A formal request or entreaty made to God. It highlights the believer's dependence on the Lord to intervene in their circumstances and grant specific desires according to His will.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The covenant name of the God of Israel. It denotes His self-existence, faithfulness, and eternal nature as the Redeemer of His people.
paqad · Hebrew Verb
In this context, it refers to God's gracious intervention in human affairs to bring about His purposes, often associated with blessing or judgment.
This passage immediately precedes 2:20, showing Hannah's prayer for a child being answered, which is the 'petition' referenced in the verse.
1 Samuel 2:26This verse speaks to Samuel growing in stature and favor with the Lord and with man, highlighting the positive outcome of Hannah's prayer and Eli's blessing.
Deuteronomy 28:1-14This passage outlines the blessings God promises to those who obey Him, providing the theological backdrop for Eli's blessing upon Elkanah and Hannah, linking obedience to divine favor and fruitfulness.
Genesis 17:15-16This shows God's faithfulness in blessing Sarah with a child in her old age, illustrating the principle of God answering earnest petitions for children, just as He did for Hannah.
It's easy to overlook the beautiful humility here: Eli doesn't just bless them generally, he specifically acknowledges Hannah's personal petition to God. This highlights how Hannah's intimate, specific request became a public blessing, showing God's deep care for individual hearts.
This scene unfolds after Hannah, who was barren, poured out her heart in tearful prayer to God at the Tabernacle, vowing to dedicate her child to service if God answered her. Eli the priest witnessed her anguish and spoke words of blessing, and shortly after, God remembered Hannah, who conceived and bore Samuel. This passage shows Eli's continued role as a father figure and the fulfillment of Hannah's desperate, faith-filled prayer.
This scene unfolds after Hannah, who was barren, poured out her heart in tearful prayer to God at the Tabernacle, vowing to dedicate her child to service if God answered her. Eli the priest witnessed her anguish and spoke words of blessing, and shortly after, God remembered Hannah, who conceived and bore Samuel. This passage shows Eli's continued role as a father figure and the fulfillment of Hannah's desperate, faith-filled prayer.
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"Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the LORD give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the LORD.” So then they would return to their home. Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore…" — It's easy to overlook the beautiful humility here: Eli doesn't just bless them generally, he specifically acknowledges Hannah's personal petition to God. This highlights how Hannah's intimate, spec…
