Prayerful Hannah

Begin in silence…
Begin by quieting the noise around you and inside you. Sit still for a few minutes, fixing your gaze on God.

Set the scene…
For today’s scripture, we travel to the hill country of Ephraim, located several miles northeast of Jerusalem. This narrative unfolds during the era of the Judges—the same period as the book of Ruth—when Israel had no king. The story of Hannah, like Ruth, is a beautiful depiction of lament and faith.

Hannah and a woman named Peninnah are wives of Elkanah, a Levite. While Peninnah had children, Hannah remained childless. During their annual sacrifice to the Lord, Elkanah would express his love for Hannah by giving her a double portion of meat—a gesture of compassion in the face of her empty womb.

Year after year, Peninnah taunted Hannah for having no children, to the point of making her cry and refuse to eat. Finally, Hannah lamented in prayer to the Lord, and a nearby priest heard her.