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Hannah was the wife of Elkanah, a Levite of the Kohathite branch. She could not bear children, and was being mocked for this by Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, who bore several children. On a pilgrimage to the Temple in Shiloh, she made a vow to God that if He granted her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord for life. Eli, the priest at Shiloh, saw Hannah's lips moving in silent prayer, and thought she was drunk. But Hannah convinced Eli she was praying to the Lord, and Eli blessed her and asked God to grant her petition.
The lord answered her prayers, and she gave birth to the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 1:9-20). Hannah kept her promise, and after Samuel was weaned, she left him with Eli. Each year thereafter Hannah visited Samuel, gave him a robe and offered a sacrifice at the temple. Because of her faithfulness, the Lord blessed her with three more sons and two daughters. 1 Samuel 2:1-10 contains a thanksgiving prayer by Hannah, for being blessed with a child.
The name Hannah means "grace."
Next person in the Bible: Hanun
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