tion, but the chief Jewish authorities make solemn dedication of Samuel to .Jehovah'a the time one yoar shorter. At three years service, wliile the other two were for Elkanah's old n child in the East would cease to be usual yearly sacrifice, and the thank offering troublesome;· but besides this, there was an which he had vowed. At the end of tlu, order of women attached to the sanctuary verse the Heb. reads, "And the child was 11 (see on eh. ii. 22), and probably regulations child,'' the word in both places being na' ar, for the training of children devoted to the which may mer.n anything up to fifteen, temple service. The yearly sacrifice, lit. years of age. The child re,illy was about "sacrifice of days,'' would include among its three years old, and the Sept. is probably duties the carrying to Shiloh of the tithes right in reading, "And the child was with, which were to be consumed before the Lord them." Both the Vulgate, however, and (Dent. xii. 17, 18), and the payment of those the Syriac agree with the Hebrew. portions of the produce which belonged to Ver. 28.-1 have lent him. The word lent Jehovah and the priests, and had become due spoils the meaning. Hannah really in these during the year. His vow shows that Elkanah two verses uses the same verb four times, had ratified Hannab's words, by adding there- though in different conjugations, and the to a thank-offering from himself. same sense must be maintained throughout. At Shiloh Samuel was to abide for ever ; Her words are, "For this child I prayed, and his dedication was to be for bis whole life. Jehovah bath given me my a8ki'l1(f which I And when Elkanab prays, Only the Lord a8ked of him : and I also have qiven back este.blish his word, it is evident that be what WfU asked to Jehovah; as long as he and Hannah expected that a child born livetb be is asked for Jehovah." The con- under such special circumstances would, like jugation translated to qfre back what was so many children of mothers long barren, fUked literally means to make to ask, and be intended for some extraordinary work. so to give or lend anything asked. The The word of J ebovah referred to is that sense here requires the restoration by Hannah spoken by Eli in ver. 17, which contained of what she bad prayed for (comp. Exod. not merely the assurance of the birth of a xii. 35, 36), but which she had asked not for son, but a general confirmation and approval herself, but that she might devote it to of all that Hannah had prayed for. In ver. J ebovab's service. At the end of ver. 28 24 the Septuagint reads, " a bullock of three the sing. " be worshipped " is rendered in years old," probably on account of the one the pL by all the versions except the Sept., bullock mentioned in ver. 25 ; but as three- which omits it. But he, i. e. Elkanab, in- tenths of an epbah of flour formed the cludes all his household, and it may be appointed meat offering for one bullock correctly translated in the pl., because the (Num. xv. 8-10), the mention of a whole sense so requires, without altering the reading epbab confirms the reading three bullocks. of the Hebrew. In the sing. it puts an un- Probably the one bullock in ver. 25 was the necessary difficulty in the way of the ordinary special burnt offering accompanying the reader.
HOMILETICS. Vers. 9-18.-Trial sanctified. The main facts are-1. Hannah, impelled by trouble, goes to the sanctuary and records her wish in a vow. 2. Eli misjudges her character, but hearkens to her self-defence. 3. Eli discovers therefrom her rear piety, and helps to create within her heart an assurance of answer to prayer. 4. Hannah enters on a brighter path. I. IT BRINGS THE SOUL DIRECT TO Goo. It was doubtless good for H:rnnah to join the family worship, and derive all possible comfort from the festivals which to the devout mind told of a "mercy" which "endureth for ever; " but when sorrow is of the godly sort, when the gentle or heavy hand of God has been duly recognised in trial, the soul needs more than the prayers of others. Heart and flesh then cry out for the living· God. There are clearly traceable stages in trial before this result ensues. In the case of Hannah, which is typical of many others, it began with a fond hope deferred, awakening only the anxiety common to such domestic incidents. Then, as time wore on, grief was generated, wearing away the strength of the spirit. Years of silent waiting on Providence followed-wonder, doubt~,occasional hope, and corresponding despair filling up the experience. The weary heart would turn some• times to God, and social worship would be valued as a means of grace, but without relief. Sadder and sadder, increasingly sensible of dependence on God, and impelled by the discovery that not even o husband's love can enter into the deepest sorrow, e. strong resolve is taken to seek refuge in God by on net of urgent appeal to him. THE FIHST BOOK 01<' SAMUEL. [ CH. I. 0-28,