1 Samuel 1:15 Commentary and Bible Study

Hannah pleads her innocence. She does so very beautifully: ‘No, my Lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Count not thine handmaid as a daughter of Belial’ – a worthless one, a drunkard – ‘for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.’ She does not take offence at being misjudged, but continues to speak to Eli with the respect that his position warrants. How easy it is for us when falsely accused to overreact. Hannah responds so gently. Perhaps she makes excuses for Eli in making this mistake. She knows that drunkenness is a widespread problem, even in the Lord’s house, and one that she would join him in condemning. He does not know her. He has probably never spoken to her before, and he has misjudged her, but she continues to believe the best about him, even though he has believed the worst about her. Eli in many respects comes across as a very nice old chap. There's a huge flaw in his conduct which we will soon come across, but he is very nice man in many ways. He immediately seems to acknowledge his wrong here. He doesn't argue with her or huff and puff. Why does Eli respond so readily to her? Because of course he realises that as she is completely sober and a pious woman, then her prayer was earnest. That's what he mistook for drunkenness: this very earnest framing of petitions, and he knew that God hears the earnest prayer. So he answers her quite correctly. He very graciously says to her, ‘Go in peace.’ Her answer completely satisfies him, and he pronounces a great benediction on her: ‘And the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.’ He knew well that prayer made out of a very sincere and earnest heart would be heard on high.’ ‘And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight, so the woman went her way.