What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 1:23? Do what you think is best • Elkanah’s response shows loving leadership that respects Hannah’s God-given conviction (Numbers 30:6-8; Ephesians 5:25; 1 Peter 3:7). • He is not abdicating responsibility; rather, he discerns that Hannah’s vow (1 Samuel 1:11) aligns with God’s purpose and therefore grants her freedom to carry it out. • Marital unity emerges when both husband and wife seek God’s will together (Colossians 3:17). …and stay here until you have weaned him • Practical wisdom joins spiritual commitment. – Weaning in ancient Israel often took about three years (Genesis 21:8), giving the child physical strength and the mother time to prepare her heart. – By withholding Samuel from the annual pilgrimage until he is ready, Hannah protects the vow’s integrity without endangering the boy. • Parental stewardship includes meeting a child’s basic needs before public ministry or service (Proverbs 22:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:7). Only may the LORD confirm His word • Elkanah appeals to the God who never fails to fulfill what He has spoken (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 55:10-11). • “His word” recalls the personal promise embedded in Hannah’s prayer and the broader covenant faithfulness of God (Luke 1:45). • The couple’s confidence rests not in their own resolve but in the Lord’s unchanging character (Hebrews 10:23). So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him • Hannah acts promptly on the permission given, demonstrating obedience paired with patience (James 1:4). • Her nurture is intentional: – Physical care—feeding, protection, bonding (Psalm 22:9-10). – Spiritual formation—singing praises, telling of God’s goodness (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; 2 Timothy 1:5). • Faithfulness in hidden, everyday moments lays the groundwork for public impact. Samuel will later hear God’s voice in the tabernacle (1 Samuel 3:10), but his first teacher is his mother at home. summary 1 Samuel 1:23 portrays a marriage aligned under God, where mutual trust and obedience transform a private vow into a public blessing. Elkanah honors Hannah’s resolve, Hannah nurtures Samuel with purpose, and both rest in the certainty that the Lord Himself will confirm His word. |
    |