What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 1:9? So after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh “So after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh…” (1 Samuel 1:9a) • Shiloh is the place the LORD “chose” for His name to dwell (Deuteronomy 12:5–7; Judges 21:19). • The family meal followed the peace offering, a fellowship sacrifice that celebrated covenant joy. • The sequence—worship meal first, prayer afterward—mirrors other moments when God’s people draw near in gratitude before petition (2 Chronicles 30:22; Acts 2:46). • By noting the completion of eating and drinking, Scripture shows Hannah did not act on an empty stomach or in rash emotion; her forthcoming prayer rises from thoughtful, worship-filled reflection. Hannah stood up “…Hannah stood up.” (1 Samuel 1:9b) • Rising marks a deliberate, decisive move toward God, much like the persistent widow who kept coming before the judge (Luke 18:1–5). • Standing separates Hannah from the festive crowd, highlighting both her personal anguish and her personal faith. • James 5:16 reminds that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective”; Hannah’s posture anticipates that fervency. • The phrase captures resolve: her barrenness no longer defines her future; prayer will. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair “Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair…” (1 Samuel 1:9c) • Priestly seats were associated with judicial authority (Deuteronomy 17:9; 1 Samuel 4:18). • Eli’s position as high priest places him as the visible spiritual overseer, even though his own household will later be judged (1 Samuel 2:27–36). • The contrast is striking: Hannah is standing in supplication; Eli is sitting in observation. One actively seeks mercy; the other passively witnesses it. • His presence underscores accountability—Hannah’s vow will be heard and later confirmed before proper authority (Ecclesiastes 5:4–6). by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD “…by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:9d) • Although a permanent stone temple had not yet been built, the tabernacle at Shiloh is rightly called “the temple” (1 Samuel 3:3), for the LORD’s glory dwells there. • The doorway is where many called on God—Moses at the tent of meeting (Exodus 33:8–10) and later Solomon in the new temple (1 Kings 8:22). • A doorpost signifies transition: stepping from common ground into holy space. Hannah’s impending vow happens precisely where human need meets divine presence. • Psalm 84:10 affirms, “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked,” capturing the privilege Hannah claims. summary 1 Samuel 1:9 paints a vivid setting: after worship and shared joy, Hannah rises with determined faith, while Eli observes from his seat at the sanctuary’s threshold. The verse frames her forthcoming prayer as an act rooted in covenant worship, personal resolve, and reverence for God’s appointed order. It reminds us that earnest petitions are most potent when birthed from lives already engaged in grateful, obedient fellowship with the LORD. |
    |