Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 2:6
(6) The Lord killeth, and maketh alive.—Death too and life come from this same omnipotent Lord: nothing in the affairs of men is the sport of blind chance. The reign of a Divine law administered by the God to whom Hannah prayed is universal, and guides with a strict unerring justice what are commonly called the ups and downs, the changes and chances, of this mortal life. The following lines of the 7th, 8th, and 9th verses enforce by varied instances the same solemn truth.The Babylonian Talmud... read more
John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 2:1-36
Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving. The Sin of Eli’s Sons1-10. The Song of Hannah.This beautiful poem has been well called the ’Magnificat of the Old Testament.’ The song of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:46-55) is clearly modelled on it very closely. In each case there is the rejoicing over the exaltation of the poor and despised and the humiliation of the rich. But there is a world of difference between Mary’s quiet and restrained gratitude and calm confidence in God’s mercy, on the one hand, and the... read more