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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:1-10

We have here Hannah's thanksgiving, dictated, not only by the spirit of prayer, but by the spirit of prophecy. Her petition for the mercy she desired we had before (1 Sam. 1:11), and here we have her return of praise; in both out of the abundance of a heart deeply affected (in the former with her own wants, and in the latter with God's goodness) her mouth spoke. Observe in general, 1. When she had received mercy from God she owned it, with thankfulness to his praise. Not like the nine lepers,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:4

The bows of the mighty men are broken ,.... Hannah, from relating gracious experiences, and celebrating, the divine perfections of holiness, omniscience, and sovereignty, passes on to take notice of the dealings of God with men in providence and grace; bows are here put for all military arms, which men of might and war make use of, and which God can easily break in pieces, and so make war to cease in the earth, and hinder warlike men from doing what they design and attempt; they are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 2:4

The bows of the mighty - The Targum considers the first verse as including a prophecy against the Philistines; the second verse, against Sennacherib and his army; the third, against Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans; the fourth, against the Greeks; the fifth, against Haman and his posterity; and the tenth, against Magog, and the enemies of the Messiah. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Salvation. The facts implied and indicated in the song are— 1 . Hannah's deliverance from grief and realisation of desire are perfected. 2 . God is recognised as the author of the great salvation. 3 . Under Divine inspiration Hannah sees in her own personal experience a type of various triumphs which God achieves for his people. 4 . She is conscious of an overwhelming joy in her own deliverance, and in the prevision of future triumphs of the Church. 5 . A clear and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:1-10

The prayer song of Hannah. In her prayer of asking Hannah was intent not merely on having a child, but on giving to the service of God a priest, and to the government of Israel a judge, very different from the sons of Eli—a Nazarite, a second and a better Samson. No wonder, then, that when she brought her son to the sanctuary, her prayer of thanksgiving took a large scope, and revealed even a prophetic fervour. What religious poetess has made such an impression as Hannah with one ode?... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 2:4

1 Samuel 2:4. The bows of the mighty are broken The strength of which they boasted. They that stumbled Or, were weak and feeble. The great sense she had of God’s power, branches out itself into an humble acknowledgment of this glorious attribute, in divers instances. And, first, in vanquishing the most victorious; for bows were a principal part of warriors’ weapons, Psalms 44:6; and their girdles, being an important part of the military habit, are elegantly interpreted to signify strength... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:1-11

1:1-7:17 ISRAEL UNDER ELI AND UNDER SAMUELBirth of Samuel (1:1-2:11)Elkanah was a Levite who lived in the tribal territory of Ephraim (1:1; 1 Chronicles 6:33-38). Each year he took his family to the town of Shiloh to offer sacrifices to the Lord. (Since the time of Joshua, Shiloh had been the central place of worship in Israel; Joshua 18:1,Joshua 18:10; Judges 18:31.) According to the regulations for certain sacrifices, the offerer, after offering his sacrifice, received back some of the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 2:1-10

2. Hannah’s Song of Solomon 2:1-10Some commentators have seen Hannah’s prayer as a non-essential song of praise included in the text for sentimental reasons. But this magnificent prayer provides the key to interpreting the rest of 1 and 2 Samuel. In this prayer, which contains no petition, Hannah articulated her belief that God rewards trust with blessing. He turns barrenness into fertility, not just in her case but universally. Mary, the mother of Jesus, incorporated some of Hannah’s song in... read more

John Dummelow

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

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 2:4

(4) The bows of the mighty men are broken.—God reverses human conditions, bringing low the wicked, and raising up the righteous.Von Gerlach writes of these verses that “Every power which will be something in itself is destroyed by the Lord: every weakness which despairs of itself is transformed into power.” “The bows of the heroes,” that is to say, the heroes of the bow, the symbol of human power being poetically put first instead of the bearer of the symbol. The next line contains the... read more

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