1 Samuel 1:9 kjv

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

1 Samuel 1:9 nkjv

So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD.

1 Samuel 1:9 niv

Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD's house.

1 Samuel 1:9 esv

After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.

1 Samuel 1:9 nlt

Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle.

1 Samuel 1 verses

1 Samuel 1 9 Meaning

1 Samuel 1:9 describes the scene immediately after the annual sacrificial meal in Shiloh. Hannah, distressed by her childlessness and Peninnah's provocation, rises from the communal meal to pray to the Lord. Eli, the high priest, is observed by the temple doorpost, unaware of the profound moment about to unfold. This verse sets the stage for Hannah's desperate and pivotal prayer that leads to the birth of Samuel and a significant turning point in Israel's history.

1 Samuel 1 9 Context

This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the narrative of 1 Samuel chapter 1. The chapter opens by introducing Elkanah and his two wives, Peninnah, who has children, and Hannah, who is barren. Each year, Elkanah would travel to Shiloh, the central sanctuary where the Tabernacle was located, to offer sacrifices to the Lord. During these annual pilgrimages, Peninnah would mercilessly provoke Hannah because of her childlessness, leading Hannah to great sorrow and weeping, preventing her from eating. Verse 9 occurs immediately after the family has participated in the communal sacrificial meal. While others might have been enjoying the fellowship and sustenance, Hannah remains deeply distressed. Eli, as the high priest, is present at this sacred location, serving as the official guardian of the sanctuary and, unwittingly, a witness to Hannah's private anguish and heartfelt prayer. Historically, Shiloh was the primary place of worship for Israel before the establishment of the monarchy and the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Tabernacle, housing the Ark of the Covenant, resided there, making it the most significant spiritual site in the land.

1 Samuel 1 9 Word analysis

• So Hannah rose (וַתָּקָם חַנָּה - vatakom Hannah):

  • וַתָּקָם (vatakom - "she rose"): Derived from the root קוּם (qum), meaning "to rise," "to stand up." This implies an intentional act, a distinct change in posture. It often signifies taking action, preparing for a significant deed, or showing reverence before God or others (e.g., Ex 32:6 - "people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play"; Pss 1:5 - "ungodly will not stand in the judgment"). Here, it marks a transition from communal feasting to private devotion, indicating her spiritual resolve and determination to present her petition.
  • חַנָּה (Hannah - "Hannah"): Her name means "grace" or "favor" (from חֵן - chen). Irony or divine foreshadowing given her initial disfavor (barrenness) that she seeks to reverse through prayer and ultimately receives God's grace.

• after they had eaten in Shiloh (אַחֲרֵי אָכְלָה בְשִׁלֹה - akharei akhlah beShiloh) and after they had drunk (וְאַחֲרֵי שָׁתוֹ - ve'akharei shato):

  • אָכְלָה (akhlah - "eaten") / שָׁתוֹ (shato - "drunk"): Verbs related to communal feasting, typical of sacrifices where parts of the offering were consumed by the worshippers. This indicates the conclusion of the ritual meal, often a time of joy and satisfaction. For Hannah, this period was marked by sadness and deprivation due to Peninnah's taunts (1 Sam 1:7).
  • בְשִׁלֹה (beShiloh - "in Shiloh"): Shiloh was the central sanctuary where the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were located during the period of the Judges (Josh 18:1). It was Israel's religious capital for approximately 300 years, making it the most sacred and legitimate place of worship before the construction of Solomon's Temple.

• Now Eli the priest (וְעֵלִי הַכֹּהֵן - ve'Eli hakohen) was sitting (יֹשֵׁב - yoshev):

  • עֵלִי (Eli - "Eli"): Means "my God" or "upward." He was the high priest and judge of Israel, holding a position of immense religious and civic authority. His presence anchors the scene in the official worship context.
  • הַכֹּהֵן (hakohen - "the priest"): Denotes his official spiritual role as the intermediary between God and the people, responsible for leading worship and instructing in the law.
  • יֹשֵׁב (yoshev - "sitting"): From the root ישׁב (yashav), meaning "to sit," "to dwell," "to remain." This posture could signify watchfulness, authority, judgment, or simply a state of rest. In this context, given his position and later interactions, it might suggest a more relaxed, supervisory posture rather than one of active intercession, highlighting the contrast with Hannah's active posture of prayer.

• on the seat (עַל־הַכִּסֵּא - al-hakkisseh):

  • כִּסֵּא (kisseh - "seat" or "throne"): Denotes a formal chair or throne, emphasizing Eli's position of authority, likely for dispensing judgment, instruction, or overseeing sanctuary activities. It underscores his official capacity.

• by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord (עַל־מְזוּזַת הֵיכַל יְהוָה - al-mezuzat heikhal YHWH):

  • מְזוּזַת (mezuzat - "doorpost"): The doorframe of the sanctuary. Being by the doorpost implies proximity to the sacred space, the entrance to the dwelling place of God. This signifies Eli's direct access to and connection with the divine presence, reinforcing his role. It also suggests a place where people would pass to enter the "temple."
  • הֵיכַל יְהוָה (heikhal YHWH - "temple of the Lord"):
    • הֵיכַל (heikhal - "temple" or "palace"): Although the grand Temple in Jerusalem would not be built until Solomon's time, "heikal" here refers to the Tabernacle (or "tent of meeting") at Shiloh. It was God's dwelling place on earth, treated as His "palace." This term elevates its status from a mere tent to the sacred dwelling of the Divine King.
    • יְהוָה (YHWH - "the Lord"): The covenantal, personal name of God, indicating His intimate relationship with Israel and His supreme authority. Hannah seeks this Lord directly.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "So Hannah rose after they had eaten in Shiloh and after they had drunk": This phrase immediately follows the festive sacrificial meal, highlighting Hannah's divergence from the typical celebration. While others found enjoyment, Hannah's inner turmoil propelled her to action. Rising from the communal feast signifies her individual, deeply personal crisis that necessitates direct interaction with God, distinct from the corporate worship experience just concluded. It is a desperate act born of sorrow (1 Sam 1:7).
  • "Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord": This describes Eli's posture and location, placing him as an official, if initially passive, witness to Hannah's private suffering. His position "by the doorpost" is strategic; he guards the threshold of God's house, symbolizing the official religious authority of the time. The description of the Tabernacle as "the temple of the Lord" emphasizes its sanctity and the place where God's presence was believed to dwell. The contrast between Eli "sitting" and Hannah "rising" subtly foreshadows the contrast in their spiritual responsiveness and roles in the unfolding divine plan. Eli is positioned in a place of authority and comfort, whereas Hannah takes a physically assertive posture born of spiritual anguish.

1 Samuel 1 9 Bonus section

The detailed description of Eli's location and posture – "sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord" – is more than just a background detail. It places him literally at the threshold between the sacred outer court (where the people ate and offered sacrifices) and the Holy Place within the Tabernacle. This implies a symbolic "gatekeeper" role, controlling access to God's dwelling. Later in Samuel's story, it is at this very doorpost that Samuel receives direct revelation from God (1 Sam 3), ultimately demonstrating God's shift of favor away from Eli's failing house. The repetition of the location helps underscore this point throughout the narrative. Furthermore, Shiloh would eventually be abandoned by God due to Israel's disobedience (Jer 7:12, Pss 78:60). Hannah's righteous act of seeking the Lord personally prefigures a time when personal faith and God's direct interaction with individuals would be highlighted, even amidst institutional decline. Her prayer would be answered, but Eli's house would face judgment for not honoring God (1 Sam 2:27-36).

1 Samuel 1 9 Commentary

1 Samuel 1:9 acts as the fulcrum in Hannah's pre-conception narrative, pivoting from communal obligation and personal affliction to fervent individual supplication. The preceding verses establish Hannah's deep sorrow despite Elkanah's affection, amplified by Peninnah's continuous provocation even during their sacred annual pilgrimage to Shiloh for the Lord's feast. The sacrificial meal was meant to be a joyous occasion of fellowship with God and one another (Deut 12:7, 14:26), yet for Hannah, it remained a time of weeping and an inability to eat. Her act of "rising" signifies a break from the established routine and her personal resolve to approach God directly and intensely. This physical change in posture reflects her inner spiritual readiness for a profound encounter.

Eli's presence, "sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord," provides the immediate context of official religious authority. The "temple of the Lord" refers to the Tabernacle, God's dwelling place, established as the central sanctuary in Shiloh during the period of Judges (Josh 18:1). Eli's seat underscores his high priestly office and judicial role, where he would receive supplicants and give counsel. His position at the "doorpost" signifies his guardianship of the sacred space, acting as an usher or overseer to those entering God's immediate presence. This verse juxtaposes Hannah's personal anguish and radical faith against the backdrop of the established religious institution, personified by Eli. Eli, despite his position, initially misunderstands Hannah's intensity of prayer (1 Sam 1:12-14), highlighting a contrast between fervent personal piety and mere institutional observation. The scene sets up the divine election of Samuel, not through the official channels or Eli's prodding, but through a deeply personal and divinely moved prayer of a desperate, yet faithful, woman.