What does 1 Samuel 1:10 mean?

After the meal during the annual family feast and sacrifice in Shiloh, Hannah has made her way to the temple of the Lord. This was before the construction of the permanent temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6:2) and would have been the tabernacle built after the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 25:9). Eli the priest sits by the door (1 Samuel 1:9).

Hannah is experiencing deep anguish, which seems to be a tragic part of the annual tradition of coming to this feast. She is distraught over her inability to have children. Every year, her husband honors her at this feast by giving her a double portion of the meat for the meal. Every year, her husband's other wife torments her for being unable to have children. Every year, she continues to grieve (1 Samuel 1:1–8).

Hannah and her husband both understand that her infertility is ultimately God's choice (1 Samuel 1:5). Now Hannah takes her grief and her distress to the Lord, which may also have been part of the annual tradition. Still weeping, she prays to God and makes Him an offer in hopes that He will honor her request (1 Samuel 1:11).

This demonstrates great faith. Hannah is convinced that the Lord has the power to give her children and so she takes her request directly to Him. This also requires humility. After all, He could have given her children already had He chosen to do so. To make a request to the same God who allowed your pain requires setting aside resentment. It means a difficult, faithful acknowledgement of His place as Creator and provider.

Peter put it this way in the New Testament: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6–7).