What does 1 Samuel 1:19 mean?
The annual gathering of Elkanah's extended family in Shiloh for sacrifice and feasting had ended. All the yearly traditions had been repeated. The peace offering had been made to the Lord. Elkanah had given a double portion of the meat to his first wife Hannah to honor her. Elkanah's second wife, likely jealous, had tormented Hannah about her infertility. Hannah wept bitterly as her grief was inflamed (1 Samuel 1:4–8).Something had changed this time, though. Hannah had taken all her bitterness and anger to the Lord and poured out her soul before Him. She had made a vow to give any son God would give to her back to Him. Eli the priest had expressed his desire that God would grant her request, or perhaps affirmatively said that God would (1 Samuel 1:9–17). As Hannah left the temple, she was no longer sad (1 Samuel 1:18).
The next morning, the family got up early to worship before the Lord, perhaps participating at the temple in the daily morning sacrifice (Leviticus 6:8–13). Then they headed back to their home in Ramah. Aware of Eli's words, Elkanah and Hannah slept together expectantly. The Lord "remembered" Hannah. Often this Hebrew word is used to refer to times when God acts on behalf of His people (Genesis 8:1; 19:29; 30:22; Exodus 6:5–8; Leviticus 26:40–45). God acted on Hannah's behalf. He knew her sorrow and her vow, as well as Eli's blessing. God would give Hannah the son she had asked Him for.
