“Lesson 82: 1 Samuel 1–2,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material (2018)
“Lesson 82: 1 Samuel 1–2”
Lesson 82
1 Samuel 1–2
Prepare to Learn
Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Remember that studying the gospel prayerfully and with a desire to learn will help you to be taught and edified by the Holy Ghost.
Begin your study with prayer.
What do you do when you are faced with a difficult challenge or when your burdens seem heavy?
As you watch this video, consider the many ways in which the Savior can help you in times of need.
Hannah’s Adversity
Some adversity and challenges are a natural condition of mortality and do not occur because the person experiencing them is at fault. Some examples of these kinds of challenges may include an accident or illness, the premature death of a friend or family member, physical or learning disabilities, or cruelty from others.
When we experience such adversity, we may ask ourselves, “Why is this happening to me?”
However, a better question to ask is “What can I learn from these adversities?”
As you study 1 Samuel 1, you will learn about Hannah, a faithful woman who faced adversity. Look for what Hannah’s example can teach us about facing adversity.
Read 1 Samuel 1:1–2, looking for one of the adversities Hannah experienced.
Conflict in Elkanah’s Family
From 1 Samuel 1:1–2 we learn that Hannah was unable to bear children. In every age, there have been women who have been unable to bear children despite their righteous desire to do so. Unfortunately, in the culture in which Hannah lived, women experienced social shame if they were barren (or unable to bear children).
Remember that at times in ancient Israel, righteous men and women practiced plural marriage (see Genesis 16:1–3; D&C 132:1). Peninnah, the other wife of Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, was able to bear children.
Hannah’s Adversity
Shiloh, Israel
Every year Elkanah and his family would travel to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifice. Shiloh was the site where the tabernacle, or “the house of the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:7), was located.
Read 1 Samuel 1:3–8, looking for a description of Hannah’s adversity and how she reacted to it. (The statement in verse 5 that “the Lord had shut up her womb” means that she could not have children at that time.)
Hannah’s Adversary “Provoked Her Sore”
Notice the phrase “her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret” in 1 Samuel 1:6. This phrase means that someone, possibly Peninnah, was striving to upset Hannah because of Hannah’s inability to have children.
In what ways could Peninnah’s ability to have children have caused conflict between her and Hannah?
While Hannah was in Shiloh, she went to the tabernacle, and Eli, the high priest, talked with her there. Read 1 Samuel 1:9–18 to find out why Hannah went to the tabernacle and what Eli told her.
Quiz 1
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According to verse 10, Hannah sought comfort by
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praying to the Lord.
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adopting a child.
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leaving her husband.
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According to verse 11, Hannah prayed that
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she could find joy in life without bearing a child.
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she could bear a son.
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Peninnah would no longer bear children.
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According to verse 13, when Eli saw Hannah at the tabernacle, he thought she was
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happy.
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confused.
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drunk.
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According to verses 17–18, after Eli spoke to Hannah, she was
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given hope, comfort, and peace.
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discouraged and sad.
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hurt and angry.
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Peace in the Midst of Adversity
A principle we can identify from the account of Hannah is that as we turn to the Lord in our adversity, He can provide help, hope, comfort, and peace.
It is important to know that the Lord may not always remove our adversity when we pray for peace, but peace can still come in the midst of adversity.
Think of some adversity that you or someone close to you is experiencing. What are some ways the Lord can provide peace without removing the adversity? What have you learned from this adversity?
You may want to write your response in a personal journal or in your Notes on LDS.org and make this a topic in your personal prayers.
Hannah’s Promise
Remember that Hannah promised the Lord that if He would give her a son, she would give her son to His service. In accordance with the promise Eli gave her (see 1 Samuel 1:17), Hannah was blessed with a baby boy and named him Samuel.
Watch the video “Hannah’s Faith,” available on LDS.org (begin the video at time code 1:30), or read 1 Samuel 1:20–28.
Watch the video “Hannah’s Faith,” available on LDS.org (begin the video at time code 1:30), or read 1 Samuel 1:20–28.
How did Hannah keep her promise?
What truth can we identify from this account?
Blessings for His Service
From 1 Samuel 1:27–28 we can identify the following principle: When we ask the Lord to bless us, we must be willing to use those blessings to serve Him.
1. Answer the following questions:
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What blessings have you asked the Lord for?
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How would you use those blessings to serve Him?
Hannah’s Faithful Example
In 1 Samuel 2:1–10 we read a prayer Hannah gave in which she praised the Lord for all He had done for her. She also testified of Jehovah’s (Jesus Christ’s) power and mercy. Hannah’s good example displays her great faith, knowledge of the gospel, and love for God.
Read 1 Samuel 2:18–20. How did Hannah keep the vow that she had made that she would honor the Lord if He would grant her a son? What sacrifices did she make to keep this vow?
In today’s world, what are some of the sacrifices women make to have families?
Eli’s Sons
Think about how you would answer these questions:
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How does a poor example of gospel living affect other Church members?
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How does it affect the way those not of our faith view the Church?
Eli had two sons named Hophni and Phinehas, who worked as priests in the tabernacle. The account in 1 Samuel 2:11–17, 22–24 describes how these two sons’ unrighteous behavior brought disrespect to the tabernacle. Eli’s sons sinned by taking meat from the animal sacrifices that did not belong to them. By doing so, they were essentially robbing God of offerings and cheating the people. They also engaged in immoral acts with some of the women who came to worship at the tabernacle and thus caused others to sin (see verse 22).
When Eli told his sons of their wickedness, “they hearkened not unto the voice of their father” (verse 25). Their poor example affected those who came to worship at the tabernacle. The people “abhorred the offering of the Lord” (verse 17). The word abhorred means to hate or strongly dislike.
Read 1 Samuel 2:27–29, looking for why the Lord was upset with Eli.
Failure to Obey
Eli failed in his parental responsibility and in his office as the presiding high priest. Although he rebuked his sons, he took no action to see that the wickedness in his family and at the tabernacle was corrected.
Because Eli allowed his sons to continue in their wickedness, “a man of God” (1 Samuel 2:27) told Eli that his household would be destroyed and his posterity would not live to old age. His sons would die on the same day, and the Lord would give the priests’ duties of the tabernacle to a more faithful man. (See 1 Samuel 2:31–35.)
Read 1 Samuel 2:30, looking for what will happen if we honor the Lord above all others. The word despise means to view with contempt or as worthless. Esteemed means respected or honored.
Differences between Eli’s Sons and Hannah and Elkanah
We can identify the following principle from 1 Samuel 2:30: If we honor the Lord by keeping His commandments, He will honor us.
Read 1 Samuel 2:18–19, looking for how Hannah and Elkanah honored God. Then read 1 Samuel 2:20–21, looking for how the Lord honored them.
Consequences
Eli lost his right to preside and his blessings of posterity because he did not respect God enough to punish his unrepentant sons for their sins. Unlike Eli, Hannah received blessings for serving God.
2. Answer the following questions:
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What are some of the consequences today of dishonoring or disrespecting the Lord?
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When have you seen the Lord honor someone who honors Him?
Truths Meaningful to You
The following truths were identified in this lesson:
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As we turn to the Lord in our adversity, He can provide help, hope, comfort, and peace.
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When we ask the Lord to bless us, we must be willing to use those blessings to serve Him.
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If we honor the Lord by keeping His commandments, He will honor us.
Which of these truths has touched your heart? Think of ways you can apply these truths in your life, and follow through with any impressions you receive.
Doctrinal Mastery Review: Amos 3:7
Read Amos 3:7, and recite this verse out loud several times. Consider closing your eyes and trying to recite it from memory.
3. Answer the following questions:
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How could you rephrase this truth in your own words?
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Why is it important that we have prophets on the earth today?
Answer Key
Quiz 1: (1) a; (2) b; (3) c; (4) a