Argument extracted from the First and Second Chapter
of the First Book of Samuel.
“Now there was a certain Man of Ramathaim-zophim and his Name was
Elkanah; and he had two Wives; the Name of the one was Hannah,
and the Name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had Children, but Hannah
had no Children. And this Man went up out of his City yearly to worship
and to sacrifice unto the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh. And when the time was
that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her Sons and
her Daughters, Portions. But unto Hannah he gave a worthy Portion, for he
loved Hannah; but the Lord had shut up her Womb; and her Adversary
also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up
her Womb—therefore she wept and did not eat. Then said Elkanah her
Husband to her, Hannah why weepest thou? am I not better to thee than
ten Sons? So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh and after they had
drank. (Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a Post of the Temple of the
Lord) and she was in bitterness of Soul and prayed unto the Lord, and
wept sore. And she vowed a Vow, and said, O Lord of Hosts, if thou
wilt indeed look upon the Affliction of thine Handmaid—and not forget
thine Handmaid, but will give unto thine Handmaid a Manchild, then will
I give him to the Lord all the Days of his Life; and there shall no Rasor
come upon his Head; and it came to pass, as she continued praying before
the Lord, that Eli marked her Mouth. Now Hannah she spake in her Heart,
only her Lips moved, but her Voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought
she had been drunken. And Eli said how long wilt thou be drunken? put
away thy Wine from thee. And Hanna answered and said, No, my Lord,
I am a Woman of a sorrowful spirit; I have drunk neither Wine nor strong
Drink, but have poured out my Heart before the Lord—Then Eli answered
and said, Go in peace, and the Lord God of Israel grant thee thy Petition—
And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remember'd her—that
she bare a Son and called his Name Samuel—And Hannah prayed and said,
my Heart rejoiceth in the Lord, &c. &c. &c.
The only Liberty Mr. Smart has taken with the sacred Story is that he has
introduced the Song of Hannah as a Thanksgiving immediate upon her Acceptance
in Shiloh, whereas it was not composed till after the Birth of Samuel.
This Liberty he humbly hopes is more pardonable than the total Omission of so
pious and beautiful a Piece.
