SAMUEL.*

BORN ABOUT THE YEAR OF THE WORLD 2848, DIED 2947.

HE want of children among the ancient Israelites was considered as one of the sorest afflictions that could befall a married woman. The promise of the MESSIAH had such a strong influence upon their minds, that the desire of giving birth to the "REDEEMER of his people" seemed to be a predominant principle in every female breast. Besides, it was a prevalent opinion that "children were a heritage that cometh from the LORD," and the increase of a family called forth gratulation, while the childless woman lay under reproach. This gave rise to a practice which, as it never had a divine sanction, so from its usual effects it was evidently displeasing to the ALMIGHTY. In imitation of Abraham, the Israelite, when he despaired of having children by his wife, was wont to take another; but it is remarkable that in most of the cases of this sort recorded in Scripture, the domestic harmony was broken, and the despised and rejected woman became at last the "joyful mother of children." The most eminent representatives of the MESSIAH, as Isaac and Joseph, and Samson and Samuel, were the offspring of women concerning whom there seemed to be no hope, and hereby GoD intended to make that power known, by which the incarnation of the REDEEMER and the fruitfulness of his church were to be effected in the latter days, when, according to St. Paul, the prophetical injunction of Isaiah was obeyed: "Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child!" Isaiah liv. 1. Gal. iv. 27.

But though polygamy was not from the beginning, and never had any encouragement from Heaven, yet in ancient times many good men fell into the practice, from too great a solicitude to perpetuate their names in Israel.

Elkanah, a wealthy Levite, of the city of Ephraim, had been married some years to Hannah, a woman of extraordinary humility and piety, without obtaining a child. The character of Elkanah was highly praiseworthy; he served his GOD faithfully with all his house, and the misfortunes of his wife did not alienate his affections from her. But having that desire of a family, which was common to every one of his nation, he adopted a method, which, as it had been done by the patriarchs, he conceived could not be wrong. He introduced another, or a subordinate wife, into his house, who brought him sons and daughters. In the joy of his heart, Elkanah gave portions to these children, and to their mother Peninnah, but to Hannah he gave "a worthy portion," for a more distinguished testimony of his love.

This partiality of Elkanah seems to have roused the jealousy of Peninnah, and, as little minds are always disposed to triumph over the misfortunes of those they hate, she reproached Hannah with her infirmity, and provoked her by constant abuse. The good woman was greatly distressed by this base conduct of her rival, but we neither find that she made any reply to Peninnah, or uttered a single complaint to her husband. She wept, indeed, and could not eat. Unjust revilings for unavoidable misfortunes

RAMAH.-On the preceding page we present the reader with a view of RAMA. or RAMAH, & city of Benjamin, about six miles north of Jerusalem, (Josh. xviii. 25,) and famous as the residence of the prophet SAMUEL. 1 Sam. i. 19; vii. 17; viii. 4; xxv. 1.

cannot but affect the spirits of a meek and gentle female. The grief of Hannah was soon discerned by her affectionate husband, who endeavored to cheer her mind by the most endearing behavior.

It was the yearly custom of Elkanah to go up to the tabernacle of the LORD in Shiloh, with all his family, and to offer sacrifices. On one of these great solemnities Peninnah appears to have taken the ungenerous advantage of publicly offering insult to the dejected Hannah. The place and occasion should have called for compassion, amicable intercourse, and reciprocal good offices; but this feast upon the sacrifice was a feast of strife, and the peace of Elkanah's family was rent in pieces by his imprudence in taking into it an unworthy woman, to the injury of one who possessed every virtue. Hannah murmured not, nor complained. She did not accuse her adversary to Elkanah, nor reproach Elkanah for his folly. She went and poured out the sorrow of her heart before the LORD in his sanctuary.

Religious sincerity is not to be determined by the length or the loudness of our devotions. The silent breathings of a contrite heart are more acceptable to Him who seeth every desire, and marks the progress of every motive in the soul of man, than the noisy and verbose prayers of the Pharisee. Poor Hannah prayed with earnestness, but her voice was not heard. The lips were seen to move, and her agitated countenance betrayed the emotions of her mind. But to show how liable the best of men are to err in judging of others, the minister of GOD, who watched Hannah, thought she was intoxicated, and said, in a tone of severity, "How long wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy wine from thee." Sam. i. 14.

If the mind of Hannah was already depressed by affliction, so heinous a charge, pronounced by the high priest, must have increased her sorrow. Some would have spurned at the accusation with an indignant pride; but this placid spirit gently vindicated herself to Eli, and treated him with the greatest reverence. "No, my lord," says she, "I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto."

If a "soft answer turneth away wrath," the meek and pious reply of Hannah could not but remove the prejudice of Eli. He was convinced that he had judged too hastily of this good woman, and therefore he joined his supplication to hers that the LORD would grant her desire. Hannah had made a solemn vow that if the LORD would bless her with a son, he should be devoted wholly unto his service. Her prayer was heard, and she bare a son, to whom she gave the name of SAMUEL, “because," says she, "I have asked him of the LORD."

Elkanah continued his pious custom of going up at a stated period to the tabernacle of the LORD in Shiloh, but Hannah deferred accompanying him till the child should be weaned. It was not from a want of gratitude to the ALMIGHTY, or from an undue affection to her infant, that she neglected to attend the public service of the sanctuary. She considered the child as a trust committed to her by the LORD, and she was resolved not to leave him to the care of others. Rightly did this good woman consider that she was fulfilling her duty as much in Ramah as in Shiloh, while she was watching over the health and disposition of her child. She was determined to fulfil her vow; and as Samuel must, in that case, necessarily be separated from her, she would carefully instil into his mind those principles of piety which were the most likely to preserve him from the contagion of evil examples, when he should be far removed from her observation. Elkanah entirely acquiesced in the conduct of his beloved wife, and went up without her to the yearly sacrifice. But no sooner was Samuel weaned than his excellent parent became mindful of her vow; and as she had received him from the LORD, to his service she was resolved he should be dedicated. It must have been some struggle between piety and affection to yield up her only child, the fruit of so many fervent desires and earnest prayers; but Hannah was a woman of no common spirit. Though meek and gentle, her faith was firm and resolute. The vow which she made in Shiloh was remembered with a sacred regard; and when the child was sufficiently grown to be able to attend on the high priest, she took him with her to Shiloh with the accustomed offerings. There she informed Eli of what, perhaps, the old man had long since forgotten, that she was the woman who at such a time had prayed with so much earnestness in that place; that this child was the object of her desire, and that