1 Samuel 2:1

Hannah Exalts the Lord in Prayer

2:1 Hannah prayed, ¹ 

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;

my horn ²  is exalted high because of the Lord.

I loudly denounce ³  my enemies,

for I am happy that you delivered me. ⁴ 

1 Samuel 12:15

12:15 But if you don’t obey ⁵  the Lord and rebel against what the Lord says, the hand of the Lord will be against both you and your king. ⁶ 

1 Samuel 15:24

15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have disobeyed what the Lord commanded ⁷  and what you said as well. ⁸  For I was afraid of the army, and I followed their wishes. ⁹ 

[2:1]  ¹ tn Heb “prayed and said.” This is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.

[2:1]  ² sn Horns of animals have always functioned as both offensive and defensive weapons for them. As a figure of speech the horn is therefore often used in the Bible as a symbol of human strength (see also in v. 10). The allusion in v. 1 to the horn being lifted high suggests a picture of an animal elevating its head in a display of strength or virility.

[2:1]  ³ tn Heb “my mouth opens wide against.”

[2:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “for I rejoice in your deliverance.”

[12:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “listen to the voice of.”

[12:15]  ⁶ tc The LXX reads “your king” rather than the MT’s “your fathers.” The latter makes little sense here. Some follow MT, but translate “as it was against your fathers.” See P. K. McCarter, 1 Samuel (AB), 212.

[15:24]  ⁹ tn Heb “the mouth of the Lord.”

[15:24]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and your words.”

[15:24]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and I listened to their voice.”