But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
But Hannah didn't go with them. She told her husband, 'I won't go until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him so he can appear before the LORD and stay there forever.'
Hannah is choosing to stay home with her baby Samuel until he's old enough to be weaned, after which she plans to dedicate him permanently to God's service.
📚 Historical Context
This follows Hannah's desperate prayer for a child and her vow to give that child to the LORD if her prayer was answered. In ancient Israel, children were typically weaned around age 2-3, and Hannah had promised to bring Samuel to serve at the tabernacle in Shiloh under the priest Eli. This was part of her fulfillment of a Nazirite vow she had made.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.