Hannah’s Prayer for a Child

This passage from Biblical Antiquities is based on 1 Samuel 1, in which Hannah, the future mother of prophet Samuel, prays for a child. The biblical text states that Hannah prays silently, only moving her lips (1 Samuel 1:13). Biblical Antiquities explains that she does so out of concern that if her prayer is not fulfilled, she will be taunted even more by Peninah, her husband’s other wife, who has children and ridicules Hannah for being barren (1 Samuel 1:2, 6). Hannah is also concerned that if other people hear her prayer and see that it is not fulfilled, they will blaspheme. Hannah’s modest affirmation that she may not be worthy to be heard by God is a common characteristic of penitential prayers.