Hannah the Woman of Hardened Spirit Pours Out Her Soul

Midrash Shmuel 2:11

"And Hannah answered and said: No, my lord, I am a woman of a hardened spirit" (1 Samuel 1:15) — my spirit is made hard against my harsh rival. Rabbi Haggai in the name of Rabbi Yitzhak said: I am of those who are slow to receive their gifts, such as Sarah and her companions. "Neither wine nor strong drink have I drunk" — "wine," this is new wine, and "strong drink," this is old wine; of this and of that I did not drink. "But I poured out my soul before the Lord." "Count not thy handmaid for a daughter of Belial" — do not trample me like standing grain. "For out of the abundance of my complaint and my vexation have I spoken hitherto." Rabbi Hanina the son of Rabbi Aha said: out of the abundance of my words and my songs have I spoken hitherto.

Themes

Biblical References