Eli Blesses Hannah and Foretells Samuel's Torah Plunder

Midrash Shmuel 2:12

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"And Eli answered and said, 'Go in peace' (1 Samuel 1:17). He said to her: This peace is from me, but your [true] peace is from your Creator. 'And the God of Israel grant your petition' — it is written shelateikh [defectively]. He said to her: This son whom you are destined to raise up — much spoil he is destined to plunder in the Torah. 'And she said, May your handmaid find favor in your eyes; and the woman went on her way' (1 Samuel 1:18). What is 'on her way'? She became a menstruant. 'And her face was no longer [sad to her]' — this teaches that her face had resembled [that of] an ape and a eunuch, and they were healed.

Themes

WomenTorahPrayerWisdomMusic

Biblical References

Continue Reading

Book of JasherMarriage of Isaac of RebeccaThe Book of Jasher, a non-canonical text with roots possibly stretching back to the Second Temple period, offers some fascinating glimpses. Isaac and Rebecca. WBook of JasherTrial of AdikamThere are entire books dedicated to filling in those gaps, offering tantalizing glimpses into the lives of our ancestors. One such book is the Book of Jasher, aBook of JasherMoses and Mount Sinai's TransgressionBook of Jasher turns to Moses and Mount Sinai's Transgression. The story picks up right after the Israelites leave Rephidim. They arrive in the Sinai wildernessLegends of the JewsMoses Wrestles God for Reuben and Judah's ForgivenessThe Torah portion V'Zot HaBerachah, "This is the blessing," gives us a glimpse into that raw, fervent side of prayer as Moses, in his final act, intercedes for Legends of the JewsHannah's PrayerThe story goes that Hannah, yearning for a child, prayed so fervently at the Temple that the High Priest Eli initially mistook her for being drunk! He rebuked hMidrash MishleiThe Woman of Valor and the Secrets of CreationThe Midrash Mishlei, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Proverbs, takes that poem and runs with it. It's not just about one ideal woman, but about a