What Hannah Meant When She Prayed for Seed of Men

Yalkut Shimoni on Nach 78:10

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And You will give to Your handmaid seed of men" (I Samuel 1:11). What is "seed of men"? Rav said: a man among men. And Samuel said: seed that will anoint two men. Who are they? Saul and David. Rabbi Yochanan said: seed that is equal in worth to two men. And who are they? Moses and Aaron, as it is said, "Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among those who call upon His name" (Psalms 99:6). And the Rabbis said: seed that is unremarkable among men, neither tall nor short, neither mute nor lame, neither dark nor ruddy, neither overly clever nor a fool. Another interpretation: "men" means wise men, as it is said, "wise and understanding men" (Deuteronomy 1:13); "men" means prophets, "and there remained two men in the camp" (Numbers 11:26); "men" means great men, "and the man in the days of Saul was old, advanced among men" (I Samuel 17:12). They said to Hannah: Why do you ask for men who are wise and understanding, great and righteous? She said to them: Because they will be for the sake of the name of the Holy One, blessed be He.

Themes

PrayerWisdomProphecy

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