Hannah's Vow and the Mitzvah of Vowing in Distress

Yalkut Shimoni on Nach 78:5

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And she vowed a vow and said" (1 Samuel 1:11). Rabbi Yitzhak the Babylonian said: One who vows [in a time of trouble] performs a mitzvah, as it is written, "And Jacob vowed a vow, saying" (Genesis 28:20) — "saying" [is written] for the generations, that they should vow in the hour of their distress; and thus it says, "That which my lips have uttered and my mouth has spoken in my trouble" (Psalms 66:14). Rav said: There are four who vowed; two vowed and profited, and so forth (this is written in remez 68). "And she vowed a vow" — all her doings were in double measure. Her vexation was double: "And her rival also vexed her sorely" (1 Samuel 1:6). Her portion was double: "one portion of two faces" [a double portion] (1 Samuel 1:5). Her weeping was double: "and she wept and wept" (compare 1 Samuel 1:10). Her seeing was double: "if You will surely see" [literally, see-see] (1 Samuel 1:11). Her vow was double: "and she vowed a vow."

Themes

PrayerWomenDivine Justice

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