Wife of Elkana and mother of Shmuel. Elkana has two wives: Hannah and Pnina. Pnina is blessed with children and vexes her co-wife who is barren. The situation, which terribly distresses Hannah, is not ameliorated by Elkana's claim that he is better for her than ten sons. The family frequents the Mishkan at Shilo where they worship and sacrifice. At one of these visits Hannah prays to God for a son, vowing to dedicate his life to the service of the Lord. Her silent prayer to God is misunderstood by Eli, the kohen gadol, as the mutterings of a drunken woman. Hannah corrects his impression, telling him that she is pouring her heart out to God. Hannah conceives soon after. She names her son Shmuel saying, "I have requested him from God".When the child is weaned, Hannah brings him to Eli to report for his service. The mother offers a second prayer of thanks. Hannah visits her son annually and has another five children. Hannah's pleas and thanks to God are read as the haftara on the first day of Rosh Hashana.
(Courtesy of Rabbi Jonathan Mishkin)
Hannah's powerful character is at the center of the first story in the Book of Shmuel. Hannah copes with her challenges through emunah and extraordinary strength of character, while forging new paths toward serving God.
Read more about Hannah in the following articles:
The Character of Chana (part I)