2:1 Hannah prayed, 1
“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
my horn 2 is exalted high because of the Lord.
I loudly denounce 3 my enemies,
for I am happy that you delivered me. 4
2:30 Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘I really did say 5 that your house and your ancestor’s house would serve 6 me forever.’ But now the Lord says, ‘May it never be! 7 For I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be cursed!
1 tn Heb “prayed and said.” This is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.
2 sn Horns of animals have always functioned as both offensive and defensive weapons for them. As a figure of speech the horn is therefore often used in the Bible as a symbol of human strength (see also in v. 10). The allusion in v. 1 to the horn being lifted high suggests a picture of an animal elevating its head in a display of strength or virility.
3 tn Heb “my mouth opens wide against.”
4 tn Heb “for I rejoice in your deliverance.”
5 tn The infinitive absolute appears before the finite verb for emphasis.
6 tn Heb “walk about before.”
7 tn Heb “may it be far removed from me.”