1 Samuel 2:1

Hannah Exalts the Lord in Prayer

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 

1 Samuel 9:14

9:14 So they went up to the town. As they were heading for the middle of the town, Samuel was coming in their direction 5  to go up to the high place.

1 Samuel 18:30

18:30 6  Then the leaders of the Philistines would march out, and as often as they did so, David achieved more success than all of Saul’s servants. His name was held in high esteem.

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 Heb “to meet them.” This may indicate purpose on Samuel’s part. The next sentence indicates that the meeting was by design, not just an accident.

6 tc Verse 30 is absent in most LXX mss.