A Male Son

“Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” [1 Samuel 1.8]

From Hannah's perspective, the answer to her husband's request above is, "no."

Why was that? And, why was it that Elkanah mentioned only sons and not children in general?

It seems to me that in the early days of Israel, there was no uncertain mindset about children - particularly male children - that reflected an outlook of hope for the future.

Israel already had had Moses as leader and his story and circumstances, coupled with the great deliverance God brought Israel through his leadership, perhaps caused the people of this time to consider the potential for another leader to come to Israel - through Israel - through another male child born into the nation.

Yes, there were obvious reasons that sons were desirable for their work and carrying on the family name, but I believe there was more than just that. I believe there was a developing Messiah anticipation from early on in Israel. Moses fulfilled that role to some degree and the Law was given. But after Moses, there was an anticipation of a Kingdom (Israel had, after all been given the Promised Land, so they carried a sense of longing for leadership for their country and nation.

It is not ironic that the story developing in Hannah's situation would yield a leader - Samuel - who would, indeed, fulfill some of what Israel was expecting... but only "some." Samuel would play a key role in the establishment of a king in Israel. But, the king 'thing' would only fulfill "some" of what Israel longed for. Earthly kingdoms just didn't prove to be the all-in-all answer...

I believe the longing for a male child continued even beyond Hannah...

Father, help me to see the mindset of the people of Israel through these stories. Help me to see clearly what they were thinking so that I might understand their responses in the stories I read about them. Help me to keep Jesus (Who claimed all the OT was pointing to Himself) as the focal point of all the mindsets seen long before His Advent.