How it works
The Bible tells how Elkanah's family walked to Shiloh every year to pray, to give thanks and to share a happy feast. Hannah had no children, and she longed for a baby.
One year Hannah cried and would not eat. She went quietly to the house of God and prayed for a long time, and her lips moved but no sound came out. Eli the priest thought she must be unwell.
Hannah told Eli she was only very sad and was telling God all her troubles. Eli blessed her and told her to go in peace.
Hannah had a baby boy and named him Samuel. When he was older she took him to Eli, and she sang a song of thanks. Every year she brought him a little robe that she had made.
Worked examples
Why Eli was wrong at first
- Hannah's lips moved, but no sound came out.
- Eli was watching, and he thought she must be unwell.
- Hannah told him the truth: she was only very sad and was telling God all her troubles.
Count the children
- Hannah had Samuel, then three more sons and two daughters.
- 3 + 2 = 5
- 5 + 1 = 6
- So Hannah had 6 children in all.
The growing robe
- Every year, when the family went up to Shiloh, Hannah brought Samuel a little robe that she had made herself.
- Each year the robe was bigger, because Samuel was growing taller.
- She hugged him tight, and he told her all he had learned.
Put the story in order
- First the family walked to Shiloh and Hannah cried at the feast.
- Then she prayed, and Eli blessed her.
- Later Samuel was born, and Hannah brought him to Eli.
A taste of the worksheets
These are some of the questions on the sets. The printable sheets have more and an answer key.
- Circle every thing the story says Hannah did. 🤝 She made a promise to God / 🗣️ She told Eli she was very sad / 👘 She made Samuel a little robe each year / 🏃 She ran away from Shiloh / 📢 She shouted at Eli
- Ben wrote: Hannah brought Samuel a new toy every year. Which fix is right? 👘 She brought him a little robe that she had made. / 🍞 She brought him a loaf of bread. / 🐟 She brought him a basket of fish.
- Each year the robe was bigger. Why? 🧵 Hannah liked big robes / 👴 The robe was for Eli / 📏 Samuel was growing taller
- A ___ looks after the house of God and helps people pray.
- If something worries you, what could you do, like Hannah telling Eli how she felt? 🤐 Hide it and say nothing / 🗣️ Tell someone I trust / 📢 Shout at someone
Words to know
- Shiloh
- The town where the house of God stood.
- priest
- A man who looks after the house of God.
- promise
- A serious word to do something you said.
Watch out for
- Hannah prayed without a sound. Her lips moved, so Eli thought she was unwell.
- The family walked to Shiloh. They did not sail or ride.
- Samuel stayed with Eli in the house of God. Hannah visited each year with a robe.
- A priest looks after the house of God and helps people pray.
Try it
What did Hannah name her baby boy?
Samuel. Samuel sounds like heard by God.
Why did Eli think Hannah was unwell?
Her lips moved but no sound came out. Hannah was praying quietly, and Eli did not know.
What did Hannah bring Samuel each year?
A little robe she had made. Each robe was bigger, because Samuel was growing taller.
How many children did Hannah have in all in the story? 1 + 3 + 2
6. Samuel is 1, three sons is 3 and two daughters is 2. 1 + 3 + 2 = 6.
If something worries you, what can you do, like Hannah?
Tell someone I trust. Hannah told Eli how she felt, and we can tell someone we trust too.
For grown-ups
With a grown-up, take turns telling something you hope for, quietly, in a prayer or in your own words. Listen to each other.
Take turns telling each other something you hope for, quietly, in a prayer or in your own words, and listen well. The story does not promise that a prayer is answered as asked, so there is no need to say it does.