Hannah, a significant figure in the Old Testament, is best known for her devout faith and the fulfillment of a vow she made to God. Her account is primarily found in the first two chapters of the First Book of Samuel. Hannah was one of the two wives of Elkanah, a man from the hill country of Ephraim. Despite Elkanah's love for her, Hannah was barren, which caused her deep distress, especially in light of the provocations from Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, who had children.

In her anguish, Hannah turned to the Lord in prayer during one of their annual visits to the tabernacle at Shiloh. She made a solemn vow, saying, "O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head" (1 Samuel 1:11). This vow indicated her promise to dedicate her son to the Lord as a Nazirite, a person set apart for God's service.

God heard Hannah's prayer, and she conceived and bore a son, whom she named Samuel, meaning "heard of God," acknowledging the Lord's response to her plea. True to her vow, once Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. She brought along a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine as offerings. Presenting Samuel to Eli the priest, she declared, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him, I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD" (1 Samuel 1:26-28).

Hannah's fulfillment of her vow is a profound testament to her faith and obedience. Her actions reflect a deep trust in God's sovereignty and a willingness to surrender her most precious gift back to Him. Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord, serving under Eli, and eventually became one of Israel's greatest prophets and judges.

Hannah's account also includes a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving, often referred to as Hannah's Song, found in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. This prayer exalts the Lord's holiness, power, and justice, and it prophetically anticipates the establishment of a king in Israel, foreshadowing the coming of the Messiah.

Hannah's faith and her fulfillment of her vow serve as an enduring example of devotion and trust in God's faithfulness, inspiring believers to honor their commitments to the Lord and to trust in His perfect timing and provision.