She marveled at the thought even as she looked at her beautiful sleeping daughter, whose face was wreathed in a mysterious smile, as if she knew something no one else could possibly understand. Perhaps that was the secret of infancy—that “knowing,” yet never being able to recall later in life whatever knowledge was held in those early infant moments.
“And how are my beautiful daughter and wonderful wife today?” Elkanah poked his head into the sleeping chamber and came to sit at her side.
Hannah gave him a mischievous look. “I see how it is—that I’m now taking second place to this girl. Always the wife first, then the child,” she chided, laughing softly as she spoke. “But I forgive you for it just this once.”
Elkanah chuckled, his smile wide. “Well, thank you for that. It is just such a relief to be home, to find you and Peninnah are actually speaking, and that my daughter is safely here. I am a man more blessed than I deserve.”
She looked at him intensely. “None of us deserve blessing, but I am so glad God gives it anyway.”
He nodded, sobering. “On that you are right, my love. After what we just went through in Shiloh, with the ark taken and Eli and Hophni and Phinehas and Irit all gone the same day . . . It was hard on Samuel.”
He had told her the details when he got home, how the war with the Philistines had gone terribly wrong and many Israelites had died. The priests had taken the ark into battle, the Philistines had captured it, and then the priests died in the same battle on the same day. The news had been too much for Eli, who had fallen over in a faint and broken his neck. And then poor Irit had gone into labor with the news of losing so much and had died in childbirth. A horrible day in Israel, and all happening while she was nursing Shiri, oblivious to it all.
“But things are better now? With Samuel, I mean?” she asked. Elkanah had stayed a month, helping their son set things in order so that the Levitical practices could continue and his role overseeing the priesthood could go on unhindered.
“He is settled and God is with him, but once the rightful heir of Aaron’s son Eleazer is found, Samuel will likely become judge and prophet and leave the priesthood in its rightful hands. He said he intends to come see you soon.”
Hannah smiled. “I count the days. How I long to see his face again.”
“And you will. His biggest regret is that the ark is gone, and that is a tragedy. We can’t go after it lest Israel lose more men fighting, and we have no direction from God to do so.”
“God can take care of His ark. The covenants are still ours. We have nothing to fear.” Hannah kissed Shiri’s forehead and then handed her to her father, who cradled her in his experienced arms.
“God will send the ark back to us one day. Samuel is sure of it,” Elkanah said.
“Hopefully soon.”
“Yes.”
Silence followed the remark, peaceful, poignant.
“So Peninnah actually helped you deliver and still comes to visit you each week?”
Hannah nodded, a slow smile settling on her face and in her heart. “She does.” She would never have expected to be glad of such a thing. “God does amazing things when we trust Him. And Peninnah and I had something in common besides you.” She winked at him and he laughed softly. “We both knew grief and what it feels like to think no one wants us or needs us. To feel useless is a terrible thing.”
“And neither one of you feels that way any longer?” His tone sounded so cautious yet hopeful.
She laughed. “Not anymore. I think we both see that God used us in different ways to accomplish His will. Though our situation was never ideal, we are finally old enough to understand how to make the best of it. Actually, I think I finally like her.”
He stared at her, and she couldn’t help the joy bubbling inside of her at the realization that she had given him an incredible gift—and had given herself permission to be free of the past pain. She really could make the best of the worst because of Adonai’s grace. What He had given to her she could give to others, whether they deserved it or not. And though Peninnah had never deserved her kindness from a human perspective, Hannah knew that God did not look on the outward person but on the inner workings of the heart.
And that made all the difference.
Note to the Reader
Hannah’s story is one I have wanted to write for many years, but the timing wasn’t good until now. And in truth, I think every writer has her own growing to do as a person to make her ready for certain stories. My early attempts at this novel looked nothing like what ended up on these pages. And that’s a good thing!
Hannah’s life was much harder to experience than I first imagined. Scripture only gives us a small glimpse of her story. We know she was married and that she shared her husband with a second wife. We know she was barren and that her fruitful rival wife taunted her continuously. And we know that she asked God for a child in sheer desperation when the pain of her rival’s malicious words grew too great to bear.
We also know from a little research that Elkanah was a descendant of Kohath, a son of Levi, which would have put him in line for Levitical duties to carry out at the tabernacle in Shiloh. There he would have come into contact with Hophni and Phinehas, the corrupt priests.
Hannah lived during the period of the judges, a time when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 21:25). It is my opinion that this particular period in Israel was especially dark because evil practices were going on in the one place where the people came to worship God. The men who were supposed to set the highest example of virtue and obedience to Adonai were the most corrupt.
So I did my best to show what it might have been like for true worshipers to survive in a culture of dishonesty and perversion. While there did not seem to be threats from outside nations during the early years of Hannah’s life, she was not free of the threat of corruption from within her own society.
I find it fascinating that God shows us through this period of the judges that sin comes at us from a variety of sources. But none of us are immune to its pull or its consequences. In every era, across every culture, we have had need of a deliverer. The judges and kings merely saved Israel for a time. The real Deliverer was yet to come. And when He came, His mother, like Hannah, rejoiced in a song of praise. May we all learn despite hardship to be as gracious and joyful as Hannah.
In His Grace,
Jill Eileen Smith
Acknowledgments
If you had told me in early 2007 that I would have the privilege of working with the fine people at Revell for all of these years, I would not have believed you. And yet Hannah stands as a testament—my tenth book to date (not counting the four ebook novellas or the final King Solomon novel set to release in 2019, or the two nonfiction books about Old Testament women yet—and two more novels—to come).
My gratitude to each one of you with whom I’ve worked is profound.
My wonderful editors: Lonnie Hull Dupont, who actually saw my very first attempt at Hannah at least twenty-five years ago—right before biblical fiction was about to go out of vogue. And yet here we are! You’re the best! And Jessica English—please don’t ever stop editing for me! I’m not sure I will ever get the commas in the right places or the grammar correct without you!
Michele Misiak—your marketing is way above par! Thanks so much for help with the launch teams and putting up with my endless questions.
Karen Steele—you amaze me with so many interview opportunities. Thank you!
Cheryl Van Andel—another astounding cover. I honestly feel so blessed, and perhaps a little spoiled, by your amazing work.
Wendy Lawton—I know I call you agent, but it is a privilege to also call you friend. I truly appreciate you! (But I don’t think our cats would get along—Tiger is too picky for playful kittens.)
Jill Stengl—thank you for the brainstorming help. As always, your friendship and suggestions make me a better writer—though I think we have more fun just talking than actually brainstorming!
; To my family and friends—longtime forever friends and new-acquaintance friends—you make my life richer.
Randy—I think my pen would dry up without you. You’re by far my best friend. I’m so glad we get to do life together.
Jeff, Chris, Ryan—the sons for whom I prayed. Love has new meaning because of you.
Molly and Carissa—you add meaning to our lives, and it’s nice not being the only girl anymore!
Keaton—precious granddaughter who changes everything.
I love each one of you.
Thank you, Adonai Tzva’ot, for being mighty and able and giving me strength when I have needed it most.
Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David, the Wives of the Patriarchs, the Loves of King Solomon, and the Daughters of the Promised Land series. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.
When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike to the park, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or play with her lovable, “helpful” cat Tiger. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.
Contact Jill through email ([email protected]), her website (http://www.jilleileensmith.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/JillEileenSmith).
Books by Jill Eileen Smith
THE WIVES OF KING DAVID
Michal
Abigail
Bathsheba
WIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS
Sarai
Rebekah
Rachel
THE LOVES OF KING SOLOMON (ebook series)
The Desert Princess
The Shepherdess
Daughter of the Nile
The Queen of Sheba
DAUGHTERS OF THE PROMISED LAND
The Crimson Cord
The Prophetess
Redeeming Grace
A Passionate Hope
www.JillEileenSmith.com
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A Passionate Hope--Hannah's Story Page 28