Hannah's Desire, God's Design: Early Interpretations of the Story of Hannah
Overview
This study analyzes Hannah as a literary entity, illustrating her uniquely significant place in the traditions of Israel—mother of Samuel and thus of the reform of the priesthood, catalyst for the creation of the monarchy, and teacher of all Israel. There are three interweaving themes: first, the literary issue of the barren mother; second, the theological theme of divine guidance and human initiative; and third, the perspectives of early biblical interpretation. The study develops around four works: the Hannah narrative in 1 Samuel 1–2, Pseudo-Philo’s Biblical Antiquities, the Targum of the Prophets, and the Infancy Narrative in Luke 1–2.
Go deeper in your study of the books of Samuel with the Logos edition of Hannah’s Desire, God’s Design. All Scripture passages link to your favorite Bible translation in your library. With the advanced search features of Logos Bible Software, you can perform powerful searches by topic or Scripture reference—finding, for example, every mention of “antiquity” or “prophet.”
- Preface by the author
- Indexes and bibliographies to guide research
- Notes and cross-references
Top Highlights
“My study assumes from the foregoing analysis of canonical issues that both interpretations coexist in the final form of the story. A look at the contours of that story lays the foundation on which to develop this claim.” (Page 35)
“And her promise determines her own future as well as that of Israel. Her action marks a change in her, toward a determination and decisiveness that become her hallmark characteristics.” (Page 37)
“In ancient Israel the biblical authors had the task of ascribing all divine interventions to the one God” (Page 20)
“divine purpose was influenced and even changed by human initiative” (Page 21)
- Title: Hannah’s Desire, God’s Design: Early Interpretations of the Story of Hannah
- Author: Joan E. Cook
- Publisher: Sheffield Academic
- Publication Date: 1999
- Pages: 130