Who was Anna in the Holy Bible? Hannah appears in the Holy Bible, in the first book of Samuel in the Old Testament. Ana was Elcana’s wife, and became known as a woman of Faith, as she was barren, this was undoubtedly a period of great anguish for not being able to be a mother. Through her prayer God opened her womb and gave Hannah a son, whom he named Samuel.
Meaning of the Name Ana: Ana: Means “graceful” or “full of grace”. The name Ana comes from the original Hebrew Hannah, later from the Latin Anna, meaning “graceful, full of grace”.
1 Samuel 1:4 And it came to pass on the day that Elkanah sacrificed, that he gave portions to Penina his wife, and to all his sons, and to all his daughters.
Ana was Elcana and she could not bear children, but Penina, who was also Elcana’s wife, although Ana was Elcana we clearly noticed that the coexistence within that family, because the fact that Penina could bear children, Penina was constantly provoke and irritate Ana.
1 Samuel 1:6 – And her rival provoked her exceedingly, to provoke her; because the Lord had closed her womb.
Elkanah was the head of the family, he was a Levite of the coach lineage, but not of the priest lineage. Elkanah lived in Ramah, a mountainous region of Ephraim. He was a God-fearing man. Elkanah regularly traveled to Shiloh to worship the Lord, for even in Joshua’s time the tabernacle was there.
The rivalry inside Elcana’s Home was constant Ospina humiliated Ana, because she had children and Ana didn’t, Ana suffered with Penina’s bills and these situations made Ana deeply distressed and that’s why she cried and lived in bitterness.
1 Samuel 1:4,5 – And it came to pass on the day that Elkanah sacrificed, that he gave portions to Penina his wife, and to all his sons, and to all his daughters.
But Anna played an excellent part because she loved Anna, even though the Lord had closed her womb.
The love that Elkanah had for Ana was so great that even God had not surrounded her Mother, Elkanah still gave Ana a special part. So he did from year to year and whenever they went up to the house of the Lord.
Samuel da writes Elkanah as a very considerate husband: 1 Samuel 1:8 – Then Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why are you weeping? And why don’t you eat? And why is your heart bad? Am I not better for you than ten children?
In one of those journeys that Elkanah made with her family to Shiloh to worship the Lord, Hannah went to the door of the tabernacle and the bible says that: She, therefore, with bitterness of soul, prayed to the Lord, and wept abundantly. And he made a vow, saying, Lord of hosts! If you look kindly on the affliction of your maidservant, and remember me, and do not forget your maidservant, but give a male child to your maidservant, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and on his head I will not razor will pass. And it came to pass, as she persevered in praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. – 1 Samuel 1:10-12
Priest Eli who was watching her he had noticed that Hannah only moved her lips that no audible voice came out of her mouth, Priest Eli then concludes that Hannah was drunk and asking Hannah how long will she stay drunk and advises her to stay away from Wine.
1 Samuel 1:15-17 – But Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a troubled spirit; neither wine nor strong drink have I drunk; but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.
Do not consider your handmaid as a daughter of Belial; for of the multitude of my cares and my grief I have spoken hitherto.
Then Eli answered, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thee the petition which thou hast made of him.
Upon leaving the temple, Hannah’s face was no longer sad. After Elkanah returns to Ramar the Bible says that the lord remembered Hannah.
1 Samuel 1:19,20- And they rose early in the morning, and worshiped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house at Ramah, and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. And it came to pass after some time, that Hannah conceived, and brought forth a son, whom she named Samuel; because, she said, I have asked the Lord.
As a small child, Hannah delivers Samuel in the tabernacle to Eli’s care, thus fulfilling the vow she had made with God. Every year when she went to Shiloh to worship, Hannah brings Samuel a new outfit.
Samuel was one of the most remarkable men in the Bible, he is quoted in the book of the prophet Jeremiah, through Samuel the Lord anoints the first two Kings of Israel, Saul and David.
Miracle does not stop with the birth of Samuel, but after his birth, Ana became the mother of five more children, three boys and two girls.
Now we can see the one who lived in bitterness and sadness, now sings songs of praise to God, songs of thanksgiving to the Lord
1 Samuel 2:1-10 – Then Hannah prayed, and said, My heart exults in the LORD, my power is exalted in the LORD; my mouth has been stretched out over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
There is no saint like the Lord; because there is none outside of you; and there is no rock like our God.
Do not multiply haughty words, nor let arrogant things come out of your mouths; for the Lord is the God of knowledge, and by him works are weighed in the balance.
The bow of the strong was broken, and those who stumble were girded with strength.
The full rented themselves for bread, and the hungry ceased; even the barren woman gave birth to seven children, and she who had many children grew weak.
The Lord is the one who takes life and gives it; brings it down to the grave and brings it up again.
The Lord impoverishes and enriches; lowers and also exalts.
He lifts up the poor from the dust, and lifts up the needy from the dunghill, to make him sit among princes, to make him inherit the throne of glory; for the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s, and the world is set on them.
The feet of his saints he will keep, but the wicked will be mute in darkness; for man will not prevail by force.
Those who contend with the Lord will be broken, he will thunder on them from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth; and he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.
The miracle Anna, it was Samuel, who anointed the young David of the tribe of Judah to be king of Israel, and it was from the lineage of David that long after Jesus rose, the one in whom all the promises of salvation are fulfilled, the anointed of the Lord , the king of kings, Jesus Christ the son of God.
