The Tabernacle, which had been set up by the Israelites in the
wilderness, was after the conquest of Canaan erected at Shiloh, a city
about ten miles south of Shechem. There it remained for more than
three hundred years. No Temple was at Jerusalem in those days, so the
Jewish priests offered sacrifices to God in the Tabernacle at Shiloh.

One day, Hannah, the wife of a priest named Elkanah, came to the
Tabernacle to worship. She was grieved because she had no children;
and especially sad because she had no son. So she knelt down and
prayed to God, and asked God to remember her sorrow and to give her a
son; promising that if God granted her request, she would give that
son to Him all the days of his life.

As Hannah prayed, Eli, the high priest, saw her. She did not speak
aloud, but prayed in her heart; her lips moved, but no voice was
heard; so Eli thought that a drunken woman had come before the Lord.
He reproved her saying, "How long wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy
wine from thee." But Hannah had not drunk wine. She answered Eli, "No,
my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine
nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord." Then
Eli bade her "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant thee thy
petition that thou hast asked of Him."

Hannah left the Tabernacle. Her face was no longer sad. She believed
God had heard her prayer; and He had done so. In due time a son was
given her, whom she named Samuel. Samuel means _Heard of God_, which
name Hannah gave him in remembrance of God's goodness in hearing her
prayer.

[Illustration: HANNAH PRAYING BEFORE THE LORD.]