According to 1 Samuel, Samuel’s mother was named Hannah.
Hannah was one of Elkanah’s two wives and was initially unable to have children. During a visit to the sanctuary at Shiloh, she prayed silently for a son and vowed to dedicate him to God. Eli, the priest, first misunderstood her behavior but later blessed her.
Hannah gave birth to Samuel and, after he was weaned, brought him to Eli at Shiloh. Samuel then served at the sanctuary and became a prophet, judge, and important leader in Israel’s transition to monarchy. Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving in 1 Samuel 2 is one of the Bible’s notable poetic passages.
Hannah is sometimes confused with Miriam or Deborah, who are also prominent women in the Old Testament. Unlike them, Hannah is identified specifically as Samuel’s mother and as the woman whose prayer preceded his birth.