And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young. 1 Samuel 1:24
Biblical scholars disagree over how many bullocks Hannah took with her to Shiloh when she took the youngster Samuel to the house of the Lord. Our text in the King James Version states she took three bullocks, because the Hebrew manuscript from which the text is translated says she took three bullocks. But most if not all modern-language versions of the Bible say Hannah took one three-year-old bullock. They say that was appropriate, because Samuel was three years old. As usual, the modern-language versions are wrong, and are based on a corrupted text. There was a very good reason why Hannah took three bullocks, and not just one. For the past two years, she had not gone with her husband to Shiloh for the annual sacrifices. She stayed home and gave her son the training and nourishing that he needed. So, for the previous two years, no bullocks had been offered for Samuel. She was now going to fulfill her obligation, and sacrifice the missing bullocks. She would not rob God of His portion. And she would not rob Samuel of the sacrifices that were due for him. She was a mother who understood the value of her commitment to the Lord for her child. Do mothers of today understand the value of that commitment?
Hannah did not make lightly her decision to stay at home with Samuel when the rest of the family made the annual trek to Shiloh. In the ancient Israelite world of often boring domestic duties, that trek was a huge highlight of an Israeli woman’s life. But Hannah gave that up in consideration of her little boy. He needed the shelter of her presence and the home environment, and she gave up her own enjoyment so that Samuel would get the best care possible. Such an attitude clashes dramatically with stories we hear today of mothers who leave their little children locked up at home while they go out for a night of drinking and partying. That would never happen in a Christian home, of course. But do Christian mothers always give up their own comforts and pleasures to make sure the children receive the best of possible care? And do Christian fathers support the mothers in this commitment?
Taking three bullocks to sacrifice was costly. But Hannah never hesitated. It was a cost that she knew was right for her son. But Hannah would never have been able to take those three bullocks if her husband had not been in full agreement. So let’s give Elkanah full credit here too. Just like we give full credit to godly parents today who willingly pay whatever it takes to give their children the best of care and the best home environment possible.
The way most children are raised today is shameful, as parents pawn them off on caregivers so they can pursue their own careers and buy their own trinkets and toys. But God honours those who willingly give up what is needed and pay whatever it costs to raise their children for the Lord. – Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/5-XaHtPEB6I