Samuel Heard of God: the Family Adventures of Elkanah and Hannah
Arkadiusz Krasicki
University of Zadar (Croatia)https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6229-5233
Ana Albin
I. Tesla Technical School (Croatia)https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4288-9170
Abstrakt
The family struggles of Elkanah and Hannah offer new perspectives on dealing with the increasingly common issue of infertility. This paper employs critical analysis to uncover the historical and geographical context of the biblical event of Samuel’s birth. Through hermeneutical analysis, it examines other biblical texts addressing infertility, questioning whether medicine truly fulfils the desire for a child. Additionally, a philological approach is employed to examine the meanings of place names and personal names, underscoring the symbolic significance of these events. The aim of this paper is to present the biblical example of confronting infertility, focusing on the story of Hannah and Samuel, while briefly comparing it with the infertility of Sarah and Rachel. The hypothesis states: Absolute trust in God and the dedication of one’s entire life to Him give meaning to every form of family struggle. Given the first divine commandment, “Be fruitful and multiply”, the question arises as to why God allows such struggles in the first place. Furthermore, it appears that a child is a reward for fulfilling a vow and that women have a diminished role in the reproductive process. Hannah’s story marks a shift in both the ancient and contemporary cultural and religious understanding of motherhood.
Słowa kluczowe:
infertility, jealousy, suffering, artificial insemination, prayerBibliografia
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