Hannah uttered no reproach. The burden which she could share with no earthly friend she cast upon God. Earnestly she pleaded that He would take away her reproach and grant her the precious gift of a son to nurture and train for Him. And she made a solemn vow that if her request were granted, she would dedicate her child to God, even from its birth. Hannah had drawn near to the entrance of the tabernacle, and in the anguish of her spirit she "prayed, . . . and wept sore.." Yet she communed with God in silence, uttering no sound. In those evil times such scenes of worship were rarely witnessed. Irreverent feasting and even drunkenness were not uncommon, even at the religious festivals; and Eli the high priest, observing Hannah, supposed that she was overcome with wine. Thinking to administer a deserved rebuke, he said sternly, "How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee."

Hanna fremkom ikke med nogen bebrejdelser. Hun gik til Gud med den sorg, som hun ikke kunne dele med nogen jordisk ven. Hun bad inderligt om, at Gud ville tage hendes skam bort og skænke hende en søn, som hun kunne opdrage til hans ære. Hun aflagde også det højtidelige løfte, at hun ville skænke Gud sit barn lige fra fødselen, hvis hendes bøn blev opfyldt. Hanna var gået helt hen til tabernaklets indgang, og i sin vånde "bad hun under heftig gråd" og udøste sin sjæl for Gud. I disse onde tider var det sjældent at se mennesker bede så indtrængende. Det var ikke ualmindeligt, at folk deltog i festlighederne uden at vise den ringeste ærbødighed, og der forekom endog eksempler på beruselse ved de religiøse fester. Da ypperstepræsten Eli så Hanna, troede han, at hun var beruset. Han ville give hende en velfortjent irettesættelse og sagde strengt: "Hvor længe vil du gå og være drukken ? Se at komme af med din rus!"