A Passionate Hope: Hannah's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land)

"Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none." With those seven words, the Bible sums up Hannah's greatest struggle and the definition of her journey as a woman in ancient Israel. Jill Eileen Smith takes those words, plus the information the Bible provides on Hannah's time period, and fleshes out her final book in the Daughters of the Promised Land series. What results is, in my humble opinion, her most beautiful and touching story to date.Hannah leaps off the page, as do her fellow characters. She lives in a time when women without children were considered sinful or cursed, and struggles mightily against that at times. Yet at her core, Hannah is a devout, compassionate, and tenacious woman worth rooting for from cover to cover. Her husband Elkanah is likewise a multifaceted character, devoted to Adonai yet constantly oppressed with the pressures of his culture and the knowledge that the priesthood is disgustingly corrupt. Other characters, from Hannah's rival sister wife Penninah to her mother-in-law Galiah and sister-in-law Dana, add flavor and depth to the story.Once again, Jill remains faithful to Scripture, making the setting of ancient Israel feel real on the pages. Hannah and her family live in the time of the judges, a period where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes," and it shows. The ever-worsening priesthood touches the family on more than one occasion, leading to deep frustration and grief. In one scene, Hannah's sincere sacrifice is rejected primarily out of spite, leading to some heart-wrenching reactions. Despite this, Hannah remains strong, not only in her hope for a child, but her hope for a deliverer of Israel. As always, Jill uses Old Testament events to weave in hints of the coming Christ.I think, however, that my favorite part of A Passionate Hope is how deeply Jill delves into humans' relationships with God. In the course of the novel, she tackles common questions like, why aren't the prayers of the most devoted answered? Why do bad things happen to good people, while the wicked seem to get whatever they want? What constitutes God's blessing and who is worthy of it?Nowhere is this more apparent than in Hannah's relationship with Penninah. Her sister wife is spoiled, selfish, and vindictive, constantly spiritualizing Hannah's barrenness to make it seem as though God does not love her. At a crucial point, Penninah's attitude nearly drives Hannah to suicide (not mentioned in Scripture, but not at all a stretch considering the culture). But beyond the realm of human understanding, Hannah continues living, and continues to try to reach Penninah. Even centuries before Christ, she embodies what it means to love an enemy, and she reaps what she sows. It definitely helps that Jill gives Penninah a lot of shading and sympathy; she's not a one-note antagonist. Here, she's definitely immature and nasty, but doesn't come to her conclusions on her own. Actually, Penninah's conniving mother drives a lot of her actions, gaining her some understanding.Hannah's final, wrenching vow, and her eventual relationship with little Samuel, put the cap on one of the best books I've read so far this year. I highly recommend reading this as a prologue to The Wives of King David series, and I hope Jill writes much more like this.

The reading of this book was for me a man a real eye opener. Jill brings out in sharp detail just what suffering a woman will experience being unable to produce a family especially when her husband too, longs for this. In the culture of the day this inability also brought down scorn unimaginable in these times.Add to this the disgraceful use of power that men in the religious system were able to exercise and its consequences made for a read that was unusual for me.I am grateful to Jill a writer of immense skill to tell the stories of history particularly of Israel and the Jewish people which she understands very well. Yes, I was confronted by this book with insights that challenged my own stance and behaviour over the years.This a book for men to read and think very carefully about.

I loved the characterization but was disappointed in the poor understanding of the Holy Days. Since Hannah's husband was a Kohathite with responsibilities of service in the Temple, the author could have done a bit more research and got the Holy Days correct.Passover was not a Feast day. It was an evening meal, commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. It is followed by a preparation day and at sunset, the Feast of Unleavened Bread (7days) not the Feast of Weeks which is 7 weeks later.For a couple so dedicated to God their attitude to some of the Holy Days was not accurate.These matters spoiled the book for me which is a pity because the author did such a good job with the emotions of the characters.

In my ignorance, I had never even heard of Hannah in the Bible. I have never been able to pick up a Bible and read it. I do not understand what it means at all. Little by little I have been able to start understanding events in the Bible. And Ms Smith is one of the brightest authors capable of weaving a truly magnificent epic slice of that period of time in the Bible. Ms Smith has inspired me to pick up the Bible and begin to understand, in my own capacity, the events and the meanings therein.

Hannah was barren. She married the man she loved. Hannah wanted more than anything to give him a son. Years went by and still no child. Elkanah's mother had been insisting for many years that elkanah take a second wife to give him sons. After many years elkanah did take a second wife. Hannah was grieved and prayed even harder for a child. They went up to Shiloh to worship Hannah went to the temple and prayed,crying for a child. The priest Eli thought she was drunk she explained her situation, Eli blessed her and told her she would have a son. Hannah had promised if God would give her a son she would lend him back to the Lord all the days of his life. That child was the prophet Samuel.

This is the first historical fiction book I've read on Hannah. I don't think there are many written on Hannah. This book is a beautiful story of all the emotions we might expect from a man with two wives. I love all the history woven into this story.

Another great book that is fun to read and brings hope through fiction. Though we don't know the full story on Hannah this book is fun and inspiring.

I read this in 3 days I could not put it down. It gives a great story and teaches biblical and cultural history.

This books is truly a valuable book especially for those among us who haven't as yet been able to have children and we've experienced the hurtful haughtiness of someone who has. So, for me it was a personally healing story but even if you've not been in this situation it is a beautiful story of faith and forgiveness.

A very well thought out and well written book that helps one understand the depths of emotion that Hannah must've experienced. The extent of her faith and trust in God having been denied the thing she must wanted for so long were also well researched and obviously illuminated by no other than His Eminence The Holy Spirit. A wonderful book in which the author definitely had God's ear and worked at God's pace. Very well done!

Reading this book my eyes opened to what could happen sometimes when we feel the world is against us and also how we could judge others from their actions without knowing how they have been affected by their life. It's a story of love, grace, reflection, forgiveness and consequences of sin all in one. Excellent book.

How I was looking forward to reading this story having Pre-ordered it four Months before. A wonderful inspiring retelling of this amazing OT woman’s life and the suffering she experienced which turned into triumph.Review by Penny CALLAGHAN

Excellent account of the life and times of Hannah brings us closer those involved in Samuels life.Faith in action story