21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
21 When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow,
21 The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow.
21 When Elkanah next took his family on their annual trip to Shiloh to worship God, offering sacrifices and keeping his vow,
21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow.
21 The next year Elkanah and his family went on their annual trip to offer a sacrifice to the Lord and to keep his vow.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:21
Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:19-28
(Read 1 Samuel 1:19-28)
Elkanah and his family had a journey before them, and a family of children to take with them, yet they would not move till they had worshipped God together. Prayer and provender do not hinder a journey. When men are in such haste to set out upon journeys, or to engage in business, that they have not time to worship God, they are likely to proceed without his presence and blessing. Hannah, though she felt a warm regard for the courts of God's house, begged to stay at home. God will have mercy, and not sacrifice. Those who are detained from public ordinances, by the nursing and tending of little children, may take comfort from this instance, and believe, that if they do that duty in a right spirit, God will graciously accept them therein. Hannah presented her child to the Lord with a grateful acknowledgment of his goodness in answer to prayer. Whatever we give to God, it is what we have first asked and received from him. All our gifts to him were first his gifts to us. The child Samuel early showed true piety. Little children should be taught to worship God when very young. Their parents should teach them in it, bring them to it, and put them on doing it as well as they can; God will graciously accept them, and will teach them to do better.