Ver. 1. And Hannah prayed, and said,] i.e., She praised God, and said; for there is not one petition in all this holy hymn: but thanksgiving is a principal part of prayer; it is also an artificial begging. My heart rejoiceth in the Lord.] Leapeth and danceth levaltoes, danceth a galliard; as did also Mary’s (Luke 1:47) for like cause; and betwixt this song and that of the holy Virgin there is a great likeness, as Peter Martyr rightly observeth. My horn is exalted in the Lord.] My might and mirth is advanced. A metaphor from horned creatures, or, as some say, from conquerors setting up their crest. My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies.] Peninnah and her accomplices, over whom now I can crow and triumph, my mouth magnifically praising the Lord.
Ver. 2. There is none holy as the Lord.] “Glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders.” (Exodus 15:11) This holy God is to be sanctified, (Isaiah 5:16) and praised; (Matthew 6:9) yea, he “will be sanctified in all that draw near unto him.” (Leviticus 10:3) The Pope, who arrogateth the title of Holiness, is injurious to God; and was no whit wronged by Philip the Fair of France, who wrote thus to him, Sciat tua maxima fatuitas, &c.: Be it known to your singular Foolishness, &c.
Ver. 3. Talk no more so exceeding proudly.] Heb., Multiply not, speak not loftiness, loftiness. Peninnah, that odious woman, had vexed and troubled holy Hannah both in her prayers and meals, with her insolent speeches. Now she is warned to have done, and not to let hard words any more to come out of her mouth, Ne lapides loquantur. See Jude 1:15. And why? for divers good reasons:— For the Lord is a God of knowledge.] Heb., Of knowledges; and he taketh cognizance of your pride and petulancy. See Malachi 3:13 Mt 12:17 [See Trapp on “Mal 3:13”] [See Trapp on “Mt 12:17”] And by him actions are weighed,] i.e., Exactly examined, and their obliquities discovered and punished. Or, By him enterprises are established viz., if they be to his good liking, else not. The elephant, that largest of beasts, hath the smallest tongue; and nothing is said of his voice, (Job 39) to teach great men not to speak big words.
Ver. 4. The bows of the mighty men are broken,] i.e., The bows of Peninnah and her children, who did shoot reproachful words at Hannah. Some gather hence that Peninnah bore no more children, but lost those she had, as 1 Samuel 2:5. They that stumbled.] To the same sense singeth the holy Virgin in Luke 1:46-55
Ver. 5. And they that were hungry ceased.] Nimirum famelici esse, to be still hungry; they were “filled with good things,” as Luke 1:53. Is waxed feeble.] Weak for prolification; or having luctuosam faecunditatem, as Jerome saith of Laeta, who had born many children, but with this she had buried them.
Ver. 6. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive.] He layeth men for dead, and then reviveth them, as 2 Corinthians 1:9,10. That great apostle was “in death often”; and those ancient confessors cry out, “For thy sake are we killed all the day long.” (Romans 8:36) The Hebrews say that Peninnah’s children died all but two, and that those were saved alive by Hannah’s prayer for them, at their mother’s request.
Ver. 7. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich.] De pauperat et ditat: It is he that stoppeth that hole in the bottom of the bag, those secret drains and issues of expense, at which other men’s estates run out. (Haggai 1:6) He bringeth low, and lifteth up.] Job, for instance; and our Henry VI, in whom it appeared that mortality was but the stage of mutability; for today he was a most potent monarch, tomorrow not the master of a mole hill. How suddenly was Joseph advanced, and David, and Daniel, and Mordecai, and Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, &c.
Ver. 8. He raiseth up the poor.] See Psalms 75:6. [See Trapp on “Ps 75:6”] To set them among princes.] As he did Agathocles, Marius, Maximinus, Claudius, who, hiding himself for fear of death in a hole, was pulled out by the heels and made emperor. Michael was condemned to death by the Emperor Leo; but before the execution the emperor died, and Michael was chosen in his stead. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s.] He hath hanged it upon nothing; only it hangeth in the midst of the heaven, equally poised with its own weight, and serveth for pillars or foundations to the whole fabric of the universe.
Ver. 9. He will keep the feet of his saints.] This is a lower love and courtesy than to keep their hands. (John 13:5,6) He keepeth them from utter prolapsion, from devoratory evils, as Tertullian speaketh, so as that either they fall not at all, -stumble they may, but they get ground by their stumbling, -or if they fall, they shall arise; for the Lord putteth under his hand. (Psalms 37:24) There is still a supporting grace, below which they cannot possibly fall. The wicked shall be silent in darkness.] They may fall whither they will or can, for any care God taketh of them: they shall fall and never rise again. (Zephaniah 1:3) They have been silent in darkness, making no moan, neither humbling themselves in their distress; they “cried not when God bound them,” (Job 35:12) therefore they shall be silent, sore frightened and astonished at their horrible calamities here, and tortures in hell. For by strength shall no man prevail.] Or, Obtain his enterprise. Augustine striving against his headstrong corruptions in his own strength, heard a voice saying, In te stas, et non stas. Thou wouldst stand by thyself, and therefore fallest. See thyself weak as water, and run to Christ: rely on him alone; for God “hath laid help on One that is mighty”; he hath given “strength unto his King, and exalted the horn of his Messiah,” as it is in the next verse.