וַתִּדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר וַתֹּאמַ֗ר יְהוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אִם־רָאֹ֥ה תִרְאֶ֣ה ׀ בָּעֳנִ֣י אֲמָתֶ֗ךָ וּזְכַרְתַּ֙נִי֙ וְלֹֽא־תִשְׁכַּ֣ח אֶת־אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וְנָתַתָּ֥ה לַאֲמָתְךָ֖ זֶ֣רַע אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וּנְתַתִּ֤יו לַֽיהוָה֙ כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֔יו וּמוֹרָ֖ה לֹא־יַעֲלֶ֥ה עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃
Sie sprach ein Gelübde aus also: Herr Zebaot, wenn du siehst auf das Elend deiner Magd und mein gedenkest und nicht vergisst deiner Magd und gewährest deiner Magd einen männlichen Nachkommen, so will ich ihn weihen dem Herrn für all seine Lebenstage, ein Schermesser soll nicht kommen auf sein Haupt.
On Drunkenness
Therefore Samuel too, the greatest of kings and prophets, “will never,” as the scripture tells us, “drink wine or intoxicating liquor till his dying day” (1 Sam. 1:11). For his place has been ordered in the ranks of the divine army, and through the providence of the wise commander he will never leave it.
On Dreams
[254] What I say is vouched for by that prophetess and mother of a prophet, Hannah, whose name is in our tongue “Grace.” For she says that she is giving as a gift to the Holy One her son Samuel (1 Sam. 1:11), not meaning a human being but rather an inspired temper possessed by a God-sent frenzy. And “Samuel” means “appointed for God.”