On the first day of Rosh Hashana after the Torah reading we read the story of Chana, a barren woman who prays to Hashem for children. Chana’s prayers were answered and she bore a son named Shmuel. The Torah makes no effort to hide the raw emotions in the story.Initially as Chana Davened, Eli thought she was drunk. Chana herself was the one who clarified to him, that she was broken hearted not inebriated. Eli responds by saying: ‘Go to Peace and the GD of Israel will grant you the request that you have requested of Him.’The Talmud is deeply stirred by these words of Eli. They serve as a paradigm as to how any Jew should react after having suspected or accused a fellow of something for which they are truly innocent.This Shiur explores why Eli initially thought Chana was drunk, why he never seemed to properly apologize to her and how he knew for certain, that GD would grant Chana’s wishes.

מקורות

שמואל א׳ פרק א׳ פסוקים ט׳ - י״ז

פירש״י על פסוק י״ז

תוספות כתובות דף ס״ה ע״א ד״ה אחרי אכל

הפני יהושע כתובות ס״ה ע״א ד״ה בתוספות ד״ה אחרי אכלה כו׳

תלמוד בבלי מסכת ברכות דף ל״א ע״ב

פני יהושע ברכות דף ל״א ע״ב ד״ה בגמרא ויען עלי ויאמר לכי לשלום

תלמוד בבלי ברכות דף כ״ז ע״ב וכ״ח ע״א

ספר משבצות זהב שמואל א׳ עמ׳ מ״א

מדרש רבה רות פרשה ה׳ פיסקא ה׳