title: The Song of Hannah: A Novel
author:  Eva Etzioni-Halevy 
description: Exploring the varieties of love between a man and a woman, as well as the practical aspects of obeying God's commandments, this debut novel by an Israeli sociologist fictionalizes the story of the prophet Samuel. Illuminating ancient Hebrew and Canaanite culture, the tale reminds us that humanity rarely changes, either in its bondage to sex or in its perceived relationship to a creator. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, begs God to open her womb, promising in return to dedicate her first child to him. Thus, her boy Samuel grows up in the temple, blessed with wisdom but cursed with an unholy desire for his father's first wife. Falling somewhere between the feminist slant of Diamont's <i>Red Tent</i> (1997) and Edghill's more romanticized <i>Queenmaker</i> (2001), this dramatic retelling of Samuel's story, which reminds the reader that even God's beloved servants are susceptible to temptation, may offend the sensibilities of devout Christians and Jews alike, but its sensuous detail and emphasis on human foibles will appeal to those who prefer more secularized interpretations of biblical history. <i>Jennifer Baker</i><br /><i>Copyright  American Library Association. All rights reserved</i>
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  The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you for your personal
  use only. You may not make this e-book publicly available in any way.
  Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this
  e-book you are reading infringes on the author’s copyright, please notify the
  publisher at: [us.macmillanusa.com/piracy](http://us.macmillanusa.com/piracy).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  For Hannah, for her patience and brilliant assistance with plot points and
  character names, and for her general enthusiam for the written word, but most
  especially for the delightul trove of sea chanteys she spent an entire road
  trip singing for me. I will cherish that day forever.
  
  May you always be able to find friends and recognize kindred spirits within
  the pages of a book.
  
  Weigh hey, roll and go!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Contents
  
  [Title Page](index_split_000.html#filepos167)
  
  [Copyright Notice](index_split_001.html#filepos300)
  
  [Dedication](index_split_002.html#filepos8