forth children, as the following words explain it: so that she conceived and bare three sons and two daughters; whereby the prophecy of Hannah was fulfilled, Sa1 2:5 , and was no doubt matter of great joy to her, though of these children we nowhere else read, nor even of their names. Josephus (s) says, Elkanah had other sons by Hannah, and three daughters; which agrees not with the text: and the child Samuel grew before the Lord: in age and stature, in grace and goodness, and improved much in the worship and service of God, both in the theory and practice of it; or became great with him, high in his esteem and favour, and was blessed with much of his presence, and with large gifts of his grace. (s) Antiqu. l. 5. c. 10. sect. 3.