Hannah affirms that since Samuel has been given to her by the Lord, and since she made a vow to give him back to the Lord, he must now be given back to the Lord for a lifetime of service.1 It was a great sacrifice on her part seeing as she will part with a child for whom she has wished for a long time, and she will not see Samuel being raised in her own home. Being given over to the Lord does not mean that Samuel can only be of service to the Lord if he is involved at the tabernacle, but rather that his service to God will centre around the tabernacle and the worship of Israel.2
26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD.