Verse 19:[1] And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah (Gen. 4:1) knew Hannah his wife; and (Gen. 30:22) the LORD remembered her.
[And they rose up in the morning] This time is suitable both for undertaking a journey, and for pouring out prayers. See Psalm 119:147, 148 (Mendoza).
[And they worshipped before the Lord] That is, before the ark (Lapide). Since she was going to start the journey, she first fortified herself by the protection of prayer (Mendoza). Learn hence to call upon God in the morning, before you prepare yourself for travel or work (Lapide).
They rose up in the morning early; partly for their journey, and partly for prayer, as it follows, for which this was a very fit and usual time, Psalm 5:3; 119:147.
[Now, Elkanah knew, etc.] It modestly expresses the marital act (Sanchez, Mendoza). For in the Hebrew tongue there is no word whereby this indecent matter or action might be declared, as Maimonides[2] testifies, Guide to the Perplexed 3:10; because it is not becoming that such things be mentioned. See Ephesians 5:3 (Mendoza). And what things are on Genesis 4:1 (Malvenda).
[The Lord remembered] He speaks in a human manner (Menochius, Sanchez). They suppose one to have been forgotten, when no sign or duty of a mindful soul is apparent (Sanchez).
Remembered her, that is, manifested his remembrance of her by the effect.
[1] Hebrew: וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣מוּ בַבֹּ֗קֶר וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲווּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיָּשֻׁ֛בוּ וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ אֶל־בֵּיתָ֖ם הָרָמָ֑תָה וַיֵּ֤דַע אֶלְקָנָה֙ אֶת־חַנָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַיִּֽזְכְּרֶ֖הָ יְהוָֽה׃
[2] Moses Maimonides, or Rambam (1135-1204), is reckoned by many to be the greatest Jewish scholar of his age. In the Hebrew Scriptures, Rabbinic tradition, natural science, and Aristotelian philosophy, Maimonides demonstrates great command and almost equal facility.
Matthew Henry: 'Here is...The return of Elkanah and his family to their own habitation, when the days appointed for the feast were over, 1 Sam 1:19. Observe how they improved their time at the tabernacle. Every day they were there, even that which was fixed for their journey home, they worshipped God; and they rose up early to do it. It is good to begin the day with God. Let him that is the first have the first. They had a journey before them, and a family of children to take with them, and yet they would not stir till they had worshipped God together. Prayer and provender do not hinder a journey. They had spent several days now i…