Hannah and Joseph of Arimathea

Hannah and her husband (1 Samuel 1) were from Ramathaim, a village which later became known as Arimathea 15 miles west of Shiloh. (It was, by the way, near Ramathaim where Deborah sat as a judge (Judges 4:4-5).)

Does Arimathea make you think of the famous Sanhedrin member who was a secret believer, Joseph of Arimathea, who buried our Lord? Here are a few comparisons which come to mind between these two Arimatheans.

• Both Hannah (1 Samuel 1-2) and Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, (Mark 15:42-44) were from the same hometown of Arimathea.
  

• Hannah was an uneducated, poor, and powerless woman (1 Samuel 1:1-3).
  
• Joseph of Arimathea was a highly educated, wealthy, and powerful man (Matthew 27:57).

• Hannah lived in the transition from the old tribal Israelite disunity to the monarchy.
• Joseph of Arimathea lived in the transition from Old Covenant to New Covenant.
  

• Hannah was not ashamed of her faith in God (1 Samuel 1:8-10).
• Joseph of Arimathea was a secret believer in Jesus Christ (John 19:38).
  

• Hannah quietly prayed for the birth of a son (1 Samuel 1:13).
  
• Joseph of Arimathea boldly interceded for the burial of the Son (Mark 15:43).
  

• Hannah in great grief and sorrow sought new life, a son, from the Lord (1 Samuel 1:10).
• Joseph of Arimathea in great grief and sorrow buried the Lord of Life (John 19:38; Zechariah 12:10).
  

• Hannah was involved in the birth of the first great prophet and last judge, Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20).
• Joseph of Arimathea was involved in the burial of the last and greatest Prophet and Final Judge, Jesus Christ (John 19:41-42).
  

• Hannah's intercession was the prelude to the era of the Prophets who made intercession for the people before God.
  
• Joseph of Arimathea's intercession was the prelude for the Messiah who ever lives to make intercession for us before the Father (Hebrews 7:25).
  

• Hannah’s Song prophesied a King (1 Samuel 2:10).
• Joseph of Arimathea’s mourning care buried the King of Kings (John 19:41-42).
  

• Hannah's son Samuel anointed David as king (1 Samuel 16:1).
• Joseph of Arimathea's sepulchre was the place of anointing for the body of the Son of David, the King (John 19:39-40).
  

• From the womb of Hannah was brought forth a son who would anoint David as King (1 Samuel 16:1ff).
  
• From the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea was brought forth the Son of David, the King of Kings (Matthew 1:1; 22:42; Luke 1:32; 3:32; Romans 1:3).