1 Sam 1:12-14

A book I've been reading noted that most ancient writings were read out loud, since manuscripts were scarce.
In Augustine's Confessions he notes with amazement that Ambrose read silently when studying.

I'd presume that in earlier times, prayers were something that were most often spoken out loud too.
Hanna's prayers displayed a personal faith that was unusual at that time.

Rob

 

Here's my input, Clark:

David asked:

2 Samuel 14:19 ESV, bold emphasis mine
The king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered and said, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, one cannot turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has said. It was your servant Joab who commanded me; it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your servant.

2 Samuel 12:19 ESV, bold emphasis mine
But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.”​

This is different from what Eli did. Eli assumed, then made a conclusion based on weak evidence.

1 Samuel 1:12-14 ESV, bold emphasis mine
As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”​

It turns out that David's judgment was right on both the occasions I quoted, even though he asked, and that Eli's judgment was wrong on the occasion I quoted, and did not ask but made a conclusion.

Lesson to learn: it's not wrong to ask, even if you think you are very certain of something. In fact, it may save you from the folly of falsely accusing someone.

 

Abraham's servant (who predates Hannah) prayed in his heart:

Genesis 24 ESV, bold emphasis mine
42 “I came today to the spring and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go, 43 behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” 44 and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,” let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son.’

45 “Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’​