laskern: You wrote: “The GRA says that Eli misread the state of Chana from keshero to shikara”. I was taught that the GRA wrote that Eli misread KESARAH as shikora (meaning she was childless like Sarah). It would depend on whether it was the “shin” in Shimon or the “sin” in Yissochar was lit up. I also believe it is the Rambam who states that the cohain has to arrange the letters.
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