1 Samuel 1:3-8
3 Now this man would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of armies in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there.
4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters;
5 but to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb.
6 Her rival, moreover, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
7 And it happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, that she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat.
8 Then Elkanah her husband would say to her, “Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you not eat, and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
Hannah’s Sorrow
Elkanah going up to Shiloh
Israelite men were commanded to go up to the Lord’s house (the tabernacle, later the temple) three times a year to worship the Lord and offer sacrifices. During this time, the tabernacle was located in Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as priests. Elkanah was a devout follower of the Law, faithfully going up to Shiloh each year to worship the Lord and offer sacrifices. From these sacrifices, he would take a portion for himself, and he would partake in a joyful meal with his family. Elkanah’s wife Peninnah, her sons, and daughters all shared in this meal. Elkanah gave Hannah twice as much (or the best portion), to comfort her in her infertility and convey his love for her.
Peninnah persecutes Hannah
When one husband has two wives, conflict arise between the wives as they seek the husband’s love. In such cases, the devout wife is often persecuted and wounded. In this situation, Peninnah, seeing that Elkanah loved Hannah more than her, began to resent Hannah. She bitterly provoked Hannah, who was already suffering from the inability to have children. Like rubbing salt into the wound, she irritated Hannah causing further distress. Peninnah continued to provoke Hannah year after year. Finally, Hannah, overwhelmed with sorrow, reached a point where she couldn’t even eat during the feast. It was indeed a state described in Psalm 42:3, “My tears have been my food day and night.” In an attempt to console Hannah, Elkanah said, “Am I not better to you than ten sons?” In other words, he said to her that having his love was more valuable than having ten sons. This was meant to comfort Hannah. Elkanah truly loved Hannah. The pain in our hearts can only be healed by the Lord Jesus, who is far above Elkanah. Knowing Christ is gaining everything (Phil. 3:8). Let us now lean on Christ, the Shepherd of our souls.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, knowing Your Son, Christ, is to gain everything. I earnestly seek to partake in the glory of Christ. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.