Peninnah

1There was a man named Elkanah. He lived in Ramathaim-zophim, in the hills of Ephraim. His father was Jeroham, and Jeroham's father was Elihu. Elihu's father was Tohu, and Tohu's father was Zuph. Their family came from Ephraim.

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

NoteThe Bible often lists a man's father and grandfather. This tells us which family he came from. Ephraim was one of the big family groups of Israel.

2Elkanah had two wives. One was named Hannah, and the other was named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

NoteLong ago some men had more than one wife. Both wives lived in the same house with the children.

3Every year Elkanah left his town and went to Shiloh. There he worshiped the LORD of hosts and gave him gifts. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests there.

And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

Note"Hosts" is an old word for armies. "LORD of hosts" means God is the strongest king of all. Shiloh was the town with God's special tent house. Families traveled there once a year to worship. The gifts were animals and food given to God. Priests were men who served God at his house.

4When the day came for Elkanah to give his gift, he shared out the food. He gave a share to Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

NoteA gift to God was also a family meal. The meat was shared out, and everyone got a piece.

5But he gave Hannah a double share, because he loved her. The LORD had kept her from having babies.

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

NoteBack then, having children mattered very much to a family. A woman with no children often felt sad and left out.

6Peninnah said mean things to Hannah again and again. She did it to hurt her, because the LORD had kept Hannah from having babies.

And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

7This went on year after year. Every time Hannah went to the LORD's house, Peninnah teased her. So Hannah cried and would not eat.

And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

8Her husband Elkanah said to her, "Hannah, why are you crying? Why won't you eat? Why is your heart so sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

NoteHaving ten sons would have seemed like a huge blessing. Elkanah is telling Hannah how much he loves her.