When Hannah told him of the longing in her heart, she received his blessing.Īfter she and her husband returned home, Hannah conceived and a son was born. Hannah explained that she was not drunk but was praying in this manner because of her sorrow. He immediately reprimanded her for being drunk at the tabernacle. The priest, Eli, observed Hannah moving her lips without sound and jumped to the incorrect conclusion that she was drunk. Hannah was so intense in prayer and so focused on the Lord, that she was oblivious to those around her. Then she prayed, “May your servant find favour in your eyes” ( verse 18). Hannah vowed that, if the Lord would give her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord’s service ( 1 Samuel 1:11). The desire of her heart was stated simply, but her distress was evident. Her prayers were honest, and she told God of her anguish over her childlessness. While attending a feast in Shiloh, the religious centre of the nation at that time, Hannah left the feasting to pray at the tabernacle.

Because of his love for Hannah, Elkanah gave her a double portion. At those times Elkanah always gave a portion of meat to Peninnah and her children to offer as a sacrifice. Once each year, it seems as if the whole family attended. They were supposed to offer sacrifices to the Lord. Three times a year every Israelite male was required to appear before the Lord at the central sanctuary ( Deuteronomy 16:16-17).

Peninnah may have suggested this possibility and used it to hurt Hannah since she was jealous of Hannah. Because children are a blessing from God, the absence of children was sometimes considered a punishment for sin. This was the cause of much trouble and rivalry between the two women. Perhaps Peninnah was jealous of the special attention that Elkanah lavished on Hannah. Only Peninnah had children.” Peninnah provoked Hannah because of her childlessness. In the case of Elkanah’s two wives, things were indeed miserable.

However, it was not God’s original intention, for as Jesus taught, it could cause great misery ( Matthew 19:3-8). In those days polygamy was tolerated under the Law of Moses ( Deuteronomy 21:15-17). A man named Elkanah had two wives, which was a common practice in early Bible times. Samuel’s story begins in the hill country of Ephraim (EE-fray-m) at a place called Ranathaim (RAY-mah-THAY-m), near Shiloh. Samuel came on the scene at the end of this time period. Click here for The Book of Judges: The Big Picture

Jesus Girls by Hannah Faith Notess