Hannah’s Conflict with Peninnah (1:3-11)
1:3
Now This Man Would Go Up . . . Yearly to Worship and Sacrifice to the Lord
As the story of Samuel begins, everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). Everyone, except Elkanah who goes up to worship the Lord as God commanded (Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 12:5-7; 16:16). The author portrays Elkanah as one of the few faithful dudes who faithfully worships the Lord in a time of corruption, immorality, and idolatry (His yearly trip also reminds us of the faithful couple Joseph and Mary in Luke 2:41).
In the story’s first three verses, the author characterizes Elkanah as a man who is faithful to the Lord (worship and sacrifice) and, at the same time, really messed up (two wives). Elkanah is a lot like us.
Elkanah’s faithfulness makes Hannah’s barrenness all the more confusing. Why in the world does God let Hannah suffer like this? Just as important - how will Hannah respond to her suffering?
The Two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were Priests to the Lord there
Priests to the Lord? Perfect! They’ll definitely comfort Hannah, pray to God, and God will bless her with a child. These guys are exactly what this story needs. Right?
1:4-5
He Would Give Portions to Peninnah, His Wife, and to all Her Sons and Daughters
Elkanah and his family eat a sacrificial meal. This is what you do when you bring your offerings to the Lord. (Deuteronomy 12:5-7, 17-18).
BUT TO HANNAH HE WOULD GIVE A DOUBLE PORTION.
What’s with the extra food? Does Hannah just have a big appetite? Think back to the story of Joseph. He gave a portion five times larger to his brother Benjamin than all his other brothers (Genesis 43:34). He did it because Benjamin was his only brother through Rachel (Genesis 35:24). Benjamin was Joseph’s favorite brother. Elkanah gives Hannah a double portion to symbolize his special love for her. She is his favorite wife.
For He Loved Hannah and the Lord Had Closed Her Womb
The author tells us explicitly what we saw through Hannah's double portion. Elkanah has a special compassion for her because of her barrenness. But he also loves her more than Peninnah. It’s one thing to have a favorite. It’s another make it so obvious. Elkanah means well toward Hannah but is pretty clueless as to how Peninnah might feel. Can you imagine any problems just ahead here? Have we read about another dude with two wives who loved one more than the other? Yes. Yes we have.
“So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years” (Genesis 29:30).
Jacob’s love for Rachel set off a conflict between her and Leah and led to a nuclear arms race of childbearing. How will Peninnah respond to the pain and humiliation of being less loved? We should expect not well.
1:6-7
Her Rival, However, Would Provoke Her
Well that didn’t take long. The author piles up a ton of details about Peninnah’s response with just a few Hebrew words. Let’s break it down.
How did she provoke Hannah?
Literally, the text says, “she provoked her even (with) grief.” Both the NASB and ESV capture the sense by saying, “bitterly” and “grievously.” Peninnah was super harsh on Hannah.
What was her goal?
Our English Bibles typically translate the word here as to “irritate” her. The sense of the word is to bring her low or humiliate her. Hannah is already humiliated and low because of her barrenness. Peninnah kicks her while she’s down.
Why would she provoke Hannah?
Peninnah provokes Hannah because Hannah can’t have children. “I have kids and you don’t, loser!” Peninnah sticks the knife in an open wound and twists it.
How much would she provoke Hannah?
Year after year. Peninnah was relentless and would not let up. The author portrays Peninnah as a woman who is not messing around about being cruel. What do we call a woman like this? We call her a crabby hag (We might call her something else but this one we can actually say in church).
So here we have two women in pain. They’re in a multiple marriage that is not what God intends. That’s hard enough. On top of that, one is crushed because of her barrenness and the other because she is less loved. Imagine a scene where the women support each other. Peninnah would say to Hannah, “I can only imagine the pain you feel because you can’t have children. I’m here for you.” Hannah would say to Peninnah, “I can only imagine the pain and you feel because Elkanah is clueless and plays favorites between us. I’m here for you.” Peninnah is having none of that. She lashes out at Hannah out of her pain. How will Hannah respond?
So She Wept and Would Not Eat
Instead of mocking or humiliating Peninnah, Hannah fasts and mourns because of her barrenness and Peninnah’s cruelty. Good move on her part. Now let’s see if Elkanah can help comfort her.