1 Samuel 1:6

6 Peninnah teased Hannah to make her angry. She did it because the LORD had kept Hannah from having children.

1 Samuel 1:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 1:6

And her adversary also provoked her sore
That is, Peninnah, the other wife of Elkanah; for when a man had more wives, two or more, they were usually at enmity to one another, as the two wives of Socrates were, being always jealous lest one should have more love and respect than the other from the husband; and this woman provoked Hannah one time after another, and continually, by upbraiding her with her barrenness; and this was another reason why Elkanah did all he could to comfort her, not only because the Lord had restrained her from bearing children, but because also she that envied and emulated her sadly provoked her:

for to make her fret;
and be uneasy, and murmur at and complain of her unhappy circumstances: some render it, "because she thundered" ^F12 against her; that is, Peninnah was exceeding loud and clamorous with her reproaches and scoffs, which were grievously provoking to Hannah. So said Socrates, when Xantippe first scolded at him, and then poured foul water on him: did not I say, says he, that Xantippe first thunders, and then rains ^F13?

because the Lord had shut up her womb;
it was this Peninnah upbraided her with, and at which Hannah fretted and grieved.

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 (hmerh rwbeb) "propterea quod intonabat contra eam", Piscator.
F13 Laert. in Vit. Socrat. p. 112.

1 Samuel 1:6 In-Context

4 Every time the day came for Elkanah to offer a sacrifice, he would give a share of the meat to his wife Peninnah. He would also give a share to each of her sons and daughters.

5 But he would give two shares of meat to Hannah. That's because he loved her. He also gave her two shares because the LORD had kept her from having children.

6 Peninnah teased Hannah to make her angry. She did it because the LORD had kept Hannah from having children.

7 Peninnah teased Hannah year after year. Every time Hannah would go up to the house of the Lord, Elkanah's other wife would tease her. She would keep doing it until Hannah cried and wouldn't eat.

8 Her husband Elkanah would speak to her. He would say, "Hannah, why are you crying? Why don't you eat? Why are you so angry and unhappy? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"