1 Samuel 1:2

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

1 Samuel 1:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 1:2

And he had two wives
Which, though connived at in those times, was contrary to the original law of marriage; and for which, though a good man, he was chastised, and had a great deal of vexation and trouble, the two wives not agreeing with each other; perhaps not having children by the one so soon as he hoped and wished for, he took another:

the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah;
the first name signifies "grace" or "gracious", and she was a woman who had the grace of God, and very probably was also very comely, beautiful, and acceptable, as she was in the sight of her husband; the other signifies a cornered gem, a precious stone or jewel, as the pearl, ruby, amethyst Very likely Hannah was his first wife, and having no children by her, he took Peninnah, who proved to be a rough diamond: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children; how many Peninnah had is not said, perhaps ten; see ( 1 Samuel 1:8 ) and that Hannah had none was not because she was naturally barren, but because the Lord had shut up her womb, or restrained her from bearing children, to put her upon praying for one, and that the birth of Samuel might be the more remarkable: see ( 1 Samuel 1:5 ) .

1 Samuel 1:2 In-Context

1 Now there was a certain man of Ramatayim-Tzofim, of the hill-country of Efrayim, and his name was Elkana, the son of Yerocham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tochu, the son of Tzuf, an Efratite:

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

3 This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of `Eli, Hofni and Pinechas, Kohanim to the LORD, were there.

4 When the day came that Elkana sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had shut up her womb.