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1 Samuel 1:5

5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion, [a] because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.

1 Samuel 1:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 1:5

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion
Or, one choice portion, as the Targum; the best part or portion in the peace offering, of what the priest had not; he had the breast and the right shoulder, the next best piece he gave to Hannah; and the word being of the dual number, some render it a double portion; others, "one part of two faces" F8; which Jerom interprets, which might be received with a cheerful countenance, it was so good and excellent in its kind; others interpret it that he gave it with a sorrowful F9 and displeased countenance, because of the reason following, that she had no children; but Ben Gersom understands it of a part or portion of meat that had two faces or appearances; that he gave her one of the pieces, one part of which was very fat, and the other had no fat on it, so that she might choose what she liked best:

for he loved Hannah;
loved her best, and therefore did everything to please her, and make her comfortable under her affliction for want of children, and to express his tender affection for her:

but the Lord had shut up her womb;
restrained her from conception, and bearing children; see ( Genesis 20:18 ) or "though the Lord had shut up her womb" F11; this did not abate his love to her.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 (Mypa txa hnm) "unam portionem duarum facicrum", Sanctius Belgae.
F9 Sic Stockins, p. 79.
F11 (hwhyw) "quanquam Jehovah", Piscator.

1 Samuel 1:5 In-Context

3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.
4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters;
5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.
6 Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
7 So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.