Shmuel Alef 1:5

5 But unto Channah he gave a double portion; for he loved Channah; but Hashem had shut up her womb.

Shmuel Alef 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Shmuel Alef 1:5 In-Context

3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto Hashem Tzva’os in Shiloh. And the two banim of Eli, Chophni and Pinchas, the kohanim of Hashem, were there.

4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered sacrifice, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her banim and her banot, portions;

5 But unto Channah he gave a double portion; for he loved Channah; but Hashem had shut up her womb.

6 And her tzarah (adversary) also provoked her greatly, for to make her fret, because Hashem had shut up her womb.

7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the Bais Hashem, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.