1 Samuel 1:7
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What stands out here isn't just Hannah's pain, but the deliberate cruelty of Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah. The text says Peninnah would provoke Hannah "as often as she went up to the house of the Lord," turning a sacred act of worship into an occasion for humiliation. This wasn't just an unfortunate situation; it was a relentless, targeted assault on Hannah's deepest longing.
This verse plunges us into the deeply personal sorrow of Hannah, who year after year faced the painful taunts of Peninnah, her husband Elkanah's other wife. Elkanah loved Hannah dearly, but couldn't understand the depth of her anguish over their childlessness, while Peninnah used every opportunity to rub salt in the wound, especially during their annual pilgrimage to worship the Lord. This ongoing cycle of grief and provocation is the backdrop for Hannah's desperate prayer that will follow.
Understand the original words
beyth Yahweh · Hebrew Noun phrase
A holy site dedicated to the worship of God. Before the building of the permanent temple in Jerusalem, the tabernacle housed at Shiloh served as the central location for sacrifices, prayers, and the presence of God.
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c. 1070 BC
Eli Serves as Priest
Eli, a priest of the Lord, serves at the sanctuary in Shiloh, where the Ark of the Covenant is housed. He observes Hannah's distress.
c. 1070-1050 BC— this verse
Hannah's Annual Pilgrimage
Hannah and her husband Elkanah make annual journeys to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices. During these times, Hannah faces deep emotional pain from her barrenness and Peninnah's taunts.
c. 1050 BC
Samuel's Birth
Hannah, after praying fervently, conceives and gives birth to Samuel, whom she dedicates to the Lord's service.
c. 1040 BC
Samuel Serves at Shiloh
Samuel, as a young boy, begins to serve alongside Eli in the tabernacle at Shiloh, fulfilling Hannah's vow.
This passage shares the deep pain of barrenness and the intense desire for children, mirroring Hannah's suffering and her rival's taunting.
Luke 1:7This verse directly parallels Hannah's situation, describing Zechariah and Elizabeth as righteous but also childless, highlighting the recurring theme of God's intervention in such cases.
Psalm 113:9This psalm speaks of God giving children to the barren woman and making her a joyful mother, offering a prophetic hope that resonates with Hannah's eventual prayer and experience.
Galatians 4:27Quoting Isaiah, this verse uses the imagery of a barren woman rejoicing over more children than one with a husband, which echoes the ultimate joy Hannah would find after her period of anguish.
What stands out here isn't just Hannah's pain, but the deliberate cruelty of Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah. The text says Peninnah would provoke Hannah "as often as she went up to the house of the Lord," turning a sacred act of worship into an occasion for humiliation. This wasn't just an unfortunate situation; it was a relentless, targeted assault on Hannah's deepest longing.
This verse plunges us into the deeply personal sorrow of Hannah, who year after year faced the painful taunts of Peninnah, her husband Elkanah's other wife. Elkanah loved Hannah dearly, but couldn't understand the depth of her anguish over their childlessness, while Peninnah used every opportunity to rub salt in the wound, especially during their annual pilgrimage to worship the Lord. This ongoing cycle of grief and provocation is the backdrop for Hannah's desperate prayer that will follow.
This verse plunges us into the deeply personal sorrow of Hannah, who year after year faced the painful taunts of Peninnah, her husband Elkanah's other wife. Elkanah loved Hannah dearly, but couldn't understand the depth of her anguish over their childlessness, while Peninnah used every opportunity to rub salt in the wound, especially during their annual pilgrimage to worship the Lord. This ongoing cycle of grief and provocation is the backdrop for Hannah's desperate prayer that will follow.
"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." — What stands out here isn't just Hannah's pain, but the deliberate cruelty of Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah. The text says Peninnah would provoke Hannah "as often as she went up to the house of the…
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