But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
The Lord's shutting of Hannah's womb left her childless, and that childlessness became the source of deep grief in her marriage and of taunts from the other wife. To secure descendants for himself Elkanah took a second wife, a course taken from lack of faith in God. That polygamous arrangement brought painful division into the family.
At the peace-offering family feast Elkanah gave portions to his other wife Peninnah and to each of her children. To Hannah he gave a double portion, the worthy portion, as a token that he loved her just as much as if she had borne him a son, even though she had no children. Peninnah taunted Hannah over her childlessness, claiming it proved the Lord was displeased with her.
The Lord's shutting of Hannah's womb left her childless, and that childlessness became the source of deep grief in her marriage and of taunts from the other wife. To secure descendants for himself Elkanah took a second wife, a course taken from lack of faith in God. That polygamous arrangement brought painful division into the family.
At the peace-offering family feast Elkanah gave portions to his other wife Peninnah and to each of her children. To Hannah he gave a double portion, the worthy portion, as a token that he loved her just as much as if she had borne him a son, even though she had no children. Peninnah taunted Hannah over her childlessness, claiming it proved the Lord was displeased with her.