And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
The adversary who provoked Hannah sore was Peninnah, her rival wife, whose envy and jealousy made her Hannah's adversary. Elkanah had given Hannah a double portion as a sign of his special regard for her, and that favoritism stirred Peninnah's envy and jealousy.
Peninnah treated Hannah with contempt and insolence, taunting her repeatedly and cruelly about her childlessness year after year in order to distress her and make her fret. The shutting of Hannah's womb is presented as the Lord's providence, and her inability to have children was a deep sorrow and grief to her. Peninnah's taunting was an added trial upon that grief, cruelly claiming that her barrenness proved the Lord's displeasure against her.
The provocation continued from year to year until it overwhelmed Hannah at the yearly family feast. There she could no longer hide her grief, but wept openly and withdrew, unable to eat. In that cruelty was Satan's attempt to harass and possibly destroy one of God's faithful children.
The adversary who provoked Hannah sore was Peninnah, her rival wife, whose envy and jealousy made her Hannah's adversary. Elkanah had given Hannah a double portion as a sign of his special regard for her, and that favoritism stirred Peninnah's envy and jealousy.
Peninnah treated Hannah with contempt and insolence, taunting her repeatedly and cruelly about her childlessness year after year in order to distress her and make her fret. The shutting of Hannah's womb is presented as the Lord's providence, and her inability to have children was a deep sorrow and grief to her. Peninnah's taunting was an added trial upon that grief, cruelly claiming that her barrenness proved the Lord's displeasure against her.
The provocation continued from year to year until it overwhelmed Hannah at the yearly family feast. There she could no longer hide her grief, but wept openly and withdrew, unable to eat. In that cruelty was Satan's attempt to harass and possibly destroy one of God's faithful children.