When life is painful, do people make stupid comments to you? – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 2

Hannah is in a precarious situation. She can’t bear her husband an heir, and yet her rival wife, Penninah is quite fertile. Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, could kick Hannah to the curb.

What will Elkanah do? In 1st Samuel 1, verses 4-5, we learn that, “Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.”

Elkanah’s sacrifices provide meat for his family, which was in accord with the Mosaic Law.  But notice his treatment of Hannah.  He could have gotten rid of barren Hannah.  She wasn’t producing an heir.  But no, Elkanah loved her, and he showed it by giving her a double-portion of meat.  He had a special place in his heart for her. Three times per year every year his generosity to her was on full display to his whole family.

But when one family member is shown favoritism, that usually leads to problems, doesn’t it?  Is there a favorite in your family? Look at verses 6-8, “Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah would say to her, ‘Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?’”

Hannah has a double portion of meat right in front of her. It probably smelled amazing, and yet she was sick in her stomach and couldn’t eat it.  Why?  Her rival, the other wife, Peninnah, provoked and irritated Hannah.  What was Peninnah doing to Hannah?  The word here expresses an intensity.  It’s not just frustrating.  It’s deeply frustrating.  Peninnah is actively and consistently bullying Hannah.  You can see why.  Peninnah knows that Elkanah loves Hannah more.  But Peninnah can think to herself, “This is not fair.  I’m the one who is producing sons for this guy.  I’m superior to her.  Yet he loves her?  He gives her the double portion?  I’m the one doing all the work here!  I should get the double portion.”  So Peninnah has a very negative view of Hannah. 

Of course Hannah is weeping.  She can’t help that she can’t produce a baby.  She can’t make it happen.  She also isn’t forcing Elkanah to give her the double portion of meat.  She is emotionally wrecked by the situation.  She has an inner struggle, with her body, so she could be blaming herself.  Her struggle is also from outside her, from Peninnah, so she could rightly be upset at Peninnah. 

Hannah might also be upset at God.  We read “the Lord closed Hannah’s womb.”  Perhaps that’s how the ancient mindset referred to medical situations.  Or maybe there was some awareness of God’s specific involvement here, though we don’t know.  The ancient mindset was far more enchanted than we are.  Meaning, they didn’t have access to the science, the medicine, the technology we have, so they just figured if a person couldn’t have a baby, it was God’s doing.  You and I know that barrenness is a physical condition lots of people have, and it does not necessarily mean God closed their womb. But Hannah is an ancient person, so it was totally normal for her think like an ancient person.  Physically, relationally and spiritually, Hannah is carrying a heavy burden.

Let’s pause a moment.  Are you carrying a heavy burden?  Does Hannah’s story resonate with you?  Physical ailments.  Relational brokenness.  Spiritual dryness.  This is the stuff of life, isn’t it?  My guess is that you have something going on in your life right now that relates to what we have read about Hannah.  Something that makes you frustrated, confused, angry, and weepy.  We question in our minds: Why is this situation going on so long?  Why did it occur? Does God notice me?  We wonder if we are alone.  We wonder if anyone notices

Thankfully, in our story Elkanah notices Hannah.  It really helps when people notice our struggle.  As he notices Hannah, Elkanah makes what he thinks is a powerful argument:  “Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”  That sounds to me like one of those comments that one spouse thinks will be helpful in the moment, but does the opposite. 

Ever said something that you intended to help someone, and it just made things worse?  That’s human relationships for you. 

Elkanah’s comment doesn’t help Hannah.  In fact, the writer gives us no indication that Hannah responds to him.  More than likely what we are reading there in verses 6-8 is not a one-time situation.  It seems like something that happened multiple times. 

Maybe the first time Hannah gets the double-portion of meat, she is embarrassed, but grateful to Elkanah.  Might have appreciated the special attention.  Maybe ate the double portion hungrily.  But as it keeps happening, people take notice.  Maybe Hannah’s embarrassment increases, and she tries to play it off like Elkanah loves them too, and she tries to share the meat with them. 

But it just keeps happening.

Hannah’s embarrassment of special treatment turns to a more desperate feeling.  Soon enough, she doesn’t want the extra meat; she wants to bear a child, and especially a son!  With plate after plate of double portions of meat in front of Hannah, many eyes are on her, Penninah’s especially.  Peninnah makes comments under her breath about how all her children sure could use that extra meat. 

Maybe for a few years, each time the family makes preparations for the trip to Shiloh, Hannah dreads it.  She doesn’t want to go.  It’s so shameful, so hurtful.  She’s deeply despairing, sick to the stomach.  She literally can’t do it again.  But she has no choice, and sure enough, here comes Elkanah with a smile on his face, a big plate of meat in his hands, thinking he is treating her with love.  How can he not see how painful this is for her?  “Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” 

No, no you don’t. 

Hannah reaches a breaking point. 

In the next post, we’ll learn how Hannah responds.

Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash