1st Samuel 1:4-7

The rest of this month, we will talk about the prophet Samuel and people he served & wrote about. Today we start with his family.

I really am glad our modern world does not participate in multiple wives. I am sure that was never God’s plan because He only made Adam & Eve to begin with. Elkanah will become Samuel’s dad. But at the moment we are looking at his mom, Hannah’s resilience. Jewish culture placed so much value on a woman’s ability to have children. They considered a woman with no children as punished by God.

Instead of letting Hannah feel bad on her own, Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, picked on & bullied her to the point that Hannah wouldn’t eat like she was supposed to. We only see what happened each year when they went to make their sacrifices at the Tabernacle. There is no telling what went on at home the rest of the year. So, while enduring infertility, Hannah had to deal with his other wife. How sad!?