1 Samuel 1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:5

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion ,.... Or, one choice portion, as the Targum; the best part or portion in the peace offering, of what the priest had not; he had the breast and the right shoulder, the next best piece he gave to Hannah; and the word being of the dual number, some render it a double portion; others, "one part of two faces" F8 מנה אחת אפים "unam portionem duarum facicrum", Sanctius Belgae. ; which Jerom interprets, which might be received with a cheerful... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:6

And her adversary also provoked her sore ,.... That is, Peninnah, the other wife of Elkanah; for when a man had more wives, two or more, they were usually at enmity to one another, as the two wives of Socrates were, being always jealous lest one should have more love and respect than the other from the husband; and this woman provoked Hannah one time after another, and continually, by upbraiding her with her barrenness; and this was another reason why Elkanah did all he could to comfort her,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:7

And as he did so year by year ,.... Elkanah went up every year to Shiloh, and offered sacrifices, taking his family with him, and gave to Peninnah and her children their portion, and to Hannah a double portion, or if but one yet the best: when she went up to the house of the Lord ; that is, Peninnah, along with her husband, with whom she went every year to the tabernacle at Shiloh: so she provoked her ; her rival Hannah, upbraiding her with her barrenness; to which she was stirred up... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:8

Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou ?.... Since it was a time of rejoicing, as every festival was, especially at the ingathering of the fruits of the earth: and why eatest thou not ? since they were at a feast, and she had the best part and portion of the provision: and why is thy heart grieved ? to such a degree that she could neither eat nor drink: am not I better to thee than ten sons ? which, as Jarchi says, Peninnah had borne to him; his meaning... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:9

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drank ,.... After dinner, after Elkanah and Peninnah, and their children, had eaten heartily, and drank freely, and made a comfortable meal, and even a feast of it, at the place where the tabernacle and altar were, and their peace offerings were offered up, part of which they had been regaling themselves with. The Targum is,"after she had eaten in Shiloh, and after she had drank;'for upon the entreaty of her husband, and to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:10

And she was in bitterness of soul ,.... Because of her barrenness, and the taunts and reflections she had met with on that account; her life was bitter to her, she could take no pleasure in any of the comforts of it: and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore ; her prayer was with strong crying and tears; it was very fervent and affectionate; she prayed most vehemently, and wept bitterly. This perhaps was about the time of the evening sacrifice, about three or four o'clock in the afternoon;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:11

And she vowed a vow ,.... Which might be confirmed by her husband; otherwise the vow of a woman, if disapproved of by her husband, was not valid, Numbers 30:8 and Elkanah might make the same vow his wife did, and so it stood; for as this was a vow of Nazariteship, it is a tradition of the Jews F18 Misn. Sotah. c. 3. sect. 8. , that a man may vow his son to be a Nazarite, but a woman may not; but as this instance contradicts the tradition, they endeavour to explain away this vow, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:12

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord ,.... Being very earnest and importunate with him to grant her request, and therefore repeated her petition, and prolonged her prayer, being unwilling to let the Lord go, until she had a promise, or some satisfaction, that she should have the thing she liked; some think she continued an hour in prayer: that Eli marked her mouth ; observed the motion of her lips, and no doubt her distorted countenance, and uplifted eyes and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:13

Now Hannah, she spake in her heart ,.... It was mental prayer she used, some ejaculations of her mind she sent up to God, which she was sensible were well known to him, and she needed not to express vocally: only her lips moved ; as her heart spoke, and sent up her petitions, as if she had used words and phrases in form: but her voice was not heard : that she might not seem to be ostentatious in her prayer, and that she might not interrupt others in their devotions; and she knew that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:14

And Eli said unto her, how long wilt thou be drunken ?.... What, every day drunk? what, continually in this wicked practice? when will it be stopped? for Eli might have observed on other days, and at other times, odd looks, and a strange behaviour in her, which he took for the effects of drinking too much wine: or how long will this drunken fit last? she had been a considerable time as he thought in it, and it was not gone off yet: the Targum is,"how long wilt thou behave like a fool, or a... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:14

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