1 Samuel 1:1-18 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:1-8

We have here an account of the state of the family into which Samuel the prophet was born. His father's name was Elkanah, a Levite, and of the family of the Kohathites (the most honourable house of that tribe) as appears, 1 Chron. 6:33, 34. His ancestor Zuph was an Ephrathite, that is, of Bethlehem-Judah, which was called Ephrathah, Ruth 1:2. There this family of the Levites was first seated, but one branch of it, in process of time, removed to Mount Ephraim, from which Elkanah descended.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:9-18

Elkanah had gently reproved Hannah for her inordinate grief, and here we find the good effect of the reproof. I. It brought her to her meat. She ate and drank, 1 Sam. 1:9. She did not harden herself in sorrow, nor grow sullen when she was reproved for it; but, when she perceived her husband uneasy that she did not come and eat with them, she cheered up her own spirits as well as she could, and came to table. It is as great a piece of self-denial to control our passions as it is to control our... read more

John Gill

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

Now there was a man of Ramathaimzophim, of Mount Ephraim ,.... Ramathaim is a word of the dual number, and signifies two Ramahs; the city consisted of two parts, being built perhaps on two hills, and were called Zophim; because, as the Rabbins say, they looked one to another; or rather, because situated on eminences, there were watchtowers in them, where watchmen were placed; or because they were inhabited by prophets, who were sometimes called watchmen, Ezekiel 3:17 and here is thought to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:2

And he had two wives ,.... Which, though connived at in those times, was contrary to the original law of marriage; and for which, though a good man, he was chastised, and had a great deal of vexation and trouble, the two wives not agreeing with each other; perhaps not having children by the one so soon as he hoped and wished for, he took another: the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah ; the first name signifies "grace" or "gracious", and she was a woman who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:3

This man went up out of his city yearly ,.... From year to year; or, as the Targum, from the time of the solemn appointed feast to the solemn appointed feast, from one to another; there were three of them in the year, at which all the males in Israel were to appear at the tabernacle; and being a Levite, this man was the more careful to observe this rule. He is said to "go up" out of his city, which was Ramathaim or Ramah; for though it was built on an eminence, from whence it had its name,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:4

And when the time was that Elkanah offered ,.... That is, brought his offering to the priest, to offer it for him, which was at one of the three festivals. According to R. Joshua Ben Levi F6 Apud Kimchium in loc. , this was at the time of Pentecost; but Abarbinel thinks it was at the time of the ingathering of the fruits of the earth, which was a time of rejoicing, even the feast of tabernacles, and which is most likely: he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her... read more

John Gill

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:1-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:9-18

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:4

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

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