1 Samuel 1:4-20 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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:19-28

Here is, I. The return of Elkanah and his family to their own habitation, when the days appointed for the feast were over, 1 Sam. 1:19. Observe how they improved their time at the tabernacle. Every day they were there, even that which was fixed for their journey home, they worshipped God; and they rose up early to do it. It is good to begin the day with God. Let him that is the first have the first. They had a journey before them, and a family of children to take with them, and yet they would... 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

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

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

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:19-28

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

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

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

Group of Brands