1 Samuel
1:1-9
Introduction
The introduction comes from HCSB Study Bible
and gives a real insight or overview of what we will be asking the Holy Spirit
to provide us with the ability to go deep into what is in it for us.
“The books of 1 and 2 Samuel highlight
a significant transition time in Israel’s history. As 1 Samuel begins,
Israel is a loosely organized tribal league living under poor spiritual
leadership. God’s plan for His people nonetheless continued as He raised
up Samuel to guide Israel’s transition from a theocracy to a monarchy.
Saul’s kingship constitutes the remainder of 1 Samuel, while David’s kingship
is largely the focus of 2 Samuel.”
We begin with a man from Ramathaim-zophim,
and that is in the tribal territory of Benjamin. His name is Elkanah, son
of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. As we
move to verse two we see he had two wives, now that brings into question his
sanity and if not sanity his understanding of what God said to Adam about a man
leaving his father and mother and cleaving to his wife, it is singular, not
plural, as in wives.
His first wife was Hannah, and she was
childless, I find it of interest her name means “Grace.” The other wife
or wife number two was Peninnah, and she was a baby machine, she also was not a
very nice person. Her name meant coral or pearl, and coral can be amazing, but it can also cut to the
bone when stepped on. And a pearl is of little value until it is taken
out of the shell and polished.
It is in
verse three we are introduced to Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, and they
served in the role of the Lord’s priest at Shiloh. Now Eli was not only
their dad, he was the leading man, he was the high priest. It gets
fascinating in regards to Elkanah, he had a favorite, and it was not one of his
children, it was his first wife, Hannah. We find the account in verses
four and five; “On
the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah, his wife
and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah, he gave a double portion,
because he loved her, though the Lord
had closed her womb.”
If you have ever wasted your time watching
the T.V. series the Bachelor, you have seen the gals competing for his
affection, playing nice when all together but they are all going for the same
prize, they are rivals. Can you imagine how Peninnah felt when she
witnessed Elkanah giving a double portion of the meat to Hannah? I’m sure
that after seeing this happen a few times she came up with a plan, and it was
to begin the trip and to let Hannah know she was not a real woman in that she
could not even give her husband a son. In fact, she may have played the
God is not happy with you, or you would have children. She made sure that
she kept Hannah so upset she did not eat, and more than likely did not sleep
that well.
Now men in general and especially Elkanah
are not all that bright when it comes to understanding a woman, and after
Peninnah had Hannah all upset, Elkanah would try to play Mr. Fix it. He
would ask her; Hannah why are you crying, am I not better to you than ten
sons?
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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