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Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name [was] Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

Samuel was in the number of those few in Scripture, that lived and died with glory. His birth, life, and acts take up a great part of this book, which seemeth to have been written by some disciple of his, who, in honour of his master, called it by his name. Like Anna Comnena, daughter of Alexius Comnenus the Emperor, wrote the history of her father’s deeds and called it Alexias.

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim. — Called also Ramah, and Arimathaea. The Hebrews Chald. Paraph., Kimchi, Ben-Gerson. say it was a school of prophets, who are frequently in Scripture called Zophim, that is, watchmen, and that Elkanah himself was a prophet, as being of the sons of Korah, who are called prophets. See 1 Chronicles 6:22 ; 1 Chronicles 6:27 ; 1 Chronicles 6:33 , compared with those titles of Psalms "to" or "of the soils of Korah." Of that gainsaying "sinner against his own soul," came Samuel, Homo ille virtute simillimus.

An Ephrathite. — So called, because he dwelt in the tribe of Ephraim, as Judges 12:5 ; likeas those Jews are called Cretes and Arabians, Elamites and Parthians, …, Acts 2:9-10 because they sojourned in those countries.

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And he had two wives; the name of the one [was] Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

And he had two wives. — Polygamy was ever a sin, though in the patriarchs and ancient saints, a sin of ignorance. "It was not so from the beginning." Matthew 19:8 Malachi 2:15 Lamech, of the cursed seed of Cain, first brought it in: but his second wife Zillah was but the shadow of a wife, Quomodo Menander, φιλου σκιαν , dixit. as her name also signifieth. And although before the law given by Moses, polygamy is not reprehended; yet in Leviticus 18:18 it is flatly forbidden, "Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister," or one wife to another, "to vex her," as here Peninnah did Hannah. This passage good Elkanah and those other ancients mistook, as it is thought, by taking the word "sister" for one so by blood, which was spoken of a sister by neighbourhood, or by nation as those phrases "to vex her," and "during her life," do evince.

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And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, [were] there.

To worship and to sacrifice, — viz., Peace offerings. The Rabbis here observe that to worship or pray is better than to sacrifice; because it is first named.

And the two sons of Eli … the priests of the Lord. — These were learned and lewd; Multi sacerdotes, pauci sacerdotes, saith Chrysostom: Multi in nomine, pauci in opere. - Hom. 3, in Act. There are many priest in name, but few that are right. I do not believe that there many priests, saith he, that shall be saved.

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And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

And when the time was that Elkanah offered. — He did not forbear to offer, because the priests were wicked and slubbering, as some weak ones did, 1 Samuel 2:17 abhorring God’s sacrifice for their sakes: wherein they are said to have transgressed, even to a cry.

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But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion. — Heb., A gift of the face; partem spectabilem; a choice dainty piece, such as a man might well set before his best guests, as looking better than any of the rest.

For he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb. — For an allay to his love: God is wise and jealous. Piscator rendereth it, "He loved Hannah, although the Lord had shut up her womb": that was no stop to his love.

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And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

And her adversary also provoked her sore. — Aemula eius: num ita vocantur uxores digamorum Leviticus 18:18 Peninnah, her corival, an insolent spiteful creature, vexatious, as the Hebrew word signifieth, and violent. Angens.

For to make her fret. — Or, To make her to thunder, and cause a rattle in the house, by chiding and chafing. Peninnah provoked her on purpose, and for that purpose: this was an aggravation of her sin, as it is likewise of theirs that put a word out on purpose to enrage, vex, disgrace, or discountenance another. Piscator rendereth it, Propterea quid intonabat, because she, that is, Peninnah, thundered, that is, impetuously railed, and reproached her with her barrenness. This was to add affliction to the afflicted; which is greatest inhumanity.

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And [as] he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

And as he did so year by year. — His kindness to her thus continued, stirreth up the spirit of petulant Peninnah, whom he could not silence, to upbraid her with her barrenness, thereby boasting of her own fruitfulness, no otherwise than if she had it of herself, and not from the Lord.

When she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her. — Then she provoked her, when she might do her most mischief - viz., at the very time of praying and offering sacrifice to the Lord, when she should have been most cheerful and free from all disquietment. And withal it implieth, saith a grave expositor, Mr. Jackson. that she upbraided her with the fruitlessness of her seeking to God so earnestly at those times for a child. Peter Martyr telleth us of some who, by Peninnah’s provoking of her, understand her urging of her to pray to God, who only hath power to make a woman fruitful. But if Peninnah put Hannah upon her prayer, it was merely by accident: as she that called Monica, Augustine’s mother, Meribibula, by way of reproach, made her more cautious and abstinent.

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Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? [am] not I better to thee than ten sons?

Hannah, why weepest thou? — Children should not be desired too passionately, because they are certain cares, but uncertain comforts. Sir Thomas Moore’s wife was mightily desirous of "a boy, " - that was her word, - and she had one that proved a fool: and saith her husband, You were never quiet till you had a boy ; and now you have one that will be all his life a boy .

Am not I better to thee than ten sons? — Than those ten sons of Peninnah, saith Lyra, following the Hebrews.

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