Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 1:5
But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
5. a worthy portion ] Lit., one portion for two persons : a double portion. If the text is sound, this seems to be the best explanation of an obscure expression. Elkanah marked his love for Hannah by giving her a double portion. Similarly Joseph distinguished Benjamin by sending him a fivefold portion (Gen 43:34). But the Sept. points to a different reading which would give the following sense: “And to Hannah he gave a single portion, because she had no child: nevertheless Elkanah loved Hannah most: but the Lord had shut up her womb.”
had shut up her womb ] Hannah’s faith might have been strengthened by the recollection that Sarah (Gen 16:1), Rachel (Gen 30:1), Manoah’s wife (Jdg 13:2), all had to bear the reproach of childlessness for a time, and all eventually bore illustrious sons.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A worthy portion – Probably as in the margin. Naturally she would have had a single portion of the sacrifice (compare 1Sa 9:23), but because of his love to her he gave her a double portion, enough for two people (compare Gen 43:34).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. Unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion] The Hebrew here is very obscure, yitten manah achath appayim; he gave her one portion of two faces; which the Syriac renders, he gave her one DOUBLE PART; and the Chaldee, he gave her one CHOSEN part; the Arabic is nearly the same; the Vulgate Annae autem dedit unam partem tristis, but to Anna he being sorrowful gave one part. As the shew-bread that was presented to the Lord was called lechem panim, the bread of faces, because it was placed before the face or appearances of the Lord; probably this was called manah appayim, because it was the portion that belonged to, or was placed before, the person who had offered the sacrifice. On this ground it might be said that Elkanah gave Hannah his own portion or a part of that which was placed before himself. Whatever it was, it was intended as a proof of his especial love to her; for, it is added, he loved Hannah.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
A worthy portion, or, an honourable or select part, such as the master of the feast usually gave to the person most respected or beloved. See Gen 43:34; 1Sa 9:23,24.
He loved Hannah, with a singular and eminent love. Compare Gen 29:30.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
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” h; which Jerom interprets, which might be received with a cheerful countenance, it was so good and excellent in its kind; others interpret it that he gave it with a sorrowful i and displeased countenance, because of the reason following, that she had no children; but Ben Gersom understands it of a part or portion of meat that had two faces or appearances; that he gave her one of the pieces, one part of which was very fat, and the other had no fat on it, so that she might choose what she liked best:
for he loved Hannah; loved her best, and therefore did everything to please her, and make her comfortable under her affliction for want of children, and to express his tender affection for her:
but the Lord had shut up her womb; restrained her from conception, and bearing children; see Ge 20:18 or “though the Lord had shut up her womb” k; this did not abate his love to her.
h “unam portionem duarum facicrum”, Sanctius Belgae. i Sic Stockins, p. 79. k “quanquam Jehovah”, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) A worthy portion.Literally, one portion for two persons: i.e., a double portion. It was an expression of his deep love for her. As Von Gerlach puts it, Thou art as dear to me as if thou hadst borne me a child. Some scholars would translate the difficult Hebrew expression here by, But to Hannah he gave a portion of anger or sadness, thus intensifying the natural sorrow of Hannah by representing her husband as unkind. The Vulgate, Luther, and Abarbanel favour this singular interpretation; but the one adopted by the English Version, and explained above, is in all respects grammatically and exegetically to be preferred.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. A worthy portion Margin, a double portion. Hebrews, , a portion one of two faces. It is difficult to decide the precise meaning. The Vulgate renders: But he, being sorrowful, gave to Hannah one portion; but though sometimes has the sense of anger, it never means sorrow, and the context shows that Hannah was the sorrowful one, not Elkanah. Some have thought that Hannah’s portion was called a portion of faces because of some resemblance to the show-bread, which was called bread of presence, ( 😉 and Clarke suggests that Elkanah gave Hannah his own portion, which might be called a portion of presence from its having been placed before himself as the person who had offered the sacrifice. But such resemblance is far-fetched and inappropriate here. Better, then, to take the word , two faces, by synecdoche, for two persons a portion one of two persons, that is, two persons’ portion, enough for two. Accordingly, the marginal reading cited above conveys the true sense. He set before Hannah a portion as large as was set before the faces of two other persons.
For he loved Hannah Had a peculiar affection for her such as he had not for Peninnah, and he showed it as Joseph showed his special affection for Benjamin by sending him a mess five times as great as he set before the other brothers. Gen 43:34.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 1:5. But the Lord, &c. For he loved Hannah, though the Lord, &c. Waterland.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Sa 1:5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
Ver. 5. 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.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
worthy = double.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a worthy portion: or, a double portion, The Hebrew phrase, manah achath appayim, is correctly rendered by Gesenius, ein Stud fur zwei personen, doppelle Portion, “a portion for two persons, a double portion;” for aph in Hebrew, and in Greek, which literally mean a face, are used for a person. Gen 43:34, Gen 45:22
he loved: Gen 29:30, Gen 29:31, Deu 21:15
shut up: Gen 20:18, Gen 30:2
Reciprocal: Gen 30:23 – General 1Sa 9:23 – Bring Job 3:10 – it shut not Luk 1:7 – they had
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 1:5-6. Unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion Or, a double portion; in token of his extraordinary respect and kindness to her. For he loved Hannah: but the Lord Or, though the Lord, had shut her womb Her barrenness did not cause him to love her less, but rather more; because he would comfort her under her affliction. To abate our just love to any relations for the sake of any infirmity which they cannot help, is to add affliction to the afflicted. Her adversary also provoked her sore Peninnah, through envy or jealousy, set herself against her, though so nearly related to her, and strove to vex her by upbraiding her with her barrenness.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1:5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy {c} portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
(c) Some read, a portion with a hearty cheer.