Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 1:6
And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
6. her adversary ] Peninnah. The cognate verb is used in Lev 18:18, “Thou shalt not take a wife to her sister to vex her.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 6. And her adversary] That is, Peninnah.
Provoked her sore] Was constantly striving to irritate and vex her, to make her fret – to make her discontented with her lot, because the Lord had denied her children.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Her adversary, or, her troubler, or vexer, or enemy; for so her envy or jealousy made her, though so nearly related. Compare Gen 29:30; Lev 18:18.
To make her fret, against her husband, or against God, or within herself.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. her adversary also provoked hersoreThe conduct of Peninnah was most unbecoming. But domesticbroils in the houses of polygamists are of frequent occurrence, andthe most fruitful cause of them has always been jealousy of thehusband’s superior affection, as in this case of Hannah.
1Sa1:9-18. HANNAH’SPRAYER.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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, not only because the Lord had restrained her from bearing children, but because also she that envied and emulated her sadly provoked her:
for to make her fret; and be uneasy, and murmur at and complain of her unhappy circumstances: some render it, “because she thundered” l against her; that is, Peninnah was exceeding loud and clamorous with her reproaches and scoffs, which were grievously provoking to Hannah. So said Socrates, when Xantippe first scolded at him, and then poured foul water on him: did not I say, says he, that Xantippe first thunders, and then rains m?
because the Lord had shut up her womb; it was this Peninnah upbraided her with, and at which Hannah fretted and grieved.
l “propterea quod intonabat contra eam”, Piscator. m Laert. in Vit. Socrat. p. 112.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) And her adversary also provoked her sore.Jealousy, grief, anger, malice, the many bitter fruits of this way of living, so different to Gods original appointment, here show themselves. The one sin of polygamy poisons the whole home life of the family, in all other respects apparently a quiet, Godfearing, orderly household.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. Her adversary Peninnah, who was jealous of Hannah because of the peculiar favours shown her.
Provoked her sore, to make her fret Tantalized her by parading sons and daughters before her eyes, and reminding her that she was barren.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 1:6. Her adversary also provoked her Houbigant renders this very well, her rival also provoked her even to wrath on this very account, because the Lord had shut up her womb. The word rendered adversary, or rival, signifies a person that distresses or afflicts. See Parkhurst on .
REFLECTIONS.This chapter opens,
1. With an account of Samuel’s parentage and birthplace. His father was of the family of Koraha good branch from a bad stock.
2. He was the son of pious parents. His father Elkanah, signifying God hath possessed, a Levite, went up annually with his family to sacrifice at Shiloh unto the Lord of Sabaoth, or hosts, (which title of God here first occurs,) a rare instance of adherence to God when Israel in general had apostatized from him. Note; (1.) It is among the greater blessings, to be the child of pious parents. (2.) The more others turn away from God, the closer should we cleave to him.
3. Notice is taken of Elkanah’s two wives; one ought to have sufficed him. Probably, as he had no children by the first, he was tempted to take a second; but though he obtained his wish on one hand, his comfort was greatly embittered on the other, by the contests and vexations occasioned between Hannah and Peninnah. Hannah signifies beautiful, and she had engaged Elkanah’s best affections; Peninnah, a diamond; she enriched his family with children, but was rough and sharp in her temper. She could not bear Elkanah’s partiality to her rival, and therefore took every occasion to provoke and exasperate her. Note; (1.) When we step out of the way of God’s providence to gather worldly comforts, we shall find the sweet we expected embittered with gall. (2.) Jealous love cannot bear a rival; let it admonish us to keep our hearts single for God.
4. The quarrel breaks out between the two wives, even before the Lord in Shiloh, for what place is there so sacred as to exclude the intrusion of human corruption! Peninnah, envious of Hannah’s interest in her husband, upbraids her with her barrenness, seeking maliciously to destroy her comfort, if she cannot engage his regard. And this she did at each returning feast, when the appearance of Elkanah’s partial love to Hannah roused her jealousy and resentment. Hannah, unable to bear the aggravating taunts, and afflicted beyond measure under her barrenness, too easily gratified her rival’s malice, by the sensibility she expressed at her reproaches. Melancholy and discontented, she would not eat, and did nothing but weep, instead of rejoicing before the Lord, and counting herself happy in the blessing of her husband’s affection. Note; (1.) A malicious spirit, like the devil, takes delight in the miseries that others suffer by its means. (2.) Those who are of a fretful temper lay themselves open to continual uneasiness. (3.) Most of our miseries we make ourselves by our unthankfulness: did we weigh our mercies, we should be ashamed to complain.
5. Elkanah by every kind endearment seeks to soothe the sorrows of her heart. His love to her was not at all affected by her barrenness. He carves the nicest part of the festal board to testify his fond regard, and with soft tenderness gently chides the uneasiness that he with grief beheld. Why weepest thou? Why eatest thou not these offerings of peace with a grateful heart to the God of thy mercies? Is not my love better to thee than ten sons? Note; (1.) Love hides all blemishes, and sees no faults. (2.) As barrenness is from God, it ill becomes us to quarrel with him; and it were cruel in a husband to add affliction to the afflicted. (3.) We cannot see those whom we love weeping, without feeling for them the tenderest distress, and eagerly longing to relieve them. (4.) Many of our sorrows are of our own making. It were well if we asked ourselves often, Why weepest thou? (5.) That sorrow is to be condemned as sinful, which unfits us for, or diverts us from, the worship of God. (6.) Religion and reason will afford us a cure for all our distresses: if we possess the one, and exercise the other aright, we shall soon dry up our tears.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(6) And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
Observe how Satan takes occasion to harrass God’s afflicted ones. How he doth misconstrue the Lord’s dealings, and tempt poor exercised souls to fret, even though the affliction is of the Lord. That the Lord had shut up the womb of Hannah, should have been enough to have reconciled her to the dispensation. But Reader, where shall you and I look for an example of one, who when the Lord appoints a trial, can readily and cheerfully adopt this language, I know O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Psa 119:75 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 1:6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
Ver. 6. And her adversary also provoked her sore. ] Aemula eius: num ita vocantur uxores digamorum Lev 18:18 Peninnah, her corival, an insolent spiteful creature, vexatious, as the Hebrew word signifieth, and violent. a
For to make her fret.
a Angens.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
adversary: Lev 18:18, Job 6:14
provoked her: Heb. angered her
Reciprocal: Gen 16:4 – her mistress Gen 20:18 – General Gen 30:23 – General Jdg 11:37 – bewail 1Sa 2:5 – waxed feeble 1Sa 3:3 – the temple 2Sa 6:23 – Michal Job 17:2 – provocation Job 19:5 – plead Job 24:21 – evil Psa 37:1 – Fret Isa 4:1 – reproach Luk 1:25 – to take