Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 2:5
[They that were] full have hired out themselves for bread; and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
5. ceased ] i.e. are at rest: need toil no more: or, cease to be hungry.
seven ] A perfect family. Cp. Rth 4:15.
is waxed feeble ] By the loss of her children. Cp. Jer 15:9.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
See an instance in 1Sa 2:36. See, too, in Eze 13:19, another example of hire paid in bread.
Ceased – i. e. were at rest, did no work. The general sense is expressed by the translation of the Latin Version, they were filled.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. They that were full] All the things mentioned in these verses frequently happen in the course of the Divine providence; and indeed it is the particular providence of God that Hannah seems more especially to celebrate through the whole of this simple yet sublime ode.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Have hired themselves out for bread, through extreme necessity, into which they are fallen from their greatest plenty. It is the same thing which is expressed both in divers metaphors in the foregoing and following verses, and properly in the latter branch of this verse.
Ceased, i.e. ceased to be such, to wit, hungry; the hungry failed; there was none of them hungry or indigent.
Seven, i.e. many, as seven is oft used. She speaks in the prophetic style, the past time for the future; for though she had actually born but one, yet she had a confident persuasion that she should have more, which was grounded either upon some particular assurance from God, or rather upon the prayer or prediction of Eli; which, though it be mentioned after this song, 1Sa 2:20, yet in all probability was spoken before it, even upon the parents presentation of the child to Eli, 1Sa 1:25, it not being likely that she would sing this song in Elis presence, or before he had given his answer to her speech delivered 1Sa 1:26-28, there being nothing more frequent than such transpositions in Scripture. And the experience she had of the strange and speedy accomplishment of his former prophecy made her confidently expect the same issue from the latter.
She that hath many children, i.e. Peninnah.
Is waxed feeble; either because she was now past child-bearing, and impotent for procreation; or because divers of her children, which were her strength and her glory, were dead, as the Hebrew doctors relate.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. they that were hungry ceasedthatis, to hunger.
the barren hath bornseventhat is, many children.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They that are full have hired out themselves for bread,…. Such as have been full of the good things of this life have been stripped of all, and reduced to such circumstances as to be obliged to hire themselves out to persons to labour under them for their bread. Hannah has either respect to some instances she had known, or prophesies of what would be hereafter, and was fulfilled in the Israelites, when in the hands of the Egyptians and Assyrians, Lam 4:6 and may be exemplified in the case of the prodigal son, Lu 15:13 and is true of such who have larger gifts, but not grace, and which they exercise for lucre sake, and are mere hirelings; and of self-righteous persons who are full of themselves, of their goodness and righteousness, purity, and power; are quite mercenary do all they do for gain, work for life, and labour for perishing meat, and for that which is not bread, and is unsatisfying:
and they that were hungry ceased; that is, from being hungry, being filled with good things, having a large and sufficient supply to satisfy their craving desires, Lu 1:53. Such are the changes sometimes in Providence, that those who have lived in great plenty and fulness are obliged to work for their bread; and, on the other hand, such as have been starving, and in furnishing circumstances, have been brought into very plentiful and affluent ones. The “hungry”, in a spiritual sense, are such who hunger an thirst after Christ, and his righteousness, for justification before God; after him and his blood for the remission of their sins, and the cleansing of their souls; after him, and salvation by him, in whom alone it is to be had; after a view of interest in him, and a greater degree of knowledge of him; and after more communion with him in his word and ordinances; and after the enjoyment of them for that purpose: now when they enjoy what they are craving after, they cease to hire out themselves for bread, as others do; they do not cease from working, but from dependence on their works, on which they cannot feed and live, having found and got other and better bread to feed upon; they cease to be hungry, for they are filled and satisfied with the love of God, with the righteousness of Christ, with the blessings of grace, and salvation by him, with the goodness of his house, and with all the fulness of God and Christ; and so having what satisfies them, they desire no other food, shall have no more want, or be in a starving condition any more, especially this will be the case hereafter:
so that the barren hath born seven; meaning herself, who had born many, even five children besides Samuel, 1Sa 2:20 which either was the case before this song was delivered; or rather what she believed would be the case after Eli had blessed her, and prayed for the children by her; seven being a number put for many, Pr 24:16
and she that hath many children is waxed feeble; and incapable of bearing more; and stripped of what she had; this may be understood of Peninnah, concerning whom the Jews have this tradition o, which Jarchi relates, that when Hannah bore one child, Peninnah buried two; and whereas Hannah had five, Peninnah lost all her ten children. This may be applied to the case of the Gentile and Jewish churches, under the Gospel dispensation, when more were the children of the desolate or barren, the Gentiles, than of the married wife, the Jews, Isa 54:1.
o Vid. Hieron, Trad. Heb. in. lib. Reg. fol. 34. K.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) They that were full.Another image to illustrate the vicissitudes of human affairs is sketched, one very familiar to the dwellers among the cornfields and vineyards of Canaan.
The barren hath born seven.Here the thought of the inspired singer reverts to herself, and the imagery is drawn from the story of her own life. Seven children are mentioned as the full number of the Divine blessing in children (see Rth. 4:15; Jer. 15:9). There is a curious Jewish legend which relates how for each boy child that was born to Hannah, two of Peninnahs died.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Full ones Those who are usually sated with an abundance of food. With bread are hired, or, hire themselves out for bread. They are glad if, by toil even, they can get but their daily food.
Hungry ones cease From their usual toils. They who were accustomed to labour hard for bread to satisfy their hunger now keep holiday; they cease to be what they were before. By this metaphorical language, as well as by the positive statements immediately following, does Hannah still further contrast the changed circumstances of herself and her rival.
Seven That is, seven children. The number of fulness. Compare Rth 4:15. Up to this point the prophetess seems to have had her rival particularly in view; but throughout the rest of this sacred song she rises above things peculiar to herself alone, and celebrates the power and glory of God’s universal providence.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 2:5. And they that were hungry, ceased Houbigant renders this, they that were oppressed with famine, shall no longer be so; whilst the barren shall bring forth seven, and she who had many children shall be deprived of strength. All the expressions in this and the other verses are designed to humble the pride of man, and to set forth the greatness, wisdom, and uncontrollable power of God.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Sa 2:5 [They that were] full have hired out themselves for bread; and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
Ver. 5. And they that were hungry ceased. ] Nimirum famelici esse, to be still hungry; they were “filled with good things,” as Luk 1:53 .
Is waxed feeble.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
children = sons.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
full: Psa 34:10, Luk 1:53, Luk 16:25
the barren: 1Sa 1:20, Psa 113:9
waxed feeble: 1Sa 1:6, Isa 54:1, Jer 15:9, Gal 4:27
Reciprocal: Gen 30:2 – Am I Gen 33:3 – seven times Lev 26:18 – seven times Job 18:12 – hungerbitten Job 27:14 – his offspring Psa 68:6 – God Psa 107:11 – contemned Psa 107:39 – they are Ecc 3:2 – time to be born Luk 6:25 – full
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 2:5. Have hired themselves out for bread They that formerly lived in affluence have been so reduced as to be obliged to labour hard for daily bread. They that were hungry ceased That is, ceased to suffer hunger, or to complain of it. This vicissitude of human affairs, especially the sudden turns which often take place, from a great height of prosperity to a very low condition, and the contrary, are very wonderful, and ought seriously to be pondered; that no man may be self-confident and proud, nor any one be dejected and desponding. So that the barren hath born seven That is, many children. She alludes to the great change God had made in her own condition. For though she had actually born but one, yet it is probable she had a confident persuasion that she should have more, grounded either upon some particular assurance from God, or, rather, upon the prayer or prediction of Eli. She that hath many children, &c. Those that have been fruitful grow barren when God pleaseth.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2:5 [They that were] full have hired out themselves for {e} bread; and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
(e) They sell their labours for necessary food.