1 Samuel 1:4

_AND WHEN THE TIME WAS THAT ELKANAH OFFERED, HE GAVE TO PENINNAH HIS WIFE, AND TO ALL HER SONS AND HER DAUGHTERS, PORTIONS:_ When ... Elkanah offered, he gave ... portions. The offerer received back the greater hart of the peace-offerings, which he and his family or friends were accustomed to eat at a social feast before the Lord (see the note at Leviticus 3:7; Deuteronomy 12:12). It was out of these consecrated viands Elkanah gave portions to all the members of his family; but UNTO HANNAH HE GAVE A WORTHY PORTION, х_ MAANAAH_ (H4490) _ 'ACHAT_ (H259) _ 'APAAYIM_ (H639), a portion of two persons; i:e., a double portion], acc

1-8 Elkanah kept up his attendance at God's altar, notwithstanding the unhappy differences in his family. If the devotions of a family prevail not to put an end to its divisions, yet let not the divisions put a stop to the devotions. To abate our just love to any relation for the sake of any infirmity which they cannot help, and which is their affliction, is to make God's providence quarrel with his precept, and very unkindly to add affliction to the afflicted. It is evidence of a base disposition, to delight in grieving those who are of a sorrowful spirit, and in putting those out of humour who are apt to fret and be uneasy. We ought to bear one another's burdens, not add to them. Hannah could not bear the provocation. Those who are of a fretful spirit, and are apt to lay provocations too much to heart, are enemies to themselves, and strip themselves of many comforts both of life and g...

Verse 1 Samuel 1:4. _HE GAVE - PORTIONS_] The sacrifices which were made were probably _peace-offerings_, of which the _blood_ was poured out at the foot of the altar; the _fat_ was burnt on the fire; the _breast_ and _right shoulder_ were the portion of the priest, and the _rest_ belonged to him who made the offering; on it he and his family feasted, each receiving his _portion_; and to these feasts God commands them to invite the _Levite_, the _poor_, the _widow_, and the orphan, Deuteronomy 16:11....

THE EARLY LIFE OF SAMUEL. EXPOSITION THE GENEALOGY AND BIRTHPLACE OF SAMUEL (1 Samuel 1:1) 1 SAMUEL 1:1 THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN OF RAMATHAIM-ZOPHIM. Though Samuel belonged to the tribe of Levi, yet no special mention is made of the fact, because he owed his importance and rank as a judge not to his Levitical origin, but to the gift of prophecy, which was independent of the accidents of birth and station. In the First Book of Chronicles, 1 Samuel 6:1; his parentage is twice give

AND WHEN THE TIME WAS THAT ELKANAH OFFERED,.... That is, brought his offering to the priest, to offer it for him, which was at one of the three festivals. According to R. Joshua Ben Levi f, this was at the time of Pentecost; but Abarbinel thinks it was at the time of the ingathering of the fruits of the earth, which was a time of rejoicing, even the feast of tabernacles, and which is most likely: HE GAVE TO PENINNAH HIS WIFE, AND TO ALL HER SONS AND HER DAUGHTERS, PORTIONS; parts of the offering, everyone a part, or portion; by which it appears, that this was a peace offering he offered, the greater part of which belonged to the owner, and which he made a feast of for his family and friends; see Deuteronomy 12:5. Jerom g interprets these portions of garments. f Apud Kimchium in loc. g Trad. Heb. in lib. Reg. fol. 74. H....

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. SAMUEL THE PROPHET AND JUDGE 1. The Birth and Childhood of Samuel CHAPTER 1 _ 1. Elkanah and his wives (1 Samuel 1:1)_ 2. Hannah's prayer and vow (1 Samuel 1:9) 3. The prayer answered and Samuel born (1 Samuel 1:19) 4. The child weaned and presented unto the Lord (1 Samuel 1:21) The descent of Samuel opens the book. The names are of striking significance. Elkanah means “acquired of God.” He was the son of Jeroham (tenderly loved), the son of Elihu (my God is He), the son of Tohu (prostration), the son of Zuph (honeycomb). They were pious generations f

ELKANAH AND HIS RIVAL WIVES. The book opens with a domestic scene which throws light on the practical working of polygamy in ancient Israel. The husband is an Ephraimite, Elkanah of Ramah, _i.e._ the Height perhaps Rimo, twelve miles west of Shiloh. Elkanah had two wives (a very common arrangement, _cf._ Rachel and Leah) whose names were Hannah (Grace) and Peninnah (Coral or Pearl). Peninnah had children, Hannah had none. The hero of the story, Samuel, was born as an answer to prayer to a mother hitherto barren so Sarah and Isaac; Rebekah, Jacob and Esau; Rachel and Joseph. Elkanah and his family went yearly to a festival at Shiloh, probably the Vintage Festival, which was called later on the Feast of Tabernacles, a sort of Christmas away from home. What corresponded roughly to the Christmas dinner was the meal to which the sacrifice served as a somewhat elaborate grace. An ox or sheep w...

TIME. DAY. Punctuality thus emphasised....

_offered_ SACRIFICED, as in 1 Samuel 1:3. His sacrifice was a thank-offering, for it was only of the thank-offerings that the worshippers partook (Leviticus 7:11-18). _he gave_ The tenses in 1 Samuel 1:4 express _repeated_action: "HE USED TO GIVE: her adversary USED TO PROVOKE HER." _portions_ Of the victims sacrificed. Cp. 1 Samuel 9:23....

I. THE JUDGESHIP OF SAMUEL 1 Samuel 1:1 to 1 Samuel 12:25 1. The Birth and Infancy of Samuel, 1 Samuel 1:1 to 1 Samuel 2:11. _Samuel's Simple Surroundings._ 1 Samuel 1:1-8 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, 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: 2 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. 3 And this man went