Commentary on "Hannah: Learning to Be Someone"

LESLIE MARTIN

 

Day 3: Monday, October 11, 2010 - With Friends Like These. . .

 

Elkanah took his family every year to the tabernacle at Shiloh to offer sacrifice and worship the Lord. This was supposed to be a joyous time, the highlight of the year, “There also you and your households shall eat before the LORD your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the LORD your God has blessed you.” Deut. 12:7 NASU Elkanah gave portions to Penninah and to each of their children and a double portion to Hannah because he loved her.

Penninah used this opportunity to make life as miserable as possible for Hannah. She would provoke her on account of her barrenness to the point that Hannah would cry and refuse to eat. It wasn’t merely a loss of appetite because of her grief and sadness; Hannah refused to participate in the family’s time of worship and celebration before the Lord because it would have broken the covenant of law for her to worship while in mourning. (Deut. 26:14; Lev. 10:19) Penninah hindered Hannah’s worship by her intentional provocation. This scene was replayed year after year when Elkanah and his family would go to worship at the Tabernacle.

 

Summary

1. Elkanah took his family th Shiloh every year to offer sacrifices and to worship the Lord.
2. This time was supposed to be joyous, as decreed by God.
3. Hannah, however, was miserable—not only because she was barren, but because Penninah, the other wife, intentionally provoked her.
4. This misery marked their yearly worship every year.

 

GO TO DAY 4

 

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