John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. And as he did so year by year , etc.] Elkanah went up every year to Shiloh, and offered sacrifices, taking his family with him, and gave to Peninnah and her children their portion, and to Hannah a double portion, or if but one yet the best: when she went up to the house of the Lord ; that is, Peninnah, along with her husband, with whom she went every year to the tabernacle at Shiloh: so she provoked her ; her rival Hannah, upbraiding her with her barrenness; to which she was stirred up by seeing her husband on these festivals take so much notice of her, and show so much love and respect for her, as always to give her the best portion. Abarbinel thinks that Peninnah and Hannah lived at two separate places, the one at Ramah and the other at Ramatha, which both together are called Ramathaim; and that they only met with and saw one another at these festivals, and then it was that the one was so very insulting and provoking to the other: therefore she wept and did not eat ; that is, Hannah wept at the insults, reproaches, and scoffs, cast at her by her antagonist; insomuch that she could not eat of the peace offerings, though her husband always gave her the best part and portion of them; but her grief took away her stomach and appetite, that she could not eat; (see Psalm 42:3).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Elkanah kept up his attendance at God's altar, notwithstanding the unhappy differences in his family. If the devotions of a family prevai not to put an end to its divisions, yet let not the divisions put 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, an very unkindly to add affliction to the afflicted. It is evidence of base disposition, to delight in grieving those who are of a sorrowfu 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. Hanna could not bear the provocation. Those who are of a fretful spirit, an are apt to lay provocations too much to heart, are enemies to themselves, and strip themselves of many comforts both of life an godliness. We ought to notice comforts, to keep us from grieving for crosses. We should look at that which is for us, as well as what is against us.
Original Hebrew וכן3651 יעשׂה6213 שׁנה8141 בשׁנה8141 מדי1767 עלתה5927 בבית1004 יהוה3068 כן3651 תכעסנה3707 ותבכה1058 ולא3808 תאכל׃398
