1 Samuel 1:4
“When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions;”
What does 1 Samuel 1:4 mean?
Elkanah was making an offering at the temple, and when families did this, they'd share the meat from the sacrifice in a ceremonial meal. The detail that he gave portions to Peninnah and her children first reflects the painful family dynamics at work: Peninnah was his other wife, and she had children while Hannah (whom Elkanah loved more deeply) did not. By giving her family larger or prioritized portions, Elkanah was following cultural custom, but it also highlighted what Hannah was missing. It's a small moment that opens up the real heartache of her situation, showing how even religious celebrations could become a source of grief for someone longing for a child.