Originally posted 11/4/25
In Genesis, God creates the blueprint for marriage. It is to be between one man and one woman. Man began to distort that by taking two wives. Abraham married Sarah and Hagar. Jacob married Rachel and Leah. Our story today is about the wives of Elkanah.
Our story takes place in 1 Samuel 1:1-7.
1 Samuel 1:1-7 “There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 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. Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.”
Two wives and one husband, what could possibly go wrong? When we read this passage, we often focus on Hannah, the women Elkanah loved. We can assume that Hannah probably way his first wife. He may have married Peninnah when Hannah way unable to have children. Honestly, scripture does not tell us.
Elkanah provided for each woman. She distributed portions of food to each woman. However, he gave Hannah a double portion because he loved her. We can learn as much from what/is written as well as what is not written. If Elkanah loved Hannah it is probably safe to assume that he did not love Peninniah. In verse six, scripture tell us that they were rivals. It must have been pretty evident that he did not love Peninnah.
Culturally, it was important for women to bear children. Their worth was attributed to bearing children, particularly sons. Peninnah was a blessed women. She continued to bear children; her husband obeyed God; her husband provided for her and her children. From the out side looking in, Peninnah his it all.
Why was Peninnah not happy? She was not loved. Elkanah did everything he was supposed to do except love her. Peninnah is like all of us, she just wanted to be loved. Yet she was not. It just have been heartbreaking for her to know that her husband did not love her.
These two women were rivals. Peninnah, much like other wives, continued to taunt Hannah with the fact that she was able to bear children. I would guess this made her more desirable to Peninnah. Elkanah certainly had to be aware of the discord between the two women. He most likely favored Hannah in and conflict.
We often react poorly when we do not receive the love we think we deserve. She became a bitter woman and behaved poorly. We can learn lessons from both of these women. Hannah prayed and trusted God. Peninnah did not appear to do that. Had she prayed, perhaps she would have been loved or even had a different focus. How did her bitterness affect her children? She clearly was not grateful for what she already had. Even when God does not give us what we think we deserve or what we want, we should be grateful for what we have. Scripture doesn’t tell us how Peninnah’s story ended. Let’s learn from her anyway. Is there something God has given you that you have not thanked Him for? Is there someone you have not treated correctly because of an unresolved conflict or undetected bitterness or envy? Make that situation right today.
You can read Hanna’s story here.
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