6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah's womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.
6 And her adversary also provoked
6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
6 But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children.
6 And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb.
6 So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children.
27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.
27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.
27 I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for.
27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.
27 I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request.
(Read 1 Samuel 1:19-28)
Elkanah and his family had a journey before them, and a family of children to take with them, yet they would not move till they had worshipped God together. Prayer and provender do not hinder a journey. When men are in such haste to set out upon journeys, or to engage in business, that they have not time to worship God, they are likely to proceed without his presence and blessing. Hannah, though she felt a warm regard for the courts of God's house, begged to stay at home. God will have mercy, and not sacrifice. Those who are detained from public ordinances, by the nursing and tending of little children, may take comfort from this instance, and believe, that if they do that duty in a right spirit, God will graciously accept them therein. Hannah presented her child to the Lord with a grateful acknowledgment of his goodness in answer to prayer. Whatever we give to God, it is what we have first asked and received from him. All our gifts to him were first his gifts to us. The child Samuel early showed true piety. Little children should be taught to worship God when very young. Their parents should teach them in it, bring them to it, and put them on doing it as well as they can; God will graciously accept them, and will teach them to do better.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:6
Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:1-8
(Read 1 Samuel 1:1-8)
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 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.