1 Samuel Profiles

ELKANAH & PENINNAH

1 Samuel 1:1-28

Husbands can be insensitive for many reasons, but often they simply suffer from ignorance. Elkanah had two wives, which doubled his opportunities to seem insensitive. His wife Peninnah was able to give Elkanah many children. The other wife, Hannah, owned Elkanah’s heart but was unable to get pregnant. Peninnah, jealous that providing Elkanah with heirs didn’t turn his affections toward her, treated Hannah with disdain. Yet Elkanah seemed oblivious to the turmoil around him.

Although the events leading up to the birth of Samuel primarily involved Hannah, both Elkanah and Peninnah played significant roles. Peninnah’s competitiveness and derision drove Hannah to prayer; Elkanah’s simple love allowed Hannah to entrust their child Samuel into God’s care. Elkanah didn’t realize how much a little attention toward Peninnah could have cooled the simmering emotions in his home. Nor did he understand that his love for Hannah didn’t make up for the emptiness of her womb.

The glimpse God gives us of that tense household provides a helpful backdrop for God’s purposes, which are not thwarted by human shortcomings. He worked within the strain and stress of those relationships to bring Samuel into the world—one of the most significant figures in the Old Testament. When our relational systems seem too gnarled to be unraveled or salvaged, we need to remember that God not only displays his creativity by making things from scratch, but also by bringing order and beauty out of messes.

Strengths and accomplishments	Elkanah supported Hannah’s decision to leave Samuel in Shiloh to be raised as a priest Regular trips to Shiloh acknowledged God’s importance to the entire family
Weaknesses and mistakes	Elkanah did not understand what would have helped each of his wives Peninnah made things worse by taking out her disappointment and anger on Hannah
Lessons from their lives	Ignorance is not a good excuse for insensitivity Jealousy is not a good excuse for bad behavior God works in the middle of family messes
Vital statistics	Where: Ramah Occupation: Unknown Relatives: Elkanah and Peninnah had an unknown number of children; Elkanah and Hannah bore two daughters and four sons, including Samuel Contemporary: Eli the priest
Key verse	“Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8).

Their story is told in 1 Samuel 1—2.