1 Samuel 1:5

1Sa 1:5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

Ver. 5. But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion.] Heb., A gift of the face; partem spectabilem; a choice dainty piece, such as a man might well set before his best guests, as looking better than any of the rest.

For he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.] For an allay to his love: God is wise and jealous. Piscator rendereth it, "He loved Hannah, although the Lord had shut up her womb": that was no stop to his love.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Sa 1:5-6. Unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion — Or, a double portion; in token of his extraordinary respect and kindness to her. For he loved Hannah: but the Lord — Or, though the Lord, had shut her womb — Her barrenness did not cause him to love her less, but rather more; because he would comfort her under her affliction. To abate our just love to any relations for the sake of any infirmity which they cannot help, is to add affliction to the afflicted. Her adversary also provoked her sore — Peninnah, through envy or jealousy, set herself against her, though so nearly related to her, and strove to vex her by upbraiding her with her barrenness.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Some read, a portion with an hearty cheer.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 5. Unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion] The Hebrew here is very obscure, יתן מנה אחת אפים yitten manah achath appayim; he gave her one portion of two faces; which the Syriac renders, he gave her one DOUBLE PART; and the Chaldee, he gave her one CHOSEN part; the Arabic is nearly the same; the Vulgate Annae autem dedit unam partem tristis, but to Anna he being sorrowful gave one part. As the shew-bread that was presented to the Lord was called לחם פנים lechem panim, the bread of faces, because it was placed before the face or appearances of the Lord; probably this was called מנה אפים manah appayim, because it was the portion that belonged to, or was placed before, the person who had offered the sacrifice. On this ground it might be said that Elkanah gave Hannah his own portion or a part of that which was placed before himself. Whatever it was, it was intended as a proof of his especial love to her; for, it is added, he loved Hannah.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(5) A worthy portion.—Literally, one portion for two persons: i.e., a double portion. It was an expression of his deep love for her. As Von Gerlach puts it, “Thou art as dear to me as if thou hadst borne me a child.” Some scholars would translate the difficult Hebrew expression here by, “But to Hannah he gave a portion of anger or sadness,” thus intensifying the natural sorrow of Hannah by representing her husband as unkind. The Vulgate, Luther, and Abarbanel favour this singular interpretation; but the one adopted by the English Version, and explained above, is in all respects grammatically and exegetically to be preferred.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

5. a worthy portion] Lit., one portion for two persons: a double portion. If the text is sound, this seems to be the best explanation of an obscure expression. Elkanah marked his love for Hannah by giving her a double portion. Similarly Joseph distinguished Benjamin by sending him a fivefold portion (Gen_43:34). But the Sept. points to a different reading which would give the following sense: “And to Hannah he gave a single portion, because she had no child: nevertheless Elkanah loved Hannah most: but the Lord had shut up her womb.”

had shut up her womb] Hannah’s faith might have been strengthened by the recollection that Sarah (Gen_16:1), Rachel (Gen_30:1), Manoah’s wife (Jdg_13:2), all had to bear the reproach of childlessness for a time, and all eventually bore illustrious sons.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion,.... Or, one choice portion, as the Targum; the best part or portion in the peace offering, of what the priest had not; he had the breast and the right shoulder, the next best piece he gave to Hannah; and the word being of the dual number, some render it a double portion; others, "one part of two faces" (h); which Jerom interprets, which might be received with a cheerful countenance, it was so good and excellent in its kind; others interpret it that he gave it with a sorrowful (i) and displeased countenance, because of the reason following, that she had no children; but Ben Gersom understands it of a part or portion of meat that had two faces or appearances; that he gave her one of the pieces, one part of which was very fat, and the other had no fat on it, so that she might choose what she liked best:

for he loved Hannah; loved her best, and therefore did everything to please her, and make her comfortable under her affliction for want of children, and to express his tender affection for her:

but the Lord had shut up her womb; restrained her from conception, and bearing children; see Gen 20:18 or "though the Lord had shut up her womb" (k); this did not abate his love to her.

(h) "unam portionem duarum facicrum", Sanctius Belgae. (i) Sic Stockins, p. 79. (k) "quanquam Jehovah", Piscator.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

A worthy portion - Probably as in the margin. Naturally she would have had a single portion of the sacrifice (compare 1Sa 9:23), but because of his love to her he gave her a double portion, enough for two people (compare Gen 43:34).

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

With sorrow. Hebrew apayim, "of faces, indignation, (Calmet) sorrow;" (Menochius) or that was presented before him. Chaldean and many others translate, "a chosen:" (Calmet) Protestants, "a worthy portion." (Haydock) --- The shew-bread is called, "the bread of the face," because it stood before the Lord. Joseph sent to each of his brethren, "a portion of his faces," as the Hebrew expresses it; (Genesis xliii. 33.) or of such meat as was placed upon his table. In the East, the master of a family has all set before him, and he sends to each his portion, to the place where he is sitting. (Chardin, Perse.) --- Thus Elcana sent some more excellent, or "double," part to his beloved Anna, (Calmet) grieving inwardly that she had no children, to whom he might also send. (Haydock) --- By this distinction, he wished to alleviate the sorrow of his wife. (Menochius) --- Womb. Sterility was deemed a curse, and a mark of God’s displeasure, with which women were often reproached. Hence Anna prays so earnestly that God would be mindful of her, ver. 11-19. The power of the Almighty, in giving children to the barren, is frequently mentioned, Genesis xxviii. 13., and Psalm cxii. 9. (Calmet) --- Luke i. 25., &c. (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

A worthy portion, or, an honourable or select part, such as the master of the feast usually gave to the person most respected or beloved. See Gen 43:34; 1Sa 9:23,24.

He loved Hannah, with a singular and eminent love. Compare Gen 29:30.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

5. A worthy portion — Margin, a double portion. Hebrews, מנה אחת אפים, a portion one of two faces. It is difficult to decide the precise meaning. The Vulgate renders: But he, being sorrowful, gave to Hannah one portion; but though אפים sometimes has the sense of anger, it never means sorrow, and the context shows that Hannah was the sorrowful one, not Elkanah. Some have thought that Hannah’s portion was called a portion of faces because of some resemblance to the show-bread, which was called bread of presence, (לחם פנים;) and Clarke suggests that Elkanah gave Hannah his own portion, which might be called a portion of presence from its having been placed before himself as the person who had offered the sacrifice. But such resemblance is far-fetched and inappropriate here. Better, then, to take the word אפים, two faces, by synecdoche, for two persons — a portion one of two persons, that is, two persons’ portion, enough for two. Accordingly, the marginal reading cited above conveys the true sense. He set before Hannah a portion as large as was set before the faces of two other persons.

For he loved Hannah — Had a peculiar affection for her such as he had not for Peninnah, and he showed it as Joseph showed his special affection for Benjamin by sending him a mess five times as great as he set before the other brothers. Gen_43:34.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A worthy portion. This rendering is based upon the idea that the Hebrew, which is literally "one portion of two faces," may mean "one portion enough for two persons." But for this there is no sufficient authority, and though the word is a dual, it really signifies the two sides of the face, or more exactly "the two nostrils," and so simply the countenance. The Syriac translation, "a double portion," is based upon an accidental resemblance between the words. As the term sometimes signifies anger from the swelling of the nostrils of an enraged person, the Vulgate translates, "And Elkanah was sad when he gave Hannah her portion; for" The Septuagint has a different reading, epes for apaim, and though the words look different in our writing, they are nearly identical in Hebrew. This is probably the true reading, and the translation would then be, "And to Hannah he gave one portion only (because she bad no child, while Peninnah had many portions, as each son and daughter had a share); for he loved Hannah (and did not leave her without this mark of affection), though Jehovah had shut up her womb. These portions were of course taken from those parts of the victim which formed a feast for the offerers, after Jehovah and the priests had had their dues. It is plain from this feast that Elkanah"s annual sacrifice was a peace offering, for the law of which Lev_7:11-21.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Shut up her womb - Yet Elkanah did not withdraw his love from her. To abate out just love to any relation, for the sake of any infirmity which they cannot help, is to add affliction to the afflicted.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Hannah

This is a woman's name. See how you translated this in 1 Samuel 1:2. (See: How to Translate Names)

closed her womb

"made her barren" or "prevented her from becoming pregnant"

Her rival provoked her severely

The other wife would often grieve and shame Hannah.

translationWords

love

womb

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

One choice portion. One choice portion which is fit to be accepted with a friendly countenance.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

But to Hannah he would give (lit., he will give): It is like, he gave - like (other examples of the future tense indicating the past), "Then Yehoshua will build" (Joshua 8:30); "Then Moshe will separate" (Deuteronomy 4:41).

One portion, apayim (face)": One distinguished portion to assuage her rage and her anger. And likewise, "long of face (arekh apayim)," is long to anger. And Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, "a choice portion" - meaning to say, a portion fitting to be received with a joyful face. And in the homiletical teachings: What is "face?" For the falling of the face, with a pleasant face. Face corresponding to Peninah and her children. But my master, my father, may his memory be blessed, explained apayim as anger. That is to say, he would give her only one portion in anger, because God, may He be blessed, sealed her womb, and she did not have children for him to give portions to her, like with the children of Peninah. He was angry and sad about this, since he loved Channah and desired to have children from her.

But the Lord had closed her womb: Yonatan translated it [in the Targum] as, "She was prevented from having a child before God. "

Radak on the Tanakh — English translations: “Sefaria Community Translation” (CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication)); “Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash” (CC BY 4.0); “Rabbi Mike Feuer, Jerusalem Anthology” (CC BY 4.0); and “R. David Kimhi on the first book of Psalms, Translated by R.G. Finch, London, 1919” (public domain). Text via Sefaria.