1 Samuel 2:5

1Sa 2:5 [They that were] full have hired out themselves for bread; and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

Ver. 5. And they that were hungry ceased.] Nimirum famelici esse, to be still hungry; they were "filled with good things," as Luk 1:53.

Is waxed feeble.] Weak for prolification; or having luctuosam faecunditatem, as Jerome saith of Laeta, who had born many children, but with this she had buried them.

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 2:5. Have hired themselves out for bread — They that formerly lived in affluence have been so reduced as to be obliged to labour hard for daily bread. They that were hungry ceased — That is, ceased to suffer hunger, or to complain of it. This vicissitude of human affairs, especially the sudden turns which often take place, from a great height of prosperity to a very low condition, and the contrary, are very wonderful, and ought seriously to be pondered; that no man may be self-confident and proud, nor any one be dejected and desponding. So that the barren hath born seven — That is, many children. She alludes to the great change God had made in her own condition. For though she had actually born but one, yet it is probable she had a confident persuasion that she should have more, grounded either upon some particular assurance from God, or, rather, upon the prayer or prediction of Eli. She that hath many children, &c. — Those that have been fruitful grow barren when God pleaseth.

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

2:5 those who were starving are now full: Cp. 1:7, 18. • The phrase seven children poetically means that the childless woman would be blessed with a house full of children (cp. 2:21).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Or, many.

They sell their labors for necessary food.

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

they that were hungry ceased--that is, to hunger.

the barren hath born seven--that is, many children.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 5. They that were full] All the things mentioned in these verses frequently happen in the course of the Divine providence; and indeed it is the particular providence of God that Hannah seems more especially to celebrate through the whole of this simple yet sublime ode.

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

(5) They that were full.—Another image to illustrate the vicissitudes of human affairs is sketched, one very familiar to the dwellers among the cornfields and vineyards of Canaan.

The barren hath born seven.—Here the thought of the inspired singer reverts to herself, and the imagery is drawn from the story of her own life. Seven children are mentioned as the full number of the Divine blessing in children (see Rth_4:15; Jer_15:9). There is a curious Jewish legend which relates how for each boy child that was born to Hannah, two of Peninnah’s died.

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

5. ceased] i.e. are at rest: need toil no more: or, cease to be hungry.

seven] A perfect family. Cp. Rth_4:15.

is waxed feeble] By the loss of her children. Cp. Jer_15:9.

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.

They that are full have hired out themselves for bread,.... Such as have been full of the good things of this life have been stripped of all, and reduced to such circumstances as to be obliged to hire themselves out to persons to labour under them for their bread. Hannah has either respect to some instances she had known, or prophesies of what would be hereafter, and was fulfilled in the Israelites, when in the hands of the Egyptians and Assyrians, Lam 4:6 and may be exemplified in the case of the prodigal son, Luk 15:13 and is true of such who have larger gifts, but not grace, and which they exercise for lucre sake, and are mere hirelings; and of self-righteous persons who are full of themselves, of their goodness and righteousness, purity, and power; are quite mercenary do all they do for gain, work for life, and labour for perishing meat, and for that which is not bread, and is unsatisfying:

and they that were hungry ceased; that is, from being hungry, being filled with good things, having a large and sufficient supply to satisfy their craving desires, Luk 1:53. Such are the changes sometimes in Providence, that those who have lived in great plenty and fulness are obliged to work for their bread; and, on the other hand, such as have been starving, and in furnishing circumstances, have been brought into very plentiful and affluent ones. The "hungry", in a spiritual sense, are such who hunger an thirst after Christ, and his righteousness, for justification before God; after him and his blood for the remission of their sins, and the cleansing of their souls; after him, and salvation by him, in whom alone it is to be had; after a view of interest in him, and a greater degree of knowledge of him; and after more communion with him in his word and ordinances; and after the enjoyment of them for that purpose: now when they enjoy what they are craving after, they cease to hire out themselves for bread, as others do; they do not cease from working, but from dependence on their works, on which they cannot feed and live, having found and got other and better bread to feed upon; they cease to be hungry, for they are filled and satisfied with the love of God, with the righteousness of Christ, with the blessings of grace, and salvation by him, with the goodness of his house, and with all the fulness of God and Christ; and so having what satisfies them, they desire no other food, shall have no more want, or be in a starving condition any more, especially this will be the case hereafter:

so that the barren hath born seven; meaning herself, who had born many, even five children besides Samuel, Sa1 2:20 which either was the case before this song was delivered; or rather what she believed would be the case after Eli had blessed her, and prayed for the children by her; seven being a number put for many, Pro 24:16.

and she that hath many children is waxed feeble; and incapable of bearing more; and stripped of what she had; this may be understood of Peninnah, concerning whom the Jews have this tradition (o), which Jarchi relates, that when Hannah bore one child, Peninnah buried two; and whereas Hannah had five, Peninnah lost all her ten children. This may be applied to the case of the Gentile and Jewish churches, under the Gospel dispensation, when more were the children of the desolate or barren, the Gentiles, than of the married wife, the Jews, Isa 54:1.

(o) Vid. Hieron, Trad. Heb. in. lib. Reg. fol. 34. K.

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

See an instance in 1Sa 2:36. See, too, in Eze 13:19, another example of hire paid in bread.

Ceased - i. e. were at rest, did no work. The general sense is expressed by the translation of the Latin Version, “they were filled.”

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

Many. Hebrew, "seven," which is often used in the same sense. Anna had never more than six children; (Calmet) whereas Phenenna had perhaps ten, chap. i. 8., and iii. 21. (Haydock) --- The Rabbins pretend that she lost one every time that Anna brought forth. But the text says nothing of the kind. It only insinuates at most, that she had no more. This admirably represents the state of the Synagogue, compared to the Christian Church. (St. Augustine, sup.) (Calmet; Worthington) --- The blessed Virgin conveys the same idea in other words, Luke i. (Menochius)

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).

Have hired themselves out for bread, through extreme necessity, into which they are fallen from their greatest plenty. It is the same thing which is expressed both in divers metaphors in the foregoing and following verses, and properly in the latter branch of this verse.

Ceased, i.e. ceased to be such, to wit, hungry; the hungry failed; there was none of them hungry or indigent.

Seven, i.e. many, as seven is oft used. She speaks in the prophetic style, the past time for the future; for though she had actually born but one, yet she had a confident persuasion that she should have more, which was grounded either upon some particular assurance from God, or rather upon the prayer or prediction of Eli; which, though it be mentioned after this song, 1Sa 2:20, yet in all probability was spoken before it, even upon the parents’ presentation of the child to Eli, 1Sa 1:25, it not being likely that she would sing this song in Eli’s presence, or before he had given his answer to her speech delivered 1Sa 1:26-28, there being nothing more frequent than such transpositions in Scripture. And the experience she had of the strange and speedy accomplishment of his former prophecy made her confidently expect the same issue from the latter.

She that hath many children, i.e. Peninnah.

Is waxed feeble; either because she was now past child-bearing, and impotent for procreation; or because divers of her children, which were her strength and her glory, were dead, as the Hebrew doctors relate.

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

5. Full ones — Those who are usually sated with an abundance of food. With bread are hired, or, hire themselves out for bread. They are glad if, by toil even, they can get but their daily food.

Hungry ones cease — From their usual toils. They who were accustomed to labour hard for bread to satisfy their hunger now keep holiday; they cease to be what they were before. By this metaphorical language, as well as by the positive statements immediately following, does Hannah still further contrast the changed circumstances of herself and her rival.

Seven — That is, seven children. The number of fulness. Compare Rth_4:15. Up to this point the prophetess seems to have had her rival particularly in view; but throughout the rest of this sacred song she rises above things peculiar to herself alone, and celebrates the power and glory of God’s universal providence.

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

Hired themselves out for bread - It is the same thing which is expressed both in divers metaphors in the foregoing, and following verses. Ceased - That is, ceased to be hungry. Seven - That is, many, as seven is often used. She speaks in the prophetick style, the past time, for the future; for though she had actually born but one, yet she had a confident persuasion that she should have more, which was grounded either upon some particular assurance from God; or rather upon the prayer or prediction of Eli. She - That is, Peninnah. Feeble - Either because she was now past child-bearing: or, because divers of her children, which were her strength and her glory, were dead, as the Hebrew doctors relate.

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

Connecting Statement:

Hannah continues to recite a song to Yahweh. (See: Parallelism)

gives birth to seven

"gives birth to seven children"

languishes

becomes weak and sad and lonely

translationWords

bread

barren

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

The sated have hired themselves out for bread. [The sated] who do not need to hire themselves out for any work, He starves them and they must hire themselves out for bread,

And the hungry Who would toil and weary themselves for food.

Have ceased. From their toil.

Until the barren has born seven and she with many children…. While the barren woman has born seven, she that had many children has been bereaved and buries her children. Chana bore seven as it is stated, "For Adonoy remembered Chana and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters." When Chana bore one, Penina buried two. Penina had ten children as it is stated, "Am I not better to you than [the] ten sons of Penina?" When Chana bore four, Penina buried eight. When she [Chana] conceived and bore a fifth child, Penina prostrated herself at her feet and begged for mercy and they lived and were therefore considered as hers. This is R. Nechemya's opinion. R. Yehudah however says that grandchildren are considered as children. Some are of the opinion that the numerical value of שִׁבְעָה(377) is equivalent to that of שְׁמוּאֵל(377).

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.

The sated must hire out for bread: Those who were sated at the beginning became hungry, to the point that they must hire themselves out to work for the sake of bread. And those who were hungry at the beginning and hired themselves out, stopped hiring themselves out and exerting themselves. For they became sated through the will of the Creator, may He be blessed, until the will of the Creator came to this. And the providence is to the point that someone who was barren like me gave birth to seven; and one who was the mother of many like my rival, Peninah, is now forlorn [and] cut off - meaning to say that her sons died. And that which she said, "seven," is not precise, but rather this is a [general] amount. As this is the way of Scripture - when it wants to say, many, it says, seven, as in (Jeremiah 15:9), "Forlorn is the one who gave birth to seven"; (Leviticus 26:21) "seven times like your sins"; (Proverbs 24:16) "seven times does a righteous one fall and arise." As the world is with seven - seven planets, seven days of the week. And Channah said this about herself, as she had sons and daughters - as it is written (I Samuel 2:22), "For the Lord remembered Channah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters."

And the mother of many: She said this about Peninah. They said that when Channah bore [a child], two of Peninah's children would die. And in the homiletical teachings: "While the barren woman bears seven" - Shmuel is the numerical equivalent (gematria) of the number seven (sheva, when it is spelled out). And it is likely to say that Channah said this about the Community of Israel, and all of the song is also about the Community of Israel. And that is why it began with the wording (I Samuel 2:1), "And Channah prayed." As the expression, prayer usually relates to future matters and [only] rarely to what has passed. And she said this with the spirit of prophecy and that is why it was placed in Scripture among the Prophets. For it is all a future prophecy about the troubles of Israel and their salvations, like the translator, Yonatan ben Uzziel, translated. And he said well, and it fits for those that have understanding. But our opinion about this verse and about this whole song is that Channah said that all the matters of the world and the needs of people are dependent on the hands of the Creator, may He blessed, and on His will; and that He supervises the generalities and the specifics and does with them according to His will. And even if it appears to people that He will do something that is not like their will and their desire, they should pray to Him with all their soul, like I did myself. And He will grant them their request and their desire in anything that is their desire and their need. For His providence is upon the earthly ones just like it is on the celestial ones, as she said at the end (II Samuel 2:8), "For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's; He has set the world upon them." And she said that if Israel will be in distress and in exile under the idolaters, who are compared to a woman that has given birth to many children and she lords it over them and is happy and glorifies herself over them at all times when the woman with many children is victorious to distress and cause evil to the barren woman - and that is the Community of Israel, who is compared to the barren woman, since she gives birth to few children, as it appears in Isaiah (54:1), "Rejoice, barren one who has not given birth," and there are many [examples] like this, even though she has a few children - there will still be a time that this barren one will also be the mother of many. [This will be] at the time that they return to God with all their hearts and pray to Him in their exile and their distress. And then the one that was the mother of many will be forlorn, the explantion of which is cut off and ceasing to give birth and to be successful. And those whom she bore will be cut off and lost. And this teaches about the coming of our Messiah, and the matter of the salvation of Israel when we return to our land, speedily in our days; and about the death of those who convene with Gog and Magog, since there will be a big ruckus with them. But the good among Israel will be saved. And about this did she say (II Samuel 2:9), "He guards the steps of His faithful." And all the content follows in this way; and from here, I have opened the way for you and [now] you can understand [it] on your own.

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.