1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 1:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The sorrow she experienced was not solely due to her childlessness while her rival had children, but also because this rival taunted her with disdain. Yet God, witnessing her plight, chose to delay His response: "And the Lord gave her no child," as Scripture states, "because of her affliction, and because of her complaining." What is meant by "for her affliction"? It is not that God, observing how valiantly she endured her distress, prevented her from conceiving. Rather, He witnessed her pain, her grief, and her struggles, and yet allowed her to continue in sorrow, for He had a greater plan in mind. Let us not take this lightly; there is a profound lesson in discernment for us here.

Deeply troubled by the shame of her infertility, not only due to her rival Peninnah but also from her husband, who loved her, as well as from her neighbors and relatives, Hannah suffered greatly. She devoted herself to heartfelt prayers to God, diligently observing the commandments of His law. Each morning and evening, she presented her sacred offerings, pleading for the Lord to remove this stigma and grant her the blessing of motherhood. In Hebrew culture, childbearing was seen as a manifestation of God's favor, while being childless was viewed as a reflection of His disapproval and a source of humiliation among people.

The term ‘contend’ in Latin, aemulare, encompasses three distinct interpretations. Firstly, it signifies ‘to be zealous’ or ‘to imitate,’ as illustrated by Paul: "Be zealous for the greater gifts" (1 Cor. 12:31). Additionally, we encounter the admonition, "It is good to be zealous for good things always" (Gal. 4:18). Secondly, it implies ‘to envy’ or ‘to deny out of ill will,’ invidere, even in relation to one's adversary, as the Lord declared to Saul through Samuel: "Now the Lord has torn away the kingdom of Israel from thee, and given it to thy neighbor" (1 Samuel 15:28). Furthermore, Fennana, representing the synagogue, caused Annas great distress because, being barren, she had no children; her rival, aemula, deeply troubled her, leading her to lament.