1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 2:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Truly, this was not the result of mere marital union, as seen in other births, but rather the outcome of prayers, tears, and faith; thus, the prophet, born through his mother’s supplications, entered the world in a more sacred manner than others. Therefore, we may rightly proclaim of this woman, ‘They that sow with tears shall reap with joy’ (Psalms 125:5). Let men aspire to emulate her; let women seek to follow her example: she acts as a guide for both genders. Let those without children refrain from despair, and let mothers diligently nurture their offspring. May we all aspire to emulate this woman’s wisdom before conception, her faith in childbirth, and her dedication after delivery. Indeed, what could be more commendable than this woman, who patiently endured a grievous trial, refusing to relent until she lifted her sorrow and concluded her distress in an exceptional manner, without any earthly intercessor or aide? She recognized the compassion of the Lord, therefore, she approached Him directly and realized her desires. It was not human assistance, but divine grace that was necessary to alleviate her grief. There was no financial remedy to procure, nor a physical ailment to be healed by a physician. Nature was frail and required a divine intervention. Therefore, relinquishing all earthly concerns, she turned to the Master of Creation and did not cease until she implored Him to resolve her barrenness, to open her womb, and to transform her into a mother. For this reason, she is deemed blessed—not solely because she became a mother, but because she achieved this without the natural process. The former typically occurs through nature, while the latter is a remarkable accomplishment of this woman. She is blessed not only for the pains of childbirth but equally for everything that led to those pains. All of you, husbands and wives alike, recognize that nothing is more challenging for a woman than infertility; despite enjoying many joys, the anguish of this misfortune lingers in her heart. If this is so distressing in our current pursuit of greater wisdom, aspiring towards heaven and preparing for eternal life while valuing chastity, one can only imagine the extent of its anguish in a time when there was little hope or contemplation of the afterlife, when everything revolved around the immediate present, and when barrenness was considered a severe curse. The sorrow stemming from this state is indeed profound and difficult to articulate. Those who have experienced this plight, enduring with wisdom and patience, often found it unbearable, leading to discontent towards their husbands or an unbearable existence. Yet this woman experienced not only the grieving of barrenness but also the additional burden of anger towards her rival's taunts. In the same way that a skilled helmsman manages a ship caught between two conflicting storms, guiding it through tumultuous waters, this woman, beset by anger and sorrow—like opposing winds—struggled not for mere days, but for years (as it is noted that her suffering lasted ‘quite a while’), and she steadfastly bore the tumult, ensuring her thoughts did not drown in despair. Her reverence for God, akin to the helmsman at the helm, fortified her to navigate the turmoil and led her to safely deliver her precious burden to a calm destination. She carried not gold or silver, but rather a prophet and a priest; and her womb was doubly sacred, for the child conceived therein was exceptional, and because the initiation of this conception arose from heartfelt prayer and divine grace. While her burden was extraordinary and wonderful, the method of its delivery was even more miraculous; she did not offer it to mankind or merchants, but instead presented it to God, receiving a reward that only He could provide—because after He accepted her offering, He blessed her with another child, and not just one, two, or three, but an abundance: ‘as unfruitful children,’ it is recorded, “beget seven,” reflecting how her gain far surpassed her initial offering. Such is the nature of trade with God: He does not merely return the amount invested, but multiplies it generously. And not only did He grant her daughters, but He enriched her joy with sons as well, ensuring that her happiness was complete. I share this not solely to commend her, but to inspire you to aspire to the faith and fortitude demonstrated by this woman, of which you have heard only a part.

She remarked, “They who are filled with bread have perished, and those who hunger have come to the earth.” Who are considered filled with bread but the so-called mighty, namely the Israelites, to whom "the word of God was entrusted" (Rom. 3:2)? Indeed, in this nation, the offspring of the bondwoman were diminished. Although this expression is not precisely Latin, it aptly conveys their reduction in stature compared to the forebears of the lineage; for even in these very loaves, referring to the divine words previously given solely to the Israelites among all nations, they experience only the mundane. Conversely, the nations to whom the law was not imparted, after becoming acquainted with these words through the New Testament, were exceedingly thirsty and traversed the earth; they encountered not mere earthly delights, but transcendent truths.

In response to the question of why this is the case, it is stated, "Even the barren woman gives birth seven times, but the woman of many hours grows weary." The core of this prediction is evident to those who recognize that the number seven signifies the completeness of the Church in totality. This is why the Apostle John addresses seven Churches (Rev. 1:4), demonstrating that he writes to the fulfillment of one body; similarly, in the Proverbs of Solomon, this is foreshadowed, "Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars" (Proverbs 9:1). The rain from God yielded no fruit across the nations until the known fruit was born. In contrast, we observe that earthly Jerusalem, once abundant in children, now finds itself depleted. Its strength lay in the sons of the free; yet, as it possesses the letter but lacks the spirit, it has become weary after losing its vigor.