Women of the Word: Peninnah

Scripture References 

1 Samuel 1:2, 1 Samuel 1:4, 1 Samuel 1:6-7

Name Meaning

Coral

Family

Wife of Elkanah

Introduction 

Peninnah’s story is also not long and you might have skipped right over it in your readings in the Old Testament. She is only mentioned in the story of Elkanah, her husband, in the story of the birth of Samuel, who was born to Elkanah’s first wife, Hannah. Even the few times she is mentioned in 1 Samuel, we only get one short statement about her three different times. Her story is simply not relevant as a stand alone story, but we do see the impact she had on Hannah.

Lesson

There is little we know about Peninnah. She comes from an unknown family and we don’t even learn about her children – no names, no experiences, nothing. It is assumed she was a second wife because her name is listed second when the wives of Elkanah are given in 1 Samuel 1:2. We are introduced to Hannah and Peninnah and are told Hannah had no children, but Peninnah did. And in 1 Samuel 1:4 we see that Peninnah had many children because Elkanah would give her the sacrifices needed for ALL of her sons and daughters.

Unfortunately it is in this same verse that we see the favoritism Elkanah has towards his barren wife, Hannah. He loved her and gave her double the portions he gave to Peninnah and her children. As you can imagine, this was not something that sat well with Peninnah, as it wouldn’t with any woman. It bothered her and she took out her frustration on Hannah. We see in 1 Samuel 1:6-7:

“Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.”

At this point, we don’t hear about Peninnah again. We do not know what happened to her, what happened with her children, nor do we hear about any of them once more while Hannah’s story continues. She is absolutely forgotten at this point.

But though she is forgotten and we learn nothing more about her or her progeny, we do know that she had quite the impact on the life of poor Hannah. The book referred to Peninnah as “her rival” instead of calling her by name. We know that this was not a peaceful home where the two women worked together as sister wives and shared Elkanah. Much like Leah before her, she is the wife who is not loved, not cherished and encouraged, and it hurt.

Hannah eventually is remembered by the Lord and she becomes pregnant. She is the mother of the great prophet Samuel who she dedicated to the Lord and temple service under the prophet Eli shortly after she weaned him. We don’t know if Hannah’s life outlook picked up after she became pregnant, since that was the one boast Peninnah flaunted in her face every chance she got. We don’t know if Peninah ever experienced a fulfilling relationship with Elkanah or if she was ever loved by him. The only thing we know is that Hanah’s prayers were answered and God opened her womb. Peninnah becomes just a name in the story and nothing more.

Final Thoughts

As women, our longing is for our husbands. We want their love. We seek their approval. We desire intimacy with them on all levels – mentally, physically, emotionally.  But Peninnah did not have this. Her husband loved Hannah more. So she did the only thing she felt she could do in a time when women had no rights – she irritated her sister wife.  And she did so relentlessly until Hannah would weep and refuse to eat. She did everything she could to make Hannah’s life miserable.

While it was in no way right, it was what happened. It was not fair that Peninnah suffered a life that was unfulfilling maritally. She did what was expected of her as a woman in those days – she wed Elkanah and she provided children for him. Her actions were cruel and heartless, though. She was not a nice woman and we know the home had to be quite contentious.

It is my prayer that this story does not hit home for you, dear readers. I pray that you do not experience heartache like Hanah did, nor the unsatisfying marriage of Peninnah. Though we see stories like this in the Bible, we know they are not the way God intended marriage to be. He intended for us to have one spouse who is a partner in life, a person who loves us and cherishes us and who we can give our entire self to in return. God intended for us to be happy in our marriages and to experience the love between a husband and wife, which mirrors the love God has for His bride, the Church – us.