Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

[Dailybread]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] It sure makes me wonder how Peninnah must have felt seeing she may have thought of Hannah's barreness as a curse from God to have used it against her repeatedly. [/qb]

CEW, as a woman myself I don't think that Hannah saw it as a curse at all. She found it as a weakness in Hannah and used it to hurt her, it may have been the only thing that caused Hannah true grief. Can you imagine how she(Peninnah) felt after Hannah was blessed with a child? She no longer had anything to use against her. Not only was Hannah now loved by her husband but she was also blessed with her son.

[Diplomat]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

DB: In the culture of the day, barreness was considered a curse. We are also told that Elkana loved Hannah in her condition, and from his previous statements, it would not have mattered to him if she had a child or not.

[Dailybread]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] DB: In the culture of the day, barreness was considered a curse. [/qb]

Yea I know. What I'm saying is that even if it wasn't she would've been using it against Hannah.

Some women even in today's culture are held bound if the husband has children with another woman and they themselves cannot have children. Not only that but also if another woman has a boy child for him and all she has are girls. It is and can be a sore spot for many, so any argument would bring it up and cause hurt.

[Dailybread]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] DB: In the culture of the day, barreness was considered a curse. We are also told that Elkana loved Hannah in her condition, and from his previous statements, it would not have mattered to him if she had a child or not. [/qb]

I responded before you edited. But that brings about a very important point. It's not about him or what he thought and wanted.

Can you imagine Peninnah er in a conversation with Hannah? Peninnah always talking about her sons. Oh it's almost time for Hophni and Phinehas to go up with Eli to offer sacrifices. Hannah don't you wish you had sons to go up with them? Oh I'm so proud they're getting older and soon they will be able to go up by themselves. God is going to use them in such a great way....

Women can be cruel in a sneaky way! She may not have mocked her all the time in anger..they may have been having real conversations and she brings it up, probably was never a problem to her until Peninnah made it one. I can just imagine how bad Hannah felt.

[Guest]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

I did a bit reading on the subject and found this:

Hannah's story mirrors the experiences of modern women. Elkanah really tried to make up for Hannah's loss. He gave her the double portion. Peninnah picked on Hannah, "because LORD had closed her womb." How many times have well meaning Christians provoked modern Hannah's? "Well, dear, if you'd just pray a little more, I'm sure God would give you a child," we sometimes hear. Or, "You just need to clean up that sin in your life, dear." Remember this went on for years. When we know the gist of the story, we may think, "Oh, it was so easy, Hannah just went to the Lord in prayer and her problem was solved." But Hannah had experienced this "year by year".

[Diplomat]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

Mmmm...perhaps being a male, Elkanah being more than the dutiful husband eludes me. Peninnah was in a difficult spot as there was this other woman, and because she was barren, her husband gave her a double-portion of whatever was being shared out. Yes, Elkanah was sensitive to her plight, and Peninnah being angry and perhaps even bitter, rubbed in this curse in Hannah's face, "year after year". I mean, the woman had borne 10 children and did not have her husband's favor.

Now, I am putting on my thinking cap and thinking of a conversation after one of those sharing of the goodies:

Hannah: "Thanks Elkanah. Once again, you have been most kind in giving me a double portion."

Peninnah: "He only did that because you are barren!"

Elkanah: "Peninnah, silence. That's enough!"

All conjecture of course, but after having that flung in her face "year after year", I fully understand Hannah's "burden". Peninnah was cruel.

Now given the culture of the day, I do think that Hannah would have been bothered by her inability to have children. It may have become an even bigger issue for her when it was constantly thrown in her face, and may have been a part of the reason she was so diligent in going to the temple to ask God for a blessing. When granted, it would solve two problems: that of being considered cursed, and Peninnah would have to find something else to bug her with.

I am still curious as to Compry's take on it that Elkanah was interceding for Hannah as well.

[Guest]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] I am still curious as to Compry's take on it that Elkanah was interceding for Hannah as well. [/qb]

Hannah's inability to conceive and Elkanah's affection towards her caused a division in their home illustrated by Peninnah's behaviour. It was Elkanah's duty as the head of the household to ensure peace. Just my thoughts but I can see him admiring Hannah for hanging in there year after year so it only make sense that he would be interceding on her behalf. I'm sure he thought if Hannah had a child it would stop Peninnah's bad behaviour.

Just my thoughts Mr. C. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Dailybread]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] Now, I am putting on my thinking cap and thinking of a conversation after one of those sharing of the goodies:

Hannah: "Thanks Elkanah. Once again, you have been most kind in giving me a double portion."
[/qb]

CEW! you are too much! I don't see Hannah being that pety, if she was eating the food I would understand but remember she wasn't eating. I like what you did with that though. That's how I see it.

[Diplomat]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

Originally posted by Dailybread:

CEW! you are too much! I don't see Hannah being that pety, if she was eating the food I would understand but remember she wasn't eating. I like what you did with that though. That's how I see it.

I tend to have a lot of fun when I am reading the Bible so in the situation we are talking about, I try to imagine what the conversation could have been [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] . Anyways, I agree with you that she wasn't eating but it did not stop him from offering her a double-portion whenever he was sharing the sacrificial meal. I also imagine that she would have said "Thank you" in one form or another.

This has been a fun discussion and I have really enjoyed it so far.

[Diplomat]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

Originally posted by Compry:
[qb]

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] I am still curious as to Compry's take on it that Elkanah was interceding for Hannah as well. [/qb]

Hannah's inability to conceive and Elkanah's affection towards her caused a division in their home illustrated by Peninnah's behaviour. It was Elkanah's duty as the head of the household to ensure peace. Just my thoughts but I can see him admiring Hannah for hanging in there year after year so it only make sense that he would be interceding on her behalf. I'm sure he thought if Hannah had a child it would stop Peninnah's bad behaviour.

Just my thoughts Mr. C. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [/qb]

OK...I thought you had something more definite [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] . I guess that is a possible scenario, and I wouldn't have a problem with that conjecture at all. Generally speaking, I do think gender differences allows us different perspectives on the same issue. I am not convinced however that Elkanah thought Hannah would have received a miracle, and secondly at no time did he go with her to the temple nor encouraged her in her mission.

[Guest]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb]OK...I thought you had something more definite [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] . I guess that is a possible scenario, and I wouldn't have a problem with that conjecture at all. Generally speaking, I do think gender differences allows us different perspectives on the same issue. I am not convinced however that Elkanah thought Hannah would have received a miracle, and secondly at no time did he go with her to the temple nor encouraged her in her mission. [/qb]

May I remind you that you have stated on several occasions that the bible could not possible contain every single piece of information. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I read somewhere today that Elkanah was self-centered because he asked Hannah if he wasn't enough for her. So perhaps you may be correct. He may not have been interceding for her but for his own peace.

I can just imagine Elkanah up on the mountain: "God, mi a beg yuh, mek Peninnah stap har noise nuh. Mi a beg yuh...she deh drive mi crazy. And God yuh dun know sey, mi check fi Hannah but it look like sey she want a pickney more dan she love mi...suh duh a ting fi mi deh...mi a beg yuh. Cause mi naaw guh have no peace until yuh open up har womb and the one Peninnah wi finally stap mek fun a har. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Dailybread]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

Originally posted by Compry:
[qb]

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb]OK...I thought you had something more definite [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] . I guess that is a possible scenario, and I wouldn't have a problem with that conjecture at all. Generally speaking, I do think gender differences allows us different perspectives on the same issue. I am not convinced however that Elkanah thought Hannah would have received a miracle, and secondly at no time did he go with her to the temple nor encouraged her in her mission. [/qb]

May I remind you that you have stated on several occasions that the bible could not possible contain every single piece of information. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I read somewhere today that Elkanah was self-centered because he asked Hannah if he wasn't enough for her. So perhaps you may be correct. He may not have been interceding for her but for his own peace.

I can just imagine Elkanah up on the mountain: "God, mi a beg yuh, mek Peninnah stap har noise nuh. Mi a beg yuh...she deh drive mi crazy. And God yuh dun know sey, mi check fi Hannah but it look like sey she want a pickney more dan she love mi...suh duh a ting fi mi deh...mi a beg yuh. Cause mi naaw guh have no peace until yuh open up har womb and the one Peninnah wi finally stap mek fun a har. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [/qb]

Now that was funny!!!!! Oh my Word! Compry you are too much!

[Diplomat]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

Compry: Can you imagine a Bible written in patois? Lord hlep me, I would have a hard time reading it but it was funny trying to read your take on Elkanah's prayer. See, reading the Bible can be a lot of fun if you use a bit of imagination to "picture" conversations like that [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] .

[Guest]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Peninnah

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] Compry: Can you imagine a Bible written in patois? [/qb]

Why not? They wrote it in English and many many other languages, why not patois? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]