1 Samuel 1:3-5 meaning

1 Samuel 1:3-5 portrays the travels of Elkanah and his family to the Tabernacle to make sacrifices:
Now this man would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD there (v 3).

Since the narrative has introduced Elkanah, his family heritage, and to the disparate circumstances of his wives (1 Samuel 1:1-2), the story moves forward, now describing the relationship Elkanah (this man) has towards God.

Elkanah appears to have been reverent and faithful toward God, for he would go up from his city of Ramathaim-zophim (1 Samuel 1:1) yearly to worship and to sacrifice.

In Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, the LORD commands three times of the year for Israel to gather and make sacrifices:

1. Passover/Unleavened Bread/First Fruits (Day 15-22 of the first month);
2. Feast of Weeks (Fifty days after the seventh sabbath—third month);
3. Trumpets/Day of Atonement/Feast of Tabernacles (Day 1-15 of the seventh month);

It is unclear if there is a specific ceremony that Elkanah is celebrating. Yet Elkanah's yearly pilgrimage and sacrifices show his dedication to the LORD, especially at a time described in Judges as "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25).

The name for God used here is "Yhwh tsaba," which is a combination of the personal covenant name for Himself that God revealed to Moses, "Yahweh" (Exodus 3:14), and "tsaba" which means "to mass, gather an army, assemble, possibly for a fight." This is translated as "the LORD of Armies" or "the LORD of hosts." This marks the first usage of this title for God in the Bible. The LORD of hosts is henceforth used over 200 times in the Old Testament.

The Tabernacle was located at Shiloh after Joshua camped there while expanding Israel's territory in Canaan (Joshua 18:1). Shiloh is 18 miles north of Jerusalem, in Joshua's territory of the tribe of Ephraim. The Tabernacle was in Shiloh until during King Saul's reign when the tabernacle was in Nob (1 Samuel 21), and King David's reign when the tabernacle was at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:39). Finally, King Solomon built a permanent temple for the LORD in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:1-10).

The two sons of the high priest Eli are introduced: Hophni and Phinehas (probably named after Phinehas, grandson of Aaron in Exodus 6:25), to prepare for the narrative of their downfall in chapters 2-4. They are the natural sons of Eli who follow their own desires, contrasted with Samuel, who becomes like an adopted son to Eli.

Unlike Hophni and Phinehas, Samuel follows what the LORD commands, even when it is difficult. One example of Samuel's obedience amidst difficulty is when he obediently rebuked Saul, whom he loved, and told him that the LORD was rejecting him as king (1 Samuel 15:10-35).

Hophni and Phinehas served as priests to the LORD there at Shiloh when Elkanah came to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts (v 3).

When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters; but to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, but the LORD had closed her womb (vs 4-5).

When a peace offering was sacrificed, its meat would be divided into portions. A portion of the meat would go to the priests, and a portion would go to the person or family who offered it.

Elkanah again is shown to be a man of noble character as he ensured that both his wives and all his children were all able to share in the feast. This allowed his family to participate in the sacrifice and enjoy the meal it provided.

Verse 4 says that Elkanah would give portions of the sacrificial meat to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters (v 4).

The expression to all her sons and daughters is another reminder that Elkanah's wife, Peninnah, had borne Elkanah multiple children, both sons and daughters. Which is in painful contrast to the barrenness of Elkanah's wife, Hannah.

But Elkanah did not neglect Hannah:

but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had closed her womb (v 5).

The closing of Hannah's womb meant that she had not been able to give birth to any sons or daughters.

Elkanah not only gave Hannah a regular portion (which was to be expected). He went above and beyond by giving her a double portion of the sacrifice.

This was a reversal of expectations. In the ancient world, it would have been natural to favor the wife who bore more children over the wife who did not bear any children. Accordingly, if one of Elkanah's wives should have received a double portion it would have been expected that Peninnah, who had multiple sons and daughters, would have received it. But Elkanah would give a double portion to Hannah (v 5) even though she had no children.

Elkanah's giving Hannah a double portion appears to have been Elkanah's yearly custom or what he did every time he offered a sacrifice. Elkanah showed he had not forgotten his love for Hannah by giving her a double portion. Although some unfaithful men might divorce a wife who was unable to produce heirs, Elkanah chose to keep Hannah in the family, despite her barrenness. He continued to show favor to her.

Note that the text says that the LORD had closed her womb. God is sovereign over all things, including biology and timing. For His purposes He allows people to endure difficult and painful situations, but this text shows that He is the one in control. He is working all things for good (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28), whether the fulfillment of that good is understood here on earth or realized in heaven.