Every year at the feast in Shiloh, Peninnah watched Elkanah give Hannah more meat than aynyone else. And each year she made sure she said something cruel to Hannah.
Year after year, Peninnah would lean across the table and whisper to Hannah, "Meat is better than nothing, I suppose. You're nobody special. Elkanah just feels sorry for you because you have no children."
Each year Peninnah's insults became worse. Finally one year, Peninnah's teasing was crueller than ever. "You're getting old, Hannah. Look, my eldest is nearly a grown man now. And you have no one. What will you do when you're no longer pretty? Then Elkanah will stop giving you extra meat. You won't even have one son to show for your youth."
Hannah could not take it anymore. She covered her ears and burst into tears. She wanted a baby so badly. "Why, oh why don't I have a child?" she cried out in her heart.
Elkanah saw his favourite wife crying. He guessed what Peninnah had said. He told Hannah, "Hannah, don't be upset about not having a child. That's all right, it doesn't matter."
But it was not all right and it did matter. Hannah ran away from the table.
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THE CHILDREN'S BIBLE - Old Testament, God Makes Everything
EspiritualPeople were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs...
