1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: 2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 1 Samuel 1:1-2

Verse 2 

And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 1 Samuel 1:2

The Bible states Elkanah had (2) wives. Polygamy was a common practice in those days. Although Polygamy was an accepted social custom – it was not God’s original plan for marriage.  

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:21-24  

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25

The name Hanna means grace or favor. Peninnah means something hard. As we look at the colon behind Peninnah’s name, we know that a colon is used to denote a degree of separation greater than that used by a comma.

A colon separates co-ordinate clauses having a relationship in meaning that is not explicitly stated. The scripture states this man had (2) wives. These women were in a separated relationship with the same husband. Hannah and Peninnah were both wives of Elkanah but had separate functions. One was a mother and one was not.

Hanna is described as “The One” – and Peninnah as “The Other”. Webster defines “Other” as different from the one already implied, and different in nature and kind. Webster defines ‘Two” as a number that comes in between.  Hannah dealt with an in between person in her marriage. Peninnah was the baby machine and not necessarily Elkanah’s love choice. She produced children not necessarily love.

Hannah has a dilemma that seems hopeless. Elkanah had the same problem as Hannah . Having a lot of children was a sign of great blessings from God, and if a family had no children they were looked upon as cursed of God. Elkanah did not take the prayer route as his wife choose. He wanted the world to know his manhood was functioning well – so he took on another wife to produce children.

Elkanah saw children as having someone to carry on his name and for inheritance reasons.

7 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. 8 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. 9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. 10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father’s brethren. 11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses. Numbers 27:7-11

Elkanah had another desperate reason for having children. Elkanah knew it was a possibility that the Messiah could be born through his lineage. He was in the right bloodline as a Levite.

And I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that shall command him. 

Here we find a panic- stricken man taking matters into his own hands. He responded as Abraham and Sarah did when God promised them a child in their old age. Abraham fathered a child by one of his wife’s servants.

Elkanah fathered a child by a 2nd wife. Hannah continues using her faith not taking matters into her own hands. Through out the 1st chapter of Samuel – Hannah is courageous and bold trusting God for an answered prayer.