1. 1 Samuel 1:6 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Who was Hannah’s rival?

1 Samuel 1:6 (ESV)

6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.

Peninnah was Hannah’s rival. It appears as if Elkanah’s love and affection for Hannah resulted in jealousy on the part of Peninnah.1 It is likely that Peninnah used these annual occasions at Shiloh to draw special attention to the fact that Hannah was barren.