This is an excerpt from a larger article profiling Ethel Moore and William Wilson. A cursory glance at the pseudepigraphic literature of the Jews, which is older than the Haggadah literature by several centuries, shows how untenable this view is.26. When only two of Peninnahs ten children were left alive Hannah interceded for them. And as she continued at her prayers a long time, Eli, the high priest, for he sat there before the tabernacle, bid her go away, thinking she had been disordered with wine; but when she said she had drank water, but was in sorrow for want of children, and was beseeching God for them, he bid her be of good cheer, and told her that God would send her children. Verse 7. 1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, named Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. In Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Elkanah is: God has created. And Iknow that it is not she that hath many sons that is enriched, neither she that lacketh them is poor, but whoso aboundeth in the will of God, she is enriched. ProQuest Historical Newspapers. She continued to do this from year to year, not once or twice, but it was her constant practice; neither deference to her husband nor compassion to Hannah, could break her of it; and Lastly, That which she designed, was, to make her fret; perhaps in hopes to break her heart, that she might possess her husbands heart solely. MannaToday's Bible Reading | Why did Elkanah have two wives - Facebook Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 42) Popular representations of mail-order brides include, but are not limited to the television series, Here Come the Brides, the 1964 movie Mail Order Bride, Patricia MacLachlans childrens book, Sarah, Plain and Tall, and Verna Clays novel, Abby: Mail Order Bride. Is not thy behaviour better than the ten sons of Phenenna? And Anna prayed and said: Hast not thou, O Lord, examined the heart of all generations before thou formedst the world? 25) Civil War Trust. While Ido not believe that Peninnah was only aliterary convention, Ido agree with Klein that the biblical text does not assign her an independent personality in any way. In the Hebrew text Peninnah is merely aside note, no one of consequence in Hannahs melodrama. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, Iam awoman of asorrowful spirit: Ihave drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. The former, though married, prayed with sorrow of mind and brokenness of heart because she had no sons; and she obtained Samuel, and dedicated him to the Lord, because she vowed to do so when she prayed for him.37. Additionally, nearly every commentary about this passage of scripture portrays Hannah as the protagonist and Peninnah as the antagonist, Hannahs rival. . Language is complexly intertwined with culture (they have evolved together, influencing one another in the process).48. In 1869 Wyoming became the first state to allow women the right to vote. In addition to its favorable property laws for women, California offered women the legal right to initiate divorce. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. 23) An Epistolary Courtship: The First Meeting of a Couple on Their Wedding Day. Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, IL), December 18, 1886, 9. In many cases marriage provided a literal ticket for a woman to go West and seek a better life. Does it accurately represent an actual event, or is it more likely the imaginative deliberations of rabbis trying to make sense of the sacred text? Meaning:God has purchased. It is without controversy among believers that we best see both parts of this work fulfilled in Him, to wit our Head, with whom the apostle has said our life is hid in God. ProQuest Historical Newspapers. 2) Oakland Museum of California, Gold Fever! According to the midrash, God spared their lives and, taking them from Peninnah, gave them to Hannah. The Greek Septuagint translation (hereafter LXX) of 1Samuel1 renders these verses in avery similar way to our reworked passage. Like the LXX and Josephus, Cyprian casts her in aneutral light; Peninnah is present in Hannahs story, but nothing more: And in the first of Kings it is said that Elkanah had two wives: Peninnah, with her sons; and Hannah, barren, from whom is born Samuel, not according to the order of generation, but according to the mercy and promise of God, when she had prayed in the temple; and Samuel being born, was atype of Christ.34. In this passage we are introduced to the injurious words that Peninnah allegedly spoke to Hannah to provoke her to despair. One possible answer can be found in the stories of the ancient matriarchs Sarah and Rachel. For example, in 1910 Korea became a Japanese colony.34 Kim Suk-eun explained her rationale for becoming a picture bride as a means of escaping colonial rule. 15b. While reading with one of his Hebrew instructors, Jerome would have learned the meaning of the text as his teacher translated for him. In Japan, for example, filial piety was a strong motivator for women to become picture brides.30 Arranged marriages were still the norm in many countries, so picture brides were merely a geographical extension of the tradition.31 Some Japanese women hoped to find work in the United States so that they could send money home to their families.32 Immigrating to the United States as a laborer, however, became difficult given immigration policies like the Gentlemens Agreement of 1907. Some were coming from the eastern portion of the United States, but others came from foreign countries. Who are the two wifes of elcanah mentioned in the bible - Answers In 1849, for example, California legislators crafted a state constitution that defied the tradition of coverture law. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no . And her husband saw her and said: Wherefore art thou sad, and eatest not, and why is thy heart within thee cast down? Nor have these entirely escaped notice. Not only does Henrys comment about the tradition of the Jews show awareness of their beliefs about Peninnah, it also seems to endorse them. Second, by adding the final line of verse 5 to verse 6 an elegant chiastic structure is revealed (see Table 4 below): While both the KJV and the reworked passage can be expressed as chiasms, the reworked passage seems to present abetter symmetry. am not Ibetter to thee than ten sons? That is, the Constitution allowed women to retain ownership of their property upon marriage. except there had been given her the fruit of her womb, surely his love would have been to no purpose? Who Was The First Person To Marry Two Wives In The Bible? Where do socially subordinate groups find autonomy? The text does not suggest Peninnah has an independent personality in any way.55. While the LXX and Josephus cast Peninnah in apassive role, the Bava Batra depicts her as asupportive but misguided ally to Hannah. 2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E. She was a remarkable woman but she wasn't always remarkable. From her testimonials, I should think her a good girl. And she vowed avow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction [ baoni] of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid aman child . One had many children, but the one he really loved could not have any children. . 37) Isabel Kaprielian-Churchill, Armenian Refugee Women: The Picture Brides, 1920-1930. Journal of American Ethnic History 12, no. Between 1861 and 1865, nearly three million men fought in the War. What are the advantages of an IT helpdesk Dubai. Jeromes teachers were deeply indoctrinated in the rabbinic interpretation of the biblical text, and this resulted in Jerome being heavily influenced by this interpretation while creating the Latin Vulgate. For Jerome always associated the image of the source or spring with Jewish learning and the Hebrew text, even before the phrase Hebraica veritas became part of his vocabulary. It was likewise very unkind at that time to vex Hannah, not only because then they were in company, and others would take notice of it, but then Hannah was to mind her devotions, and desired to be most calm and composed, and free from disturbance. The midrash explained that Elkanah only married Peninnah [Page 51] after Hannah was unable to bare children during their first ten years of marriage. - curiousdannii Oct 30, 2021 at 22:35 Add a comment 2 Answers Sorted by: 5 Yes, the Bible permitted multiple wives--but also teaches against this. Spreading the News.. They both stop just outside the door of the diner and Ken embraces her. In fact, 1Samuel1:2 can even be interpreted as setting up the confrontation between the two women with achiasm: Latter-day Saint teachings about Hannah also identify Peninnah as her tormentor. Since these texts were translated from the LXX they undoubtedly portrayed Peninnah as apassive participant in Hannahs story. In one of his letters to Jerome, Augustine wrote: But Ibeseech you not to devote your labour to the work of translating into Latin the sacred canonical books, unless you follow the method in which you have translated Job, viz. Hannah's Adversity and - Interpreter Foundation If we assume that Hannah was fifteen years old when she married Elkanah, she would have been twenty-five when he married Peninnah. For when He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, in that way, certainly, He has killed Him. God has purchased These midrashim composed nearly 2,000 years after the fact are no different. Hannah, also spelled Anna, (11th century bce), in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), the mother of the prophet Samuel.Childless as one of the two wives of Elkanah, she prayed for a son, promising to dedicate him to God. He articulated this intention, saying, I do not think that we can offer a greater inducement for women of fortune to come to California. Rather than atranslation from the Hebrew, Tyndales rendering of this verse is actually aparaphrase, an exegesis based on neither the Hebrew nor the Latin texts. First, the interpretation of the noun (tsaratah) as her adversity (or another near-synonym) aligns with the overall meaning of the word in the Hebrew Bible. The name Elkanah means "God has created" or "God has taken possession." The Bible describes this Elkanah as the son of Jeroham, from the tribe of Levi, living in the days of the judges ( Judges 17:6 ). The narrative provided by the Septuagint is ahopeful clarification to the traditional interpretation of the relationship between Peninnah and Hannah.15. After the end of her romance with Balwani, Holmes, who faces 20 years behind bars, went on to marry . The following midrash about Elkanah, Hannah, and Peninnah begins by explaining why and when Elkanah married Peninnah: Ten years she [Hannah] lived with him and did not give birth, and he took Peninnah who gave him ten sons which is why Elkanah said to Hannah: Am Inot better to thee than ten sons?20. The spirit of Peninah is that spirit of rejoicing at the misfortune of others. But what is the womb that is born open, or what one that is shut up dieth, except thou will it? Peninnahs name has even been used by some as an offensive epithet, much like calling someone aJudas: In short who is aPeninah [sic]? Peninnah: Bible | Jewish Women's Archive His homilies on Ephesians were preached around 400 ce, or nearly adecade after Jerome had completed his translation of 1 Samuel.52 In one of these sermons, Chrysostom was the first early church father to adopt the rabbinic idea, first introduced by Jerome in his translation of the Vulgate, of Peninnah as Hannahs rival: When therefore ye hear the Scripture saying, that the Lord had shut up her womb (verses 5, 6. Thus, Jerome used both contemporary Jewish traditions and the narratives of the Old Testament as historia within the framework of grammatice.54. The first significant event to contribute to the unbalanced gender ratio was the discovery of gold in California in 1848. This rabbinic interpretation about Hannah and Peninnah likely spread to Christianity through Jeromes Latin Vulgate translation. And when Anna heard that, her soul was melted within her and her eyes ran down with tears. Samuel's Parents (1:1-8) As the story begins we are first introduced to Samuel's father, Elkanah, who, we are told, had two wives. 2. For ye are dead, he says: behold how God savingly kills! Hannah, by fulfilling her vow to dedicate her first-born, Samuel, to Gods service (1 Samuel 1:2728) Samuel: Biblical accounts of his life. Elkanah (Hebrew: Elqnh El has purchased) was, according to the Books of Samuel, the husband of Hannah, and the father of her children including her first, Samuel. In this passage in the Bava Batra, as in Pseudo-Philo, Peninnah has become Hannahs tormentor. 34) Erika Lee, and Judy Yung, Angel Island: Immigrant Gateway to America (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010), 199. You even wonder if the other viewers were under some kind of mass hallucination. Hannah was beset with sadness and grief to the point that she cried frequently and even went for periods of time without eating. Portions Of those parts of the peace-offerings which belonged to the offerer. Rather than adversary, if we choose one of the other words in Table 1 Ihave chosen adversity due to its shared linguistic derivation with adversary we can more fully rework this passage. Miller, a lumberman of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and married in 1886.23, The death of men in the Civil War only compounded the gender ratio imbalance that the resource rush to the West had begun. What type of rod should you use for frog fishing? Your elder brother in the world of knowledge. When it ends you feel moved by its message. In its depiction of Elkanahs two wives, the Bible contrasts Peninnah, who had children, and 6:6). She is also jealous of Hannah, Elkanah's first wife, who is loved but barren. Although the time frame of this particular passage of the bible is widely debated amongst scholars, most believe that it took place during the Period of . There is no mention of who was the first wife. (1 Samuel 1:3) Women often depended upon men in their lives to provide for them economically. 4) A ship from New York, to South America, and ultimately to California required six months of travel. If Peninnah gave birth to ten sons perhaps more properly ten children before Hannah conceived Samuel, and assuming that these births were spaced two years apart, then another twenty-one years, at aminimum, would have passed before Hannah became pregnant with Samuel. He wrote to the Secretary of the ABCFM, asking Is it advisable for me to go without a companion [i.e., a wife]? put away thy wine from thee. 2 He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other named Peninnah. midrash explains that Elkanah was compelled to marry Peninnah because of Hannahs barrenness, which explains his preference for Hannah, his first wife. ), and that, her rival provoked her sore; consider that it is His intention to prove the womans seriousness. It is the very best provision to get us wives that we can introduce into the Constitution.19 Kansas (1855), Oregon (1857), and Nevada (1864) also eliminated coverture laws with the intention of drawing women to their states.20 Since western legislation promised women autonomy, and western men offered marriage, independent women could achieve the former by agreeing to the latter as mail-order brides. Polygamy in Judaism | My Jewish Learning Here is truly the proof of acontrite heart, when we are not angry with those that revile us, when we are not indignant against them, when we reply but in self-defense.53. midrash explains that Elkanah was compelled to marry Peninnah because of Hannah's barrenness, which explains his preference for Hannah, his first wife. Certainly, it defies the stereotype of women of the mid 19th century traveling to the West Coast. The result of all this is that Hannahs adversity from the LXX morphed into Hannahs adversary, following rabbinic tradition. What could have influenced Jerome to translate this one word in away that so dramatically altered our understanding of the verse and of the dynamics related to Hannah and Peninnah? Writing in the middle of the 3rd century, one of the earliest church fathers to write about Peninnah was Cyprian. Of Elkanah and his Two Wives. Peninnah's prestige as mother of Elkanah's children is emphasized at the annual pilgrimage to . Efficacious Tips to Choose The Best Wedding Venue Without Any Hitch, 5 Hobbies That Will Improve Your Mental Health and Wellbeing, Tips To Help You Choose the Right Website Designer For Your Business. Tasked with the responsibility of creating anew Latin translation of the Bible, Jerome relocated to Bethlehem in approximately 388 ce. 15) Drury, Nine Years with the Spokane Indians, 37-38. 1 Samuel 1:2-20 Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah Believing the Hebrew Bible to be superior to the various Latin texts of the Bible and to the Greek LXX, he began his new Latin translation known as the Latin Vulgate around 390 ce. Below is his commentary for the verses from 1Samuel1: By Rashis time the mold was set; even though she may have had good intentions, Peninnah was the rival, the wicked woman, and there would be no redeeming her from her misdirected motives. Youre bound to have problems. He, too, married his wives' slaves at the request of his wives . Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines (2 Chron. Men. Perhaps unaware that the Jeromes Latin Vulgate had recast Peninnah as Hannahs rival and adversary (see below) in accordance with rabbinic tradition, Augustine did not cast Peninnah in that role. One of the most basic reasons that men tried to find spouses through the mail during the nineteenth century was because of an imbalance in the gender ratio. 38) Kaprielian-Churchill, Armenian Refugee Women, 26, footnote 6. by Brett Burrowes At the beginning of the first book of Samuel, God presents us with two very different people, Hannah and Eli. After investing extensive time and money to travel by ship, wagon, or railway, however, they were not about to head back home.4 As the 19th century progressed, pioneers headed into the mid-West and West in search of gold, natural resources, open land, and a fresh start. 39) Kaprielian-Churchill, Armenian Refugee Women, 4-5. States also wooed women to traverse the country with the promise of suffrage. For my own part, Icannot sufficiently express my wonder that anything should at this date be found in the Hebrew mss. Many of the interpretations he cites as Jewish are paralleled in Jewish literature from antiquity; others exhibit the distinctive traits of the Jewish exegesis we know from those literary sources. 10) Clifford M. Drury, Nine Years with the Spokane Indians: The Diary, 1838-1848, of Elkanah Walker (Glendale: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1976), 30-32. Camille Fronk Olson added: Of importance, neither the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint (LXX), nor Josephus the Jewish historian makes any mention of Peninnah taunting Hannah to tears. 1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. It inspired many a man both domestic, and international to head to the American West in search of fortune.2. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. How do laws particularly those pertaining to immigration impact peoples decisions? So they did [emphasis mine].5, Adam Clarke, an early 19th century Methodist theologian, also expressed his opinion on the identity of Hannahs adversary.. Given these two verbal modifications, verse 6 could be reworked as: And her adversary also grieved her much, causing her to be depressed, because the Lord had shut up her womb.. When John Wycliffe produced his English Bible translation from the Latin Vulgate in 1395 he faithfully followed its translation, rendering 1Samuel1: 6 as follows: And hir enemy turmentide hir, and angwischide greetly, in so myche that sche vpbreidide, that the Lord hadde closid hir wombe. Peninnah is unlovedhence hatedbut fertile. 1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, named Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. A Peninah is an adversary. More specifically, the parallel Septuagint passage of verses 67 reads: For the Lord gave her no child in her affliction, and according to the despondency of her affliction; and she was dispirited on this account, that the Lord shut up her womb so as not to give her achild. For which reason also the Apostle John writes to the seven churches, showing in that way [Page 65]that he writes to the totality of the one Church; and in the Proverbs of Solomon it is said aforetime, prefiguring this, Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath strengthened her seven pillars. For the city of God was barren in all nations before that child arose whom we see. The question we need to ask is why Peninnah morphed from her passive role as the other wife of Elkanah to this active role as tormentor and adversary to Hannah? Elkanah practiced polygamy; his other wife, less favoured but bearing more children, was named Peninnah. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. This means that Hannah would have been around 46 when she conceived Samuel and perhaps 47 when he was born. Due to that vow, once Samuel was weaned probably around the age of two or three Hannah left him in the care of Eli, the High Priest at the sanctuary. Why did God allow polygamy in the Old Testament? Elkanah practiced polygamy; his other wife, less favoured but bearing more children, was named Peninnah. Mary responded in the affirmative. Now Elcanah came with his wives to the city Shiloh to sacrifice, for there it was that the tabernacle of God was fixed, as we have formerly said. Yet observe what she says to him also, Nay, count not thine handmaid for adaughter of Belial, for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have Ispoken hitherto. (verse 16.) 1 Samuel 1:4. Elkanah Elkanah and his Wives 1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, 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. With this at least he even consoled her, saying, Am not Ibetter to thee than ten sons?, [Page 62]But let us look, again, at the deep wisdom of this woman. 6 Things You Didn't Know About Hannah in the Bible Without naming Elkanah, he plants the possibility that marriage could be a means to missionary work for Mary. In addition, the phrase casting her in the tethe is not found in the Latin nor in the Hebrew. So, this portrayal of Peninnah depicts her as more of amisguided ally than atrue adversary. 2. Hannah Like Hannah, both of these women were barren; both had to endure their infertility while their rivals Hagar and Leah had children; and both eventually gave birth to aspecial son. Elkanah still was not convinced, and so William penned another letter, this one to be hand-delivered to Mary by Elkanah.14. For more information on this modern phenomenon, refer to Mail-Order Femenism, chapter eight of Marcia Zugs 2016 book, Buying a Bride. But, in your version of the movie, nothing comes before their embrace at the front door; Ken and Anna dont sit at abooth inside the building, and Pearl never talks to them. My objective in this article is to reclaim Peninnahs good name by reinterpreting the passage found in 1 Samuel 1:6. In addition, the Great Bibles rendering seems to echo the Bava Batra. In Brief The narrative of Peninnah centers around her interactions with Hannah, as both women were married to Elkanah. Her prayers were answered, and she brought forth Samuel and took the child to Shiloh for religious training. From this verse it seems reasonable to conclude that Hannahs affliction her barrenness was the cause of her bitterness of soul: [Page 46]And she was in bitterness of soul [ marat nafesh], and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. Some western states made a deliberate effort to encourage the migration of women by promising them liberal womens legislation. On the other hand, the [Page 52]Pesikta Rabbati, more in line with Biblical Antiquities, frames Peninnah as the jealous, petty, and vindictive person that we know today: Rabbi Nachman Bar Abba said that Peninah would rise early in the morning and say to Hannah: Are you not preparing to wash the faces of your children so they can go to school?