Twinn Swan

“but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had closed her womb.”

1 SAMUEL 1:5

In the Biblical narrative, the barren womb of the favoured wife is a recurring theme. It repeats itself through the generations–from Rachel and Leah; to Sarah and Hagar; to Hannah and Peninnah. It is the story of generations of women seeking to manifest their destiny as the Matriarchs of their tribe.

These children, born after a period of barrenness, were destined to play pivotal roles. Their stories highlight the idea that God’s timing is perfect, and sometimes, a seemingly barren period paves the way for the arrival of something extraordinary. This delay, rather than being a denial, is interpreted by some as God’s way of ensuring the arrival of these special children at the most opportune moment.

Their births weren’t simply joyous occasions, but harbingers of a significant lineage. The child’s arrival held an unseen promise, a whisper of the legacy their child would one day go on to forge.

Barrenness

Beyond the apparent meaning, there is a deeper symbolic meaning behind a state of barrenness. It could represent a spiritual barrenness; a lack of connection to God or the sense that for some reason outside of their control, these future Matriarchs are unable to fulfil their desire to have children. Overcoming this “barrenness” in order to lead to a “fruitful” life then becomes the true focus.

The woman who has been deemed to be “barren” possesses a powerful soul with a divine destiny waiting to be actualised. Conception becomes a metaphor for the activation of this potential to bring forth new life and contribute to the ongoing creative process of God. It seems, then, that these women are not so much barren; it is more that there are undergoing a period of emptiness before the birth of an important child.

BIRTH

The children born after a period of barrenness, like Isaac and Samuel, often play pivotal roles in the biblical narrative. Their delayed births emphasise their unique importance in God’s plan. One simply cannot underestimate the importance of aligning oneself with cosmic forces for a successful creation.

The delay in their coming into the world could be due to the need for specific celestial alignments or ensuring the right energetic flow for the birth of a child with a specific destiny. The postponement might have been necessary for this spark to fully mature and align with the specific circumstances that the soul needed in order to be born.

A parallel can be drawn between the state of barrenness and the formless void that existed just before creation. Just as God brought forth life from “nothingness” in the beginning, God can and does do the same for a barren couple. This perspective emphasises God’s creative power and the potential for new beginnings, no matter how hopeless it all seems.

As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard.

1 SAMUEL 1:13

Conception then becomes a symbolic union of the Divine and the human, leading to the creation of new life. For Hannah, the turning point comes when she decides to go to the sanctuary at Shiloh on her own to plead with God for a male child. Desperate for a child, she bargains, offering her firstborn in exchange for a son [1 Samuel 1:11]. This highlights the depth of her faith and willingness to make a profound sacrifice in order to become the Matriarch of her family.

The story of Hannah in the book of Samuel is a complex tapestry woven with threads of faith, sacrifice and the profound yearning for motherhood. While God does grant her a child, Samuel, a bittersweet victory emerges as she fulfils a vow to dedicate him to Temple service. Hannah, however, would go on to have more children.

Blessed by Divine Timing, her barrenness transformed into fertility.