Channah sat crosslegged on the mat in her little oneroomed house. It was late afternoon and the sun slanted in through the doorway. A small boy sat near her, trying to catch the dustmotes dancing in the sunlight. He laughed as he waved his little brown hands. Channah looked up from the garment she was stitching and smiled. A shaft of light touched her dark hair, making it gleam. Joy shone from her eyes as she watched her small son. He saw the smile. Getting up, he went over to his mother.
"What are you making, Imah?"*
"I am making a robe for your big brother, Yudah."*
"Are we going to see him soon?"
Channah laughed.
"Yes, we are going to Shiloh tomorrow for the worship and sacrifice, for the Feast of Sukkot. Then we shall see him."
Yudah jumped around with excitement.
"Sami! We're going to see Sami!' he yelled.
A heavy step sounded outside the door and the door was pushed gently open. Elkanah came in.
Channah looked up and smiled at her husband. Putting aside her handwork, she got up to meet him.
Shalom, * Channah," he said, taking her in his arms. Then he turned to his son.
"What's all the excitement I heard?" He asked, holding out his arms to the little boy. Yudah jumped, and Elkanah lifted him high.
"Abba! Abba!"* he squealed, "We're going to Shiloh tomorrow to see Sami!"
"No, my son", his Father said gently, "we are going there to worship the LORD.While we are there we shall see Sami."
Yudah nodded his head impatiently. He didn't't care how Abba said it. He was going to see Sami, and that was all that mattered to him.
Elkanah lowered his son to the floor and ruffled his hair. He looked at Channah.
"Is everything ready for our journey to Shiloh?"
"Yes. I have just finished Samuel's new coat."
"And are Peninah and the children coming to take the evening meal with us tonight?"
Channah nodded, but said nothing. Her husband sighed.
The situation in his family saddened him often. He had married two women, as the custom of his time allowed him to do. And oh, how many times over the years he had regretted it!
He had married Peninah when he was very young, because his family had considered her a good wife for him. Channah had come into his life a few years later and he had fallen deeply in love with the beautiful, dark-eyed girl. They shared a strong, living faith in the God of their Fathers, the Holy One of Israel. To Peninah, religion meant keeping the feasts and no more.
© Emmie Goodenough, 1999
Channah sat crosslegged on the mat in her little oneroomed house. It was late afternoon and the sun slanted in through the doorway. A small boy sat near her, trying to catch the dustmotes dancing in the sunlight. He laughed as he waved his little brown hands. Channah looked up from the garment she was stitching and smiled. A shaft of light touched her dark hair, making it gleam. Joy shone from her eyes as she watched her small son. He saw the smile. Getting up, he went over to his mother.
