The complex relationship within Elkanah's home reaches a breaking point during the distribution of the family sacrifices. Facing the deep pain of his barren wife, a loving husband tries to make up for her lack of children by giving her special attention. However, this very act only highlights the painful gap between her and her rival wife.
When Elkanah gave Hannah her portion of the sacrifice [רד״ק], he made sure it was distinct. The primary approach among commentators is that he presented her with a choice, beautiful, and highly valued cut of meat [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He offered this gift with a warm, welcoming, and cheerful face [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון]. In a practical sense, he gave her a portion containing both fat and lean pieces so she could choose exactly what she preferred [רלב״ג]. Some suggest that while Elkanah normally cast lots to distribute the food, he would arrange the outcome so that Hannah always won the largest share [צוארי שלל].
Another approach connects this special portion to feelings of sorrow and distress. The generous serving was intended to soothe Hannah's emotional pain and calm her frustration [רד״ק]. Conversely, the sorrow might have been Elkanah's own. He handed her the food out of deep inner frustration, painfully aware that he could not give her additional portions because she had no children. His grief was doubled precisely because he loved her so deeply and desperately wished to have a child with her [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. A third perspective suggests a physical closeness during the meal. Elkanah seated Hannah directly across from him to watch over her with love, and through this attentive positioning, he noticed that she was barely eating [רלב״ג].
Elkanah acted this way because of his great love for Hannah. He publicly expressed his preference and showered her with extra affection to help ease her suffering [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Yet, the underlying tragedy remained: God had closed her womb, preventing her from having children [רד״ק]. Because of this, she received only a single portion for herself, in stark contrast to Peninnah, who received many portions for her children. This harsh reality only fueled the bitter rivalry between the two women [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Ultimately, Elkanah believed that strict divine judgment was the direct cause of Hannah's barrenness [נחל שורק].