Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 1:5

"but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb." — 1 Samuel 1:5 (ASV)

A worthy portion. —Literally, one portion for two persons: i.e., a double portion. It was an expression of his deep love for her. As Von Gerlach puts it, “You are as dear to me as if you had borne me a child.” Some scholars would translate the difficult Hebrew expression here as, “But to Hannah he gave a portion of anger or sadness,” thus intensifying the natural sorrow of Hannah by representing her husband as unkind. The Vulgate, Luther, and Abarbanel favour this singular interpretation; but the one adopted by the English Version, and explained above, is in all respects grammatically and exegetically to be preferred.