Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 1:8

"And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?" — 1 Samuel 1:8 (ASV)

Than ten sons. —Merely a round number to express many. The simple narration evidently came from Hannah, who, no doubt, in later years loved to dwell on her past sorrowful life, contrasted with her present strange blessedness as mother of the Restorer of the people.