Hannah's Sons and Peninnah's Buried Children in Midrash Shmuel

"And by Him deeds are weighed" (1 Samuel 2:3). We do not know whether [the meaning is] "by Him deeds are weighed", or whether [it means] deeds that are not directed toward Him. Scripture therefore teaches: "He made known His ways unto Moses, His deeds unto the children of Israel" (Psalms 103:7). "The bow of the mighty men is broken, etc." (1 Samuel 2:4) — [rendered in Aramaic:] the bow of the mighty men is broken, and the weak have inherited their strength. "They that were full have hired themselves out for bread" (1 Samuel 2:5) — this is Peninnah, who was full of sons, yet she hired herself out. "And they that were hungry have ceased" — Hannah, who was hungry for sons, ceased. How is this so? Rabbi Yehudah and Rabbi Nehemiah [explained]. Rabbi Yehudah says: grandchildren are like children. Rabbi Nehemiah says: Peninnah had ten sons. Hannah would bear one, and Peninnah would bury two; Hannah would bear two, and Peninnah would bury four; three, and Peninnah would bury six; four, and Peninnah would bury eight. When she passed the fifth, Peninnah came and prostrated herself at her [Hannah's] feet. She said to her: "I beg of you, pray for [the remaining] two, that they may live." She prayed for them, and they were called by her [Hannah's] name.