The Seven Barren Ones Made Joyful Mothers in Midrash Shmuel

"For the LORD had remembered Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters" (1 Samuel 2:21). "He sets the barren woman of the house as a joyful mother of children, Hallelujah" (Psalms 113:9). "He sets the barren woman of the house" — this is Sarah, "and Sarai was barren" (Genesis 11:30); "a joyful mother of children" — "Sarah has nursed children" (Genesis 21:7). Another interpretation: "He sets the barren woman of the house" — this is Rebekah, "and Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren" (Genesis 25:21); "a joyful mother of children" — "and the children struggled together within her" (Genesis 25:22). [Another interpretation:] "He sets the barren woman of the house" — this is Leah, "and the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and He opened her womb" (Genesis 29:31); "a joyful mother of children" — "[because I have borne him]" — this is six sons (Genesis 29:34). Another interpretation: "He sets the barren woman of the house" — this is Rachel, "and Rachel was barren" (Genesis 29:31); "a joyful mother of children" — "and God remembered Rachel" (Genesis 30:22). [Another interpretation:] "He sets the barren woman of the house" — this is the wife of Manoah, "and the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, Behold now, you are barren and have not borne" (Judges 13:3); "a joyful mother of children" — "and you shall conceive and bear a son" (Judges 13:3). [Another interpretation:] "He sets the barren woman of the house" — this is Zion, "Sing, O barren one who did not bear" (Isaiah 54:1); "a joyful mother of children" — "and you will say in your heart, Who has borne me these?" (Isaiah 49:21). [Another interpretation:] "He sets the barren woman of the house" — this is Hannah, "and Hannah had no children" (1 Samuel 1:2); "a joyful mother of children" — "for the LORD had remembered Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters" (1 Samuel 2:21).