Thematic Bible: Hard to bear causes of


Thematic Bible



But Abram said, “Lord God, what can You give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

There was a certain man from Zorah, from the family of Dan, whose name was Manoah; his wife was unable to conceive and had no children.

Sarai was unable to conceive; she did not have a child.

He had two wives, the first named Hannah and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.

And Saul’s daughter Michal had no child to the day of her death.

So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?”

Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.”

But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.

Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died without children.



When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened his position by killing with the sword all his brothers as well as some of the princes of Israel.

He went to his father’s house in Ophrah and killed his 70 brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, on top of a large stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.

Now Absalom commanded his young men, “Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Am I not the one who has commanded you? Be strong and courageous!”

Then King Solomon gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who struck down Adonijah, and he died.



They will say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he doesn’t obey us. He’s a glutton and a drunkard.’

Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.


Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving. Whenever she went up to the Lord's house, her rival taunted her in this way every year. Hannah wept and would not eat.

When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she envied her sister. “Give me sons, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.


Because of laziness the roof caves in,
and because of negligent hands the house leaks.




My lord should pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name is Nabal, and stupidity is all he knows. I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent.




His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.


Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau determined in his heart: “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”


Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.