Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, have one of the few healthy marriages described in the Hebrew Bible. When she mourns her inability to have children, he asks, "Am I not more to you than ten sons?" (1 Sam. 1:8). No, unfortunately. In the following verse, Hannah goes to the temple to pray for a child. While children are infrequently named in the biblical text, the desire for a child occurs often. So, Jonathan and Seth talk about children in the ancient world and whether this desire for children extends to today. They talk about whether they want to have children, the different ways of being a parent, and the pressure sometimes put on young people to have a child.

We're glad you're with us! You may skip this episode if having a child is an emotional topic; we will not be offended and encourage you to care for yourself. Next week, there will be another episode on Reign of Christ Sunday.