"
Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. ...

“Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me — isn’t that better than having ten sons?”
"

(1 Samuel 1.2,8 NLT)

Back in Hannah's days, giving birth to a son actually begets more than just acknowledgement for the wife. It is also financial support when the husband passess away.

I assume implied in what Elkanah was saying to Hannah was this. "I still love you dearly and I will always love you. And I will make sure you are well off even when I pass away."

Such a sweet man.

And in answering Hannah's request for a son, God also blesses this honourable man, who - true to his word - valued Hannah highly and agreed to dedicate their son to the Lord.

"
The next year Elkanah and his family went on their annual trip to offer a sacrifice to the Lord and to keep his vow. But Hannah did not go. She told her husband, “Wait until the boy is weaned. Then I will take him to the Tabernacle and leave him there with the Lord permanently.”

“Whatever you think is best,” Elkanah agreed. “Stay here for now, and may the Lord help you keep your promise.” So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned. ...

When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. ...

Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest.
"

(1 Samuel 1.21-24, 2.11 NLT)