Elkanah and His Wives
1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of thehill country of Ephraim, named Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, anEphraimite.
2 He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3 This man went up from his cityeach year to worship and sacrifice to the Lordof hosts at Shiloh. Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests to the Lordthere.
4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions [of the sacrificial meat] to Peninnah his wife and all her sons and daughters.
5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, but the Lordhadgiven her no children.
6 Hannah’s rival provoked her bitterly, to irritateandembarrass her, because the Lordhadleft her childless.
7 So it happened year after year, whenever she went up to the house of the Lord, Peninnah provoked her; so she wept and would not eat.
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you cry and why do you not eat? Why are you so sadanddiscontent? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 So Hannah got up after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside the doorpost of the temple (tabernacle) of the Lord.
10 Hannah wasgreatly distressed, and she prayed to the Lordand wept in anguish.
11 She made a vow, saying, “O Lordof hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction (suffering) of Your maidservant and remember, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lordall the days of his life; arazor shall never touch his head.”
12 Now it happened as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth.
13 Hannah was speaking in her heart (mind); only her lips were moving, and her voice was not heard, so Elithought she was drunk.
14 Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Get rid of your wine.”
15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman with a despairing spirit. I have not been drinking wine oranyintoxicating drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord.
16 Do not regard your maidservant as a wickedandworthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and [bitter] provocation.”
17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.”
18 Hannah said, “Let your maidservant find graceandfavor in your sight.” So the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longersad.
Samuel Is Born to Hannah
19 The family got up early the next morning, worshiped before the Lord, and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lordremembered her [prayer].
20 It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; she named himSamuel,saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.”
21 Then the man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the Lordtheyearly sacrifice andpayhis vow.
22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go upuntil the child isweaned; and then I will bring him, so that he may appear before the Lordand remain there as long as he lives.”
23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the Lordestablishandconfirm His word.” So the woman remained [behind] and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and aleather bottle of wine [to pour over the burnt offering for a sweet fragrance], and she brought Samuel to the Lord’shouse in Shiloh, although the child was young.
25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
26 Hannah said, “Oh, my lord! As [surely as] your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood beside you here, praying to the Lord.
27 For this child I prayed, and the Lordhas granted me my request which I asked of Him.
28 Therefore I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” And they worshiped the Lordthere.