1 Samuel 1:1–20

Hannah’s Vow

1 There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim a in b the hill country of Ephraim. c His name was Elkanah d son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives, e the first named Hannah f and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. 3 This man would go up from his town every year g to worship and to sacrifice h to the Lord of * Hosts at Shiloh, i where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord’s priests.

4 Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat j to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters. 5 But he gave a double k portion l to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving. 6 Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving. 7 Whenever she went up to the Lord’s house, m her rival taunted her in this way every year. Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than 10 sons?” n

9 Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. o Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s tabernacle. p 10 Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears. q 11 Making a vow, r she pleaded, “Lord of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant’s affliction, s remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, t I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.” u v

12 While she continued praying in the Lord’s presence, Eli watched her lips. 13 Hannah was praying silently, w x and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and scolded her, “How long are you going to be drunk? y Get rid of your wine!”

15 “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord. z 16 Don’t think of me as a wicked woman; a I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.” b

17 Eli responded, “Go in peace, c and may the God of Israel grant the petition you’ve requested from Him.” d

18 “May your servant find favor with you,” e she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer looked despondent. f g

Samuel’s Birth and Dedication

19 The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the Lord. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah. h Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. i 20 After some time, j Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, k because she said, “I requested him from the Lord.”