Chapter 1

Elkanah and His Wives

1 Now there was a certain man from aRamathaim-zophim from the bhill country of Ephraim, and his name was cElkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2 He had atwo wives: the name of one was bHannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 Now this man would go up from his city ayearly bto worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in cShiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there.

4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he awould give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters;

5 but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, abut the Lord had closed her womb.

6 Her rival, however, awould provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.

7 It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat.

8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? aAm I not better to you than ten sons?”

9 Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of athe temple of the Lord.

10 She, 1greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.

11 She amade a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed blook on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a 1son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and ca razor shall never come on his head.”

12 Now it came about, as she 1continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth.

13 As for Hannah, ashe was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.

14 Then Eli said to her, “aHow long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.”

15 But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman 1oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I ahave poured out my soul before the Lord.

16 “Do not 1consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and 2provocation.”

17 Then Eli answered and said, “aGo in peace; and may the God of Israel bgrant your petition that you have asked of Him.”

18 She said, “aLet your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and bher face was no longer sad.

Samuel Is Born to Hannah

19 Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in aRamah. And Elkanah 1had relations with Hannah his wife, and bthe Lord remembered her.

20 It came about 1in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “aBecause I have asked him of the Lord.”

21 Then the man Elkanah awent up with all his household to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.

22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will abring him, that he may appear before the Lord and bstay there forever.”

23 aElkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best 1to you. Remain until you have weaned him; only bmay the Lord confirm His word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.

24 Now when she had weaned him, ashe took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull and one ephah of flour and a jug of wine, and brought him to bthe house of the Lord in Shiloh, although the child was young.

25 Then athey slaughtered the bull, and bbrought the boy to Eli.

26 She said, “Oh, my lord! aAs your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord.

27 “aFor this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him.

28 “aSo I have also 1dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is 1dedicated to the Lord.” And bhe worshiped the Lord there.