The First Book of Samuel
1
1 Now
there was a certain
man of Ramathaim Zophim,
of the hill
country of Ephraim,
and his name
was Elkanah, the
son of Jeroham,
the son of Elihu,
the son of
Tohu, the son
of Zuph,
an Ephraimite.
2 He
had two wives. The
name of one
was Hannah, and
the name of
the other Peninnah.
Peninnah had
children, but
Hannah had no
children.
3 This
man went up
out of his
city from year
to year to
worship and to
sacrifice to the
LORD
of Armies in
Shiloh. The two
sons of Eli,
Hophni and
Phinehas, priests
to the LORD,
were there.
4 When
the day came
that Elkanah sacrificed,
he gave portions
to Peninnah
his wife and to
all her sons
and her daughters;
5 but
he gave a double
portion to Hannah,
for he loved
Hannah, but the
LORD had shut
up her womb.
6 Her
rival provoked
her severely, to
irritate her,
because the LORD
had shut up
her womb.
7 So
year by year,
when she went
up to the
LORD’s house,
her rival provoked
her. Therefore she
wept, and didn’t eat.
8 Elkanah
her husband said to
her, “Hannah, why
do you weep?
Why don’t you eat?
Why is your
heart grieved? Am
I not better
to you than
ten sons?”
9 So
Hannah rose up
after they
had finished eating and
drinking in Shiloh.
Now Eli the
priest was sitting
on his seat
by the doorpost
of the LORD’s
temple.
10 She
was in bitterness
of soul, and
prayed to the
LORD, weeping
bitterly.
11 She
vowed a vow,
and said, “LORD of
Armies, if you
will indeed look
at the affliction
of your servant
and remember me,
and not forget
your servant, but
will give to
your servant a boy,
then I will
give him to
the LORD all
the days of
his life, and
no razor shall
come on his
head.”
12 As
she continued
praying before the
LORD, Eli saw her
mouth.
13 Now
Hannah spoke in
her heart. Only
her lips moved,
but her voice
was not heard.
Therefore Eli
thought she was
drunk.
14 Eli said
to her, “How
long will you be
drunk? Get rid of
your wine!”
15 Hannah
answered, “No, my
lord, I am
a woman of a
sorrowful spirit.
I have not
been drinking wine
or strong drink,
but I poured
out my soul
before the LORD.
16 Don’t
consider your servant
a wicked woman;
for I have been
speaking out of
the abundance of
my complaint and
my provocation.”
17 Then
Eli answered, “Go
in peace; and
may the God
of Israel grant
your petition that
you have asked
of him.”
18 She said,
“Let your servant
find favor in
your sight.” So
the woman went her
way and ate; and
her facial expression wasn’t sad
any more.
19 They
rose up in
the morning early
and worshiped the
LORD, then
returned and came
to their house
to Ramah.
Then Elkanah knew
Hannah his wife;
and the LORD
remembered her.
20 When
the time had
come, Hannah
conceived, and
bore a son;
and she named
him Samuel,
saying, “Because I
have asked him
of the LORD.”
21 The
man Elkanah, and
all his house,
went up to
offer to the
LORD the yearly
sacrifice and his
vow.
22 But
Hannah didn’t go
up, for she said
to her husband, “Not
until the child
is weaned; then
I will bring
him, that he
may appear before
the LORD, and
stay there
forever.”
23 Elkanah
her husband said
to her, “Do
what seems good
to you. Wait
until you have
weaned him; only
may the LORD
establish his
word.”
So the woman waited
and nursed her
son until she
weaned him.
24 When
she had weaned
him, she took
him up with her,
with three bulls,
and one ephah
of meal, and
a container of
wine, and brought
him to the
LORD’s house in
Shiloh. The child
was young.
25 They
killed the bull,
and brought the
child to Eli.
26 She said,
“Oh, my lord, as
your soul lives,
my lord, I
am the woman
who stood by
you here, praying
to the LORD.
27 I
prayed for this
child, and the
LORD has given
me my petition
which I asked
of him.
28 Therefore
I have also given
him to the
LORD. As long
as he lives
he is given to
the LORD.” He
worshiped the LORD
there.