1 Samuel 1
1 There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim, in the hill country of Ephraim, named Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2 He had two wives: one was named Hannah, and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3 Every year this man went up from his town to worship and offer sacrifices to the LORD of Armies at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD.
4 On the day Elkanah offered the sacrifice, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.
5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved Hannah; but the LORD had closed her womb.
6 Her rival kept provoking her to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.
7 He did this year after year. Whenever she went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her, and she wept and would not eat.
8 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah got up. Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple.
10 Deeply distressed, she prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.
11 She made a vow, saying, “LORD of Armies, if you will truly look on the affliction of your servant, remember me and not forget your servant, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor will ever touch his head.”
12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.
13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.
14 Eli said to her, “How long will you stay drunk? Get rid of your wine!”
15 Hannah answered, “No, my lord. I am a woman with a troubled spirit. I have not drunk wine or strong drink; I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.
16 Do not think of your servant as a wicked woman, for I have been speaking all this time out of my great distress and grief.”
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request you have made of him.”
18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer downcast.
19 They got up early in the morning, worshiped before the LORD, and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah slept with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.
20 In time, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “I asked the LORD for him.”
21 Elkanah went up with his whole household to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and fulfill his vow.
22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “When the boy is weaned, I will take him, so he may appear before the LORD and stay there forever.”
23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; stay here until you have weaned him. May the LORD only fulfill his word.” So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24 When she had weaned him, she took him with her, along with three young bulls, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh, and the boy was still very young.
25 They slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.
26 She said, “Please, my lord! As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD.
27 I prayed for this boy, and the LORD granted the request I made of him.
28 So I, in turn, give him to the LORD. For all the days of his life, he is given to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.
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