The Family of Elkanah
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of themountains of Ephraim, and his namewasElkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph,an Ephraimite.
2 And he hadtwo wives: the name of onewasHannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 This man went up from his cityyearlyto worship and sacrifice to theLordof hosts inShiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of theLord,werethere.
4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make anoffering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.
5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah,although theLordhad closed her womb.
6 And her rival alsoprovoked her severely, to make her miserable, because theLordhad closed her womb.
7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of theLord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
Hannah’s Vow
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved?AmI notbetter to you than ten sons?”
9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost ofthe tabernacle of theLord.
10 And shewasin bitterness of soul, and prayed to theLordand wept in anguish.
11 Then shemade a vow and said, “OLordof hosts, if You will indeedlook on the affliction of Your maidservant andremember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to theLordall the days of his life, andno razor shall come upon his head.”
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before theLord, that Eli watched 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 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”
15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, Iama woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but havepoured out my soul before theLord.
16 “Do not consider your maidservant awicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
17 Then Eli answered and said,“Go in peace, andthe God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
18 And she said,“Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the womanwent her way and ate, and her face was no longersad.
Samuel Is Born and Dedicated
19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before theLord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanahknew Hannah his wife, and theLordremembered her.
20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel,saying,“Because I have asked for him from theLord.”
21 Now the man Elkanah and all his housewent up to offer to theLordthe yearly sacrifice and his vow.
22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Notuntil the child is weaned; then I willtake him, that he may appear before theLordandremain thereforever.”
23 SoElkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let theLordestablish His word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24 Now when she had weaned him, shetook him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him tothe house of theLordin Shiloh. And the childwasyoung.
25 Then they slaughtered a bull, andbrought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, “O my lord!As your soul lives, my lord, Iamthe woman who stood by you here, praying to theLord.
27 For this child I prayed, and theLordhas granted me my petition which I asked of Him.
28 Therefore I also have lent him to theLord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to theLord.” So theyworshiped theLordthere.