1 Samuel 1

Elkanah and His Wives

1Now there was a certain man from 1Ramathaim-zophim from the 2hill country of Ephraim, and his name was 3Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2He had 4two wives: the name of one was 5Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3Now this man would go up from his city 6yearly 7to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in 8Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there. 4When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he 9would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters; 5but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, 10but the Lord had closed her womb. 6Her rival, however, 11would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7It 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. 8Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? 12Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

9Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of 13the temple of the Lord. 10She, 14greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11She 15made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed 16look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a 17son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and 18a razor shall never come on his head.”

12Now it came about, as she 19continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13As for Hannah, 20she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. 14Then Eli said to her, “21How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” 15But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman 22oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I 23have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16Do not 24consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and 25provocation.” 17Then Eli answered and said, “26Go in peace; and may the God of Israel 27grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” 18She said, “28Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and 29her face was no longer sad.

Samuel Is Born to Hannah

19Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in 30Ramah. And Elkanah 31had relations with Hannah his wife, and 32the Lord remembered her. 20It came about 33in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “34Because I have asked him of the Lord.”

21Then the man Elkanah 35went up with all his household to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow. 22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will 36bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and 37stay there forever.” 2338Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best 39to you. Remain until you have weaned him; only 40may the Lord confirm His word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24Now when she had weaned him, 41she 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 42the house of the Lord in Shiloh, although the child was young. 25Then 43they slaughtered the bull, and 44brought the boy to Eli. 26She said, “Oh, my lord! 45As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. 2746For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. 2847So I have also 48dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is 49dedicated to the Lord.” And 50he worshiped the Lord there.