1 Samuel 1

Elkanah and His Wives

1Now there was a 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. 2And he had 4two wives: the name of one was 5Hannah and the name of the 6other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3Now this man would go up from his city 7yearly 8to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of armies in 9Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there. 4When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he 10would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; 5but to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, 11but the Lord had closed her womb. 6Her rival, moreover, 12would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7And it happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, that she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat. 8Then Elkanah her husband would say to her, “Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you not eat, and why is your heart sad? 13Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

9Then Hannah got up after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of 14the 15temple of the Lord. 10She, 16greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11And she 17made a vow and said, “Lord of armies, if You will indeed 18look on the affliction of Your bond-servant and remember me, and not forget Your bond-servant, but will give Your bond-servant a 19son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and 20a razor shall never come on his head.”

12Now it came about, as she 21continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13As for Hannah, 22she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were quivering, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought that she was drunk. 14Then Eli said to her, “23How long will you behave like a drunk? Get rid of your wine!” 15But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman 24despairing in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I 25have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16Do not 26consider your bond-servant a useless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” 17Then Eli answered and said, “27Go in peace; and may the God of Israel 28grant your request that you have asked of Him.” 18She said, “29Let your bond-servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went on her way and ate, and 30her face was no longer sad.

Samuel Is Born to Hannah

19Then they got up early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in 31Ramah. And Elkanah 32had relations with Hannah his wife, and 33the Lord remembered her. 20It came about 34in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “35Because I have asked for him of the Lord.”

21Then the man Elkanah 36went up with all his household to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go until the child is weaned; then I will 37bring him, so that he may appear before the Lord and 38stay there for life.” 2339Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do 40what seems best to you. Stay until you have weaned him; only 41may the Lord confirm His word.” So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24Now when she had weaned him, 42she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull, one ephah of flour, and a jug of wine, and brought him to 43the house of the Lord in Shiloh, although the child was young. 25Then 44they 45slaughtered the bull, and 46brought the boy to Eli. 26And she said, “Pardon me, my lord! 47As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. 2748For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my request which I asked of Him. 2849So I have also 50dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is 51dedicated to the Lord.” And 52he worshiped the Lord there.