1 SamuelChapter 1

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¹There was a man named Elkanah. He was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph. He was from the tribe of Ephraim. ²He had two wives. One was named Hannah, and the other was named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. ³Every year Elkanah went up from his town to Shiloh. He went to worship the LORD of Hosts and offer sacrifices to him there. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD at Shiloh. ⁴Each time Elkanah offered his sacrifice, he gave shares of the meat to his wife Peninnah. He also gave shares to all her sons and daughters. ⁵But he gave Hannah a double share, because he loved her. He did this even though the LORD had kept her from having children. ⁶The LORD had kept Hannah from having children. So her rival kept teasing her in cruel ways to upset her. ⁷This went on year after year. Every time Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival teased her. Then Hannah would cry and not eat. ⁸Her husband Elkanah would ask, "Hannah, why are you crying? Why won't you eat? Why is your heart so sad? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" ⁹One time, after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple. ¹⁰Hannah was very upset and bitter. She prayed to the LORD and cried and cried. ¹¹She made a vow. She said, "LORD of Hosts, please look at how your servant is suffering. Remember me! Don't forget me, your servant. Please give me a son. If you do, I will give him to the LORD for his whole life. No razor will ever be used on his head." ¹²Hannah kept praying to the LORD for a long time. Eli watched her mouth. ¹³Hannah was praying in her heart. Her lips were moving, but no one could hear her voice. So Eli thought she was drunk. ¹⁴He said to her, "How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine!" ¹⁵"No, sir," Hannah answered. "I am a woman whose spirit is very troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer. I have been pouring out my soul to the LORD. ¹⁶Don't think your servant is a wicked woman. For all this time I have been praying out of my deep pain and sorrow." ¹⁷Eli answered, "Go in peace. May the God of Israel give you what you have asked him for." ¹⁸Hannah said, "May I, your servant, find favor with you." Then she went on her way. She began to eat, and her face was no longer sad. ¹⁹Early the next morning they got up and worshiped the LORD. Then they went back home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. ²⁰So in time Hannah became pregnant and had a son. She named him Samuel. She said, "I asked the LORD for him."a ²¹Then Elkanah and his whole family went up to offer the yearly sacrifice to the LORD. Elkanah also went to keep his promise. ²²But Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "I will wait until the boy no longer needs to nurse. Then I will take him to stand before the LORD. He will stay there for good." ²³Her husband Elkanah said, "Do what you think is best. Stay here until he no longer nurses. Only may the LORD keep his word." So Hannah stayed home and nursed her son until he was done nursing. ²⁴When he was done nursing, Hannah took the boy with her. She also took a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. The boy was still young. She brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.b ²⁵They killed the bull for the sacrifice. Then they brought the boy to Eli. ²⁶Hannah said, "Please, sir, as surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you. I was praying to the LORD. ²⁷I prayed for this boy. And the LORD has given me what I asked him for. ²⁸So now I am giving the boy to the LORD. For his whole life he will belong to the LORD." And they worshiped the LORD there.