Now there was a certain
man
from aRamathaim-zophim
from the bhill
country
of Ephraim
, and his name
was cElkanah
the son
of Jeroham
, the son
of Elihu
, the son
of Tohu
, the son
of Zuph
, an Ephraimite
.
He had atwo wives
: the name
of one
was bHannah
and the name
of the other
Peninnah
; and Peninnah
had
children
, but Hannah
had
no
children
.
Now this man
would go
up from his city
ayearly
bto worship
and to sacrifice
to the LORD
of hosts
in cShiloh
. And the two
sons
of Eli
, Hophni
and Phinehas
, were priests
to the LORD
there
.
When the day came
that Elkanah
sacrificed
, he awould give
portions
to Peninnah
his wife
and to all
her sons
and her daughters
;
but to Hannah he would give
a double
portion
, for he loved
Hannah
, abut the LORD
had closed
her womb
.
Her rival, however, awould provoke
her bitterly
to irritate
her, because
the LORD
had closed
her womb
.
It 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
.
Then Elkanah her husband
said
to her, "Hannah
, why
do you weep
and why
do you not eat
and why
is your heart
sad
? aAm I not better
to you than
ten
sons
?"
Then Hannah rose
after
eating
and drinking
in Shiloh
. Now Eli
the priest
was sitting
on the seat
by the doorpost
of athe temple
of the LORD
.
She, 1greatly distressed
, prayed
to the LORD
and wept
bitterly
.
She amade a vow
and said
, "O LORD
of hosts
, if
You will indeed
blook
on the affliction
of Your maidservant
and remember
me, and not forget
Your maidservant
, but will give
Your maidservant
a 1son
, then I will give
him to the LORD
all
the days
of his life
, and ca razor
shall never
come
on his head
."
Now it came about, as she 1continued
praying
before
the LORD
, that Eli
was watching
her mouth
.
As for Hannah, ashe was speaking
in her heart
, only
her lips
were moving
, but her voice
was not heard
. So Eli
thought
she was drunk
.
Then Eli said
to her, " aHow
long
will you make
yourself drunk
? Put
away
your wine
from you."
But Hannah replied
, "No
, my lord
, I am a woman
1oppressed
in spirit
; I have drunk
neither
wine
nor
strong
drink
, but I ahave poured
out my soul
before
the LORD
.
"Do not 1consider your maidservant
as a worthless
woman
, for I have spoken
until
now
out of my great
concern
and 2provocation
."
Then Eli answered
and said
, " aGo
in peace
; and may the God
of Israel
bgrant
your petition
that you have asked
of Him."
She said, " aLet your maidservant
find
favor
in your sight
." So the woman
went
her way
and ate
, and bher face
was no
longer
sad.
Then they arose early
in the morning
and worshiped
before
the LORD
, and returned
again
to their house
in aRamah
. And Elkanah
1had
relations
with Hannah
his wife
, and bthe LORD
remembered
her.
It came about 1in due
time
, after Hannah
had conceived
, that she gave
birth
to a son
; and she named
him Samuel
, saying, " aBecause
I have asked
him of the LORD
."
Then the man Elkanah
awent
up with all
his household
to offer
to the LORD
the yearly
sacrifice
and pay his vow
.
But Hannah did not go
up, for she said
to her husband
, "I will not go up until
the child
is weaned
; then I will abring
him, that he may appear
before
the LORD
and bstay
there
forever
."
aElkanah her husband
said
to her, "Do
what
seems best
1to you. Remain
until
you have weaned
him; only
bmay the LORD
confirm
His word
." So the woman
remained
and nursed
her son
until
she weaned
him.
Now when she had weaned
him, ashe 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 bthe house
of the LORD
in Shiloh
, although the child
was young
.
Then athey slaughtered the bull
, and bbrought
the boy
to Eli
.
She said, "Oh
, my lord
! aAs your soul
lives
, my lord
, I am the woman
who stood
here
beside
you, praying
to the LORD
.
" aFor this boy
I prayed
, and the LORD
has given
me my petition
which
I asked
of Him.
" aSo I have also 1dedicated
him to the LORD
; as long
as he lives
he is 1dedicated
to the LORD
." And bhe worshiped
the LORD
there
.