Now there was a certain man
of Ramathaimzophim
, of mount
Ephraim
, and his name
was Elkanah
, the son
of Jeroham
, the son
of Elihu
, the son
of Tohu
, the son
of Zuph
, an Ephrathite
:
And he had two wives
; the name
of the one
was Hannah
, and the name
of the other
Peninnah
: and Peninnah
had children
, but Hannah
had no children
.
And this man
went up
out of his city
yearly
to worship
and to sacrifice
unto the LORD
of hosts
in Shiloh
. And the two
sons
of Eli
, Hophni
and Phinehas
, the priests
of the LORD
, were there.
And when the time was that Elkanah
offered
, he gave
to Peninnah
his wife
, and to all her sons
and her daughters
, portions
:
But unto Hannah he gave
a
worthy
portion
; for he loved
Hannah
: but the LORD
had shut up
her womb
.
And her adversary also provoked
her sore
, for to make her fret
, because the LORD
had shut
up
her womb
.
And as he did so year
by year
, when
she went up
to the house
of the LORD
, so she provoked
her; therefore she wept
, and did not eat
.
Then said Elkanah
her husband
to her, Hannah
, why weepest
thou? and why eatest
thou not? and why is thy heart
grieved
? am not I better
to thee than ten
sons
?
So Hannah rose up
after
they had eaten
in Shiloh
, and after
they had drunk
. Now Eli
the priest
sat
upon a seat
by a post
of the temple
of the LORD
.
And she was in bitterness of soul
, and prayed
unto the LORD
, and wept
sore
.
And she vowed a vow
, and said
, O LORD
of hosts
, if thou wilt indeed
look
on the affliction
of thine handmaid
, and remember
me, and not forget
thine handmaid
, but wilt give
unto thine handmaid
a man
child
, then I will give
him unto the LORD
all the days
of his life
, and there shall no razor
come
upon his head
.
And it came to pass, as she continued praying
before
the LORD
, that Eli
marked
her mouth
.
Now Hannah, she spake
in her heart
; only her lips
moved
, but her voice
was not heard
: therefore Eli
thought
she had been drunken
.
And Eli said
unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken
? put away
thy wine
from thee.
And Hannah answered
and said
, No, my lord
, I am a woman
of a sorrowful
spirit
: I have drunk
neither wine
nor strong drink
, but have poured out
my soul
before
the LORD
.
Count not thine handmaid
for
a daughter
of Belial
: for out of the abundance
of my complaint
and grief
have I spoken
hitherto.
Then Eli answered
and said
, Go
in peace
: and the God
of Israel
grant
thee thy petition
that thou hast asked
of him.
And she said, Let thine handmaid
find
grace
in thy sight
. So the woman
went
her way
, and did eat
, and her countenance
was no more sad .
And they rose up in the morning
early
, and worshipped
before
the LORD
, and returned
, and came
to their house
to Ramah
: and Elkanah
knew
Hannah
his wife
; and the LORD
remembered
her.
Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come
about after Hannah
had conceived
, that she bare
a son
, and called
his name
Samuel
, saying , Because I have asked
him of the LORD
.
And the man Elkanah
, and all his house
, went up
to offer
unto the LORD
the yearly
sacrifice
, and his vow
.
But Hannah went not up
; for she said
unto her husband
, I will not go up until the child
be weaned
, and then I will bring
him, that he may appear
before
the LORD
, and there abide
for
ever
.
And Elkanah her husband
said
unto her, Do
what seemeth
thee good
; tarry
until thou have weaned
him; only the LORD
establish
his word
. So the woman
abode
, and gave her son
suck
until she weaned
him.
And when she had weaned him, she took him up
with her, with three
bullocks
, and one
ephah
of flour
, and a bottle
of wine
, and brought
him unto the house
of the LORD
in Shiloh
: and the child
was young
.
And they slew a bullock
, and brought
the child
to Eli
.
And she said, Oh
my lord
, as thy soul
liveth
, my lord
, I am the woman
that stood
by thee here, praying
unto the LORD
.
For this child I prayed
; and the LORD
hath given
me my petition
which I asked
of him:
Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD
; as long as he liveth
he shall be lent
to the LORD
. And he worshipped
the LORD
there.