1 Samuel 1

1There was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim, from the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3That man used to go up from his city year after year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Armies at Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there as priests of Yahweh.

4And when the day came, Elkanah sacrificed and gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.

5But to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, though Yahweh had closed her womb.

6And her rival would provoke her bitterly in order to irritate her, because Yahweh had closed her womb.

7And so it happened year after year: whenever she went up to the house of Yahweh, Peninnah would provoke her, and she would weep and not eat.

8Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart troubled? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

9After they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of Yahweh.

10And she was bitter in soul, and she prayed to Yahweh and wept bitterly.

11She made a vow and said, “O Yahweh of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your female servant, and remember me, and not forget your female servant, but give your female servant a male child, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

12And as she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli was watching her mouth.

13Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.

14And Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine from you.”

15But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord. I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before Yahweh.”

16Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and my vexation I have spoken until now.

17Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked from him.”

18She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer downcast.

19They rose early in the morning and bowed down before Yahweh. Then they returned and came to their house at Ramah, and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and Yahweh remembered her.

20And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I asked for him from Yahweh.”

21Then the man Elkanah went up with all his household to sacrifice to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice and his vow.

22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the boy is weaned will I bring him, so that he may appear before Yahweh and stay there forever.”

23And Elqanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems good in your eyes. Stay until you have weaned him; only may Yahweh establish his word.” So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

24When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of Yahweh at Shiloh. Now the boy was young.

25Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.

26And she said, “Please, my lord, as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to Yahweh.

27For this boy I prayed, and Yahweh has given me my petition that I asked from him.

28So I also have given him to Yahweh; all the days that he lives, he is given to Yahweh.” And he worshiped Yahweh there.