The Preacher's Bible

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. ²He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. ³This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Jehovah of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Jehovah, were there. ⁴When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters; ⁵but he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb. ⁶Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because Jehovah had shut up her womb. ⁷So year by year, when she went up to Jehovah’s house, her rival provoked her. Therefore she wept, and didn’t eat. ⁸Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

⁹So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Jehovah’s temple. ¹⁰She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Jehovah, weeping bitterly. ¹¹She vowed a vow, and said, “Jehovah of Armies, if you will indeed look at the affliction of your servant and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a boy, then I will give him to Jehovah all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.”

¹²As she continued praying before Jehovah, Eli saw her mouth. ¹³Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. ¹⁴Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”

¹⁵Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Jehovah. ¹⁶Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.”

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

¹⁸She said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate; and her facial expression wasn’t sad any more.

¹⁹They rose up in the morning early and worshiped Jehovah, then returned and came to their house to Ramah. Then Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Jehovah remembered her.

²⁰When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Jehovah.”

²¹The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Jehovah the yearly sacrifice and his vow. ²²But Hannah didn’t go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before Jehovah, and stay there forever.”

²³Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may Jehovah establish his word.” So the woman waited and nursed her son until she weaned him.

²⁴When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a container of wine, and brought him to Jehovah’s house in Shiloh. The child was young. ²⁵They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli. ²⁶She said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Jehovah. ²⁷I prayed for this child, and Jehovah has given me my petition which I asked of him. ²⁸Therefore I have also given him to Jehovah. As long as he lives he is given to Jehovah.” He worshiped Jehovah there.