1 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:
2 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.
3 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.
4 And
when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to
all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 But
unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had
shut up her womb.
6 And
her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD
had shut up her womb.
7 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.
8 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?
9 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.
10 And
she was in
bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11 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.
12 And
it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her
mouth.
13 Now
Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not
heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And
Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 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.
16 Count
not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my
complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then
Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy
petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 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.
19 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.
20 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.
21 And
the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly
sacrifice, and his vow.
22 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.
23 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.
24 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.
25 And
they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 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.
27 For
this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of
him:
28 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.
