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. 2 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.

3 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. 4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he ^awould give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters; 5 but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, ^abut the LORD had closed her womb. 6 Her rival, however, ^awould provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. 7 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. 8 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?”

9 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. 10 She, ¹greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. 11 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.”

12 Now it came about, as she ¹continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13 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. 14 Then Eli said to her, “^aHow long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” 15 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. 16 Do not ¹consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and ²provocation.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “^aGo in peace; and may the God of Israel ^bgrant your petition that you have asked of Him.” 18 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.

19 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. 20 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.”

21 Then the man Elkanah ^awent up with all his household to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow. 22 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.” 23 ^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. 24 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. 25 Then ^athey slaughtered the bull, and ^bbrought the boy to Eli. 26 She said, “Oh, my lord! ^aAs your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD. 27 ^aFor this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 ^aSo I have also ¹dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is ²dedicated to the LORD.” And ^bhe worshiped the LORD there.

There was a certain man of ^aRamathaim-zophim, of the ^1bhill country of Ephraim, named ^cElkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an ²Ephraimite. 2 He had ^atwo wives, one named ^bHannah and the other named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3 This man went up from his city ^1aeach year ^bto worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at ^cShiloh. Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests to the LORD there. 4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he ^awould give portions of the sacrificial meat to Peninnah his wife and all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, ^abut the LORD had ¹given her no children. 6 Hannah’s rival ^aprovoked her bitterly, to irritate and embarrass her, because the LORD had ¹left her childless. 7 So it happened year after year, whenever she went up to the house of the LORD, Peninnah provoked her; so she wept and would not eat. 8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you cry and why do you not eat? Why are you so sad and discontent? ^aAm I not better to you than ten sons?”

9 So Hannah got up after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside the doorpost of ^athe temple (tabernacle) of the LORD. 10 Hannah was ¹greatly distressed, and she prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. 11 She ^amade a vow, saying, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed ^blook on the affliction (suffering) of Your maidservant and remember, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life; ^ca ¹razor shall never touch his head.”

12 Now it happened as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13 Hannah ^awas speaking in her heart (mind) ; only her lips were moving, and her voice was not heard, so Eli ¹thought she was drunk. 14 Eli said to her, “^aHow long will you make yourself drunk? Get rid of your wine.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman with a despairing spirit. I have not been drinking wine or any intoxicating drink, but I ^ahave poured out my soul before the LORD. Gen 19:34 16 Do not regard your maidservant as a wicked and worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and bitter provocation.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “^aGo in peace; and may the God of Israel ^bgrant your petition that you have asked of Him.” 18 Hannah said, “^aLet your maidservant find grace and favor in your sight.” So the woman went on her way and ate, and ^bher face was no longer sad.

19 The family got up early the next morning, worshiped before the LORD, and returned to their home in ^aRamah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and ^bthe LORD remembered her prayer. 20 It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; she named him ¹Samuel, saying, “Because ^aI have asked for him from the LORD.”

21 Then the man Elkanah and all his household ^awent up to offer to the LORD the ¹yearly sacrifice and pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child is ¹weaned; and then I will ^abring him, so that he may appear before the LORD and ^bremain there as long as he lives.” 23 ^aElkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only ^bmay the LORD establish and confirm His word.” So the woman remained behind and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 Now when she had weaned him, ^ashe took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a ¹leather bottle of wine to pour over the burnt offering for a sweet fragrance, and she brought Samuel to ^bthe LORD’S house in Shiloh, although the child was young. 25 Then ^athey slaughtered the bull, and ^bbrought the child to Eli. 26 Hannah said, “Oh, my lord! ^aAs surely as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood beside you here, praying to the LORD. 27 ^aFor this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my request which I asked of Him. 28 ^aTherefore I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD.” And ^bthey worshiped the LORD there.