1 Samuel 1

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

2He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah; Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3That man went up from his city year by year to worship and sacrifice to Yahweh of hosts in Shiloh, and there the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh.

4On the day Elkanah sacrificed, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and daughters.

5But to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had closed her womb.

6Her rival also provoked her to anger in order to make her fret, because Yahweh had shut her womb.

7He acted thus year by year, whenever she went up to the house of Yahweh; so she provoked her, and she wept and did not eat.

8Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why does your heart grieve? Am I not better for you than ten sons?"

9Hannah arose after they ate in Shiloh and after they drank. Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of Yahweh's temple.

10She was embittered in her soul and prayed to Yahweh, weeping greatly.

11She vowed a vow and said, "Yahweh of hosts, if you truly see the affliction of your servant and remember me, and do not forget your servant, but grant your servant a son, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."

12It happened, as she prolonged her prayer before Yahweh, that Eli watched her mouth.

13As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart. Only her lips quivered, but her voice was unheard. Eli deemed her drunk.

14Eli said to her, "How long will you stay drunk? Remove your wine from yourself."

15Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman with a troubled spirit. I have not drunk wine or strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh.

16Do not consider your maidservant a daughter of Belial, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.

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

19They rose early in the morning and bowed before Yahweh, then returned and arrived at their home in Ramah, where Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and Yahweh remembered her.

20When the days were fulfilled, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked him from Yahweh."

21The man Elkanah and all his house went up to sacrifice to Yahweh the sacrifice of the days and his vow.

22Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "Not until the boy is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh and dwell there forever."

23Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what is good in your eyes; remain until you wean him—only may Yahweh establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.

24After 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 Yahweh's house in Shiloh. The boy was young.

25They slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.

26She said, "Oh my lord, as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood beside you here to pray to Yahweh."

27For this child I prayed, and Yahweh has given me my request which I asked of him.

28Therefore I have also lent him to Yahweh; all the days that he lives, he is lent to Yahweh, and he bowed down to Yahweh there.