1 Samuel 1:1-13 ▼

1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jerahmeel, the son of Elihu, the son of Toah, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

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 This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests of the LORD, were there.

4 When the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and her daughters.

5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion because he loved Hannah. Now the LORD had kept her from conceiving.

6 And because the LORD kept her from conceiving, her rival used to taunt her severely, to irritate her.

7 And this went on year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she taunted her; therefore she would weep and refuse to eat.

8 And her husband Elkanah said to her, |Hannah, why are you weeping? And why are you not eating? And why are you so sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?|

9 So Hannah got up after eating and drinking in Shiloh, and stood before the LORD. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.

10 And she was greatly distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept uncontrollably.

11 And she vowed a vow, and said, |LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will set him before you as a Nazirite until the day of his death. And he will not drink wine or strong drink, and no razor will come on his head.|

12 It happened, as she multiplied prayers before the LORD, that Eli saw her mouth.

13 And she was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.