1 Samuel 1:1-21 ▼

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.

14 So Eli said to her, |How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine, and go from before the LORD.|

15 And Hannah answered, |No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before the LORD.

16 Do not count your servant as a worthless woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my distress and my anguish.|

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

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

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

20 It happened, when the time had come, that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, |Because I have asked him of the LORD.|

21 The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and to redeem his vow and all the tithes of his land.