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.