1 Samuel 1

The Birth of Samuel

1 There was a certain man of a Ramathaim-zophim of b the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, c an Ephrathite. 2 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 Now this man used to go up d year by year from his city e to worship and to sacrifice to the  Lord of hosts f at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the  Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, g he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the  Lord had closed her womb. ▼
▼ Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. Septuagint And, although he loved Hannah, he would give Hannah only one portion, because the  Lord had closed her womb
 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the  Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the  Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? i Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of j the temple of the  Lord. 10 She was k deeply distressed and prayed to the  Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she l vowed a vow and said, “O  Lord of hosts, if you will indeed m look on the affliction of your servant and n remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the  Lord all the days of his life, o and no razor shall touch his head.”

12 As she continued praying before the  Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but p I have been pouring out my soul before the  Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as q a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, r “Go in peace, and the God of Israel s grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, t “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman u went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the  Lord; then they went back to their house at v Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the  Lord w remembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the  Lord.” ▼
▼  Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for heard of God

Samuel Given to the  Lord

21 The man Elkanah and all his house y went up to offer to the  Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the  Lord z and dwell there forever.” 23  aa Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; ab only, may the  Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, ac she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, ▼
▼ Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Syriac; Masoretic Text three bulls
 an ephah ▼
▼ An  ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
 of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to af the house of the  Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! ag As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the  Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, ah and the  Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the  Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the  Lord.”

ai And he worshiped the  Lord there.

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