1 Samuel 1

Chapter 1

Elkanah and His Family

1 There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the region of Zupht in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, of Ephraim.

2 Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.
3 Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the LORD at that time were the two sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas.4 On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children.5 And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portiont because the LORD had given her no children.6 So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the LORD had kept her from having children.

7 Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle.t Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.

8 “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?”

Hannah’s Prayer for a Son

9 Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle.t10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD.

11 And she made this vow: “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut.t”
12 As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her.13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking.

14 “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”
15 “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD.

16 Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”

17 “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”

18 “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.

Samuel’s Birth and Dedication

19 The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the LORD once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the LORD remembered her plea,

20 and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,t for she said, “I asked the LORD for him.”
21 The next year Elkanah and his family went on their annual trip to offer a sacrifice to the LORD.

22 But Hannah did not go. She told her husband, “Wait until the boy is weaned. Then I will take him to the Tabernacle and leave him there with the LORD permanently.t”

23 “Whatever you think is best,” Elkanah agreed. “Stay here for now, and may the LORD help you keep your promise.” So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned.
24 When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three-year-old bullt for the sacrifice and a baskett of flour and some wine.25 After sacrificing the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.26 “Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the woman who stood here several years ago praying to the LORD.27 I asked the LORD to give me this boy, and he has granted my request.

28 Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life.” And theyt worshiped the LORD there.

1 SAMUEL 1

Hannah Asks the [Lord] //for a Child

1 Elkanah lived in Ramah, t a town in the hill country of Ephraim. His great-great-grandfather was Zuph, so Elkanah was a member of the Zuph clan of the Ephraim tribe. Elkanah's father was Jeroham, his grandfather was Elihu, and his great-grandfather was Tohu.

2 Elkanah had two wives, t Hannah and Peninnah. Although Peninnah had children, Hannah did not have any.

3 Once a year Elkanah traveled from his hometown to Shiloh, where he worshiped the [Lord] All-Powerful and offered sacrifices. Eli was the [Lord]'s priest there, and his two sons Hophni and Phinehas served with him as priests.t
4 Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he gave some of the meatt to Peninnah and some to each of her sons and daughters.

5 But he gave Hannah even more, becauset he loved Hannah very much, even though the [Lord] had kept her from having children of her own.
6 Peninnah liked to make Hannah feel miserable about not having any children,

7 especially when the family went to the house of the [Lord]t each year.
One day, Elkanah was there offering a sacrifice, when Hannah began crying and refused to eat.

8 So Elkanah asked, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why won't you eat? Why do you feel so bad? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?”
9 When the sacrifice had been offered, and they had eaten the meal, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli was sitting in his chair near the door to the place of worship. 10 Hannah was heartbroken and was crying as she prayed,

11 t “[Lord] All-Powerful, I am your servant, but I am so miserable! Please let me have a son. I promise to give him to you for as long as he lives, and his hair will never be cut.”t
12-13 Hannah prayed silently to the [Lord] for a long time. But her lips were moving, and Eli thought she was drunk.

14 “How long are you going to stay drunk?” he asked. “Sober up!”

15-16 “Sir, please don't think I'm no good!” Hannah answered. “I'm not drunk, and I haven't been drinking. But I do feel miserable and terribly upset. I've been praying all this time, telling the [Lord] about my problems.”

17 Eli replied, “Go home. Everything will be fine. The God of Israel will answer your prayer.”

18 “Sir, thank you for being so kind to me,” Hannah said. Then she left, and after eating something, she felt much better.

Samuel Is Born

20 with a son. She named him Samuel because she had asked the [Lord] for him.t

Hannah Gives Samuel //to the [Lord]

22 But Hannah stayed home, because she had told Elkanah, “Samuel and I won't go until he's old enough for me to stop nursing him. Then I'll give him to the [Lord], and he can stay there at Shiloh for the rest of his life.”

23 “You know what's best,” Elkanah said. “Stay here until it's time to stop nursing him. I'm sure the [Lord] will help you do what you have promised.”t Hannah did not go to Shiloh until she stopped nursing Samuel.

24-25 When it was the time of year to go to Shiloh again, Hannah and Elkanaht took Samuel to the [Lord]'s house. They brought along a three-year-old bull, t a sack containing about nine kilograms of flour, and a clay jar full of wine. Hannah and Elkanah offered the bull as a sacrifice, then brought the little boy to Eli.
26 “Sir,” Hannah said, “a few years ago I stood here beside you and asked the [Lord] 27 to give me a child. Here he is! The [Lord] gave me just what I asked for.

28 Now I am giving him to the [Lord], and he will be the [Lord]'s servant for as long as he lives.”

Hannah Prays