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Elkanah and His Wives

¹ There was a certain man of ^(C1)Ramathaim-zophim, of the ^(F1)(C2)hill country of Ephraim, named ^(C3)Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an ^(F2)Ephraimite.² He had ^(C1)two wives, one named ^(C2)Hannah and the other named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

³ This man went up from his city ^(F1)(C1)each year ^(C2)to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at ^(C3)Shiloh. Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests to the LORD there.⁴ When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he ^(C1)would give portions of the sacrificial meat to Peninnah his wife and all her sons and daughters.⁵ But to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, ^(C1)but the LORD had ^(F1)given her no children.⁶ Hannah's rival ^(C1)provoked her bitterly, to irritate and embarrass her, because the LORD had ^(F1)left her childless.⁷ So it happened year after year, whenever she went up to the house of the LORD, Peninnah provoked her; so she wept and would not eat.⁸ Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you cry and why do you not eat? Why are you so sad and discontent? ^(C1)Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

⁹ So Hannah got up after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside the doorpost of ^(C1)the temple (tabernacle) of the LORD.¹⁰ Hannah was ^(F1)greatly distressed, and she prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.¹¹ She ^(C1)made a vow, saying, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed ^(C2)look on the affliction (suffering) of Your maidservant and remember, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life; ^(C3)a ^(F1)razor shall never touch his head."

¹² Now it happened as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth.¹³ Hannah ^(C1)was speaking in her heart (mind); only her lips were moving, and her voice was not heard, so Eli ^(F1)thought she was drunk.¹⁴ Eli said to her, "^(C1)How long will you make yourself drunk? Get rid of your wine."¹⁵ But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman with a despairing spirit. I have not been drinking wine or any intoxicating drink, but I ^(C1)have poured out my soul before the LORD. ^(VR1)16 "Do not regard your maidservant as a wicked and worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and bitter provocation."¹⁷ Then Eli answered and said, "^(C1)Go in peace; and may the God of Israel ^(C2)grant your petition that you have asked of Him."¹⁸ Hannah said, "^(C1)Let your maidservant find grace and favor in your sight." So the woman went on her way and ate, and ^(C2)her face was no longer sad.

Samuel Is Born to Hannah

¹⁹ The family got up early the next morning, worshiped before the LORD, and returned to their home in ^(C1)Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and ^(C2)the LORD remembered her prayer.²⁰ It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; she named him ^{i.e. Yahweh, LORD} is God" or "His name is God," but the etymology is uncertain.">(F1)Samuel, saying, "Because ^(C1)I have asked for him from the LORD."

²¹ Then the man Elkanah and all his household ^(C1)went up to offer to the LORD the ^(F1)yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.²² But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "I will not go up until the child is ^(F1)weaned; and then I will ^(C1)bring him, so that he may appear before the LORD and ^(C2)remain there as long as he lives."^23 (C1)Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only ^(C2)may the LORD establish and confirm His word." So the woman remained behind and nursed her son until she weaned him.²⁴ Now when she had weaned him, ^(C1)she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a ^(F1)leather bottle of wine to pour over the burnt offering for a sweet fragrance, and she brought Samuel to ^(C2)the LORD'S house in Shiloh, although the child was young.²⁵ Then ^(C1)they slaughtered the bull, and ^(C2)brought the child to Eli.²⁶ Hannah said, "Oh, my lord! ^(C1)As surely as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood beside you here, praying to the LORD.²⁷ "^(C1)For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my request which I asked of Him.²⁸ "^(C1)Therefore I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD." And ^(C2)they worshiped the LORD there.