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was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 Year after year this man would go up from his town to worship and to offer sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to offer sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah his wife and to each of her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, even though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Her rival would taunt her severely, in order to provoke her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 This went on, year after year, that when she would go up to the House of the Lord, Peninnah would provoke Hannah, and she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the Temple of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and she prayed to the Lord and wept much. 11 And she made a vow, saying,
“O Lord of Hosts,
if You will only look upon the affliction of Your handmaid,
and remember me and not forget Your handmaid,
but will give Your handmaid a son,
then I will give him to the Lord all of the days of his life,
and no razor shall ever touch his head.”
12 While she continued praying before the Lord, Eli was watching her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart; only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk, 14 and he said to her, “How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine.”
15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not consider your handmaid as a wicked woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anguish and grief.”
17 So Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant you your petition that you have asked of Him.”
18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favour in your sight.” Then Hannah went on her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
19 The next morning they rose early and worshipped before the Lord; then they returned to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 After some time Hannah conceived and she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked the Lord for him.”
21 When Elkanah and all his household went up to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfil his vow, 22 Hannah did not go up. She said to her husband, “When the child is weaned, I will take him to appear before the Lord, and he will live there always.”
23 Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Do what seems best to you. Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the Lord establish His word.” So the woman remained there and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24 After she had weaned him, she took the boy up with her to Shiloh, along with three bulls, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Although the boy was still young, she took him to the House of the Lord at Shiloh. 25 When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Please, my lord! As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood beside you here praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 So I now lend him to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he will be lent to the Lord.” And he worshipped the Lord there.