1 T here was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, named Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2 H e had two wives, one named Hannah and the other named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3 T his man went from his city year by year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were the Lord’s priests.

4 W hen the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give to Peninnah his wife and all her sons and daughters portions.

5 B ut to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had given her no children.

6 a nd her rival provoked her greatly to vex her, because the Lord had left her childless.

7 S o it was year after year; whenever Hannah went up to the Lord’s house, Peninnah provoked her, so she wept and did not eat.

8 T hen Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why do you cry? And why do you not eat? And why are you grieving? Am I not more to you than ten sons?

9 S o Hannah rose after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside a post of the temple (tent) of the Lord.

10 A nd was in distress of soul, praying to the Lord and weeping bitterly.

11 S he vowed, saying, O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life; no razor shall touch his head.

12 A nd as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli noticed her mouth.

13 H annah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.

14 E li said to her, How long will you be intoxicated? Put wine away from you.

15 B ut Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I was pouring out my soul before the Lord.

16 R egard not your handmaid as a wicked woman; for out of my great complaint and bitter provocation I have been speaking.

17 T hen Eli said, Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.

18 H annah said, Let your handmaid find grace in your sight. So went her way and ate, her countenance no longer sad.

19 T he family rose early the next morning, worshiped before the Lord, and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.

20 H annah became pregnant and in due time bore a son and named him Samuel, Because, she said, I have asked him of the Lord.

21 A nd Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.

22 B ut Hannah did not go, for she said to her husband, I will not go until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there as long as he lives.

23 E lkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the Lord establish His word. So Hannah remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.

24 W hen she had weaned him, she took him with her, with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin bottle of wine, and brought Samuel to the Lord’s house in Shiloh. The child was growing.

25 T hen they slew the bull, and brought the child to Eli.

26 H annah said, Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here praying to the Lord.

27 F or this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition made to Him.

28 T herefore I have given him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is given to the Lord. And they worshiped the Lord there.