1
Samuel Chapter 1: 1-20
The Birth of Samuel
1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from 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; one was called Hannah and the other
Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to
the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests
of the LORD . 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give
portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5
But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her
womb. 6 And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her
in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went
up to the house of the LORD , her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8
Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you
eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"
9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up.
Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple. 10
In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD . 11 And she made
a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and
remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the
LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."
12 As she kept on praying to the LORD , Eli observed her mouth. 13
Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli
thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, "How long will you keep on
getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."
15 "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is
deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the
LORD . 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here
out of my great anguish and grief."
17 Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what
you have asked of him."
18 She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she
went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then
went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD
remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to
a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."
