1There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim 1Sm 1:19 in Or from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim. Jos 17:14-18; Jdg 17:1 His name was Elkanah 1Ch 6:22-28,33-38 son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2He had two wives, Dt 21:15-17 the first named Hannah Lk 2:36 and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.

3This man would go up from his town every year Ex 34:23; Dt 16:16; Lk 2:41 to worship and to sacrifice Ex 23:14-17 to the Lord of Hosts at Shiloh, Jos 18:1 where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord’s priests.

4Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat Dt 12:17-18 to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters.

5But he gave a double Or gave only one ; Hb obscure portion Gn 43:34; 48:22 to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving.

6Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving.

7Whenever she went up to the Lord’s house, Jos 18:1 her rival taunted her in this way every year. Hannah wept and would not eat.

8“Hannah, why are you crying? ” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than 10 sons? ” Ru 4:15

9Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. LXX adds and presented herself before the Lord Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s tabernacle. 1Sm 3:3

10Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears. 1Sm 30:6; 2Kg 4:27

11Making a vow, Nm 30:6-11 she pleaded, “Lord of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant’s affliction, Gn 29:32 remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, Lit a seed of men I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.” Lit and no razor will go up on his head Nm 6:5; Jdg 13:5; 16:7

12While she continued praying in the Lord’s presence, Eli watched her lips.

13Hannah was praying silently, Lit praying to her heart Gn 24:42-45 and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk

14and scolded her, “How long are you going to be drunk? Ac 2:4,13 Get rid of your wine! ”

15“No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord. Ps 62:8

16Don’t think of me as a wicked woman; 1Sm 2:12 I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.” Lk 6:45

17Eli responded, “Go in peace, 1Sm 25:35; 2Kg 5:19; Mk 5:34 and may the God of Israel grant the petition you’ve requested from Him.” Ru 2:13

18“May your servant find favor with you,” Ru 2:13 she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer looked despondent. Lit and her face was not to her again Rm 15:13

19The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the Lord. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah. 1Sm 1:1; 2:11 Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. Gn 8:1; 30:22; 1Sm 1:11

20After some time, Lit In the turning of the days Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, In Hb, the name Samuel sounds like the phrase “requested from God.” because she said, “I requested him from the Lord.”

21When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice Dt 12:11; 1Sm 1:3 and his vow offering to the Lord,

22Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in the Lord’s presence Lk 2:22 and to stay there permanently.” 1Sm 1:11,28

23Her husband Elkanah replied, “Do what you think is best, Lit what is good in your eyes Nm 30:10-11 and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the Lord confirm your DSS, LXX, Syr; MT reads His word.” Nm 30:13 So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him.

24When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull, DSS, LXX, Syr; MT reads Shiloh with three bulls half a bushel Lit bull and an ephah of flour, and a jar of wine. Nm 15:9-10 Though the boy was still young, Lit And the youth was a youth she took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. Jos 18:1; 1Sm 4:3-4

25Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.

26“Please, my lord,” she said, “as sure as you live, 2Kg 2:2,4,6 my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.

27I prayed for this boy, 1Sm 1:11-13 and since the Lord gave me what I asked Him for, 1Sm 1:17,20

28I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” 1Sm 1:11 Then he DSS read she ; some Hb mss, Syr, Vg read they bowed in worship to the Lord there. LXX reads Then she left him there before the Lord