| Chapter 1 |
| 1 | Now there was a certain man of
Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of
Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an
Ephrathite: |
| 2
| And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and
the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no
children. |
| 3
| And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship
and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli,
Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. |
| 4 | And when
the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her
sons and her daughters, portions: |
| 5 | But unto Hannah he gave a
worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
|
| 6 | And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because
the LORD had shut up her womb. |
|
7 | And as he did so year by year, when she
went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and
did not eat. |
| 8
| Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest
thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to
thee than ten sons? |
| 9 | So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in
Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post
of the temple of the LORD. |
|
10 | And she was in bitterness of soul, and
prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. |
| 11 | And she vowed a vow, and
said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine
handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto
thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of
his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. |
| 12 | And it came
to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her
mouth. |
| 13
| Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved,
but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
|
| 14 | And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine
from thee. |
| 15
| And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman
of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have
poured out my soul before the LORD. |
| 16 | Count not thine handmaid for
a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I
spoken hitherto. |
|
17 | Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the
God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. |
| 18 |
And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her
way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. |
| 19 | And they
rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and
came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD
remembered her. |
|
20 | Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come
about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name
Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. |
| 21 | And the man
Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly
sacrifice, and his vow. |
| 22 | But Hannah went not up; for she said unto
her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring
him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. |
| 23 |
And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until
thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and
gave her son suck until she weaned him. |
|
24 | And when she had weaned
him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and
a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the
child was young. |
|
25 | And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to
Eli. |
| 26 |
And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am
the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. |
| 27 | For this
child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of
him: |
| 28 |
Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he
liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. |
