"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.” (1
Samuel 1:1-28 AV)
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