Shared Word Translation
1 Samuel 1
There was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim, from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
This man went up from his city year by year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts in Shiloh. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD there.
On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb.
Her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it went on year after year, and as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she was provoked; therefore, she wept and did not eat.
And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"
After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the chair by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. She vowed a vow and said, "LORD of Hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant and remember me and not forget your maidservant, but will give to your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."
As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. Eli said to her, "How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you."
But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have neither drunk wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your maidservant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation."
Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him." And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.
In due time, Hannah conceived and bore a son. She called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the LORD."
The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the annual sacrifice and to fulfill his vow, but Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the LORD and dwell there forever."
Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may LORD establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And the child was young. They slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, "O my lord, as you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD.
For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.