1There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham and grandson of Elihu, from the family of Tohu and the clan of Zuph.
2Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, while Hannah did not.
3Each year Elkanah and his family would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at the Tabernacle. The priests of the LORD at that time were the two sons of Eli––Hophni and Phinehas.
4On the day Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the sacrifice to Peninnah and each of her children.
5But he gave Hannah a special portion because he loved her very much, even though the LORD had given her no children.
6But Peninnah made fun of Hannah because the LORD had closed her womb.
7Year after year it was the same––Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Hannah would finally be reduced to tears and would not even eat.
8"What’s the matter, Hannah?" Elkanah would ask. "Why aren’t you eating? Why be so sad just because you have no children? You have me––isn’t that better than having ten sons?"
9Once when they were at Shiloh, Hannah went over to the Tabernacle after supper to pray to the LORD. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance.
10Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD.
11And she made this vow: "O LORD Almighty, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut."
12As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her.
13Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking.
14"Must you come here drunk?" he demanded. "Throw away your wine!"
15"Oh no, sir!" she replied, "I’m not drunk! But I am very sad, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD.
16Please don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow."
17"In that case," Eli said, "cheer up! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him."
18"Oh, thank you, sir!" she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.
19The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the LORD once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the LORD remembered her request,
20and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, "I asked the LORD for him."
21The next year Elkanah, Peninnah, and their children went on their annual trip to offer a sacrifice to the LORD.
22But Hannah did not go. She told her husband, "Wait until the baby is weaned. Then I will take him to the Tabernacle and leave him there with the LORD permanently."
23"Whatever you think is best," Elkanah agreed. "Stay here for now, and may the LORD help you keep your promise." So she stayed home and nursed the baby.
24When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three–year–old bull for the sacrifice and half a bushel of flour and some wine.
25After sacrificing the bull, they took the child to Eli.
26"Sir, do you remember me?" Hannah asked. "I am the woman who stood here several years ago praying to the LORD.
27I asked the LORD to give me this child, and he has given me my request.
28Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life." And they worshiped the LORD there.
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