1:1 There was a man from Ramathaim Zuphim, from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 1:2 He had two wives; the name of the first was Hannah, and the name of the second was Peninnah. Now Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.

1:3 Year after year¹ this man used to go up from his city in order to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh. It was there that the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, served as the LORD’s priests. 1:4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he used to give meat portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 1:5 But he would give a double² portion to Hannah, because he especially loved her.³ Now the LORD had not enabled her to have children.⁴ 1:6 Her rival wife used to cause her grief so as to worry her, for the LORD had not enabled her to have children. 1:7 Peninnah⁵ used to behave in this way year after year. Whenever Hannah⁶ used to go up to the LORD’s house, Peninnah⁷ used to cause her grief to the point that she would weep and not eat. 1:8 Finally Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, Why do you weep and not eat? Why are you so sad?⁸ Am I not better to you than ten⁹ sons?”

1:9 On one occasion in Shiloh after they had finished eating and drinking, Hannah got up.¹⁰ (Now at the time Eli the priest was sitting in his chair¹¹ by the door post of the LORD’s temple.) 1:10 She was in emotional distress¹² as she prayed to the LORD and wept uncontrollably. 1:11 She took a vow saying, “O LORD of hosts, if you will look favorably on the affliction of your maiden, remembering me and not forgetting your maiden, and grant a male child¹³ to your maiden, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life. His hair will never be cut.”¹⁴

1:12 It so happened that as she continued praying to the LORD, Eli was watching her mouth. 1:13 Now Hannah was speaking from her heart. Although her lips were moving, her voice was inaudible. Eli therefore concluded that she was drunk. 1:14 So he¹⁵ said to her, “How often do you intend to get drunk? Put away your wine!”

1:15 But Hannah replied, “That’s not the way it is,¹⁶ my lord! I am under a great deal of stress.¹⁷ I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink. Rather, I have poured out my soul to the LORD. 1:16 Don’t attribute to your maiden the characteristics of a worthless woman, for up till now I have spoken from my deep pain and anguish.”

1:17 Eli replied, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request that you have asked of him.” 1:18 She said, “May your handmaid find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and got something to eat.¹⁸ Her expression was no longer one of sadness.

1:19 They got up early the next morning and after worshipping the LORD, they returned to their home at Ramah. Elkanah had relations with¹⁹ his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered²⁰ her. 1:20 After some time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel with the thought in mind that she had asked the LORD for him.²¹

1:21 When this man Elkanah went up with all his family to make the yearly sacrifice to the LORD and to keep his vow, 1:22 Hannah did not go up. Instead she said to her husband, “Once the boy is weaned, I will bring him up and appear before the LORD, and he will remain there from then on.”

1:23 So her husband Elkanah said, “Do what you think best.²² Stay until you have weaned him. May the LORD establish his word.”

So the woman stayed and suckled her son until she had weaned him. 1:24 Once she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with three bulls and an ephah²³ of flour and a skin of wine. She brought him to the LORD’s house at Shiloh, young though he was.²⁴ 1:25 Once the bull had been slaughtered, they brought the boy to Eli. 1:26 She said, “Just as surely as you are alive, my lord, I am the woman who previously stood here with you in order to pray to the LORD. 1:27 I prayed for this boy, and the LORD has granted to me the request that I asked of him. 1:28 Now I dedicate him to the LORD. From this time on he is dedicated to the LORD.” Then they worshipped the LORD there.