1Sa 1 | NASB1995 | STEP | Now there was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim from the hill country of Ephraim , and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham , the son of Elihu , the son of Tohu , the son of Zuph , an Ephraimite .

‏ 1 Samuel 1

Elkanah and His Wives

1 Now there was a certain man from ^aRamathaim-zophim from the ^bhill country of Ephraim, and his name was ^cElkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had ^dtwo wives: the name of one was ^eHannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 Now this man would go up from his city ^fyearly ^gto worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in ^hShiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there. 4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he ⁱwould give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters; 5 but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, ^jbut the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Her rival, however, ^kwould provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat. 8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? ^lAm I not better to you than ten sons?”

9 Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of ^mthe temple of the Lord. 10 She, ^{▼▼ Lit bitter of soul}greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 She ^omade a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed ^plook on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a ^{▼▼ Lit seed of men}son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and ^ra razor shall never come on his head.”

12 Now it came about, as she ^{▼▼ Lit multiplied}continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13 As for Hannah, ^tshe was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. 14 Then Eli said to her, ^u“How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” 15 But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman ^{▼▼ Lit severe}oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I ^whave poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 “Do not ^{▼▼ Lit give}consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and ^{▼▼ Lit my provocation}provocation.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, ^z“Go in peace; and may the God of Israel ^aagrant your petition that you have asked of Him.” 18 She said, ^ab“Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and ^acher face was no longer sad.

Samuel Is Born to Hannah

19 Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in ^adRamah. And Elkanah ^{▼▼ Lit knew}had relations with Hannah his wife, and ^afthe Lord remembered her. 20 It came about ^{▼▼ Lit at the circuit of the days}in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, ^ah“Because I have asked him of the Lord.”

21 Then the man Elkanah ^aiwent up with all his household to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will ^ajbring him, that he may appear before the Lord and ^akstay there forever.” 23 ^alElkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best ^{▼▼ Lit in your eyes}to you. Remain until you have weaned him; only ^anmay the Lord confirm His word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 Now when she had weaned him, ^aoshe took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull and one ephah of flour and a jug of wine, and brought him to ^apthe house of the Lord in Shiloh, although the child was young. 25 Then ^aqthey slaughtered the bull, and ^arbrought the boy to Eli. 26 She said, “Oh, my lord! ^asAs your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. 27 ^at“For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 ^au“So I have also ^{▼▼ Lit lent}dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is ^{▼▼ Lit lent}dedicated to the Lord.” And ^axhe worshiped the Lord there.