1There was a man from Ramathaimzophim, in the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.
2He had two wives. One was named Hannah, and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3Every year this man went up from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
4When the day came for Elkanah to offer his sacrifice, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.
5But to Hannah he gave a special portion, because he loved Hannah. Yet the LORD had closed her womb.
6Her rival hurt her deeply as well, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb.
7This happened year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, the other woman hurt her like this. So Hannah wept and would not eat.
8Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why are you crying? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"
9So Hannah got up after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
10Her soul was bitter, and she prayed to the LORD and wept hard.
11She made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the suffering of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."
12As she went on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.
13Hannah was speaking in her heart. Only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.
14Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine."
15Hannah answered, "No, my lord. I am a woman with a sorrowful spirit. I have not drunk wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD."
16"Do not take your servant for a daughter of Belial. I have been speaking all this time out of my great complaint and grief."
17Then Eli answered, "Go in peace. May the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him."
18She said, "Let your servant find grace in your sight." So the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
19They got up early in the morning and worshipped before the LORD. Then they went back to their house in Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.
20So in due time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."
21Elkanah went up with all his household to offer the yearly sacrifice to the LORD, and to keep his vow.
22But Hannah did not go up. She said to her husband, "I will not go until the child is weaned. Then I will bring him, so that he may appear before the LORD and stay there for ever."
23Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD make his word stand." So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with three bullocks, one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine. She brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. The child was young.
25They killed a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26She said, "Oh my lord, as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD."
27I prayed for this child, and the LORD has given me what I asked of him.
28"So I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives he is lent to the LORD." And he worshipped the LORD there.