New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

Elkanah and His Family

There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the region of Zupha in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, of Ephraim.

1

Elkanah and his Wives

And there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.

2

Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.

2

And he had two wives: the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3

Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the LORD at that time were the two sons of Eli — Hophni and Phinehas.

3

And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Jehovah of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of Jehovah, were there.

4

On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children.

4

And it came to pass on the day that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters portions;

5

And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portionb because the LORD had given her no children.

5

but to Hannah he used to give a double portion, for he loved Hannah; but Jehovah had shut up her womb.

6

So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the LORD had kept her from having children.

6

And her adversary provoked her much also, to make her fret, because Jehovah had shut up her womb.

7

Year after year it was the same — Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle.c Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.

7

And [as] he did so year by year, as often as she went up to the house of Jehovah, she provoked her thus; and she wept and did not eat.

8

“Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me — isn’t that better than having ten sons?”

8

And Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? Am not I better to thee than ten sons?

9

Hannah’s Prayer for a Son

Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle.d

9

Hannah Prays for a Son

And Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk; (now Eli the priest sat upon the seat by the door-post of the temple of Jehovah;)

10

Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD.

10

and she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Jehovah, and wept much.

11

And she made this vow: “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look 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.e”

11

And she vowed a vow, and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man child, then I will give him to Jehovah all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

12

As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her.

12

And it came to pass as she continued praying before Jehovah, that Eli marked her mouth.

13

Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking.

13

Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; and Eli thought she was drunken.

14

“Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”

14

And Eli said to her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

15

“Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD.

15

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before Jehovah.

16

Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”

16

Take not thy handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my grief and provocation have I spoken hitherto.

17

“In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”

17

And Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition which thou hast 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.

18

And she said, Let thy bondwoman find grace in thy sight. And the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more [as before].

19

Samuel’s Birth and Dedication

The 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 plea,

19

The Birth of Samuel

And they rose up early in the morning and worshipped before Jehovah, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Jehovah remembered her.

20

and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,f for she said, “I asked the LORD for him.”

20

And it came to pass when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bore a son, and called his name Samuel, [saying,] Because I have asked him of Jehovah.

21

The next year Elkanah and his family went on their annual trip to offer a sacrifice to the LORD and to keep his vow.

21

And Elkanah her husband, and all his house, went up to sacrifice to Jehovah the yearly sacrifice and his vow.

22

But Hannah did not go. She told her husband, “Wait until the boy is weaned. Then I will take him to the Tabernacle and leave him there with the LORD permanently.g”

22

But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, [I will wait] until the child is weaned; then will I bring him, that he may appear before Jehovah, and there abide for ever.

23

“Whatever you think is best,” Elkanah agreed. “Stay here for now, and may the LORD help you keep your promise.h” So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned.

23

And Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what is good in thy sight: abide until thou hast weaned him; only, may Jehovah fulfil his word. And the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

24

When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three-year-old bulli for the sacrifice and a basketj of flour and some wine.

24

And she took him up with her when she had weaned him, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a flask of wine, and brought him to the house of Jehovah to Shiloh; and the boy was young.

25

After sacrificing the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.

25

And they slaughtered the bullock, and brought the boy to Eli.

26

“Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the very woman who stood here several years ago praying to the LORD.

26

And she said, Oh my lord, [as] thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here to pray to Jehovah.

27

I asked the LORD to give me this boy, and he has granted my request.

27

For this boy I prayed; and Jehovah has granted me my petition which I asked of him.

28

Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life.” And theyk worshiped the LORD there.

28

And also I have lent him to Jehovah: all the days that he lives, he is lent to Jehovah. And he worshipped Jehovah there.

Parallel

New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

1 Samuel 1

1 Samuel 1