New Living Translation

New International Version

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

The Birth of Samuel

There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphitea from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2

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

2

He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

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

Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord.

4

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

4

Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

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 gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.

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

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Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.

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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

This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would 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

Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you 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

Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.

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

10

In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.

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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 made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

12

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

12

As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.

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

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Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk

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

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and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

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“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.

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“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.

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

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Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

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

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Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

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“Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.

18

She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

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

Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.

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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

So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,b saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

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

Hannah Dedicates Samuel

When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill 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

Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.”c

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

“Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the Lord make good hisd word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had 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

After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull,e an ephahf of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh.

25

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

25

When the bull had been sacrificed, they 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.

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and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.

27

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

27

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what 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

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

Parallel

New Living Translation

New International Version

1 Samuel 1

1 Samuel 1