New Living Translation

New King James 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 Family of Elkanah

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of [a]Elihu, the son of [b]Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2

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

2

And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. 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

This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, 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 whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife 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 would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed 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 rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed 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

So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore 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

Hannah’s Vow

Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better 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

So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the [c]tabernacle of the Lord.

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 the Lord and [d]wept in anguish.

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

Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

12

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

12

And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched 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. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

14

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

14

So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”

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

But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.

16

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

16

Do not consider your maidservant a wicked[e] woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”

17

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

17

Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have 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 your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

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

Samuel Is Born and Dedicated

Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord 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

So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name [f]Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.”

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

Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord 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, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.”

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

So Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord [g]establish [h]His word.” Then the woman stayed 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

Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with [i]three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young.

25

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

25

Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child 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, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord.

27

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

27

For this child I prayed, and the Lord 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

Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be [j]lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there.

Parallel

New Living Translation

New King James Version

1 Samuel 1

1 Samuel 1