1 Samuel
1
Elkanah’s Family Worships at Shiloh
1 There was a man named Elkanah from the Zuph family who lived in Ramah in the hill country of Ephraim. Elkanah was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph from the tribe of Ephraim.
2 Elkanah had two wives. One wife was named Hannah and the other wife was named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.
3 Every year Elkanah left his town of Ramah and went up to Shiloh. He worshiped the LORD All-Powerful at Shiloh and offered sacrifices to the Lord there. Shiloh was where Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as priests of the LORD. 4 Whenever Elkanah offered his sacrifices, he always gave one share of the food to his wife Peninnah and a share of the food to each of Peninnah’s children. 5 Elkanah always gave an equal share* equal share Or “double share.” of the food to Hannah. He did this because he loved her very much, even though the LORD had not let Hannah have any children.
Peninnah Upsets Hannah
6 Peninnah always upset Hannah and made her feel bad because the LORD had not made her able to have children. 7 This happened every year when their family went to the LORD’S house at Shiloh. Peninnah would upset Hannah so much that she would begin to cry and would not eat anything. One year when this happened, 8 her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why won’t you eat? Why are you so sad? You have me. Isn’t that better than having even ten sons?”
Hannah’s Prayer
9 After eating and drinking, Hannah quietly got up and went to pray to the Lord.† went to pray to the Lord This is from the ancient Greek version. Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the door of the LORD’S Holy Building.‡ Holy Building This could mean the Holy Tent at Shiloh where people went to worship the Lord or a larger area where they put the Holy Tent. 10 Hannah was so sad that she cried the whole time she was praying to the LORD. 11 She made a special promise to God and said, “LORD All-Powerful, you can see how sad I am. Remember me. Don’t forget me. If you will give me a son, I will give him to you. He will be yours his whole life, and as a Nazirite, he will not drink wine or strong drink,§ he … strong drink This is found in the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text. and no one will ever cut his hair.”
12 Hannah prayed to the LORD a long time. Eli was watching her mouth while she was praying. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart. Her lips were moving, but since she did not say the words out loud, Eli thought she was drunk. 14 He said to her, “You have had too much to drink. It is time to put away the wine.”
15 Hannah answered, “Sir, I have not drunk any wine or beer. I am deeply troubled, and I was telling the LORD about all my problems. 16 Don’t think I am a bad woman. I have been praying so long because I have so many troubles and am very sad.”
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace. May the God of Israel give you what you asked for.”
18 Hannah said, “May you be happy with me.” Then she left and ate something. She was not sad anymore.
19 Early the next morning Elkanah’s family got up. They worshiped the LORD and then went back home to Ramah.
Samuel’s Birth
Elkanah had sexual relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered Hannah. 20 By that time the following year, Hannah had become pregnant and had a son. She named him Samuel.* Samuel This name means “His name is El (God).” But in Hebrew it is like “heard by God.” She said, “His name is Samuel because I asked the LORD for him.”
21 Elkanah went to Shiloh to offer the sacrifice for that year and the gift he had promised to the LORD. He took his family with him. 22 But Hannah did not go. She told Elkanah, “When the boy is old enough to eat solid food, I will take him to Shiloh. Then I will give him to the LORD. He will become a Nazirite.† He will become a Nazirite This is found in the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text. He will stay there at Shiloh.”
23 Hannah’s husband Elkanah said to her, “Do what you think is best. You may stay home until the boy is old enough to eat solid food. May the LORD do what you‡ you This is from the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran. The standard Hebrew text has “he.” have said.” So Hannah stayed at home to nurse her son until he was old enough to eat solid food.
Hannah Takes Samuel to Eli at Shiloh
24 When the boy was old enough to eat solid food, Hannah took him to the LORD’S house at Shiloh. She also took a bull that was three years old, 20 pounds§ 20 pounds Literally, “an ephah” (22 l). of flour, and a bottle of wine.
25 They went before the Lord. Elkanah killed the bull as a sacrifice to the Lord as he usually did.* They went … he usually did This is found in the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text. Then Hannah gave the boy to Eli. 26 She said to him, “Pardon me, sir. I am the same woman who stood near you praying to the LORD. I promise that I am telling the truth. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD answered my prayer. He gave me this child. 28 And now I give this child to the LORD. He will serve† serve Or “belong to.” the LORD all his life.”
Then Hannah left the boy there‡ left the boy there This is found in a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text. and worshiped the LORD.
*1:5 equal share Or “double share.”
†1:9 went to pray to the Lord This is from the ancient Greek version.
‡1:9 Holy Building This could mean the Holy Tent at Shiloh where people went to worship the Lord or a larger area where they put the Holy Tent.
§1:11 he … strong drink This is found in the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text.
*1:20 Samuel This name means “His name is El (God).” But in Hebrew it is like “heard by God.”
†1:22 He will become a Nazirite This is found in the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text.
‡1:23 you This is from the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran. The standard Hebrew text has “he.”
§1:24 20 pounds Literally, “an ephah” (22 l).
*1:25 They went … he usually did This is found in the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text.
†1:28 serve Or “belong to.”
‡1:28 left the boy there This is found in a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text.