New Living Translation

English Standard 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 of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.

2

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

2

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

Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, 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

On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, 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 gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.a

6

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

6

And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, 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 went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah 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

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

After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.

10

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

10

She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.

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 Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to 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.”

12

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

12

As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.

13

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

13

Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.

14

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

14

And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being 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, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before 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 regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”

17

“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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Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to 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 servant find favor in your eyes.” Then 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

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back 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

And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”b

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

Samuel Given to the Lord

The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay 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, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell 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

Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son 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 when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull,c an ephahd of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young.

25

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

25

Then they slaughtered the bull, and they 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, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, 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 that I made to 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 have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”
And he worshiped the Lord there.

Parallel

New Living Translation

English Standard Version

1 Samuel 1

1 Samuel 1