1There once was a man from Ramathaim Zophim in the hill country of Ephraim named Elkanah. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2He had two wives. One was named Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.
3Each year, this man would travel from his town to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to Yahweh of Armies. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were priests of Yahweh, were there.
4When it was time for Elkanah to offer sacrifices, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
5But to Hannah, he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, even though Yahweh had kept her from having children.
6Hannah's rival wife, Peninnah, would constantly provoke her and make her miserable because Yahweh had kept her from having children.
7This happened year after year. Whenever they went up to the house of Yahweh, Peninnah would provoke Hannah, which made Hannah weep and refuse to eat.
8Her husband Elkanah would say to her, "Hannah, why are you crying? Why aren't you eating? Why are you so sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"
9After they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah got up. Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of Yahweh's temple.
10Hannah was deeply distressed in her soul, and she prayed to Yahweh, crying uncontrollably.
11She made a promise, saying, "Yahweh of Armies, if you will truly look at the trouble your servant is in, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but give me a son, then I will give him to Yahweh for his entire life, and no razor will ever touch his head."
12As she continued to pray before Yahweh, Eli watched her mouth.
13Hannah was praying silently to herself. Only her lips moved, but her voice couldn't be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.
14Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!"
15Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman with a deeply troubled spirit. I haven't been drinking wine or strong alcohol; instead, I've been pouring out my heart to Yahweh."
16"Don't think of your servant as a wicked woman; I've been speaking out of my great distress and sorrow."
17Then Eli replied, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked Him for."
18She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." So the woman left and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
19They got up early in the morning, worshiped before Yahweh, then returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and Yahweh remembered her.
20In time, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked Yahweh for him."
21Elkanah, along with his whole household, went up to offer Yahweh the annual sacrifice and fulfill his promise.
22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "I won't go until the child is weaned; then I will bring him so he can appear before Yahweh and stay there forever."
23Elkanah, her husband, said to her, "Do what you think is best. Wait until you have weaned him; only may Yahweh keep His promise." So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24When she had weaned him, she took him with her, along with three bulls, twenty-two liters of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to Yahweh's house in Shiloh. The child was young.
25They sacrificed the bull and brought the child to Eli.
26She said, "Oh, my lord, as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to Yahweh."
27I prayed for this child, and Yahweh has given me what I asked Him for.
28So now I also give him to Yahweh. As long as he lives, he is given to Yahweh." And he worshiped Yahweh there.