Open English Translation 1SA Chapter 1

1 There was a man named Elkanah from Ramatayim-Zofim who lived in the Efraimite hill country. (He was an Efraimite—the son of Yeroham, son of Elihu,[ref] son of Tohu, son of Zuf.) 2 He had two wives: Hannah (who had no children) and Peninnah (who had several children).

3 Every year he would take his family to Shiloh to offer sacrifices to commander Yahweh. Eli was Yahweh’s priest there, and his two sons Hofni and Pinehas also served there.

4 on the day that Elkanah made his sacrifice, he would give portions of the cooked meat to Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, 5 but he’d give a double portion to Hannah because he loved her, even though Yahweh had not enabled her to have children. 6 Then her rival would provoke her and try to make her angry, because Yahweh hadn’t given her children. 7 And so it happened every year. Every time they went to Yahweh’s tent, Peninnah ridiculed him, and Hannah would weep and wouldn’t eat. 8 Then Elkanah would ask her, “Hannah, why are you crying? And why aren’t you eating? And why are you so upset? Isn’t it better having me than having ten sons?”

9 One time Hannah got up after eating and drinking at Shiloh. (Eli the priest was sitting on the seat near the entrance of Yahweh’s tent.) 10 Hannah was very upset, and she prayed to Yahweh and wept uncontrollably. 11 Then she made a vow, saying, “Commander Yahweh, if you would only notice the misery of your female servant and remember me. Don’t ignore me. Help your female servant to give birth to a son, then I’ll give him to you for his entire life, and he’ll never have his hair cut.”[ref]

12 As she continued praying to Yahweh, Eli was watching her mouth. 13 Now Hannah was praying from her heart, and her lips were moving but she wasn’t speaking aloud. Eli thought she must be drunk, 14 and scolded her, “You shouldn’t be getting drunk. Get rid of your wine.”

15 “No, my master,” Hannah replied, “I’m a woman who’s suffering deep down. I haven’t drunk any wine or intoxicating drink, but rather I’ve been sharing my inner issues with Yahweh. 16 Don’t think that your female servant is just a worthless woman, because just now I was praying as a result of my terrible anguish and frustration.”

17 “Then go in peace,” Eli replied. “And may Israel’s God grant your request that you presented to him.”

18 “Please assume the best of your female servant,” said Hannah, then she went on her way and had something to eat, and something had changed in her demeanor.

19 They all gut up early the next morning and worshipped Yahweh again, then they returned to their home at Ramah. Then Elkanah slept with his wife Hannah, and Yahweh answered her prayer. 20 Hannah got pregnant, and in due course, she gave birth to a son. She named him ‘Shemu’el’ (meaning ‘heard by God’, usually changed to ‘Samuel’ in English) because she had requested him from Yahweh.

21 At the usual time, Elkanah and all his household went to Shiloh to offer their sacrifices and fulfill their vows to Yahweh. 22 But Hannah didn’t accompany them because she’d told her husband, “I’ll come and bring him when he’s weaned. Then he can be taken in to Yahweh and permanently remain there.” 23 “Do what you think’s best,” her husband replied. “Stay until you’ve weaned him. May Yahweh do whatever he said to you.” So she stayed behind and breastfed her son until she eventually weaned him.

24 The next year, after she’d weaned him, she took the young boy with them, along with three bulls, a sack of flour, and a container of wine. Then she brought him to Yahweh’s tent in Shiloh, 25 and after slaughtering the bull, they took the boy in to Eli. 26 “Please, my master,” Hannah said. “As your spirit lives, my master, I’m the woman who was standing with you here to pray to Yahweh. 27 I prayed that Yahweh would give me a son, and he did, and this is him. 28 Also, I dedicated him to Yahweh all his life, so he’s now given to Yahweh.”

Then they worshipped Yahweh there.