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?”