Now there was a man named Elkanah (who was) from vvv Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. (He was) the son of Jeroham , the son of Elihu , the son of Tohu , the son of Zuph , an Ephraimite.
two wives , one named Hannah ... and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children , but Hannah had none ....
Year after year ... (Elkanah) ... would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh , where Eli’s two sons , Hophni and Phinehas , were priests to the LORD.
And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice , he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
But to Hannah he would give a double portion , for - he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.
Because the LORD had closed vvv (Hannah’s) womb , her rival ... - would provoke her and taunt her viciously.
And this went on ... year after year. Whenever (Hannah) went up to the house of the LORD - , (her rival) taunted her until she wept and would not eat.
“ Hannah , why are you crying ? ” her husband Elkanah asked “ Why won’t you eat ? Why is your heart so grieved ? Am I not better than ten sons ? ”
So after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh , Hannah stood up .... Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.
- In her bitter distress ... , Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears.
And she made a vow , pleading , “ O LORD of Hosts , if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me , not forgetting (Your maidservant) - but giving ... (her) a son ... , then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life , and no razor shall ever come over his head. ”
- As (Hannah) kept on praying before the LORD , Eli watched - her mouth.
Hannah ... was praying in her heart , and though her lips were moving , her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk
and said to her ... , “ How long will you be drunk ? Put away - your wine ... ! ”
“ No , my lord , ” Hannah ... replied. “ I am a woman oppressed in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink , but I have poured out - my soul before the LORD.
Do not take - - your servant for a wicked ... woman ; for all this time ... I have been praying out of the depth of my anguish and grief.”
“ Go in peace , ” Eli ... replied , “ and may the God of Israel grant - the petition - you have asked of Him.”
“ May your maidservant find favor with you , ” said Hannah. Then (she) went on her way , and she began eating again , and her face {was} no longer downcast
The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the LORD , and then returned ... ... home to Ramah. And Elkanah - had relations with his wife Hannah , and the LORD remembered her.
So in the course of time , Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named - him Samuel , (saying,) “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
Then Elkanah and all his house went up ... to make the annual sacrifice to the LORD and (to fulfill) his vow , -
but Hannah did not go. - “ After the boy is weaned , ” she said to her husband , “ I will take him to appear ... before the LORD and to stay there permanently .... ”
“ Do what you think is best , ” her husband Elkanah replied “ and stay here until you have weaned him. - Only may the LORD - confirm His word.” So Hannah stayed and nursed - her son until she had weaned him.
Once she had weaned him , (Hannah) took (the boy) with her , along with a three-year-old bull , an ephah ... of flour , and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young , she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.
And when they had slaughtered - the bull , they brought - the boy to Eli.
“ Please , my lord , ” said (Hannah) , “ as surely as you live , my lord , I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this boy , and since the LORD has granted - - what I asked of Him ,
I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as ... - long as he lives , he is dedicated to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.