1 Samuel 1:1-20 ESV
The Family of Elkanah
Verses 1-2
There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 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.
Elkanah, a man from Ramathaim-zophim, had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was barren.
Verses 3-5
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. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.
Elkanah would go to Shiloh every year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. During these occasions, he would give portions to Peninnah and her children, but he gave a double portion to Hannah, whom he loved, despite her being barren.
Verses 6-8
And her rival also provoked her sorely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she would provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.
Peninnah would often provoke Hannah, making her cry, as she felt saddened by her barrenness. This happened every year, and Hannah would weep and refuse to eat.
Verses 9-11
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. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly.
Hannah got up after they finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Eli the priest was sitting on a chair beside the temple doorpost. Hannah was extremely distressed and prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.
Verses 12-14
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 come upon his head.”
Hannah made a vow to the Lord, asking Him to look upon her affliction and remember her. She promised that if He gave her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord, and no razor would ever touch his head.
Verses 15-18
Eli observed her mouth. 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. And Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine from you.” 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.”
Eli watched Hannah as she was praying in her heart, thinking she was drunk because she was only moving her lips and not making a sound. However, Hannah explained that she was not drunk, but troubled in spirit, pouring her soul out to the Lord.
Verses 19-20
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, and in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son.
The next morning, Elkanah and Hannah worshiped the Lord and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife, and the Lord remembered Hannah, and in His time, she conceived and gave birth to a son.
