1 Samuel

1Samuel 1

1 A certain man lived in Ramathaim-zophim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim. He was Jeroham’s son Elkanah, the grandson of Elihu and grandson of Tohu, who was the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.ISV — 1Samuel 1:1

2 He had two wives; the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.ISV — 1Samuel 1:2

3 That man would go up from his town each year to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of the Heavenly Armies at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons Hophni and Phineas served as priests of the LORD.ISV — 1Samuel 1:3

4 On the day when Elkanah offered sacrifices, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters,ISV — 1Samuel 1:4

5 but he would give twice as much to Hannah because he loved her. Now the LORD had closed her womb.ISV — 1Samuel 1:5

6 Her rival would provoke her severely so that she complained loudly ^{a1:6 Or severely to irritate her} because the LORD had closed her womb.ISV — 1Samuel 1:6

7 Elkanah ^{b1:7 Lit. He} would do this year after year, as often as Hannah ^{c1:7 Lit. she} went up to the house of the LORD. Likewise, Peninnah ^{d1:7 Lit. she} would provoke her, and Hannah ^{e1:7 Lit. she} would cry and would not eat.ISV — 1Samuel 1:7

8 Elkanah her husband told her, “Hannah, why are you crying and why don’t you eat? Why are you upset? ^{f1:8 Lit. is your heart troubled} Am I not better to you than ten sons?”ISV — 1Samuel 1:8

9 Hannah got up after she had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the chair by the doorpost of the tent ^{g1:9 Or temple} of the LORD.ISV — 1Samuel 1:9

10 Deeply distressed, she prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.ISV — 1Samuel 1:10

11 Hannah ^{h1:11 Lit. She} made a vow: “LORD of the Heavenly Armies, if you just look at the misery of your maid servant, remember me, and don’t forget your maid servant. If you give your maid servant a son, ^{i1:11 Lit. seed of men} then I’ll give him to the LORD ^{j1:11 So MT; LXX reads him to your presence as a gift until the day of his death} for all the days of his life, ^{k1:11 So MT; LXX and DSS read life, and wine or strong drink he won’t drink; Cf. 4QSama} and a razor is never to touch ^{l:11 Or cross; MT reads to go over; 4QSama reads to come upon;} his head.”ISV — 1Samuel 1:11

12 As she continued to pray in the LORD’s presence, Eli was watching her mouth.ISV — 1Samuel 1:12

13 Hannah ^{m1:13 So MT; 4QSama LXX read She} was praying inwardly. ^{n1:13 Lit. in her heart} Her lips were quivering, and her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.ISV — 1Samuel 1:13

14 Eli told her, “How long will you stay drunk? Put away your wine!”ISV — 1Samuel 1:14

15 “No, sir!” ^{o1:15 Lit. No, my lord} Hannah replied. “I’m a deeply troubled ^{p1:15 Lit. harsh of spirit; i.e. one whose life is hard} woman. I’ve drunk neither wine nor beer. I’ve been pouring out my soul in the LORD’s presence.ISV — 1Samuel 1:15

16 Don’t consider your maid servant a worthless woman. Rather, all this time I’ve been speaking because I’m very anxious and distressed.”ISV — 1Samuel 1:16

17 “Go in peace,” Eli answered. “May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”ISV — 1Samuel 1:17

18 She said, “Let your servant ^{q1:18 Lit. maid servant} find favor in your eyes.” Then she ^{r1:18 Lit. Then the woman} went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. ^{s1:18 So LXX; The meaning of MT is uncertain.}ISV — 1Samuel 1:18

19 They got up early the next morning and worshipped in the LORD’s presence, and then they returned and came to their house at Ramah. Elkanah had marital relations with ^{t1:19 Lit. Elkanah knew} his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.ISV — 1Samuel 1:19

20 By the time of the next year’s sacrifice, ^{u1:20 Or in due time} Hannah had become pregnant and had borne a son. She named him Samuel ^{v1:20 The Heb. name Samuel means God has heard} because she said, ^{w1:20 The Heb. lacks she said} “I asked the LORD for him.”ISV — 1Samuel 1:20

21 Then Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the yearly sacrifice to the LORD and pay his vow.ISV — 1Samuel 1:21

22 Hannah did not go up because she had told her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in the LORD’s presence and remain there ^{x1:22 So MT; 4QSama reads before there} forever. ^{y1:22 So MT LXX; 4QSama reads there, and I’ll dedicate him as a Nazirite forever, all his days}ISV — 1Samuel 1:22

23 “Do what you want,” ^{z1:23 Lit. is good in your eye} Elkanah told her. “Stay until you have weaned him, only may the LORD bring about what you’ve said.” ^{aa1:23 So LXX and DSS; lit. about what comes out of your mouth; MT reads about his word} So Hannah ^{bb1:23 Lit. So the woman} stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.ISV — 1Samuel 1:23

24 Then, when she had weaned him, she brought him ^{cc1:24 So 4QSama; MT employs a Heb. suffix} up with her to Shiloh, ^{dd1:24 The Heb. lacks to Shiloh; LXX and DSS add to Shiloh} along with a three-year-old bull, ^{ee1:24 4QSama LXX read three bulls; meaning of MT is uncertain.} an ephah ^{ff1:24 i.e. about a half-bushel; an ephah was a measure of dry capacity equal to about one half of a bushel} of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh, and the boy ^{gg1:24 So MT LXX; 4QSama reads child} was young. ^{hh1:24 The meaning of MT is uncertain; lit. the lad was a lad; LXX and DSS read and the boy was with them.}ISV — 1Samuel 1:24

25 They slaughtered the bull and brought the boy ^{ii1:25 So MT; Cf. 4QSama; LXX reads was with them. When they brought him into the presence of the Lord, his father slaughtered the sacrifice, as he did annually for the Lord. Then he brought the child, and he slaughtered the calf. And Hannah his mother brought him} to Eli.ISV — 1Samuel 1:25

26 Hannah ^{jj1:26 Lit. she} said, “Sir, ^{kk1:26 Lit. My lord} as surely as you are alive, I’m the woman who stood before you here praying to the LORD.ISV — 1Samuel 1:26

27 I prayed for this boy, and the LORD granted me the request I asked of him.ISV — 1Samuel 1:27

28 Now ^{ll1:28 Lit. Also} I’m dedicating ^{mm1:28 Or lending} him to the LORD, and as long as he lives, ^{nn1:28 So LXX and other Heb. MSS; MT, is} he will be dedicated ^{oo1:28 Or lent} to the LORD.” Then they worshipped ^{pp1:28 So 4QSama; MT LXXmss read So he worshipped; LXX lacks Then they worshipped the Lord there} the LORD there.ISV — 1Samuel 1:28