1
Now there was a certain man of
Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham,
the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: 2 And 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.
3 And this man went
up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in
Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD,
were there. 4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah
his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: 5 But unto Hannah he
gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. 6
And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD
had shut up her womb. 7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the
house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. 8
Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest
thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
9 So Hannah rose up
after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat
upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of
soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11 And she vowed a vow, and said,
O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid,
and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine
handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his
life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12 And it came to
pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 13
Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not
heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 14 And Eli said unto her, How
long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 15 And Hannah answered
and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither
wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Count not
thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my
complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli
answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition
that thou hast asked of him.18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in
thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no
more sad.
19 And they
rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and
came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD
remembered her. 20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after
Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying,
Because I have asked him of the LORD.
21 And the
man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly
sacrifice, and his vow. 22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her
husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him,
that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. 23 And Elkanah her
husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned
him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck
until she weaned him.
24 And when she had
weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of
flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in
Shiloh: and the child was young. 25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the
child to Eli. 26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the
woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 27 For this child I
prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be
lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
1 Samuel 2
1 And
Hannah prayed, and said,
My heart rejoiceth in the LORD,
mine
horn is exalted in the LORD:
my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies;
because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the LORD:
for there is none beside thee:
neither is
there any rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly;
let not arrogancy come out of your mouth:
for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty men are broken,
and they that stumbled are girded with
strength.
5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread;
and they that were
hungry ceased:
so that the barren hath born seven;
and she that hath many
children is waxed feeble.
6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive:
he bringeth down to the grave, and
bringeth up.
7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich:
he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust,
and lifteth up the beggar from the
dunghill,
to set them among princes,
and to make them inherit the throne of
glory:
for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's,
and he hath set the world
upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his saints,
and the wicked shall be silent in
darkness;
for by strength shall no man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces;
out of heaven shall he
thunder upon them:
the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth;
and he shall give
strength unto his king,
and exalt the horn of his anointed.
11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the
LORD before Eli the priest.
12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
13 And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered
sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a
fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the
fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all
the Israelites that came thither.
15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the
man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have
sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently,
and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but
thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men
abhorred the offering of the LORD.
18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen
ephod.
19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year
to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of
this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own
home.
21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and
two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and
how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation.
23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil
dealings by all this people.
24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people
to transgress.
25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin
against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not
unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also
with men.