1 Samuel, Chapter 1:
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Verses from 1 Samuel, Chapter 1 of the book of 1 Samuel of the Bible.
Samuel's birth
- 1. There was a man from Ramathaim, from the mountainous region of Ephraim, named Elkanah, son of Jeroam, grandson of Elihu and great-grandson of Tou, descended from the clan of Zufe, from Ephraim.
- 2. Elkanah had two wives: one named Ana and the other Penina. Penina had children, but Ana had no children.
- 3. Every year, Elkanah went up from his city to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord of hosts. There were Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, serving as priests of the Lord.
- 4. When Elcana offered sacrifices, he gave portions of meat to Penina and her sons and daughters.
- 5. However, to Ana he gave a double portion, because he loved her, even though the Lord had left her barren.
- 6. Ana's rival constantly provoked her to irritate her, because the Lord had left her childless.
- 7. This happened year after year, whenever Hannah went up to the Lord's house in Shiloh. Her rival teased her, and she would cry and not eat.
- 8. Her husband, Elkanah, asked her: “Hannah, why are you crying? Why don't you eat? Why are you sad? Am I not better to you than ten children?”
- 9. Once, after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Ana got up and went to the sanctuary of the Lord. Priest Eli was sitting in his chair near the entrance.
- 10. Ana, with an anguished heart, wept and prayed to the Lord.
- 11. She made a vow, saying, “O Lord of hosts, if you will heed my affliction and remember me and give me a son, I will dedicate him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair and his beard will never be cut.”
- 12. As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth.
- 13. Ana prayed silently, moving only her lips, but her words were not audible. So Eli thought she was drunk.
- 14. He rebuked her, saying, “How long will you continue to be drunk? Leave the wine aside!”
- 15. Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a distressed woman. I have not drunk wine or liquor, but I am pouring out my soul before the Lord.
- 16. Do not consider me a worthless woman; I am praying here in the bitterness of my soul and spirit.”
- 17. Eli replied, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your request."
- 18. Hannah said, “May the Lord be kind to your servant!” So she went home, ate, and was no longer sad.
- 19. The next morning they got up early and worshiped the Lord. Then they returned home to Ramah. Elkanah had relations with Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.
- 20. Hannah became pregnant and in due time gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "I asked the Lord for him."
- 21. When Elkanah went up again with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord, and fulfill his vow,
- 22. Hannah did not go with them. She said to her husband, "When the boy is weaned, I will bring him to present him to the Lord, and he will stay there forever."
- 23. Her husband, Elkanah, replied, “Do what you think is best. Wait until the boy is weaned. May the Lord confirm his word.” So Ana stayed home and nursed her son until he was weaned.
- 24. When the boy was weaned, Ana took him with her to Shiloh, along with a three-year-old bull, a measure of flour and a vessel of wine. She took the boy to the temple of the Lord in Shiloh.
- 25. After they sacrificed the bull, she took the boy to Eli
- 26. and said: “My lord, I swear by your life that I am that woman who was here praying to the Lord.
- 27. I asked God for this boy, and the Lord answered my request.
- 28. Now I dedicate it to the Lord. He will be dedicated to the Lord all the days of his life.” And there they worshiped the Lord.
