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Sh'mu'el Alef (1 Sa) 1

1
1There was a man from Ramatayim-Tzofim, in the hills of Efrayim, whose name was Elkanah the son of Yerocham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tochu, the son of Tzuf, from Efrat. 2He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other P’ninah. P’ninah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3This man went up from his city every year to worship and sacrifice to Adonai-Tzva’ot in Shiloh. The two sons of ‘Eli, Hofni and Pinchas, were cohanim of Adonai there.
4One day, when Elkanah was sacrificing, he gave a portion of the sacrifice to his wife P’ninah and portions to each of her sons and daughters; 5but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved Hannah, even though Adonai had kept her from having children. 6Her rival taunted her and made her feel bad, because Adonai had kept her from having children. 7He did the same every year; and each time she went up to the house of Adonai, she taunted her so much that she would cry and not eat. 8Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why are you crying, and why aren’t you eating? Why be so sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” 9So Hannah got up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. ‘Eli the cohen was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the temple of Adonai. 10In deep depression she prayed to Adonai and cried. 11Then she took a vow; she said, “Adonai-Tzva’ot, if you will notice how humiliated your servant is, if you will remember me and not forget your servant but will give your servant a male child, then I will give him to Adonai for as long as he lives; and no razor will ever come on his head.” 12She prayed for a long time before Adonai; and as she did so, ‘Eli was watching her mouth. 13Hannah was speaking in her heart — her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard — so ‘Eli thought she was drunk. 14‘Eli said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Stop drinking your wine!” 15But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a very unhappy woman. I have not drunk either wine or other strong liquor; rather, I’ve been pouring out my soul before Adonai. 16Don’t think of your servant as a worthless woman; because I have been speaking from the depth of my distress and anger.” 17Then ‘Eli replied, “Go in peace. May the God of Isra’el grant what you have asked of him.” 18She replied, “May your servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went on her way, and she ate, and her face was no longer sad. 19They got up early in the morning and worshipped before Adonai, then returned and came to their house in Ramah.
Elkanah had sexual relations with Hannah his wife, and Adonai remembered her. 20She conceived; and in due time she gave birth to a son, whom she named Sh’mu’el, “because I asked Adonai for him.”
21The husband, Elkanah, went up with all his household to offer the yearly sacrifice to Adonai and fulfill his vow. 22But Hannah did not go up, explaining to her husband, “Not till the child has been weaned. Then I will bring him, so that he can appear before Adonai and live there forever.” 23Her husband Elkanah answered her, “Do what seems good to you; stay here until you have weaned him. Only may Adonai bring about what he said.” So the woman stayed behind and nursed the child, until she weaned him. 24After weaning him, she took him up with her, along with three young bulls, a bushel of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of Adonai in Shiloh, even though he was just a child. 25After the bull had been slaughtered, the child was brought to ‘Eli; 26and she said, “My lord, as sure as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here near you, praying to Adonai. 27I prayed for this child, and Adonai has granted the request I asked of him. 28Therefore, I too have loaned him to Adonai — as long as he lives, he is on loan to Adonai.” And he prostrated himself there before Adonai.

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Sh'mu'el Alef (1 Sa) 1: CJB

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