1 Samuel 1
1
A Barren Woman’s Petition is Granted
1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim—his name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2He had two wives: the name of the one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.
3Now this man used to go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to Adonai-Tzva’ot in Shiloh. (The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were kohanim of Adonai there.)
4Then on the designated day Elkanah would sacrifice and give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters,
5but to Hannah he would give only one portion—even though he loved Hannah—for Adonai had closed her womb.
6Her rival would taunt her bitterly to provoke her, because Adonai had closed her womb.
7So it was year after year, whenever she went up to the House of Adonai, that she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat.
8Then her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9After eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah got up. Now Eli the kohen was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the Temple of Adonai.
10While her soul was bitter, she prayed to Adonai and wept.
11So she made a vow and said, “Adonai-Tzva’ot, if You will indeed look upon the affliction of Your handmaid, remember me and not forget Your handmaid, but grant Your handmaid a son, then I will give him to Adonai all the days of his life and no razor will ever touch his head.”
12It came to pass, as she prayed long before Adonai, that Eli was watching her mouth.
13Now Hannah was praying in her heart—only her lips were moving, but her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.
14Then Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”
15But in response Hannah said, “No, my lord, I am a woman with an oppressed spirit! I haven’t been drinking wine or beer. Instead I’ve been pouring out my soul before Adonai.
16Don’t consider your handmaid a wicked woman. For out of my great anguish and grief I’ve been praying until now.”
17Then Eli responded, “Go in shalom, and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you asked of Him.”
18“May your maidservant find favor in your eyes,” she said. So the woman went her way; she ate, and her countenance was no longer dejected.
19They rose up early in the morning and worshipped before Adonai, then went back to their home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and Adonai remembered her.
20So it came to pass at the turn of the year that Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She called his name Samuel, “because I have asked Adonai for him.”
21When the man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer the annual sacrifice to Adonai and to fulfill his vow offering,
22Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “When the child is weaned, I will bring him, so he may appear before Adonai and stay there forever.”
23So her husband Elkanah said to her, “Do what seems best to you. Stay until you have weaned him—only may Adonai establish His word.” So the woman stayed home and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with three bulls, one ephah of flour and a jar of wine, and brought him to the House of Adonai in Shiloh, while the child was still young.
25After they slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.
26“It’s me, my lord!” she said. “As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman that stood by you here, praying to Adonai.
27For this boy I prayed, and Adonai has granted me my petition that I asked of Him.
28So I in turn dedicate him to Adonai—as long as he lives he is dedicated to Adonai.” Then he bowed in worship there before Adonai.
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
1 Samuel 1
1
Elkanah’s Family Worships at Shiloh
1There was a man named Elkanah from the Zuph family who lived in Ramah in the hill country of Ephraim. Elkanah was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph from the tribe of Ephraim.
2Elkanah had two wives. One wife was named Hannah and the other wife was named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.
3Every year Elkanah left his town of Ramah and went up to Shiloh. He worshiped the Lord All-Powerful at Shiloh and offered sacrifices to the Lord there. Shiloh was where Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as priests of the Lord. 4Whenever Elkanah offered his sacrifices, he always gave one share of the food to his wife Peninnah and a share of the food to each of Peninnah’s children. 5Elkanah always gave an equal share#1:5 equal share Or “double share.” of the food to Hannah. He did this because he loved her very much, even though the Lord had not let Hannah have any children.
Peninnah Upsets Hannah
6Peninnah always upset Hannah and made her feel bad because the Lord had not made her able to have children. 7This happened every year when their family went to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. Peninnah would upset Hannah so much that she would begin to cry and would not eat anything. One year when this happened, 8her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why won’t you eat? Why are you so sad? You have me. Isn’t that better than having even ten sons?”
Hannah’s Prayer
9After eating and drinking, Hannah quietly got up and went to pray to the Lord.#1:9 went to pray to the Lord This is from the ancient Greek version. Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the door of the Lord’s Holy Building.#1:9 Holy Building This could mean the Holy Tent at Shiloh where people went to worship the Lord or a larger area where they put the Holy Tent. 10Hannah was so sad that she cried the whole time she was praying to the Lord. 11She made a special promise to God and said, “Lord All-Powerful, you can see how sad I am. Remember me. Don’t forget me. If you will give me a son, I will give him to you. He will be yours his whole life, and as a Nazirite, he will not drink wine or strong drink,#1:11 he … strong drink This is found in the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text. and no one will ever cut his hair.”
12Hannah prayed to the Lord a long time. Eli was watching her mouth while she was praying. 13Hannah was praying in her heart. Her lips were moving, but since she did not say the words out loud, Eli thought she was drunk. 14He said to her, “You have had too much to drink. It is time to put away the wine.”
15Hannah answered, “Sir, I have not drunk any wine or beer. I am deeply troubled, and I was telling the Lord about all my problems. 16Don’t think I am a bad woman. I have been praying so long because I have so many troubles and am very sad.”
17Eli answered, “Go in peace. May the God of Israel give you what you asked for.”
18Hannah said, “May you be happy with me.” Then she left and ate something. She was not sad anymore.
19Early the next morning Elkanah’s family got up. They worshiped the Lord and then went back home to Ramah.
Samuel’s Birth
Elkanah had sexual relations with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered Hannah. 20By that time the following year, Hannah had become pregnant and had a son. She named him Samuel.#1:20 Samuel This name means “His name is El (God).” But in Hebrew it is like “heard by God.” She said, “His name is Samuel because I asked the Lord for him.”
21Elkanah went to Shiloh to offer the sacrifice for that year and the gift he had promised to the Lord. He took his family with him. 22But Hannah did not go. She told Elkanah, “When the boy is old enough to eat solid food, I will take him to Shiloh. Then I will give him to the Lord. He will become a Nazirite.#1:22 He will become a Nazirite This is found in the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text. He will stay there at Shiloh.”
23Hannah’s husband Elkanah said to her, “Do what you think is best. You may stay home until the boy is old enough to eat solid food. May the Lord do what you#1:23 you This is from the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran. The standard Hebrew text has “he.” have said.” So Hannah stayed at home to nurse her son until he was old enough to eat solid food.
Hannah Takes Samuel to Eli at Shiloh
24When the boy was old enough to eat solid food, Hannah took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. She also took a bull that was three years old, 20 pounds#1:24 20 pounds Literally, “an ephah” (22 l). of flour, and a bottle of wine.
25They went before the Lord. Elkanah killed the bull as a sacrifice to the Lord as he usually did.#1:25 They went … he usually did This is found in the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text. Then Hannah gave the boy to Eli. 26She said to him, “Pardon me, sir. I am the same woman who stood near you praying to the Lord. I promise that I am telling the truth. 27I prayed for this child, and the Lord answered my prayer. He gave me this child. 28And now I give this child to the Lord. He will serve#1:28 serve Or “belong to.” the Lord all his life.”
Then Hannah left the boy there#1:28 left the boy there This is found in a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text. and worshiped the Lord.
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