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Now there was a certainman of Ramathaimzophim, of mountEphraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
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And he had twowives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the otherPeninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
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And thisman went up out of his cityyearly[a]toworship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the twosons of Eli,Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
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And when the time was that Elkanahoffered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters,portions:
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But unto Hannah he gaveaworthy[b]portion; for he lovedHannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
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And her adversary also provoked[c] her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shutup her womb.
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And as he did so year by year,when[d] she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
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Then saidElkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heartgrieved? am not I better to thee than tensons?
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So Hannah rose upafter they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priestsat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
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And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and weptsore.
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And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeedlook on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man[e]child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razorcome upon his head.
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And it came to pass, as she continued[f]prayingbefore the LORD, that Elimarked her mouth.
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Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lipsmoved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Elithought she had been drunken.
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And Elisaid unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
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And Hannahanswered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful[g]spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soulbefore the LORD.
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Count not thine handmaidfor a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint[h] and grief have I spoken hitherto.
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Then Elianswered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israelgrant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
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And she said, Let thine handmaidfindgrace in thy sight. So the womanwent her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
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And they rose up in the morningearly, and worshippedbefore the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and ElkanahknewHannah his wife; and the LORDremembered her.
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Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his nameSamuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
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And the manElkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearlysacrifice, and his vow.
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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 appearbefore the LORD, and there abideforever.
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And Elkanah her husbandsaid unto her, Do what seemeth thee good;tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORDestablish his word. So the womanabode, and gave her sonsuck until she weaned him.
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And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with threebullocks, and oneephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
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And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
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And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soulliveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
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For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
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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.