1 Now there was a certainman from 1Ramathaim-zophim from the 2hillcountry of Ephraim, and his name was 3Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
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He had 4twowives: the name of one was 5Hannah and the name of the otherPeninnah; and Peninnahhadchildren, but Hannahhadnochildren.
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Now thisman would go up from his city6yearly7to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in 8Shiloh. And the twosons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORDthere.
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When the daycame that Elkanahsacrificed, he 9would giveportions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters;
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but to Hannah he would give a doubleportion, for he lovedHannah, 10but the LORD had closed her womb.
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Her rival, however, 11would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.
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It happenedyear after year, as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat.
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Then Elkanah her husbandsaid to her, "Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heartsad? 12Am I not better to you thantensons?"
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Then Hannahroseaftereating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of 13the temple of the LORD.
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She, [a]greatlydistressed, prayed to the LORD and weptbitterly.
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She 14made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed15look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a [b]son*, then I will give him to the LORDall the days of his life, and 16a razor shall nevercome on his head."
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Now it came about, as she [c]continuedprayingbefore the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth.
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As for Hannah, 17she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Elithought she was drunk.
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Then Elisaid to her, "18Howlong* will you make yourself drunk? Putaway your wine from you."
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But Hannahreplied, "No, my lord, I am a woman[d]oppressed in spirit; I have drunkneitherwinenorstrongdrink, but I 19have poured out my soulbefore the LORD.
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"Do not [e]consider your maidservant as a worthlesswoman, for I have spokenuntilnow out of my greatconcern and [f]provocation."
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Then Elianswered and said, "20Go in peace; and may the God of Israel21grant your petition that you have asked of Him."
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She said, "22Let your maidservantfindfavor in your sight." So the womanwent her way and ate, and 23her face was nolonger sad.
Samuel Is Born to Hannah
19 Then they aroseearly in the morning and worshipedbefore the LORD, and returned*again to their house in 24Ramah. And Elkanah[g]hadrelations with Hannah his wife, and 25the LORDremembered her.
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It came about [h]in duetime, after Hannah had conceived, that she gavebirth to a son; and she named* him Samuel, saying, "26Because I have asked him of the LORD."
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Then the manElkanah27went up with all his household to offer to the LORD the yearlysacrifice and pay his vow.
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But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will 28bring him, that he may appearbefore the LORD and 29staythereforever*."
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30Elkanah her husbandsaid to her, "Dowhat seems best[i]to you. Remainuntil you have weaned him; only31may the LORDconfirm His word." So the womanremained and nursed her sonuntil she weaned him.
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Now when she had weaned him, 32she took him up with her, with a three-year-oldbull and oneephah of flour and a jug of wine, and brought him to 33the house of the LORD in Shiloh, although the child was young.
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Then 34they slaughtered the bull, and 35brought the boy to Eli.
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She said, "Oh, my lord! 36As your soullives, my lord, I am the woman who stoodherebeside you, praying to the LORD.
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"37For thisboy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petitionwhich I asked of Him.
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"38So I have also[j]dedicated him to the LORD; as long* as he lives he is [k]dedicated to the LORD." And 39he worshiped the LORDthere.