1 Samuel 1

The Birth of Samuel

1There was a certain man of aRamathaim-zophim of bthe hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, can Ephrathite. 2He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3Now this man used to go up dyear by year from his city eto worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts fat Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, ghe would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.
Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. Septuagint And, although he loved Hannah, he would give Hannah only one portion, because the Lord had closed her womb
6And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? iAm I not more to you than ten sons?”

9After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of jthe temple of the Lord. 10She was kdeeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11And she lvowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed mlook on the affliction of your servant and nremember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, oand no razor shall touch his head.”

12As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but pI have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16Do not regard your servant as qa worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17Then Eli answered, rGo in peace, and the God of Israel sgrant your petition that you have made to him.” 18And she said, t“Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman uwent her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

19They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at vRamah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord wremembered her. 20And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”
 Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for heard of God


Samuel Given to the Lord

21The man Elkanah and all his house ywent up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord zand dwell there forever.” 23 aaElkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; abonly, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24And when she had weaned him, acshe took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull,
Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Syriac; Masoretic Text three bulls
an ephah
An  ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to afthe house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young.
25Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26And she said, “Oh, my lord! agAs you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27For this child I prayed, ahand the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”

aiAnd he worshiped the Lord there.

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