1 Samuel 1 - Introduction

1 Elkanah a Leuite hauing two wiues, worshippeth yeerely at Shiloh.

4 Hee cherisheth Hannah, though barren, and prouoked by Peninnah.

9 Hannah in griefe, prayeth for a childe.

12 Eli first rebuking her, afterwards blesseth her.

19 Hannah hauing borne Samuel, stayeth at home till he be weaned.

24 She presenteth him, according to her vow, to the Lord.

1 Now there was a certaine man of Ramathaim Zophim, of mount Ephraim, & his name was Elkanah, the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne of Elihu, the sonne of Tohu, the sonne of Zuph, an Ephrathite;

2 And he had two wiues, the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 And this man went vp out of his citie [Note: Deuteronomy 16:16.] [Note: Hebrew: from yeere to yeere.] yeerely, to worship and to sacrifice vnto the Lord of hostes in Shiloh; and the two sonnes of Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas, the Priests of the Lord, were there.

4 And when the time was, that Elkanah offered, he gaue to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sonnes, and her daughters, portions.

5 But vnto Hannah he gaue [Note: Or, a double portion.] a worthy portion: (for he loued Hannah, but the Lord had shut vp her wombe.

6 And her aduersary also [Note: Hebrew: angred her.] prouoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut vp her wombe.)

7 And as he did so yeere by yeere, [Note: Or, from the time that she, etc. Hebrew: from her going vp.] when she went vp to the house of the Lord, so she prouoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieued? Am not I better to thee, then ten sonnes?

9 So Hannah rose vp after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had

[Hannahs prayer, and thanksgiuing.]

drunke; (now Eli the Priest sate vpon a seat by a poste of the Temple of the Lord.)

10 And shee was [Note: Hebrew: bitter of soule.] in bitternesse of soule, and prayed vnto the Lord, and wept sore.

11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hostes, if thou wilt indeed looke on the affliction of thine handmayd, and remember me, and not forget thine handmayd, but wilt giue vnto thine handmayd [Note: Hebrew: seed of men.] a man childe, then I will giue him vnto the Lord all the dayes of his life, and [Note: Numbers 6:5; Judges 13:5.] there shall no rasor come vpon his head.

12 And it came to passe as she [Note: Hebrew: multiplied to pray.] continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.

13 Now Hannah, shee spake in her heart; onely her lippes mooued, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had beene drunken.

14 And Eli said vnto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

15 And Hannah answered, and said, No, my lord, I am a woman [Note: Hebrew: hard of spirit.] of a sorrowfull spirit: I haue drunke neither wine nor strong drinke, but haue powred out my soule before the Lord.

16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my [Note: Or, meditation.] complaint and griefe, haue I spoken hitherto.

17 Then Eli answered, and said, Goe in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition, that thou hast asked of him.

18 And she said, Let thine handmaid finde grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eate, and her countenance was no more sad.

19 And they rose vp in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knewe Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembred her.

20 Wherefore it came to passe when the [Note: Hebrew: reuelation of dayes.] time was come about, after Hannah had conceiued, that shee bare a sonne, and called his name [Note: That is, asked of God.] Samuel, saying; Because I haue asked him of the Lord.

21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went vp to offer vnto the Lord the yeerely sacrifice, and his vowe.

22 But Hannah went not vp; for

[Hannahs prayer, and thanksgiuing.]

shee said vnto her husband, I will not goe vp vntill the childe be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appeare before the Lord, and there abide for euer.

23 And Elkanah her husband said vnto her, Do what seemeth thee good, tary vntill thou haue weaned him, only the Lord establish his word: so the woman abode, and gaue her sonne sucke vntill she weaned him.

24 And when shee had weaned him, shee tooke him vp with her, with three bullocks, and one Ephah of floure, and a bottle of wine, and brought him vnto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the childe was young.

25 And they slew a bullocke, and brought the childe to Eli.

26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soule liueth, my lord, I am the woman, that stood by thee heere, praying vnto the Lord.

27 For this childe I prayed, and the Lord hath giuen me my petition, which I asked of him:

28 Therefore also I haue [Note: Or, returned him, whom I have obtained by petition to the LORD.] lent him to the Lord as long as hee liueth, [Note: Or, hee whom I haue obteined by petition, shalbe returned.] he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.