1 Samuel 1

Annual Worship and Hannah's Distress 1 Samuel 1:3–8

³Verse 3. This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there. ⁴Verse 4. When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions; ⁵Verse 5. but to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb. ⁶Verse 6. Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because Yahweh had shut up her womb. ⁷Verse 7. As he did so year by year, when she went up to Yahweh’s house. Her rival provoked her; therefore she wept, and didn’t eat.

⁸Verse 8. Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

Hannah's Prayer and Eli's Misunderstanding 1 Samuel 1:9–14

⁹Verse 9. So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Yahweh’s temple. ¹⁰Verse 10. She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, weeping bitterly. ¹¹Verse 11. She vowed a vow, and said, “Yahweh of Armies, if you will indeed look at the affliction of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a boy, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.” ¹²Verse 12. As she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli saw her mouth.

¹³Verse 13. Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. ¹⁴Verse 14. Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”

Eli's Blessing and Hannah's Relief 1 Samuel 1:15–18

¹⁵Verse 15. Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh. ¹⁶Verse 16. Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.” ¹⁷Verse 17. Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.” ¹⁸Verse 18. She said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn’t sad any more.

Conception and Commitment 1 Samuel 1:19–23

¹⁹Verse 19. They rose up in the morning early, and worshiped before Yahweh, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah. Then Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh remembered her. ²⁰Verse 20. When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Yahweh.” ²¹Verse 21. The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. ²²Verse 22. But Hannah didn’t go up; for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and stay there forever.”

²³Verse 23. Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may Yahweh establish his word.” So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him.

Hannah Dedicates Samuel to the Lord 1 Samuel 1:24–28

²⁴Verse 24. When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to Yahweh’s house in Shiloh. The child was young. ²⁵Verse 25. They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli. ²⁶Verse 26. She said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh. ²⁷Verse 27. I prayed for this child; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him. ²⁸Verse 28. Therefore I have also given him to Yahweh. As long as he lives he is given to Yahweh.” He worshiped Yahweh there.