1 Samuel 1:1-18 (NRSV)
Hannah is promised a child
There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill
country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu
son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives; the name of
the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had
children, but Hannah had no children.
Now this man used to go up year by year from his town to worship
and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of
Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. On the day when
Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to
all her sons and daughters; but to Hannah he gave a double portion,
because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. Her rival
used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had
closed her womb. So 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. Her husband Elkanah said to her, "Hannah, why do you
weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to
you than ten sons?"
After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and
presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on
the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply
distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. She made this
vow: "O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your
servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to
your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite
until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor
intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head."
As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her
mouth. Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice
was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her,
"How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your
wine." But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman deeply
troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been
pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a
worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and
vexation all this time." Then Eli answered, "Go in peace; the God of
Israel grant the petition you have made to him." And she said, "Let
your servant find favor in your sight." Then the woman went to her
quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no
longer.
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