I Samuel 1 · שמואל א

Now there was a certain man of Ramatayim-żofim, in mount Efrayim, and his name was Elqana, the son of Yeroĥam, the son of Elihu the son of Toĥu, the son of Żuf, an Efratite:

and he had two wives; the name of the one was Ḥanna, and the name of the other Peninna: and Peninna had children, but Ḥanna had no children.

And this man went up out of his city year by year to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shilo. And the two sons of ῾Eli, Ḥofni and Pineĥas, the priests of the Lord, were there.

And when the time was that Elqana offered, he gave portions to Peninna his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters:

but to Ḥanna he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Ḥanna: but the Lord had shut up her womb.

And her rival also provoked her sore, to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.

And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

Then Elqana her husband said to her, Ḥanna, why dost thou weep? and why dost thou not eat? and why is thy heart grieved? am I not better to thee than ten sons?

So Ḥanna rose up after they had eaten in Shilo, and after they had drunk. Now ῾Eli the priest sat upon a seat by the gate post of the temple of the Lord.

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly.

And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thy handmaid, but wilt give to Thy handmaid a man child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that ῾Eli marked her mouth.

Now Ḥanna spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore ῾Eli thought she was drunk.

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

And Ḥanna answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.

Take not thy handmaid for a worthless woman: for out of the greatness of my complaint and grief have I been speaking.

Then ῾Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Yisra᾽el grant thee thy petition which thou hast asked of him.

And she said, Let thy handmaid find favour in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Rama: and Elqana had intimacy with Ḥanna his wife; and the Lord remembered her.

And in due course, Ḥanna conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Shemu᾽el, Because I have asked him of the Lord.

And the man Elqana, and all his house, went up to offer to the Lord his yearly sacrifice, and vow.

But Ḥanna did not go up; for she said to her husband, I will not go up until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever.

And Elqana her husband said to her, Do what seems good in thy eyes; tarry until thou hast weaned him; only may the Lord establish his word. So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one efa of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shilo: and the child was young.

And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to ῾Eli.

And she said, O my lord, as thy soul lives, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying to the Lord.

For this child I prayed; and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of him:

therefore also I have presented him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be devoted to the Lord. And he bowed down to the Lord there.