rsv 1Samuel:1:1-20 SEEK
Seeker Overlay ON
*
There was a certain man of Ramatha '
im-zo '
phim of the hill country of E '
phraim ,
whose name was Elka '
nah the son of Jero '
ham ,
son of Eli '
hu ,
son of Tohu ,
son of Zuph ,
an E '
phraimite .
*
He had two wives ;
the name of the one was Hannah ,
and the name of the other Penin '
nah .
And Penin '
nah had children ,
but Hannah had no children .
*
Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh ,
where the two sons of Eli ,
Hophni and Phin '
ehas ,
were priests of the LORD .
*
On the day when Elka '
nah sacrificed ,
he would give portions to Penin '
nah his wife and to all her sons and daughters ;
*
and ,
although he loved Hannah ,
he would give Hannah only one portion ,
because the LORD had closed her womb .
*
And her rival used to provoke her sorely ,
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 .
*
And Elka '
nah ,
her husband ,
said to her , "
Hannah ,
why do you weep ?
And why do you not eat ?
And why is your heart sad ?
Am I not more to you than ten sons ?"
*
After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh ,
Hannah rose .
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 .
*
And she vowed a vow and said , "
O LORD of hosts ,
if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy maidservant ,
and remember me ,
and not forget thy maidservant ,
but wilt give to thy maidservant a son ,
then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life ,
and no razor shall touch his head ."
*
As she continued praying before the LORD ,
Eli observed her mouth .
*
Hannah was speaking in her heart ;
only her lips moved ,
and her voice was not heard ;
therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman .
*
And Eli said to her , "
How long will you be drunken ?
Put away your wine from you ."
*
But Hannah answered , "
No ,
my lord ,
I am a woman sorely troubled ;
I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink ,
but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD .
*
Do not regard your maidservant as a base woman ,
for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation ."
*
Then Eli answered , "
Go in peace ,
and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have made to him ."
*
And she said , "
Let your maidservant find favor in your eyes ."
Then the woman went her way and ate ,
and her countenance was no longer sad .
*
They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD ;
then they went back to their house at Ramah .
And Elka '
nah knew Hannah his wife ,
and the LORD remembered her ;
*
and in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son ,
and she called his name Samuel ,
for she said , "
I have asked him of the LORD ."