The Birth of Samuel

1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim,^(A) a Zuphite^[a](B) from the hill country^(C) of Ephraim,^(D) whose name was Elkanah^(E) son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

⁴ Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice,^(A) he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.^(B)

⁸ Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?^(A)”

¹⁹ Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah.^(A) Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered^(B) her.

Hannah Dedicates Samuel

²¹ When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual^(A) sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow,^(B)

²³ “Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the Lord make good^(A) his^[a] word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned^(B) him.

¹¹ Then Elkanah went home to Ramah,^(A) but the boy ministered^(B) before the Lord under Eli the priest.

²⁰ Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed^(A) for and gave to^[a] the Lord.” Then they would go home.