Then Hannah got up after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of (A)the [a]temple of the Lord. 10 She, [b]greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she (B)made a vow and said, “Lord of armies, if You will indeed (C)look on the affliction of Your bond-servant and remember me, and not forget Your bond-servant, but will give Your bond-servant a [c]son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and (D)a razor shall never come on his head.”

12 Now it came about, as she [d]continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13 As for Hannah, (E)she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were quivering, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought that she was drunk. 14 Then Eli said to her, “(F)How long will you behave like a drunk? Get rid of your wine!” 15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman [e]despairing in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I (G)have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not [f]consider your bond-servant a useless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “(H)Go in peace; and may the God of Israel (I)grant your request that you have asked of Him.” 18 She said, “(J)Let your bond-servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went on her way and ate, and (K)her face was no longer sad.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 1:9 I.e., tabernacle
  2. 1 Samuel 1:10 Lit bitter of soul
  3. 1 Samuel 1:11 Lit seed of men
  4. 1 Samuel 1:12 Lit multiplied
  5. 1 Samuel 1:15 Lit hard
  6. 1 Samuel 1:16 Lit give

Hannah’s Prayer for a Son

Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle.[a] 10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.[b]

12 As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. 14 “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”

15 “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. 16 Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”

17 “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”

18 “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:9 Hebrew the Temple of the Lord.
  2. 1:11 Some manuscripts add He will drink neither wine nor intoxicants.