Samuel’s Birth and Dedication

¹⁹ The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the Lord. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah.^(A) Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.^{(B) 20} After some time,^[a] Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,^[b] because she said, “I requested him from the Lord.”

²¹ When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice^(C) and his vow offering to the Lord, ²² Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in the Lord’s presence^(D) and to stay there permanently.”^(E)

²³ Her husband Elkanah replied, “Do what you think is best,^[c](F) and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the Lord confirm your^[d] word.”^(G) So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him. ²⁴ When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull,^[e] half a bushel^[f] of flour, and a jar of wine.^(H) Though the boy was still young,^[g] she took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh.^{(I) 25} Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.

²⁶ “Please, my lord,” she said, “as sure as you live,^(J) my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. ²⁷ I prayed for this boy,^(K) and since the Lord gave me what I asked Him for,^{(L) 28} I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.”^(M) Then he^[h] bowed in worship to the Lord there.^[i]