The Birth of Samuel

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. He had two wives;(F) one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

Year after year(G) this man went up from his town to worship(H) and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh,(I) where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli,(J) were priests of the Lord. Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice,(K) he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.(L) But to Hannah he gave a double portion(M) because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.(N) Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.(O) This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.(P) 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?(Q)

Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.(R) 10 In her deep anguish(S) Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow,(T) saying, “Lord Almighty(U), if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember(V) me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life,(W) and no razor(X) will ever be used on his head.”

12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled.(Y) I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring(Z) out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”(AA)

17 Eli answered, “Go in peace,(AB) and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.(AC)

18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.(AD)” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.(AE)

19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah.(AF) Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered(AG) her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.(AH) She named(AI) him Samuel,[b](AJ) saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

Hannah Dedicates Samuel

21 When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual(AK) sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow,(AL) 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present(AM) him before the Lord, and he will live there always.”[c]

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(AN) his[d] word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned(AO) him.

24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull,[e](AP) an ephah[f] of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. 25 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed(AQ) for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life(AR) he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 1:1 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 6:26-27,33-35; or from Ramathaim Zuphim.
  2. 1 Samuel 1:20 Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for heard by God.
  3. 1 Samuel 1:22 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls always. I have dedicated him as a Nazirite—all the days of his life.”
  4. 1 Samuel 1:23 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint and Syriac your
  5. 1 Samuel 1:24 Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text with three bulls
  6. 1 Samuel 1:24 That is, probably about 36 pounds or about 16 kilograms

Nacimiento de Samuel

Hubo un varón de Ramatáyim de Zofim, del monte de Efraín, que se llamaba Elcaná hijo de Jeroham, hijo de Eliú, hijo de Tohu, hijo de Zuf, efrateo.

Y tenía él dos mujeres; el nombre de una era Ana, y el de la otra, Peniná. Y Peniná tenía hijos, pero Ana no los tenía.

Y todos los años aquel varón subía de su ciudad para adorar y ofrecer sacrificios a Jehová de los ejércitos en Silo, donde estaban dos hijos de Elí, Ofní y Fineés, sacerdotes de Jehová.

Y cuando llegaba el día en que Elcaná ofrecía sacrificio, daba a Peniná su mujer, a todos sus hijos y a todas sus hijas, a cada uno su parte.

Pero a Ana daba una parte escogida; porque amaba a Ana, aunque Jehová no le había concedido tener hijos.

Y su rival la irritaba, enojándola y entristeciéndola, porque Jehová no le había concedido tener hijos.

Así hacía cada año; cuando subía a la casa de Jehová, la irritaba así; por lo cual Ana lloraba, y no comía.

Y Elcaná su marido le dijo: Ana, ¿por qué lloras?, ¿por qué no comes?, y ¿por qué está afligido tu corazón? ¿No te soy yo mejor que diez hijos?

Y se levantó Ana después que hubo comido y bebido en Silo; y mientras el sacerdote Elí estaba sentado en una silla junto a un pilar del templo de Jehová,

10 ella con amargura de alma oró a Jehová, y lloró abundantemente.

11 E hizo voto, diciendo: Jehová de los ejércitos, si te dignas mirar a la aflicción de tu sierva, y te acuerdas de mí, y no te olvidas de tu sierva, sino que das a tu sierva un hijo varón, yo lo dedicaré a Jehová todos los días de su vida, y no pasará navaja sobre su cabeza.

12 Mientras ella oraba así reiteradamente delante de Jehová, Elí estaba observando la boca de ella.

13 Pero Ana hablaba en su corazón, y solamente se movían sus labios, y su voz no se oía; y Elí la tuvo por ebria.

14 Entonces le dijo Elí: ¿Hasta cuándo estarás ebria? Digiere tu vino.

15 Y Ana le respondió diciendo: No, señor mío; yo soy una mujer atribulada de espíritu; no he bebido vino ni licor, sino que he derramado mi alma delante de Jehová.

16 No tengas a tu sierva por una mujer impía; porque por la magnitud de mis congojas y de mi aflicción he hablado hasta ahora.

17 Elí respondió y dijo: Ve en paz, y el Dios de Israel te otorgue la petición que le has hecho.

18 Y ella dijo: Halle tu sierva gracia delante de tus ojos. Y se fue la mujer por su camino, y comió, y no estuvo más triste.

Nacimiento y consagración de Samuel

19 Y levantándose de mañana, adoraron delante de Jehová, y volvieron y fueron a su casa en Ramá. Y Elcaná se llegó a Ana su mujer, y Jehová se acordó de ella.

20 Aconteció que al cumplirse el tiempo, después de haber concebido Ana, dio a luz un hijo, y le puso por nombre Samuel, diciendo: Por cuanto lo pedí a Jehová.

21 Después subió el varón Elcaná con toda su familia, para ofrecer a Jehová el sacrificio acostumbrado y su voto.

22 Pero Ana no subió, sino que dijo a su marido: Yo no subiré hasta que el niño sea destetado, para que lo lleve y sea presentado delante de Jehová, y se quede allí para siempre.

23 Y Elcaná su marido le respondió: Haz lo que bien te parezca; quédate hasta que lo destetes; solamente que cumpla Jehová su palabra. Y se quedó la mujer, y crió a su hijo hasta que lo destetó.

24 Después que lo hubo destetado, lo llevó consigo, con tres becerros, un efa de harina y una vasija de vino, y lo trajo a la casa de Jehová en Silo; y el niño era pequeño.

25 Y matando el becerro, trajeron el niño a Elí.

26 Y ella dijo: ¡Oh, señor mío! Vive tu alma, señor mío, yo soy aquella mujer que estuvo aquí junto a ti orando a Jehová.

27 Por este niño oraba, y Jehová me dio lo que le pedí.

28 Yo, pues, lo dedico también a Jehová; todos los días que viva, será de Jehová. Y adoró allí a Jehová.

Eli och Samuel

(1:1—7:17)

Samuels födelse och barndom

Hanna får bönesvar – en son

I Ramatajim i Efraims bergsbygd bodde en man som hette Elkana. Han var från Sufs land och son till Jerocham och sonson till Elihu som i sin tur var son till Tochu och sonson till Suf i Efraims stam. Elkana hade två hustrur, Hanna och Peninna. Peninna hade fått barn, men Hanna kunde inte få några.

Varje år reste Elkana från sin stad till Shilo[a] för att tillbe och offra till härskarornas Herre. Vid den här tiden var Elis båda söner, Hofni och Pinechas, präster i Herrens tjänst. Varje gång Elkana offrade, brukade han ge Peninna och alla hennes söner och döttrar var sin del av offerköttet. Men åt Hanna gav han en särskild del[b]. Han älskade henne djupt trots att Herren inte gett henne några barn. Hennes rival provocerade och retade henne ständigt för den ofruktsamhet som Herren låtit henne drabbas av. Detta pågick år efter år. Varje gång Hanna gick till Herrens hus blev hon hånad av Peninna. Hanna grät och ville inte äta. ”Vad är det, Hanna, varför gråter du?” brukade Elkana, hennes man fråga. ”Varför äter du inte? Varför är du så ledsen? Betyder jag inte mer för dig än tio söner?”

Men det hände en gång i Shilo när de hade ätit offermåltiden tillsammans att Hanna gick till Herrens tempel där prästen Eli satt på sin stol bredvid ingången. 10 Hanna var djupt bedrövad och grät medan hon bad till Herren. 11 Hon gav honom följande löfte: ”Härskarornas Herre, se till mig din tjänarinna i min stora sorg! Om du kommer ihåg mig, om du inte glömmer bort mig utan ger mig en son, så ska jag ge honom till Herren för hela livet och ingen rakkniv kommer någonsin att röra vid hans huvud![c]

12 Hon bad länge inför Herren och Eli iakttog hennes läppar. 13 Hon bad tyst för sig själv. Hennes läppar rörde sig men hennes röst hördes inte. Eli trodde att hon hade druckit sig full. 14 ”Hur länge ska du bära dig åt som en drucken?” frågade han. ”Se till att du blir nykter!” 15 ”Nej, min herre, jag är en hårt prövad kvinna! Jag har inte druckit något”, svarade hon. ”Jag har lagt fram allt som jag burit på inför Herren. 16 Tro inte att jag är en dålig kvinna! Jag har bett här i min sorg och förtvivlan.”

17 Då sa Eli: ”Gå i frid! Israels Gud ska svara på din bön vad den än gäller!” 18 ”Låt mig din tjänarinna alltid få möta din välvilja”, sa hon och gick sin väg. Efter det började hon äta igen och såg inte längre sorgsen ut.

19 Nästa morgon var de tidigt uppe och tillbad inför Herren än en gång. Sedan återvände de hem till Rama. Och när Elkana nu låg med Hanna, kom Herren ihåg henne. 20 Hon blev med barn och födde en son när tiden var inne. Hon kallade honom Samuel,[d] för hon sa: ”Jag bad till Herren att jag skulle få honom.”

Hanna uppfyller sitt löfte till Gud

21 Elkana och hela hans familj gick upp igen för att offra sitt årliga offer och löftesoffer inför Herren. 22 Hanna följde inte med utan hon sa till sin man: ”Låt mig vänta tills pojken blivit avvand. Sedan ska jag ta med honom till Herren och låta honom stanna där för alltid.”

23 Elkana svarade: ”Gör det du tycker är bäst! Vänta tills pojken är avvand. Må Herren bara låta sitt ord gå i uppfyllelse!”

Hanna stannade därför hemma tills hon slutat amma barnet. 24 Efter att hon avvant honom, tog hon honom med sig fastän han fortfarande var mycket ung[e]. De tog också med sig en tre år gammal tjur[f] som offer och en säck[g] mjöl och en vinsäck. Så fördes han till Herrens hus i Shilo. 25 Efter att de offrat tjuren, förde de pojken till Eli.

26 ”Min herre, så sant du lever”, sa Hanna till honom, ”jag är den kvinna som stod här bredvid dig och bad till Herren. 27 Jag bad honom att ge mig denne pojke och Herren har svarat på min bön. 28 Nu vill jag ge honom till Herren. Så länge han lever ska han tillhöra Herren.”

Därefter tillbad han[h] Herren.

Footnotes

  1. 1:3 Shilo. Den stad i Efraim där helgedomen, Herrens tält, stod uppställt. Se Jos 18:1.
  2. 1:5 Eller: dubbelt så mycket.
  3. 1:11 Det fanns flera regler för den som vigt sitt liv till Herren som nasir; en var att håret skulle få växa fritt. Se 4 Mos 6:1-8.
  4. 1:19,20 Samuel betyder ungefär hörd av Gud.
  5. 1:24 Kvinnorna ammade mycket länge. Samuel var alltså åtminstone ett par år gammal.
  6. 1:24 Eller tre tjurar.
  7. 1:24 Ordagrant: en efa, dvs. 20-40 liter.
  8. 1:28 I en av bokrullarna från Qumran står det istället hon.

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.

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

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.

And her adversary also provoked her sore, for 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 said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

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

10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.

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

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

13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

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

15 And Hannah 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.

16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

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

19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.

20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.

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

22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever.

23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

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

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

26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.

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

28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.