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.(A) 10 In her deep anguish(B) Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow,(C) saying, “Lord Almighty(D), if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember(E) 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,(F) and no razor(G) 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.(H) I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring(I) 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.”(J)

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

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 1:20 Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for heard by God.

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.

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