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Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of (A)the temple of Yahweh. 10 And she, bitter of soul, prayed to Yahweh and wept despondently. 11 And she (B)made a vow and said, “O Yahweh of hosts, if You will indeed (C)look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a seed amongst men, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and (D)a razor shall never come on his head.”

12 Now it happened, as she multiplied her praying before Yahweh, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13 As for Hannah, (E)she was speaking in her heart; only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. 14 Then Eli said to her, “(F)How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” 15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman [a]oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I (G)have poured out my soul before Yahweh. 16 Do not [b]consider your maidservant as a vile woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great complaint and [c]provocation.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “(H)Go in peace; and may the God of Israel (I)grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” 18 And she said, “(J)Let your servant-woman find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and (K)her face was no longer sad.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 1:15 Lit severe
  2. 1 Samuel 1:16 Lit give
  3. 1 Samuel 1:16 Lit my provocation

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.