1 Samuel 1:1-18 - The Family Of Elkanah

¹ There was a man of Ramathaimzophim of mount Ephraim, named Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite: ² which had two wives, the one called Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. ³ And the said man went out of his city every feastful day, to pray and to offer unto the LORD of Hosts: where the two sons of Eli - Hophni and Phinehas - were the LORD's priests.

⁴ And it fell on a day, as Elkanah had offered, that he gave to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters portions. ⁵ But unto Hannah he gave a portion with a heavy cheer, for he loved her; nevertheless the LORD had made her barren. ⁶ And thereto her enemy Peninnah vexed her a good in casting her in the teeth how the LORD had made her barren. ⁷ And so did she year by year, as oft as she went up to the house of the LORD. And so chafed her: wherefore Hannah wept and ate not. ⁸ Then said Elkanah her husband to her, "Hannah why weepest thou? And why eatest thou not? And why is thine heart so troubled? Am not I better to thee, than ten sons?"

⁹ Then Hannah rose up after that they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. And Eli the priest sat upon a stool by one of the side posts of the temple of the LORD. ¹⁰ And she was troubled in her spirits, and prayed unto the LORD and wept sore, ¹¹ and vowed a vow and said, "LORD of Hosts, if thou wilt look on the wretchedness of thine handmaid and shalt remember me and not forget thine handmaid, and shalt give unto thine handmaid a man child I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life and there shall neither razor or shears come upon his head."

¹² And as she continued praying before the LORD, Eli marked her mouth - ¹³ For Hannah, she spake in her heart; and her lips did but move only, but her voice was not heard. And therefore Eli took her for drunken, ¹⁴ and said unto her, "How long wilt thou be drunken? Put away from thee the wine that thou hast."

¹⁵ Hannah answered, and said, "Not so, my lord. I am a woman sorrowful in mine heart, and have drunk neither wine nor any strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD. ¹⁶ Count not thine handmaid to be like a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my meditation and grief have I spoken hitherto."

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

¹⁸ Then she said, "Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight." And so the woman went her way, and did eat and looked no more so sad.