HANNAH'S PRAYER FOR A SON
1 Samuel 1:1-28
1 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: 2 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. 3 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. 4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he
gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters,
portions: 5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he
loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. 6 And her
adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because
the LORD had shut up her womb. 7 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. 8 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? 9 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.
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