The Birth of Samuel

1 Samuel 1

1 There was a certain man of a Ramathaim-zophim of b the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, c an Ephrathite. 2 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 Now this man used to go up d year by year from his city e to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts f at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, g he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 1 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? h Am I not more to you than ten sons?"

9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of i the temple of the Lord. 10 She was j deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she k vowed a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed l look on the affliction of your servant and m remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, n and no razor shall touch his head."

12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, "How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you." 15 But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but o I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as p a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation." 17 Then Eli answered, q "Go in peace, and the God of Israel r grant your petition that you have made to him." 18 And she said, s "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman t went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at u Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord v remembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the Lord." 2

  1. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:19
    They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord ; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
  2. Cross References
    Joshua 24:33
    And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.
  3. Cross References
    1 Kings 11:26
    Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:21
    The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow.
    Exodus 23:14
    Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me.
    Deuteronomy 16:16
    Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.
    Luke 2:41
    Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
  5. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 12:5 - 7
    But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go.
  6. Cross References
    Joshua 18:1
    Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.
  7. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 12:17 - 18
    You may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grain or of your wine or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, or any of your vow offerings that you vow, or your freewill offerings or the contribution that you present.
    Deuteronomy 16:11
    And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name dwell there.
    Nehemiah 8:10
    Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
    Nehemiah 8:12
    And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
  8. Cross References
    Ruth 4:15
    He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.
  9. Cross References
    1 Samuel 3:3
    The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
  10. Cross References
    Job 7:11
    Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
    Job 10:1
    I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 28:20
    Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear.
    Judges 11:30
    And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, "If you will give the Ammonites into my hand.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 29:32
    And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, "Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.
  13. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:19
    They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord ; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
    Genesis 30:22
    Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.
  14. Cross References
    Judges 13:5
    For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.
    Numbers 6:5
    All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long.
  15. Cross References
    Job 30:16
    And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me.
    Psalms 42:4
    These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.
    Lamentations 2:19
    "Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street."
    Psalms 62:8
    Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
  16. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:12
    Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.
    Judges 19:22
    As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, "Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.
  17. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:42
    Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, 'The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.'" And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.
    Judges 18:6
    And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord.
    2 Kings 5:19
    He said to him, "Go in peace." But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance.
    Mark 5:34
    And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 20:4 - 5
    May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans!
  19. Cross References
    Genesis 33:15
    So Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.
    Ruth 2:13
    Then she said, "I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.
  20. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 9:7
    Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.
  21. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:11
    Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy ministered to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.
    1 Samuel 1:1
    There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.
  22. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:11
    And she vowed a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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