1 Samuel 1

The Birth of Samuel

1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the a mountains of Ephraim, and his name was b Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of 1 Elihu, the son of 2 Tohu, the son of Zuph, c an Ephraimite. 2 And he had d two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 This man went up from his city e yearly f to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in g Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. 4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an h offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, i although the LORD had closed her womb. 6 And her rival also j provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. 7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. 8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not k better to you than ten sons?"

9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of l the 3 tabernacle of the LORD. 10 m And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and 4 wept in anguish. 11 Then she n made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed o look on the affliction of Your maidservant and p remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and q no razor shall come upon his head."

12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" 15 But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have r poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 "Do not consider your maidservant a s wicked 5 woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now." 17 Then Eli answered and said, t "Go in peace, and u the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." 18 And she said, v "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman w went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah x knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD y remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name 6 Samuel, 7 saying, "Because I have asked for him from the LORD."

Samuel Given to the Lord

21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house z went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "Not until the child is weaned; then I will a take him, that he may appear before the LORD and b remain there c forever." 23 So d Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD 8 establish 9 His word." Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. 24 Now when she had weaned him, she e took him up with her, with 10 three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to f the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and g brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, "O my lord! h As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. 27 i "For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.

28 "Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be 11 lent to the LORD." So they j worshiped the LORD there.

  1. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 2:15
    Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh.
    Matthew 1:6
    And Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.
  2. Cross References
    Joshua 17:17
    And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph - to Ephraim and Manasseh - saying, "You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot.
    Joshua 17:18
    "but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong."
    Joshua 24:33
    And Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in a hill belonging to Phinehas his son, which was given to him in the mountains of Ephraim.
  3. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 6:27
    Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son.
    1 Chronicles 6:33 - 38
    And these are the ones who ministered with their sons: Of the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel.
  4. Cross References
    Ruth 1:2
    The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion - Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there.
  5. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 21:15 - 17
    If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and they have borne him children, both the loved and the unloved, and if the firstborn son is of her who is unloved.
  6. Cross References
    Exodus 34:14
    (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God).
    Exodus 34:23
    Three times in the year all your men shall appear before the Lord, the LORD God of Israel.
    Judges 21:19
    Then they said, "In fact, there is a yearly feast of the LORD in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.
    1 Samuel 1:21
    Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow.
    Luke 2:41
    His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
  7. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 12:5 - 7
    But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go.
    Deuteronomy 16:16
    Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.
  8. Cross References
    Joshua 18:1
    Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them.
  9. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 12:17
    You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil, of the firstborn of your herd or your flock, of any of your offerings which you vow, of your freewill offerings, or of the heave offering of your hand.
    Deuteronomy 12:18
    But you must eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God chooses, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all to which you put your hands.
  10. Cross References
    Genesis 16:1
    Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.
    Genesis 30:1
    Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die!
    Genesis 30:2
    And Jacob's anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, " Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?
  11. Cross References
    Job 24:21
    For he preys on the barren who do not bear, And does no good for the widow.
  12. Cross References
    Ruth 4:15
    "And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him."
  13. Cross References
    1 Samuel 3:3
    And before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down.
  14. 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.
  15. Cross References
    Genesis 28:20
    Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on.
    Numbers 30:6 - 11
    If indeed she takes a husband, while bound by her vows or by a rash utterance from her lips by which she bound herself.
  16. Cross References
    Psalms 25:18
    Look on my affliction and my pain, And forgive all my sins.
  17. Cross References
    Genesis 8:1
    Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.
  18. Cross References
    Numbers 6:5
    All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
    Judges 13:5
    "For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."
  19. Cross References
    Job 30:16
    And now my soul is poured out because of my plight; The days of affliction take hold of me.
    Psalms 42:4
    When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
    Psalms 62:8
    Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
    Lamentations 2:19
    "Arise, cry out in the night, At the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him For the life of your young children, Who faint from hunger at the head of every street."
  20. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 13:13
    Corrupt men have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods" ' - which you have not known -
  21. Cross References
    Judges 18:6
    And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The presence of the LORD be with you on your way.
    1 Samuel 25:35
    So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.
    2 Kings 5:19
    Then he said to him, "Go in peace." So he departed 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 affliction.
    Luke 7:50
    Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.
  22. Cross References
    Psalms 20:3 - 5
    May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 33:15
    And Esau said, "Now 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, "Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.
  24. Cross References
    Proverbs 15:13
    A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
    Ecclesiastes 9:7
    Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.
    Romans 15:13
    Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
  25. Cross References
    Genesis 4:1
    Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD.
  26. Cross References
    Genesis 21:1
    And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken.
    Genesis 30:22
    Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.
  27. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 12:11
    Then there will be the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the LORD.
    1 Samuel 1:3
    This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
  28. Cross References
    Luke 2:22
    Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
  29. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:11
    Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.
    1 Samuel 1:28
    Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there.
  30. Cross References
    Exodus 21:6
    Then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.
  31. Cross References
    Numbers 30:7
    And her husband hears it, and makes no response to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her agreements by which she bound herself shall stand.
    Numbers 30:10
    If she vowed in her husband's house, or bound herself by an agreement with an oath.
    Numbers 30:11
    And her husband heard it, and made no response to her and did not overrule her, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement by which she bound herself shall stand.
  32. Cross References
    Numbers 15:9
    Then shall be offered with the young bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil.
    Numbers 15:10
    And you shall bring as the drink offering half a hin of wine as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.
    Deuteronomy 12:5
    But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go.
    Deuteronomy 12:6
    There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.
  33. Cross References
    Joshua 18:1
    Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them.
    1 Samuel 4:3
    And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.
    1 Samuel 4:4
    So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
  34. Cross References
    Luke 2:22
    Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
  35. Cross References
    2 Kings 2:2
    Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel." But Elisha said, " As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they went down to Bethel.
    2 Kings 2:4
    Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho." But he said, " As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they came to Jericho.
    2 Kings 2:6
    Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan." But he said, " As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So the two of them went on.
    2 Kings 4:30
    And the mother of the child said, " As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So he arose and followed her.
  36. Cross References
    Matthew 7:7
    Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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