1. There was a man named Elkanah from Ramathaim Zophim in the mountains of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, grandson of Elihu, great-grandson of Tohu, whose father was Zuph from the tribe of Ephraim.
2. Elkanah had two wives, one named Hannah, the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3. Every year this man would go from his own city to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of Armies at Shiloh. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served there as priests of the Lord.
4. Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he would give portions of it to his wife Peninnah and all her sons and daughters.
5. He would also give one portion to Hannah because he loved her, even though the Lord had kept her from having children.
6. Because the Lord had made her unable to have children, her rival ⌊Peninnah⌋ tormented her endlessly in order to make her miserable.
7. This happened year after year. Whenever Hannah went to the Lord’s house, Peninnah would make her miserable, and Hannah would cry and not eat.
8. Her husband Elkanah would ask her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why haven’t you eaten? Why are you so downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”
9. One day, after Hannah had something to eat and drink in Shiloh, she got up. (The priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the door of the Lord’s temple.)
10. Though she was resentful, she prayed to the Lord while she cried.
11. She made this vow, “Lord of Armies, if you will look at my misery, remember me, and give me a boy, then I will give him to you for as long as he lives. A razor will never be used on his head.”
12. While Hannah was praying a long time in front of the Lord, Eli was watching her mouth.
13. She was praying silently. Her voice couldn’t be heard; only her lips were moving. Eli thought she was drunk.
14. “How long are you going to stay drunk?” Eli asked her. “Get rid of your wine.”