1 Samuel 1
The Birth of
Samuel |
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Now there was a certain man of
Ramatha'im-zo'phim, of mount E'phra-im, and his name was Elka'nah, the son of Jero'ham, the son of Eli'hu, the son of Tohu,
the son of Zuph, an Eph'rathite:
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and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Penin'nah: and
Penin'nah had children, but Hannah had no children.
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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 Phin'ehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
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4 |
And when the time was that Elka'nah
offered, he gave to Penin'nah his wife, and to all her sons and her
daughters, portions:
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but unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion;
for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up
her womb.
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And her adversary also provoked her sore,
for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut
up her womb.
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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.
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Then said Elka'nah 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?
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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.
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10 |
And she was in bitterness of soul,
and prayed unto the LORD, and wept
sore.
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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. Num. 6.5
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12 |
And it came to pass, as she continued
praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her
mouth.
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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.
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14 |
And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou
be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
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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.
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Count not thine handmaid for a daughter
of Be'li-al: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have
I spoken hitherto.
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Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace:
and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast
asked of him.
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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.
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19 |
And they rose up in the morning early,
and worshipped before the LORD, and returned,
and came to their house to Ramah: and Elka'nah knew Hannah his wife;
and the LORD remembered her.
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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.
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21 |
And the man Elka'nah, and all his
house, went up to offer unto the LORD the
yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
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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.
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And Elka'nah 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.
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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.
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And they slew a bullock, and brought the
child to Eli.
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And she said, O my lord, as thy
soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here,
praying unto the LORD.
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For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of
him:
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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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