Elkanah's five-generation genealogy uniquely traces back to Zuph the Ephraimite, establishing the only priestly lineage in Samuel that originates outside traditional Levitical territory.
1 Samuel 1
Hannah's Barrenness and Vow
1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to the LORD, were there.
4When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters;
5but he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had shut up her womb.
6Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
7So year by year, when she went up to the LORD’s house, her rival provoked her. Therefore she wept, and didn’t eat.
8Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
Hannah's Prayer and Samuel's Birth
9So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple.
10She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly.
11She vowed a vow, and said, “LORD of Armies, if you will indeed look at the affliction of your servant and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a boy, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.”
12As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli saw her mouth.
13Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
14Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”
15Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I poured out my soul before the LORD.
16Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.”
17Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.”
18She said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate; and her facial expression wasn’t sad any more.
19They rose up in the morning early and worshiped the LORD, then returned and came to their house to Ramah. Then Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the LORD.”
Samuel's Dedication to the Lord
21The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow.
22But Hannah didn’t go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and stay there forever.”
23Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the LORD establish his word.” So the woman waited and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a container of wine, and brought him to the LORD’s house in Shiloh. The child was young.
25They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
26She said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD.
27I prayed for this child, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of him.
28Therefore I have also given him to the LORD. As long as he lives he is given to the LORD.” He worshiped the LORD there.
Font Size 17pt
Line Spacing
Theme
Hannah, one of Elkanah's two wives, suffers from barrenness while enduring provocation from his other wife Peninnah who has children. In her deep anguish, Hannah makes a desperate vow to God at the tabernacle in Shiloh, promising to dedicate any son she might bear to lifelong service as a Nazirite. God answers her prayer, and she conceives Samuel, whose name means 'asked of God,' then faithfully fulfills her vow by dedicating him to serve at the tabernacle under Eli the priest.
Context
This chapter opens the books of Samuel by introducing the prophet Samuel's miraculous birth, setting the stage for his crucial role in Israel's transition from judges to monarchy.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-8 Hannah's Barrenness and Family Tension Introduction of Elkanah's household and Hannah's childlessness causing grief and rivalry with Peninnah.
- 9-18 Hannah's Desperate Prayer and Vow Hannah's bitter prayer at Shiloh, her Nazirite vow, and Eli's initial misunderstanding followed by his blessing.
- 19-23 Samuel's Birth and Dedication God's answer to Hannah's prayer through Samuel's birth and her preparation to fulfill her vow.
- 24-28 The Fulfillment of Hannah's Vow Hannah brings the weaned Samuel to Eli at Shiloh and formally dedicates him to lifelong service.
Hannah's Barrenness and Vow
1:1–1:8 narrative narration mournful
Hannah suffers from barrenness while her husband's other wife Peninnah has children and provokes her. Despite Elkanah's love and comfort, Hannah grieves deeply over her inability to bear children.
person_contrast
Elkanah's five-generation genealogy uniquely traces back to Zuph the Ephraimite, establishing the only priestly lineage in Samuel that originates outside traditional Levitical territory.
Hannah's Prayer and Samuel's Birth
1:9–1:20 narrative prayer hopeful
Hannah prays desperately for a son, vowing to dedicate him to God's service, and God answers her prayer with the birth of Samuel. Her encounter with Eli the priest initially involves misunderstanding but ends with blessing.
person_contrast
Hannah's vow transforms her from a barren woman seeking personal fulfillment into Israel's first recorded mother who preemptively dedicates her unborn child to lifelong temple service.
Samuel's Dedication to the Lord
1:21–1:28 narrative narration solemn
Hannah fulfills her vow by bringing the weaned Samuel to serve in God's house under Eli's care. She dedicates her long-awaited son completely to the Lord's service as promised.
person_contrast
Elkanah, who typically appears in worship and covenant contexts, here uniquely combines with sacrifice terminology as Hannah's vow transforms family devotion into priestly dedication.
Insights
Hannah's vow transforms her from a barren woman seeking personal fulfillment into Israel's first recorded mother who preemptively dedicates her unborn child to lifelong temple service.
Elkanah, who typically appears in worship and covenant contexts, here uniquely combines with sacrifice terminology as Hannah's vow transforms family devotion into priestly dedication.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
1 Samuel 1:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Samuel 4:4 Lexical
So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Armies, who sits above…
1 Samuel 4:11 Lexical
God’s ark was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
1 Samuel 14:3 Lexical
including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shi…
1 Samuel 2:34 Lexical
This will be the sign to you that will come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they will both die.
1 Samuel 4:17 Lexical
He who brought the news answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter amo…
1 Samuel 1:8 1 reference
1 Samuel 1:15 5 references
Lexicals 5
Proverbs 31:4 Lexical
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
Numbers 6:3 Lexical
he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of fermented drink,…
Isaiah 5:22 Lexical
Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink;
Leviticus 10:9 Lexical
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This…
Judges 13:14 Lexical
She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thin…
1 Samuel 1:17 1 reference
1 Samuel 1:18 1 reference
1 Samuel 1:20 1 reference
1 Samuel 1:21 1 reference
1 Samuel 1:24 2 references
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
v. 18
v. 19
v. 20
v. 21
v. 22
v. 23
v. 24
v. 25
v. 26
v. 27
v. 28
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
Loading map...