There was a man from Ramasayim Tsofim in Mount Ephrayim; and his name was Elkonoh the son of Yerocham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tochu, the son of Tsuf, from the land of Ephrayim.

He had two wives; the name of one was Chana and the name of the second was Penina. Penina had children, but Chana was childless.

This man would go up from his city from time to time to prostrate himself and to bring offerings to Adonoy of Hosts in Shiloh. There the two sons of Eili, Chofni and Pinchas, were kohanim to Adonoy.

It happened on the day (of the festival) that Elkonoh brought offerings, he would give to Penina, his wife, and to all her sons and daughters portions.

But to Chana he would give one choice portion, for he loved Chana, and Adonoy had closed her womb.

Her rival would frequently anger her in order that she should complain, because Adonoy had closed her womb.

He would do this, year after year. Whenever she went up to the house of Adonoy, she would anger her; and she wept and would not eat.

Elkonoh, her husband, said to her, "Chana, why do you weep and why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

Chana arose after eating in Shiloh and after drinking; and Eili the kohein was sitting on the chair near the doorpost of the Temple of Adonoy.

She was bitter in spirit, and she prayed to Adonoy and wept bitterly.

She made a vow and said, "Adonoy of Hosts, if you look at the suffering of Your maidservant, and You remember me, and do not forget Your maidservant, and give Your maidservant male offspring, then I will give him to Adonoy all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head."

As she continued to pray before Adonoy Eili watched her mouth.

Chana was praying in her heart, only her lips were moving and her voice was not heard, so Eili thought she was drunk.

Eili said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Remove your wine from yourself."

Chana answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of a troubled spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink; but I have poured out my soul before Adonoy.

Do not deliver your maidservant to a wicked woman, for it is out of much grievance and anger that I have prayed until now."

Eili then answered and said, "Go in peace. The God of Yisroel will grant your request that you have asked of Him."

She said, "May your maidservant find favor in your eyes." And the woman went on her way; and she ate, and no longer had the [sad] look on her face.

They rose early in the morning and prostrated themselves before Adonoy; then they returned and came to their home, to Romoh. Elkonoh knew Chana his wife, and Adonoy remembered her.

And as the seasons and days passed Chana conceived, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Shmuel [saying], "For I requested him from Adonoy."

The man Elkonoh went up with his entire household to bring to Adonoy the festival offering and his vow.

But Chana did not go up for she said to her husband, "When the boy will be weaned, then I will bring him, and he shall appear before Adonoy and shall remain there forever."

Elkonoh, her husband, said to her, "Do what is proper in your eyes, remain until you wean him; but may Adonoy fulfill His word." So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.

She brought him up with her when she weaned him, with [an offering of] three bulls, one eiphah of flour, and a flask of wine; she brought him to the House of Adonoy in Shiloh, though the child was still a lad.

They slaughtered the bull, and brought the child to Eili.

She said, "Please my lord, by your life my lord, I was the woman who stood with you here, praying to Adonoy.

This is the child that I prayed for; Adonoy granted me my request that I asked of Him.

And I have dedicated him to Adonoy. All the days that he lives he is dedicated to Adonoy." He then prostrated himself to Adonoy.