1 Samuel 1

Samuel’s Birth and Dedication

1 # Josh 17.17, 18; 1 Chr 6.27 There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite#1.1 Compare Gk: Heb Ramathaim-zophim from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2#Deut 21.15–17; Lk 2.36He had two wives; the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 # Ex 34.23; Deut 12.5; Josh 18.1 Now this man used to go up year by year from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4#Deut 12.17On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, 5#Gen 16.1; 30.2but to Hannah he gave a double portion#1.5 Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6#Job 24.21Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8#Ruth 4.15Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

9 # 1 Sam 3.3 After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord.#1.9 Gk: Heb lacks and presented herself before the Lord Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11#Gen 28.20; 29.32; Num 6.5; Judg 13.5She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants,#1.11 Cn Compare Gk Q ms: MT child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life and no razor shall touch his head.”

12As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13#Gen 24.42–45Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14#Acts 2.4, 13So Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.” 15#Ps 62.8But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.” 17#Judg 18.6; 1 Sam 25.35; Mk 5.34Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.” 18#Ruth 2.13; Eccl 9.7And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went her way and ate and drank with her husband,#1.18 Gk: Heb lacks and drank with her husband and her countenance was sad no longer.#1.18 Gk: Meaning of Heb uncertain

19 # Gen 4.1; 30.22 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20#Gen 41.51, 52; Ex 2.10, 22In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.”

21 # v 3 The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22#1 Sam 2.11, 18; Lk 2.22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and remain there forever; I will offer him as a nazirite for all time.”#1.22 Cn Compare Q ms: MT lacks I will offer him as a nazirite for all time 23#v 17; Num 30.7Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish your#1.23 Q ms Gk Syr: MT his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24#Deut 12.5; Josh 18.1When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull,#1.24 Q ms Gk Syr: MT three bulls an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh, and the child was young. 25#Lev 1.5; Lk 2.22Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the child to Eli. 26#2 Kings 2.2And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence praying to the Lord. 27#vv 11–13For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. 28#vv 11, 22Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” And they worshiped the Lord there.

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1 Samuel 1: NRSVUE

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