Elkanah lived in the hill country of Ephraim and had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. Each year Elkanah went to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice, where Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas served as priests.
At the sacrifice Elkanah gave portions to Peninnah and her children, and a double portion to Hannah because he loved her. Peninnah provoked Hannah because she had no children. This happened year after year when the family went to Shiloh. Hannah wept and would not eat.
Elkanah asked why she was weeping and whether he was not better to her than ten sons. After the meal at Shiloh, Hannah rose. Eli sat by the temple door. Hannah prayed in deep anguish and wept. She vowed that if given a son, she would give him to the LORD all his life and no razor would touch his head.
Hannah prayed silently, moving only her lips. Eli thought she was drunk and told her to put away wine. She answered that she had drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but was pouring out her soul before the LORD because of great trouble. Eli told her to go in peace and asked Israel’s God to grant her request.
Hannah went, ate, and her face was no longer sad. The family worshiped in the morning and returned to Ramah. God remembered Hannah, and she bore a son whom she named Samuel because she had asked for him from the LORD.
When Elkanah went up for the annual sacrifice, Hannah stayed behind until Samuel was weaned. Then she brought him to Shiloh with bulls, flour, and wine. After sacrificing a bull, she brought the young child to Eli. She identified herself as the woman who had prayed beside him and said that God had granted the child she asked for. She gave him to the LORD, and Samuel worshiped there.
Hannah sang that her heart rejoiced in the LORD and that there was no rock like God. Her song spoke of bows broken and the weak made strong, the full hiring themselves out and the hungry fed, the barren bearing children and the mother of many fading. God brings down and raises up, makes poor and rich, and lifts the needy from the dust.
She sang that God guards the feet of the faithful, while the wicked are silenced in darkness; those who contend with God are broken. God judges the ends of the earth, gives strength to the king, and lifts the horn of the anointed. Elkanah returned home to Ramah, while the boy Samuel served the LORD before Eli.