1 Samuel 1 - Easy To Read Version

¹ There was a man named Elkanah from Ramah in the hill country of Ephraim. Elkanah was from the Zuph [1] family. Elkanah was the son of Jeroham. [2] Jeroham was Elihu’s son. Elihu [3] was Tohu’s son. Tohu [4] was the son of Zuph, from the family group of Ephraim.

² Elkanah had two wives. One wife was named Hannah and the other wife was named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.

³ Every year Elkanah left his town of Ramah and went up to Shiloh. Elkanah worshiped the Lord All-Powerful at Shiloh and offered sacrifices [5] to the Lord there. Shiloh was where Hophni and Phinehas served as priests of the Lord. Hophni and Phinehas were the sons of Eli.

⁴ Every time Elkanah offered his sacrifices, he always gave one share of the food to his wife Peninnah. Elkanah also gave shares of the food to Peninnah’s children.

⁵ Elkanah always gave an equal share [6] of the food to Hannah. Elkanah did this even though the Lord had not let Hannah have any children. Elkanah did this because Hannah was the wife he really loved.

⁶ Peninnah always upset Hannah and made her feel bad. Peninnah did this because Hannah was not able to have children.

⁷ The same thing happened every year. Every time their family went to the Lord’s house at Shiloh, Peninnah made Hannah upset. One day Elkanah was giving sacrifices. [7] Hannah became upset and began to cry. Hannah would not eat anything.

⁸ Her husband, Elkanah, said to her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why won’t you eat? Why are you sad? You have me—I am your husband. You should think I am better than ten sons.”

⁹ After eating and drinking, Hannah quietly got up and went to pray to the Lord. Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the door of the Lord’s Holy Building. [8]

¹⁰ Hannah was very sad. She cried very much while she prayed to the Lord.

¹¹ She made a special promise to God. She said, “Lord All-Powerful, see how very sad I am. Remember me! Don’t forget me. If you will give me a son, then I will give him to you. He will be a Nazirite: He will not drink wine or strong drink. [9] And no one will ever cut his hair. [10] ”

¹² Hannah prayed to the Lord a long time. Eli was watching Hannah’s mouth while she was praying.

¹³ Hannah was praying in her heart. Her lips were moving, but she did not say the words out loud. So Eli thought Hannah was drunk.

¹⁴ Eli said to Hannah, “You have had too much to drink! It is time to put away the wine.”

¹⁵ Hannah answered, “Sir, I have not drunk any wine or beer. I am deeply troubled. I was telling the Lord about all my problems.

¹⁶ Don’t think I am a bad woman. I have been praying so long because I have so many troubles and I am very sad.”

¹⁷ Eli answered, “Go in peace. May the God of Israel give you the things you asked.”

¹⁸ Hannah said, “I hope you are happy with me.” Then Hannah left and ate something. She was not sad any more.

¹⁹ Early the next morning Elkanah’s family got up. They worshiped the Lord and then went back home to Ramah.

²⁰ By that time the following year, Hannah had become pregnant and had a son. Hannah named her son Samuel. [11] She said, “His name is Samuel because I asked the Lord for him.”

²¹ That year Elkanah went {to Shiloh} to offer sacrifices and to keep the promises he made to God. He took his family with him.

²² But Hannah did not go. She told Elkanah, “When the boy is old enough to eat solid food, I will take him to Shiloh. Then I will give him to the Lord. He will become a Nazirite. [12] [13] He will stay there at Shiloh.

²³ Hannah’s husband Elkanah said to her, “Do what you think is best. You may stay home until the boy is old enough to eat solid food. May the Lord do what you have said.” So Hannah stayed at home to nurse her son until he was old enough to eat solid food.

²⁴ When the boy was old enough to eat solid food, Hannah took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. Hannah also took a bull that was three years old, 20 pounds [14] of flour, and a bottle of wine.

²⁵ They went before the Lord. Elkanah killed the bull as a sacrifice to the Lord like he usually did. [15] Then Hannah gave the boy to Eli.

²⁶ Hannah said to Eli, “Pardon me, sir. I am the same woman that stood near you praying to the Lord. I promise that I am telling the truth.

²⁷ I prayed for this child, and the Lord answered my prayer. The Lord gave me this child.

²⁸ And now I give this child to the Lord. He will serve [16] the Lord all his life.”