The Birth of Samuel

After worshiping and returning home, Elkanah and Hannah come together, the LORD remembers her, and she gives birth to Samuel, naming him from her asking before the LORD.

T¹⁹he next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah. ²⁰And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

When the family goes up again for the annual sacrifice, Hannah stays behind until Samuel is weaned, intending to bring him to remain before the LORD, and Elkanah agrees.

²¹Then Elkanah and all his house went up to make the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, ²²but Hannah did not go. “After the boy is weaned,” she said to her husband, “I will take him to appear before the LORD and to stay there permanently.” ²³“Do what you think is best,” her husband Elkanah replied, “and stay here until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD confirm His word.”

Once Samuel is weaned, Hannah brings him with offerings to Shiloh, reminds Eli of her earlier prayer, and gives the boy to the LORD for the whole of his life.

²⁴Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. ²⁵And when they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. ²⁶“Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. ²⁷I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him, ²⁸I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.”