16. Don't think of me as an evil woman. I've been praying here because I'm very sad. My pain is so great."
17. Eli answered, "Go in peace. May the God of Israel give you what you have asked him for."
18. She said, "May you be pleased with me." Then she left and had something to eat. Her face wasn't sad anymore.
19. Early the next morning Elkanah and his family got up. They worshiped the Lord. Then they went back to their home in Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah. And the Lord showed concern for her.
20. After some time, Hannah became pregnant. She had a baby boy. She said, "I asked the Lord for him." So she named him Samuel.
21. Elkanah went up to Shiloh to offer the yearly sacrifice to the Lord. He also went there to keep a promise he had made. His whole family went with him.
22. But Hannah didn't go. She said to her husband, "When the boy doesn't need me to nurse him anymore, I'll take him to the Lord's house. I'll give him to the Lord there. He'll stay there for the rest of his life."
23. Her husband Elkanah told her, "Do what you think is best. Stay here at home until Samuel doesn't need you to nurse him anymore. May the Lord make his promise to you come true." So Hannah stayed home. She nursed her son until he didn't need her milk anymore.
24. When the boy didn't need her to nurse him anymore, she took him with her to Shiloh. She took him there even though he was still very young. She brought him to the Lord's house. She brought along a bull that was three years old. She brought more than half a bushel of flour. She also brought a bottle of wine. The bottle was made out of animal skin.
25. After the bull was killed, Elkanah and Hannah brought the boy to Eli.