1. Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim—his name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2. He had two wives: the name of the one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.
3. Now this man used to go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to Adonai-Tzva’ot in Shiloh. (The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were kohanim of Adonai there.)
4. Then on the designated day Elkanah would sacrifice and give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters,
5. but to Hannah he would give only one portion—even though he loved Hannah—for Adonai had closed her womb.
6. Her rival would taunt her bitterly to provoke her, because Adonai had closed her womb.
7. So it was year after year, whenever she went up to the House of Adonai, that she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat.
8. Then her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9. After eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah got up. Now Eli the kohen was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the Temple of Adonai.
10. While her soul was bitter, she prayed to Adonai and wept.