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The First
Book of Samuel 1
There was a man of Ramathaimsophim, of mount Ephraim,
and his name was Elcana, the son of Jeroham, the son
of Eliu, the son of Thohu, the son of Suph, an Ephraimite:
And he had two wives, the name of one was Anna, and
the name of the other Phenenna. Phenenna had children:
but Anna had no children.
And this man went up out of his city upon the appointed
days, to adore and to offer sacrifice to the Lord of
hosts in Silo. And the two sons of Heli, Ophni and Phinees,
were there priests of the Lord.
Now the day came, and Elcana offered sacrifice, and
gave to Phenenna his wife, and to all her sons and daughters,
portions:
But to Anna he gave one portion with sorrow, because
he loved Anna. And the Lord had shut up her womb.
Her rival also afflicted her, and troubled her exceedingly,
insomuch that she upbraided her, that the Lord had shut
up her womb:
And thus she did every year, when the time returned
that they went up to the temple of the Lord: and thus
she provoked her: but Anna wept, and did not eat.
Then Elcana her husband said to her: Anna, why weepest
thou? and why dost thou not eat? And why dost thou afflict
thy heart? Am not I better to thee than ten children?
So Anna arose after she had eaten and drunk in Silo:
And Heli the priest sitting upon a stool, before the
door of the temple of the Lord:
As Anna had her heart full of grief, she prayed to the
Lord, shedding many tears,
And she made a vow, saying: O Lord, of hosts, if thou
wilt look down on the affliction of thy servant, and
wilt be mindful of me, and not forget thy handmaid,
and wilt give to thy servant a man child: I will give
him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor
shall come upon his head.
And it came to pass, as she multiplied prayers before
the Lord, that Heli observed her mouth.
Now Anna spoke in her heart, and only her lips moved,
but her voice was not heard at all. Heli therefore thought
her to be drunk,
And said to her: How long wilt thou, be drunk? digest
a little the wine, of which thou hast taken too much.
Anna answering, said: Not so, my lord: for I am an exceeding
unhappy woman, and have drunk neither wine nor any strong
drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord.
Count not thy handmaid for one of the daughters of Belial:
for out of the abundance of my sorrow and grief have
I spoken till now.
Then Heli said to her: Go in peace: and the God of Israel
grant thee thy petition, which thou hast asked of him.
And she said: Would to God thy handmaid may find grace
in thy eyes. So the woman went on her way, and ate,
and her countenance was no more changed.
And they rose in the morning, and worshipped before
the Lord: and they returned, and came into their house
at Ramatha. And Elcana knew Anna his wife: and the Lord
remembered her.
And it came to pass when the time was come about, Anna
conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel:
because she had asked him of the Lord.
And Elcana her husband went up, and all his house, to
offer to the Lord the solemn sacrifice, and his vow.
But Anna went not up: for she said to her husband: I
will not go till the child be weaned, and till I may
carry him, that he may appear before the Lord, and may
abide always there.
And Elcana her husband said to her: Do what seemeth
good to thee, and stay till thou wean him: and I pray
that the Lord may fulfil his word. So the woman stayed
at home, and gave her son suck, till she weaned him.
And after she had weaned him, she carried him with her,
with three calves, and three bushels of flour, and a
bottle of wine, and she brought him to the house of
the Lord in Silo. Now the child was as yet very young:
And they immolated a calf, and offered the child to
Heli.
And Anna said: I beseech thee, my lord, as thy soul
liveth, my lord: I am that woman who stood before thee
here praying to the Lord.
For this child did I pray, and the Lord hath granted
me my petition, which I asked of him.
Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord all the days
of his life, he shall be lent to the Lord. And they
adored the Lord there. And Anna prayed, and said:
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