Elkanah and His Wives
(Psalm 113:1–9)

1  וַיְהִי֩ (And there was) אִ֨ישׁ (man) אֶחָ֜ד (a certain) מִן־ (of) הָרָמָתַ֛יִם (Ramathaim-) צוֹפִ֖ים (zophim), מֵהַ֣ר (of the hill country) אֶפְרָ֑יִם (of Ephraim). וּשְׁמ֡וֹ (And his name was) אֶ֠לְקָנָה (Elkanah), בֶּן־ (son) יְרֹחָ֧ם (of Jeroham), בֶּן־ (son) אֱלִיה֛וּא (of Elihu), בֶּן־ (son) תֹּ֥חוּ (of Tohu), בֶן־ (son) צ֖וּף (of Zuph), אֶפְרָתִֽי׃ (an Ephraimite). 2  וְלוֹ֙ (And to him were) שְׁתֵּ֣י (two) נָשִׁ֔ים (wives); שֵׁ֤ם (the name) אַחַת֙ (of the one) חַנָּ֔ה (was Hannah), וְשֵׁ֥ם (and the name) הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית (of the second) פְּנִנָּ֑ה (Peninnah). וַיְהִ֤י (And had) לִפְנִנָּה֙ (Peninnah) יְלָדִ֔ים (children), וּלְחַנָּ֖ה (and Hannah) אֵ֥ין (not) יְלָדִֽים׃ (had children).

3  וְעָלָה֩ (And went up) הָאִ֨ישׁ (the man) הַה֤וּא (that) מֵֽעִירוֹ֙ (from his city) מִיָּמִ֣ים׀ (from days) יָמִ֔ימָה (to days) לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֧ת (to bow) וְלִזְבֹּ֛חַ (and sacrifice) לַיהוָ֥ה (to YHWH) צְבָא֖וֹת (of Hosts) בְּשִׁלֹ֑ה (in Shiloh). וְשָׁ֞ם (And were there) שְׁנֵ֣י (the two) בְנֵֽי־ (sons) עֵלִ֗י (of Eli), חָפְנִי֙ (Hophni) וּפִ֣נְחָ֔ס (and Phinehas), כֹּהֲנִ֖ים (the priests) לַיהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH), 4  וַיְהִ֣י (and whenever came) הַיּ֔וֹם (the time) וַיִּזְבַּ֖ח (and to sacrifice) אֶלְקָנָ֑ה (for Elkanah), וְנָתַ֞ן (and he would give) לִפְנִנָּ֣ה (to Peninnah) אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ (his wife) וּֽלְכָל־ (and to all) בָּנֶ֛יהָ (her sons) וּבְנוֹתֶ֖יהָ (and daughters) מָנֽוֹת׃ (portions). 5  וּלְחַנָּ֕ה (And to Hannah) יִתֵּ֛ן (he would give) מָנָ֥ה (portion) אַחַ֖ת (a) אַפָּ֑יִם (double), כִּ֤י (for) אֶת־ (-) חַנָּה֙ (Hannah) אָהֵ֔ב (he loved), וַֽיהוָ֖ה (and although YHWH) סָגַ֥ר (had closed) רַחְמָֽהּ׃ (her womb).

6  וְכִֽעֲסַ֤תָּה (And provoked her) צָֽרָתָהּ֙ (her rival) גַּם־ (also) כַּ֔עַס (severely) בַּעֲב֖וּר (to) הַרְּעִמָ֑הּ (make her miserable), כִּֽי־ (because) סָגַ֥ר (had shut) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) בְּעַ֥ד (up) רַחְמָֽהּ׃ (her womb). 7  וְכֵ֨ן (And) יַעֲשֶׂ֜ה (it was) שָׁנָ֣ה (year) בְשָׁנָ֗ה (by year), מִדֵּ֤י (when) עֲלֹתָהּ֙ (she went up) בְּבֵ֣ית (to the house) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), כֵּ֖ן (that) תַּכְעִסֶ֑נָּה (she provoked her). וַתִּבְכֶּ֖ה (And she wept) וְלֹ֥א (and not) תֹאכַֽל׃ (did eat).

8  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) לָ֜הּ (to her) אֶלְקָנָ֣ה (Elkanah) אִישָׁ֗הּ (her husband) חַנָּה֙ (Hannah), לָ֣מֶה (why) תִבְכִּ֗י (do you weep)? וְלָ֙מֶה֙ (And why) לֹ֣א (not) תֹֽאכְלִ֔י (do you eat)? וְלָ֖מֶה (And why) יֵרַ֣ע (is grieved) לְבָבֵ֑ךְ (your heart)? הֲל֤וֹא (Am not) אָֽנֹכִי֙ (I) ט֣וֹב (better) לָ֔ךְ (to you) מֵעֲשָׂרָ֖ה (than ten) בָּנִֽים׃ (sons)?

Hannah Prays for a Son

9  וַתָּ֣קָם (And arose) חַנָּ֔ה (Hannah) אַחֲרֵ֛י (after) אָכְלָ֥ה (they had finished eating) בְשִׁלֹ֖ה (in Shiloh), וְאַחֲרֵ֣י (and after) שָׁתֹ֑ה (drinking). וְעֵלִ֣י (And Eli) הַכֹּהֵ֗ן (the priest) יֹשֵׁב֙ (was sitting) עַל־ (on) הַכִּסֵּ֔א (the seat) עַל־ (by) מְזוּזַ֖ת (the doorpost) הֵיכַ֥ל (of the temple) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

10  וְהִ֖יא (And she was) מָ֣רַת (bitter) נָ֑פֶשׁ (of soul), וַתִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל (and she prayed) עַל־ (to) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), וּבָכֹ֥ה (and weeping) תִבְכֶּֽה׃ (she wept). 11  וַתִּדֹּ֨ר (And she made) נֶ֜דֶר (a vow) וַתֹּאמַ֗ר (and said), יְהוָ֨ה (O YHWH) צְבָא֜וֹת (of Hosts), אִם־ (if) רָאֹ֥ה (looking) תִרְאֶ֣ה׀ (You will look) בָּעֳנִ֣י (on the affliction) אֲמָתֶ֗ךָ (of Your maidservant), וּזְכַרְתַּ֙נִי֙ (and remember me) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) תִשְׁכַּ֣ח (forget) אֶת־ (-) אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ (Your maidservant), וְנָתַתָּ֥ה (and will give) לַאֲמָתְךָ֖ (to your maidservant) זֶ֣רַע (a seed) אֲנָשִׁ֑ים (male), וּנְתַתִּ֤יו (and I will give him) לַֽיהוָה֙ (to YHWH) כָּל־ (all) יְמֵ֣י (the days) חַיָּ֔יו (of his life), וּמוֹרָ֖ה (and a razor) לֹא־ (not) יַעֲלֶ֥ה (shall go up) עַל־ (on) רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ (his head).

12  וְהָיָה֙ (And it came to pass), כִּ֣י (as) הִרְבְּתָ֔ה (she continued) לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל (praying) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), וְעֵלִ֖י (that Eli) שֹׁמֵ֥ר (watched) אֶת־ (-) פִּֽיהָ׃ (her mouth). 13  וְחַנָּ֗ה (And Hannah), הִ֚יא (she) מְדַבֶּ֣רֶת (spoke) עַל־ (in) לִבָּ֔הּ (her heart); רַ֚ק (only) שְׂפָתֶ֣יהָ (her lips) נָּע֔וֹת (moved), וְקוֹלָ֖הּ (and her voice) לֹ֣א (not) יִשָּׁמֵ֑עַ (was heard).

וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָ (And thought) עֵלִ֖י (Eli) לְשִׁכֹּרָֽה׃ (she was drunk). 14  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ (to her) עֵלִ֔י (Eli), עַד־ (How) מָתַ֖י (long) תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑ין (will you be drunk)? הָסִ֥ירִי (Put away) אֶת־ (-) יֵינֵ֖ךְ (your wine) מֵעָלָֽיִךְ׃ (from you).

15  וַתַּ֨עַן (And answered) חַנָּ֤ה (Hannah) וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), לֹ֣א (No), אֲדֹנִ֔י (my lord), אִשָּׁ֤ה (I am a woman) קְשַׁת־ (oppressed) ר֙וּחַ֙ (in spirit); אָנֹ֔כִי (I) וְיַ֥יִן (and any wine) וְשֵׁכָ֖ר (or strong drink) לֹ֣א (not) שָׁתִ֑יתִי (have drunk), וָאֶשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ (but I have been pouring out) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשִׁ֖י (my soul) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 16  אַל־ (Not) תִּתֵּן֙ (put) אֶת־ (-) אֲמָ֣תְךָ֔ (your maidservant) לִפְנֵ֖י (before the face) בַּת־ (of a daughter) בְּלִיָּ֑עַל (of worthlessness), כִּֽי־ (for) מֵרֹ֥ב (out of the abundance) שִׂיחִ֛י (of my anguish) וְכַעְסִ֖י (and grief) דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי (I have been speaking) עַד־ (until) הֵֽנָּה׃ (now).

17  וַיַּ֧עַן (And answered) עֵלִ֛י (Eli) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), לְכִ֣י (Go) לְשָׁל֑וֹם (in peace), וֵאלֹהֵ֣י (and the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) יִתֵּן֙ (may grant) אֶת־ (-) שֵׁ֣לָתֵ֔ךְ (your petition) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) שָׁאַ֖לְתְּ (you have asked) מֵעִמּֽוֹ׃ (of Him).

18  וַתֹּ֕אמֶר (And she said), תִּמְצָ֧א (Let find) שִׁפְחָתְךָ֛ (your maidservant) חֵ֖ן (favor) בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ (in your eyes). וַתֵּ֨לֶךְ (And went) הָאִשָּׁ֤ה (the woman) לְדַרְכָּהּ֙ (her way), וַתֹּאכַ֔ל (and ate), וּפָנֶ֥יהָ (and her face) לֹא־ (not) הָיוּ־ (was) לָ֖הּ (sad for herself) עֽוֹד׃ (anymore).

The Birth of Samuel

19  וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣מוּ (And they rose early) בַבֹּ֗קֶר (in the morning) וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲווּ֙ (and worshiped) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), וַיָּשֻׁ֛בוּ (and they returned) וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ (and came) אֶל־ (to) בֵּיתָ֖ם (their house) הָרָמָ֑תָה (in Ramah).

וַיֵּ֤דַע (And knew) אֶלְקָנָה֙ (Elkanah) אֶת־ (-) חַנָּ֣ה (Hannah) אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ (his wife), וַיִּֽזְכְּרֶ֖הָ (and remembered her) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 20  וַיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass), לִתְקֻפ֣וֹת (in the coming around) הַיָּמִ֔ים (of the days), וַתַּ֥הַר (that conceived) חַנָּ֖ה (Hannah) וַתֵּ֣לֶד (and bore) בֵּ֑ן (a son), וַתִּקְרָ֤א (and she called) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמוֹ֙ (his name) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel), כִּ֥י (For) מֵיְהוָ֖ה (from YHWH) שְׁאִלְתִּֽיו׃ (I have asked for him).

21  וַיַּ֛עַל (And went up) הָאִ֥ישׁ (the man) אֶלְקָנָ֖ה (Elkanah) וְכָל־ (and all) בֵּית֑וֹ (his house) לִזְבֹּ֧חַ (to offer) לַֽיהוָ֛ה (to YHWH) אֶת־ (-) זֶ֥בַח (sacrifice) הַיָּמִ֖ים (the yearly), וְאֶת־ (and) נִדְרֽוֹ׃ (his vow). 22  וְחַנָּ֖ה (And Hannah) לֹ֣א (not) עָלָ֑תָה (did go up), כִּֽי־ (for) אָמְרָ֣ה (she said) לְאִישָׁ֗הּ (to her husband), עַ֣ד (Until) יִגָּמֵ֤ל (is weaned) הַנַּ֙עַר֙ (the child), וַהֲבִאֹתִ֗יו (then I will bring him), וְנִרְאָה֙ (that he may appear) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵ֣י (before) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), וְיָ֥שַׁב (and remain) שָׁ֖ם (there) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָֽם׃ (forever).

23  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) לָהּ֩ (to her) אֶלְקָנָ֨ה (Elkanah) אִישָׁ֜הּ (her husband), עֲשִׂ֧י (Do) הַטּ֣וֹב (what is good) בְּעֵינַ֗יִךְ (in your eyes). שְׁבִי֙ (Wait) עַד־ (until) גָּמְלֵ֣ךְ (you have weaned) אֹת֔וֹ (him). אַ֛ךְ (Only) יָקֵ֥ם (let establish) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) דְּבָר֑וֹ (His word).

וַתֵּ֤שֶׁב (And stayed) הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ (the woman) וַתֵּ֣ינֶק (and nursed) אֶת־ (-) בְּנָ֔הּ (her son) עַד־ (until) גָּמְלָ֖הּ (she had weaned) אֹתֽוֹ׃ (him).

24  וַתַּעֲלֵ֨הוּ (And she took him up) עִמָּ֜הּ (with her) כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (when) גְּמָלַ֗תּוּ (she had weaned him), בְּפָרִ֤ים (with bulls) שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ (three) וְאֵיפָ֨ה (and ephah) אַחַ֥ת (one) קֶ֙מַח֙ (of flour), וְנֵ֣בֶל (and a skin) יַ֔יִן (of wine), וַתְּבִאֵ֥הוּ (and she brought him) בֵית־ (to the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) שִׁל֑וֹ (in Shiloh); וְהַנַּ֖עַר (and the boy) נָֽעַר׃ (was a young boy). 25  וַֽיִּשְׁחֲט֖וּ (And they) אֶת־ (slaughtered) הַפָּ֑ר (a bull) וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ (and brought) אֶת־ (-) הַנַּ֖עַר (the boy) אֶל־ (to) עֵלִֽי׃ (Eli).

26  וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And she said), בִּ֣י (Please), אֲדֹנִ֔י (my lord), חֵ֥י (as lives) נַפְשְׁךָ֖ (your soul), אֲדֹנִ֑י (my lord), אֲנִ֣י (I am) הָאִשָּׁ֗ה (the woman) הַנִּצֶּ֤בֶת (who stood) עִמְּכָה֙ (by you) בָּזֶ֔ה (in this place) לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל (praying) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 27  אֶל־ (For) הַנַּ֥עַר (the boy) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) הִתְפַּלָּ֑לְתִּי (I prayed), וַיִּתֵּ֨ן (and has granted) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) לִי֙ (to me) אֶת־ (-) שְׁאֵ֣לָתִ֔י (my petition) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) שָׁאַ֖לְתִּי (I asked) מֵעִמּֽוֹ׃ (of Him). 28  וְגַ֣ם (And also) אָנֹכִ֗י (I) הִשְׁאִלְתִּ֙הוּ֙ (have granted him) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (to YHWH). כָּל־ (As long as) הַיָּמִים֙ (the days) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הָיָ֔ה (he lives) ה֥וּא (he) שָׁא֖וּל (shall be granted) לַֽיהוָ֑ה (to YHWH).

וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ (And he bowed low) שָׁ֖ם (there) לַיהוָֽה׃פ (before YHWH).