Hannah gives Samuel to serve God

21 Next year, Elkanah went to Shiloh to offer sacrifices to the Lord, as he had promised to do. His family went with him. 22 But Hannah did not go as well. She said to her husband, ‘I will not go until the boy is older. When he can eat proper food, I will take him to Shiloh to give him to the Lord. Then he will live there for all his life.’

23 Elkanah said to Hannah, ‘You must do what seems right to you. Stay here at home until the boy begins to eat proper food. May the Lord help you, as he has promised.’

So Hannah stayed at home with her son while he continued to drink milk from her breasts.

24 When Samuel started to eat proper food, Hannah took him to Shiloh. She took him to the Lord's house there when he was still a young boy. She took with her a bull that was three years old. She also took a big bag of flour and a leather bag full of wine. 25 They killed the bull for the sacrifice. Then Hannah took Samuel to Eli. 26 Hannah said to Eli, ‘Please believe me sir. I am the woman who stood here before. You saw me when I was praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed that the Lord would give me a son and he answered my prayer. 28 Now I will give this child to serve the Lord. He will be the Lord's servant for his whole life.’

Then Elkanah's family worshipped the Lord there.

1 Samuel 2

Hannah praises the Lord

1 Hannah prayed and she said,

‘I am very happy when I think about what the Lord has done.

The Lord has made me very strong.

I can laugh at my enemies because you, Lord, have saved me.

That makes me very happy.

2 Nobody else is holy like the Lord.

There is no other God except you, our God.

You are the only Rock where we can be safe.

3 Do not boast or speak proud words!

The Lord is a God who knows everything.

He judges everything that people do.

4 The weapons of brave soldiers may break.

But weak people who fall become strong again.

5 People who had plenty of food to eat have to work for it now.

But the people who were hungry have enough food now.

Women who could not have any children have now given birth to seven children.

But those who had many children are now alone.

6 The Lord gives both life and death.

He sends some people to their graves,

and he raises other people up.

7 The Lord makes some people poor

and he makes other people rich.

He causes some people to be important

and he puts other people low down.

8 He raises up weak people from the ground.

He lifts poor people up out of the dirt.

He makes them become friends of princes.

He puts them in places of honour.

The deep places of the earth belong to the Lord.

He built the world on a strong foundation.

9 He takes care of his faithful people.

But he puts wicked people in a dark place where they can do nothing.

It is not a person's own strength that makes him great.

10 The Lord will destroy his enemies.

He will shout against them from heaven like loud thunder.

The Lord will judge everyone on earth.

He will make his king strong.

He will give power to the king that he has chosen to rule.’

11 Then Elkanah went back to his home at Ramah with his family. But the young boy, Samuel, stayed in Shiloh. He served the Lord there, while Eli the priest took care of him.