the tribe of Ephraim, married two
wives, Hannah and Peninnah. He had children by the latter; but he loved
the other best, although she was barren. Now Elcanah came with his wives
to the city Shiloh to sacrifice, for there it was that the tabernacle
of God was fixed, as we have formerly said. Now when, after he had
sacrificed, he distributed at that festival portions of the flesh to
his wives and children, and when Hannah saw the other wife's children
sitting round about their mother, she fell into tears, and lamented
herself on account of her barrenness and lonesomeness; and suffering her
grief to prevail over her husband's consolations to her, she went to the
tabernacle to beseech God to give her seed, and to make her a mother;
and to vow to consecrate the first son she should bear to the service
of God, and this in such a way, that his manner of living should not be
like that of ordinary men. And as she continued at her prayers a long
time, Eli, the high priest, for he sat there before the tabernacle, bid
her go away, thinking she had been disordered with wine; but when she
said she had drank water, but was in sorrow for want of children, and
was beseeching God for them, he bid her be of good cheer, and told her
that God would send her children.

3. So she came to her husband full of hope, and ate her meal with
gladness. And when they had returned to their own country she found
herself with child, and they had a son born to them, to whom they gave
the name of Samuel, which may be styled one that was asked of God. They
therefore came to the tabernacle to offer sacrifice for the birth of the
child, and brought their tithes with them; but the woman remembered
the vows she had made concerning her son, and delivered him to Eli,
dedicating him to God, that he might become a prophet. Accordingly his
hair was suffered to grow long, and his drink was water. So Samuel dwelt
and was brought up in the temple. But Elcanah had other sons by Hannah,
and three daughters.

4. Now when Samuel was twelve years old, he began to prophesy: and once
when he was asleep, God called to him by his name; and he, supposing
he had been called by the high priest, came to him: but when the high
priest said he did not call him, God did so thrice. Eli was then so far
illuminated, that he said to him, "Indeed, Samuel, I was silent now as
well as before: it is God that calls thee; do thou therefore signify it
to him, and say, I am here ready." So when