Jehovah who has not left
you at this time without a near relative, and may his name be famous in
Israel. This child will bring back your strength and take care of you in
your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is worth more
to you than seven sons, has a son!"

So Naomi took the child in her arms and she became its nurse. Her
neighbors also said, "Naomi has a son!" and they named him Obed; he
became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David.

SAMUEL THE BOY PROPHET

Elkanah, a Zuphite of the hill country of Ephraim, lived at Ramah with
his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah
had none.

This man used to go up from his village each year to worship and offer a
sacrifice to Jehovah of hosts at Shiloh. Whenever the day came for
Elkanah to offer a sacrifice he gave portions to his wife Peninnah and
to all his sons and daughters; but although he loved Hannah, he gave her
only one portion, for Jehovah had given her no children. Peninnah made
her angry by mocking her, for Jehovah had given her no children. Elkanah
did this year after year; but whenever Hannah went up to the temple of
Jehovah, Peninnah made her so angry that she wept and would not eat. So
Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep and why do you
not eat? Why are you so troubled? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"

After they had eaten in Shiloh, Hannah arose and stood before the temple
of Jehovah, while Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside the door
posts of the temple. With a sad heart she prayed earnestly to Jehovah
and wept bitterly. She also made this sacred promise:

"O Jehovah of hosts!
If thou wilt look at my affliction,
And remember, not forgetting thy servant,
But wilt give thy servant a son,
Then I will give him to thee,
Throughout all the days of his life;
And no razor shall touch his head."

While she continued praying before Jehovah, Eli watched her mouth. She
spoke to herself; her lips moved, but her voice was not heard, so that
Eli thought that she was drunk and said to her, "How long will you act
like a drunken woman? Put away your wine and go from the presence of
Jehovah." But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am an unhappy woman; I
have not drunk wine nor any strong drink, but I have been pouring out my
heart before Jehovah. Do not think that your servant is a wicked woman,
for I have gone on speakin