16. Don’t think I am an evil woman. I have been praying because I have many troubles and am very sad.”
17. Eli answered, “Go! I wish you well. May the God of Israel give you what you asked of him.”
18. Hannah said, “May I always please you.” When she left and ate something, she was not sad anymore.
19. Early the next morning Elkanah’s family got up and worshiped the Lord. Then they went back home to Ramah. Elkanah had sexual relations with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.
20. So Hannah became pregnant, and in time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “His name is Samuel because I asked the Lord for him.”
21. Every year Elkanah went with his whole family to Shiloh to offer sacrifices and to keep the promise he had made to God.
22. But one time Hannah did not go with him. She told him, “When the boy is old enough to eat solid food, I will take him to Shiloh. Then I will give him to the Lord, and he will always live there.”