[1:1] There was a man named Elkanah, from the tribe of Ephraim, who lived in the town of Ramah in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham and grandson of Elihu, and belonged to the family of Tohu, a part of the clan of Zuph.
[1:2] Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.
[1:3] Every year Elkanah went from Ramah to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord.
[1:4] Each time Elkanah offered his sacrifice, he would give one share of the meat to Peninnah and one share to each of her children.
[1:5] And even though he loved Hannah very much he would give her only one share, because the Lord had kept her from having children.
[1:6] Peninnah, her rival, would torment and humiliate her, because the Lord had kept her childless.
[1:7] This went on year after year; whenever they went to the house of the Lord, Peninnah would upset Hannah so much that she would cry and refuse to eat anything.
[1:8] Her husband Elkanah would ask her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why won't you eat? Why are you always so sad? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?”