1V Ramatajim byl jeden muž z Cufova rodu[1] z Efraimských hor. Jmenoval se Elkána, syn Jerochama, syna Elihuova, syna Tochuova, syna Efraimce Cufa.2Měl dvě ženy; jedna se jmenovala Hana a druhá Penina. Penina měla děti, ale Hana byla bezdětná.3Tento muž chodil každoročně ze svého města do Šíla, aby se tam klaněl a obětoval Hospodinu zástupů. Hospodinovými kněžími tam byli dva synové Elího, Chofni a Pinchas.4Vždy, když přišel čas oběti, Elkána dal své ženě Penině i všem jejím synům a dcerám porce masa,5ale Haně dával dvojnásobnou porci. Miloval totiž Hanu, ačkoli jí Hospodin nedopřál plodnost.6Její protivnice ji ale nesnesitelně ponižovala a trápila kvůli tomu, že jí Hospodin nedopřál plodnost.7A tak to bývalo rok co rok, kdykoli šla do Hospodinovy svatyně. Jednou ji ponižovala tak, že se rozplakala a nemohla ani jíst.8Její muž Elkána jí řekl: „Proč pláčeš, Hano? Proč nejíš? Proč si to tak bereš k srdci? Nejsem snad pro tebe lepší než deset synů?“9Když potom v Šílu pojedli a popili, Hana vstala. U veřejí Hospodinova svatostánku právě seděl na stolci kněz Elí.10Hana se tehdy v hluboké úzkosti modlila k Hospodinu a s velikým pláčem11složila tento slib: „Hospodine zástupů, kéž bys laskavě shlédl na trápení své služebnice a pomyslel na mě! Nezapomeneš-li na svou služebnici, ale dáš jí syna, pak ho na celý život odevzdám Hospodinu a jeho hlavy se nikdy nedotkne břitva.“[2]12Když se tak před Hospodinem modlila, Elí si všiml jejích úst.13Hana totiž promlouvala srdcem, rty se jí chvěly, ale protože její hlas nebylo slyšet, Elí si myslel, že je opilá.14Proto jí Elí řekl: „Jak dlouho tu budeš opilá? Prober se!“15Hana mu ale odpověděla: „Tak to není, můj pane. Jsem jen zdrcená. Nepila jsem víno ani pivo; jen jsem si vylévala duši před Hospodinem.16Nepokládej svou služebnici za ničemnou ženu. Modlila jsem se tu z velikého zármutku a rozrušení.“17„Jdi v pokoji,“ řekl jí na to Elí, „a kéž ti Bůh Izraele dá, o co jsi ho úpěnlivě prosila.“18„Jsi ke své služebnici tak laskav!“ řekla Hana, a když odešla, pojedla a smutek z její tváře zmizel.19Časně ráno vstali, a když se poklonili Hospodinu, vydali se zpátky domů do Rámy. Elkána se pak se svou ženou Hanou miloval a Hospodin na ni nezapomněl.20Než se rok s rokem sešel, Hana počala a porodila syna. Dala mu jméno Samuel, Vyslyšel Bůh, neboť řekla: „Vyprosila jsem ho od Hospodina.“21Když se pak Elkána znovu vydal s celou svou rodinou předložit Hospodinu výroční oběť a splnit svůj slib,22Hana nešla. „Až chlapce odkojím,“ řekla svému muži, „přivedu ho před Hospodina a zůstane tam navždy.“23„Dělej, jak myslíš,“ řekl jí na to Elkána. „Zůstaň tu, než ho odkojíš, a kéž Hospodin přivede tvůj[3] slib k naplnění.“ A tak ta žena zůstala se svým synkem a pečovala o něj, dokud ho neodkojila.24A když ho odkojila, vzala tříletého býčka,[4] efu mouky[5] a džbán vína a odvedla chlapce do Hospodinovy svatyně v Šílu. Bylo to ještě malé dítě.25Býčka porazili a chlapce přivedli k Elímu.26„Můj pane,“ řekla Hana, „poslyš prosím. Jakože jsi, můj pane, živ, já jsem ta žena, která tu poblíž tebe stála a modlila se k Hospodinu.27Za toto dítě jsem se tehdy modlila a Hospodin mi dal, o co jsem ho úpěnlivě prosila.28Teď ho tedy odevzdávám Hospodinu, aby mu patřil po celý svůj život.“ A poklonili se tam Hospodinu.
1There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. (Jz 24,33; 1S 1,19; 1Kr 11,26)2He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.3Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. (Ex 23,14; Dt 12,5; Dt 16,16; Jz 18,1; 1S 1,21; L 2,41)4On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. (Dt 12,17; Dt 16,11; Neh 8,10; Neh 8,12)5But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.[1]6And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.7So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.8And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” (Rt 4,15)9After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. (1S 3,3)10She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. (Jb 7,11; Jb 10,1)11And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” (Gn 28,20; Gn 29,32; Gn 30,22; Nu 6,5; Sd 11,30; Sd 13,5; 1S 1,19)12As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.13Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.14And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”15But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. (Jb 30,16; Ž 42,4; Ž 62,8; Pl 2,19)16Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” (Sd 19,22; 1S 2,12)17Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” (Sd 18,6; 1S 20,42; 2Kr 5,19; Ž 20,4; Mk 5,34)18And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. (Gn 33,15; Rt 2,13; Kaz 9,7)19They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. (1S 1,1; 1S 1,11; 1S 2,11)20And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”[2]
Samuel Given to the Lord
21The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. (1S 1,3)22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” (1S 1,11; 1S 1,28; 1S 2,11; 1S 2,18; 1S 3,1)23Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. (Nu 30,7; 2S 7,25)24And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull,[3] an ephah[4] of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. (Dt 12,5; Dt 12,11; Jz 18,1; 1S 1,3; 1S 1,9)25Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.26And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. (1S 17,55; 1S 20,3; 2S 11,11; 2Kr 2,2; 2Kr 2,4; 2Kr 2,6; 2Kr 4,30)27For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. (1S 1,17; Ž 6,9)28Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. (Gn 24,26; Gn 24,52)