Samuel Child Of The Lord

ONCE there was a woman named Hannah who was bitter in her soul because
she had no sons or daughters.
 She prayed to the Lord and wept sadly.

And she vowed a vow: "O Lord of hosts,
 if you will look down upon the sadness of your handmaiden and remember me,
 and will give to your handmaiden a man child,
then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life,
 and no razor shall touch his head."

It came to pass in due time that Hannah bore a son, and she called him Samuel, "Because," she said, "I asked him of the Lord."
Her husband Elkanah, and all his household,
 went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice.
 But Hannah did not go,for she said to her husband: "I will not go up until the child is weaned,and then I will take him so that he may appear before the Lord and stay there for ever."

Elkanah her husband said to her:"Do what seems to you best.
 Wait until you have weaned him; only keep your word to the Lord."
 So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until he was old enough to wean.

When she had weaned him, she took him up with her,
 with a young bull of three years and one measure of flour and a bottle of wine.
 She brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh,
 when the child was still very young.
And so the young bull was slain and the child was brought to Eli the priest.
And Hannah said: "O my lord, I am the woman who stood in the temple here,
 praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child,
 and the Lord has given me what I asked of him.
Therefore I have lent him to the Lord.
 As long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord."
Then they worshipped the Lord there.
And when Elkanah and his household went home,
 Samuel stayed, and was taught by Eli the priest.

Each year Samuel's mother made him a little coat and brought it to him when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

And the child Samuel grew, and was in favour both with the Lord and with men.
 And he ministered to the Lord before Eli.

(  Link to free online Bible to view where this event takes place in the Bible  )

www.biblica.com/bibles/chapter/?verse=1+Samuel+1&version=nasb

www.biblica.com/bibles/chapter/?verse=1+Samuel+2&version=nasb