2. I will first despatch what I have to say about the prophet
Samuel, and after that will proceed to speak of the sons of Eli,
and the miseries they brought on the whole people of the Hebrews.
Elcanah, a Levite, one of a middle condition among his fellow
citizens, and one that dwelt at Ramathaim, a city of the tribe of
Ephraim, married two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. He had children
by the latter; but he loved the other best, although she was
barren. Now Elcanah came with his wives to the city Shiloh to
sacrifice, for there it was that the tabernacle of God was fixed,
as we have formerly said. Now when, after he had sacrificed, he
distributed at that festival portions of the flesh to his wives
and children, and when Hannah saw the other wife's children
sitting round about their mother, she fell into tears, and
lamented herself on account of her barrenness and lonesomeness;
and suffering her grief to prevail over her husband's
consolations to her, she went to the tabernacle to beseech God to
give her seed, and to make her a mother; and to vow to consecrate
the first son she should bear to the service of God, and this in
such a way, that his manner of living should not be like that of
ordinary men. And as she continued at her prayers a long time,
Eli, the high priest, for he sat there before the tabernacle, bid
her go away, thinking she had been disordered with wine; but when
she said she had drank water, but was in sorrow for want of
children, and was beseeching God for them, he bid her be of good
cheer, and told her that God would send her children.

3. So she came to her husband full of hope, and ate her meal with
gladness. And when they had returned to their own country she
found herself with child, and they had a son born to them, to
whom they gave the name of Samuel, which may be styled one that