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Samuel is born

Hannah prays for a son she will dedicate to God.
Contributed by Sweet Publishing
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, German, Hindi, Simplified Chinese
1
There was a man called Elkanah who had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. – Slide 1
2
Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. – Slide 2
3
Elkanah lived in Ramah. Every year he and his family would travel to Shiloh to worship God at the tabernacle. – Slide 3
4
An old man called Eli was High Priest at the Tabernacle but his two sons who were priests were both very disobedient. – Slide 4
5
While at the Tabernacle Peninnah, who had children, would make fun of Hannah and taunt her because she did not have children. This made Hannah so upset she could not eat. – Slide 5
6
Her husband, Elkanah, tried to comfort her, ‘Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me, isn’t that better than having ten sons?’ – Slide 6
7
After a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. She was in deep anguish. Eli was at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. – Slide 7
8
Hannah wept and made a promise to God, ‘O Lord if you give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord his hair will never be cut.’ – Slide 8
9
Eli saw Hannah’s lips moving but heard no sound, and thought she had been drinking. ‘Must you come here drunk?’ he demanded. ‘Throw away your wine!’ – Slide 9
10
‘I haven’t been drinking, Hannah protested. ‘I was pouring out my heart to the Lord in great anguish and sorrow.’ ‘In that case,’ Eli replied, ‘Go in peace! May God answer your prayer.’ Hannah thanked Eli and went away comforted. – Slide 10
11
Soon after returning home, Hannah became pregnant and later gave birth to a baby boy. She and Elkanah named him Samuel, for she said, ‘I asked the Lord for him.’ – Slide 11
12
When Samuel was old enough Hannah kept her promise and came to the Tabernacle to give her boy to God and be trained to serve Him. ‘I asked the Lord to give me this boy,’ she declared. ‘God has answered my prayer. Now I am giving him to the Lord and he will belong to Him his whole life.’ – Slide 12
13
Samuel stayed at the tabernacle learning to love, obey and serve God. His mother, Hannah, would come and visit him each time she came to worship God at the Tabernacle. – Slide 13
14
Slide 14