Narrator: In the land of Israel, more than 3,000 years ago, there lived a man named Elkanah. Now, Elkanah was a good man, but he had two wives. In those days, God had not yet firmly revealed that His intention was for a man to have only one wife, and men like Elkanah were not too unusual.

One of his wives was named Peninah, and she was able to bear children. The other wife was named Hannah, and she was barren (couldn’t have any children).

Now, in those days, people were much more serious about having children, especially sons, to carry on their family name, to inherit the land, and to care for them when they were old. A man with no children was considered to be cursed by God.

Elkanah loved Hannah, even though she was barren, but (probably out of jealousy) Peninah began to tease Hannah and to mock her. Each year they would go up to the house of the Lord to worship and thank Him for His care for them, and it was at those times that Hannah would particularly feel sad about her lack of children. Peninah, of course, liked to make that sadness worse.

Peninah: “Ah, there’s just nothing quite like celebrating the harvest and enjoying God’s favor and goodness, with my children and my husband. Hannah, maybe you should stay home, since you don’t really have anyone to celebrate with, and you don’t have much to be thankful for.”

Hannah: “At least I have my husband’s love … “

Peninah: “Seriously? You think he still loves you, when you can’t give him any children? You are a sad, delusional person, Hannah.” (Peninah leaves, laughing cruelly.)

Elkanah (enters): “Hannah? Are you ready to go up to Shiloh? We’re ready to leave … why are you crying?”

Hannah: “Oh, I’m just sad because once again, I’m going up to the Lord’s house without any children. I want to have a baby so badly … “ (she continues crying.)

Elkanah: “Aren’t I worth more than ten sons to you? Come on, let’s go.”

Narrator: “And so, they went up to Shiloh to offer sacrifices and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal together. But even though Elkanah gave Hannah a big portion of the best meat, she couldn’t eat it. Instead, she went to the tabernacle to pray. “

Hannah: “Oh, Lord, you know how much I want a son. If you will only give me a baby, I will give him to you for all the days of his life.”

Narrator: “While she was there, praying at the house of the Lord, the high priest noticed her. He didn’t have very good vision, and saw her crying and moving her lips, but couldn’t understand her prayers. He thought that she had become drunk during the celebration.”

Eli: (enters, notices Hannah): “Hey, woman, how long will you keep drinking so much wine? Do you think the Lord’s house is a place to go when you’re drunk?”

Hannah: “No, my lord, I am not drunk. I am pouring out my heart in prayer before the Lord.”

Narrator: “Eli was embarrassed that he had misunderstood Hannah. In his authority as High Priest, he spoke for God and made her a promise, maybe just to get rid of her.”

Eli: “Well, the Lord will give you what you are asking for. Go in peace.”

Hannah: “Thank you, sir.” (exits).

Eli: “I wonder what she wanted? I hope I didn’t just promise something that God doesn’t want to give her.”

Narrator: “Hannah went home with her family, believing that God had heard her prayer. She put on a cheerful face, and waited in faith for the Lord to keep the promise made in His name.”

Elkanah: “Boy, it sure is nice to see Hannah cheerful again. The other day, I heard her singing! I haven’t heard her sing in several years … “

Peninah: “Yes, I wonder what she’s up to. She doesn’t even seem to mind the fact that she can’t bear any children for you, my husband.”

Elkanah: “I wonder … “

Narrator: “Some time later, Hannah became pregnant, and after another 9 months, her son was born.”

Elkanah: “A boy! We’ll call him Samuel!”

Hannah: “It is a good name. Husband, you should know that I made a vow when I was at Shiloh last year. I promised God that if He would give me a son, I would give him to the Lord.”

Narrator: “Now, as husband, Elkanah had the right to either support or refuse a vow that his wife made, if she made the vow when he was not there. He could have refused to give Samuel up, since he was the spiritual leader in the household. But Elkanah was a righteous man, and wise. So he agreed to be bound by Hannah’s vow.”

Elkanah: “Very well, it will be as you say. Let the Lord make good this vow that you have made.”

Hannah: “You go up to Shiloh this year without me – I will keep little Samuel until he is able to live without me.”

Narrator: “And so, Elkanah and the rest of the family went up to Shiloh, but Hannah and Samuel stayed home. This went on for several years; Hannah loved little Samuel, and perhaps she wanted to keep him as long as she could. Eventually, the boy was old enough to live without his mother, and they brought him with them to the Lord’s house.”

Elkanah: “Well, here we are at Shiloh. It is time, Hannah.”

Hannah: “I know, but it is very hard. He’s only four years old! How can I give him up?”

Elkanah: “You made your promise to God – and God will take care of him, and He will take care of your heart, as well. There’s the priest – let’s go talk to him.”

(They approach Eli.)

Hannah: “Sir, I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m the woman who was praying and crying here, five years ago. I asked God to give me something, made a promise in return. You told me that God would give me what I asked for, and He did!”

Eli: “I remember you. I thought you were drunk – sorry about that. What did God give you, and what did you promise Him?”

Hannah: “God gave me this little boy, and I promised God that I would give him to God’s service, when he was able to live by himself. Here he is – say ‘Hello’ to the high priest, Samuel.”

Samuel: “Hello, sir.”

Eli: “So, you plan to just leave him here with me?”

Hannah: “I would much rather take him home, but I made a promise to God, and I must keep my promise. I don’t see how he could be in God’s service anywhere but here, at the house of the Lord.”

Eli: “Well, you must always keep your promises to God. I guess we could use a helper here. There’s a lot of work involved in keeping the Lord’s house ready for worship and sacrifices.”

Narrator: “And so Hannah gave up her beloved son, Samuel, for service in the house of God. She left him there with a little priestly robe that she had made, and went home, missing him terribly. Samuel learned all the chores and served as Eli’s faithful little helper.”

Eli: “Samuel, it is time to re-fill the oil in the lamps! Go fetch some oil from the cupboard and make sure there is enough oil in the lamps to last until morning.”

Samuel: “Yes sir. After that, I’ll just finish my sweeping and then go to bed, alright?”

Eli: “Yes, thank you. You sure are a big help to me!”

Narrator: “Each year, Hannah and Elkanah and the rest of the family would come up to Shiloh to worship God. Each year, Hannah made a new robe for Samuel, and would bring it when she came, along with other presents of food.”

Hannah: “My, how you’ve grown this year, Samuel! You look a half-cubit taller since the last time I saw you! Isn’t he growing up fast, Elkanah?”

Elkanah: “Yes, he is becoming a fine boy. Are they treating you well, my son? Do you have everything you need?”

Samuel: “I have plenty to eat, Papa, and I enjoy working for Eli. I mostly stay away from Hophni and Phineas, though.”

Hannah: “Good idea. We’re proud of you, working in God’s service. See you next year!” (Hannah and Elkanah leave.)

Narrator: “Although Eli was a godly man, his sons (now grown men) were very wicked. They used to steal from the offerings that people brought, and did many other wicked things in the house of the Lord. God was not pleased with them, and was angry with Eli that he had not considered the Lord’s service to be holy enough to discipline his sons.”

Eli: “Well, I’m off to bed. Don’t forget to light the lamps in the tabernacle.”

Samuel: “Yes, sir. Good night.” (They both lay down to sleep.)

God: “Samuel!”

Samuel: (Sits up, looks around.) “That’s weird, I guess Eli must be calling me. I hope he’s OK.” (Samuel goes to see Eli.) “Yes, sir? You called?”

Eli: (Waking up.) “Eh? What? What do you want?”

Samuel: “You called me, sir?”

Eli: “Don’t be silly, boy. I’ve been asleep.”

Samuel: “Oh, sorry. My mistake.” (Samuel goes back to bed, starts snoring.)

God: “Samuel!”

Samuel: (Sits up again.) “Well, this time I definitely heard someone calling me. It must be Eli.” (Goes to see Eli.) “You called, sir?”

Eli: “Eh? What? You again? What do you want? Did you have a bad dream?”

Samuel: “No, sir – I thought you called me?”

Eli: “Of course not. I was asleep!”

Samuel: “But I distinctly heard someone call me by name. I don’t think hardly anyone but you even knows my name!”

Eli: “Hmmmm. Well, it wasn’t me. Tell you what, maybe it is God calling you. After all, this is His house. If it happens again, just answer Him. Say something like, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”

Samuel: “Well, OK. Good night.” (Goes back to his bed.) “That was really strange. I wonder if it was God calling me? Or maybe Eli’s just playing a mean joke?” (Slowly goes back to sleep, starts snoring again.)

God: “Samuel!”

Samuel: (Sits up.) (to himself: “Um, what was I supposed to say, again? Oh, yeah.”) (Louder) “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!”

God: “Samuel, I have a message for you. I’ve been watching how Eli’s sons are dishonoring my house with their wickedness. Because Eli doesn’t value my holiness more than his own sons, he doesn’t stop them. I am going to take away his family’s position as priest, and I am going to set you up as a judge and prophet over Israel. I will make sure that the people listen to you, all the days of your life.”

Narrator: “As you can imagine, this frightened Samuel, but at the same time, it made him glad that the wickedness of Eli’s sons wasn’t going unpunished, and glad that he was going to be God’s special representative for all the people. The next morning, Eli called him in.”

Eli: “Well, boy? Did God speak to you last night?”

Samuel: “Um, yes, it was He who was calling me. He told me I was to be a prophet for Him.”

Eli: “Really? Did He say anything about me?”

Samuel: “Well, I don’t really want to say … “

Eli: “You must tell me. If God has a message for me, I want to hear it, even if it is bad.”

Samuel: “It’s not a good message … “

Eli: “Let’s hear it, then.”

Samuel: “God says that because you valued your own sons more than His holiness, he is going to take away your family’s position as high priest, and that both your sons will die on the same day, so that you will know God has judged you and your family.”

Eli: “Oh, that is bad news. But I guess God can do what He wants to do.”

Narrator: “Eli never did stop his sons from their stealing and other wickedness, and eventually they both died on the same day, in battle with the Philistines. When Eli heard the news, he fell backward off his chair and broke his neck and died. Samuel went on to become a great judge and a mighty prophet, and eventually anointed the first two kings of Israel.”

The End.