In 1 Samuel chapeter 1, Elkanah offers a sacrifice to the Lord. He passes the meat from the sacrifice to his wife, Peninnah and her children, and to his beloved wife Hannah, who has no chidren. Hannah felt bad that she had no children, and Peninnah made her feel even worse, year after year. Elkanah tried to cheer her up and told her he loved her more than 10 sons would. Hannah ate then, and pulled herself together to go pray. She promised God that if he would give her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord. Eli, the priest, saw her praying and thought she had been drinking. But when she explained that she had been praying, Eli put his prayer in agreement with hers. Hannah believed God had heard her. Would he answer her prayer?
