A man named [[Elkanah]], an [[Tribe of Ephraim|Ephraimite]] from the city of [[Ramathaim-Zophim]], has two wives, [[PenninahPeninnah]] and [[Hannah (biblical figure)|Hannah]], the latter of whom is his favourite wife, and a rivalry between the two develops based on the fact that Penninah has children and Hannah does not. The childless Hannah vows to [[YAHWEH|Yahweh of hosts]] that, if she has a son, he will be dedicated to God. [[Eli (Bible)|Eli]], the priest of [[Shiloh (biblical city)|Shiloh]], where the [[Ark of the Covenant]] is located, thinks she is drunk, but when he realises she is praying, he blesses her. A child named [[Samuel (Bible)|Samuel]] is born, and Samuel is dedicated to the Lord as a [[Nazirite]]—the only one besides [[Samson]] to be identified in the Bible. Hannah sings a [[Song of Hannah|song of praise]] upon the fuilfilment of her vow.
Eli's sons, [[Hophni and Phinehas]], sin against God's laws and the people, specifically by demanding raw rather than boiled meat for sacrifice and having sex with the tabernacle's serving women. But the child Samuel grows up "in the presence of the Lord": his family visits him each year, bringing a new coat for him, and Hannah has five more children. Eli tries to persuade his sons to stop their wickedness, but fails. As punishment for this, a holy man arrives, prophesies that Eli's family will be cut off and none of his descendants will see old age.