UmIsrayeli obizwa ngokuthi u-Elkana wayenamakhosikazi amabili, uHana noPhenina, kodwa wayethanda kakhulu uHana. UPhenina wayenezingane eziningi ngakho wayehlale egcona uHana owayengenazo izingane. Minyaka yonke, u-Elkana wayehamba nomndeni wakhe baye etabernakele eShilo bayokhonza uNkulunkulu. Ngesinye isikhathi belapho, u-Elkana waqaphela ukuthi isithandwa sakhe, uHana, sasingajabule. Wathi: ‘Ungakhali Hana, ngikhona mina, ngiyakuthanda.’

Kamuva, uHana wahamba wayothandaza yedwa. Wayelokhu ekhala njengoba ethandaza encenga uJehova ukuba amsize. Wenza lesi sithembiso: ‘Jehova, uma unginika indodana, ngizokunika yona, futhi izokukhonza ukuphila kwayo konke.’

UMpristi Ophakeme u-Eli wabona uHana ekhala enesibibithwane wacabanga ukuthi udakiwe. UHana wathi: ‘Cha, nkosi yami, angidakiwe. Nginenkinga enkulu futhi ngitshela uJehova ngayo.’ U-Eli wazisola wabe esethi kuye: ‘Kwangathi uNkulunkulu angakunika lokho okufunayo.’ UHana wazizwa esengcono wabe esehamba. Ungakapheli unyaka, wathola indodana futhi wayiqamba ngokuthi uSamuweli. Wayengeve ejabule uHana!

UHana akazange asikhohlwe isithembiso asenza kuJehova. Ngokushesha  nje lapho uSamuweli eyeka ukuncela, uHana wamthatha wamyisa etabernakele. Watshela u-Eli: ‘Nangu umfana engangimthandazela. Ngimboleka uJehova ukuphila kwakhe konke.’ U-Elkana noHana babevakashela uSamuweli njalo ngonyaka bamphathele ijazi elingenamikhono. UJehova wanika uHana amanye amadodana amathathu namadodakazi amabili.