Peninnah, her rival, would torment and humiliate her, because the LORD had kept her childless.

Her husband Elkanah would ask her, "Hannah, why are you crying? Why won't you eat? Why are you always so sad? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"

When that time comes, seven women will grab hold of one man and say, "We can feed and clothe ourselves, but please let us say you are our husband, so that we won't have to endure the shame of being unmarried."

Israel's greatness will fly away like a bird, and there will be no more children born to them, no more women pregnant, no more children conceived.

"Now at last the Lord has helped me," she said. "He has taken away my public disgrace!"

As long as Samuel lived, he never again saw the king; but he grieved over him. The LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king of Israel.

The Sovereign LORD Almighty himself spoke to me and said, "This evil will never be forgiven them as long as they live. I, the Sovereign LORD Almighty, have spoken."

But he had no sexual relations with her before she gave birth to her son. And Joseph named him Jesus.