Samuel's story begins with Hannah, a woman enduring both the pain of childlessness and the provocation of her husband's second wife. In her deep anguish, she prays at the tabernacle in Shiloh, vowing to dedicate her son to God's service if He grants her request. When Eli the priest mistakes her silent prayer for drunkenness, Hannah humbly explains her situation. After Eli pronounces a blessing, Hannah returns home with renewed hope. God answers her prayer with the birth of Samuel, whose name means "heard by God." True to her vow, Hannah brings the young boy to serve at the tabernacle once he is weaned. This narrative establishes how God works through faithful individuals in desperate circumstances to initiate new chapters in salvation history.