Judges 20
1 Then all the children of Israel went out and gathered together as one man from Dan to Bersabee, with the land of Galaad, to the Lord in Maspha:
Allora tutti i figliuoli d’Israele uscirono, da Dan fino a Beer-Sceba e al paese di Galaad, e la raunanza si raccolse come un sol uomo dinanzi all’Eterno, a Mitspa.
2 And all the chiefs of the people, and all the tribes of Israel met together in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen fit for war.
I capi di tutto il popolo, e tutte le tribù d’Israele si presentarono nella raunanza del popolo di Dio, in numero di quattrocentomila fanti, atti a trar la spada.
3 (Nor were the children of Benjamin ignorant that the children of Israel were come up to Maspha.) And the Levite the husband of the woman that was killed, being asked, how so great a wickedness had been committed,
E i figliuoli di Beniamino udirono che i figliuoli d’Israele eran saliti a Mitspa. I figliuoli d’Israele dissero: “Parlate! Com’è stato commesso questo delitto?”
4 Answered: I came into Gabaa of Benjamin with my wife, and there I lodged:
Allora il Levita, il marito della donna ch’era stata uccisa, rispose: “Io ero giunto con la mia concubina a Ghibea di Beniamino per passarvi la notte.
5 And behold the men of that city in the night beset the house wherein I was, intending to kill me, and abused my wife with an incredible fury of lust, so that at last she died.
Ma gli abitanti di Ghibea si levarono contro di me e attorniarono di notte la casa dove stavo; aveano l’intenzione d’uccidermi; violentarono la mia concubina, ed ella morì.
6 And I took her and cut her in pieces, and sent the, parts into all the borders of your possession: because there never was so heinous a crime, and so great an abomination committed in Israel.
Io presi la mia concubina, la feci in pezzi, che mandai per tutto il territorio della eredità d’Israele, perché costoro han commesso un delitto e una infamia in Israele.
7 You are all here, O children of Israel, determine what you ought to do.
Eccovi qui tutti, o figliuoli d’Israele; dite qui il vostro parere, e che consigliate di fare”.
8 And all the people standing, answered as by the voice of one man: We will not return to our tents, neither shall any one of us go into his own house:
Tutto il popolo si levò come un sol uomo, dicendo: “Nessun di noi tornerà alla sua tenda, nessun di noi rientrerà in casa sua.
9 But this we will do in common against Gabaa:
E ora ecco quel che faremo a Ghibea: l’assaliremo, traendo a sorte chi deve cominciare.
10 We will take ten men of a hundred out of all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to bring victuals for the army, that we might fight against Gabaa of Benjamin, and render to it for its wickedness, what it deserveth.
Prenderemo in tutte le tribù d’Israele dieci uomini su cento, cento su mille e mille su diecimila, i quali andranno a cercar dei viveri per il popolo, affinché, al loro ritorno, Ghibea di Beniamino sia trattata secondo tutta l’infamia che ha commessa in Israele”.
11 And all Israel were gathered together against the city, as one man, with one mind, and one counsel:
Così tutti gli uomini d’Israele si radunarono contro quella città, uniti come fossero un sol uomo.
12 And they sent messengers to all the tribe of Benjamin to say to them: Why hath so great an abomination been found among you?
E le tribù d’Israele mandarono degli uomini in tutte le famiglie di Beniamino a dire: “Che delitto è questo ch’è stato commesso fra voi?
13 Deliver up the men of Gabaa, that have committed this heinous crime, that they may die, and the evil may be taken away out of Israel. But they would not hearken to the proposition of their brethren the children of Israel:
Or dunque consegnateci quegli uomini, quegli scellerati di Ghibea, perché li mettiamo a morte, e togliam via il male da Israele”. Ma i figliuoli di Beniamino non vollero dare ascolto alla voce dei loro fratelli, i figliuoli d’Israele.
14 But out of all the cities which were of their lot, they gathered themselves together into Gabaa, to aid them, and to fight against the whole people of Israel.
E i figliuoli di Beniamino uscirono dalle loro città, e si radunarono a Ghibea per andare a combattere contro i figliuoli d’Israele.
15 And there were found of Benjamin five and twenty thousand men that drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gabaa,
Il censimento che in quel giorno si fece de’ figliuoli di Beniamino usciti dalle città, fu di ventiseimila uomini atti a trar la spada, senza contare gli abitanti di Ghibea, che ascendevano al numero di settecento uomini scelti.
16 Who were seven hundred most valiant men, fighting with the left hand as well as with the right: and slinging stones so sure that they could hit even a hair, and not miss by the stone’s going on either side.
Fra tutta questa gente c’erano settecento uomini scelti, ch’erano mancini. Tutti costoro poteano lanciare una pietra con la fionda ad un capello, senza fallire il colpo.
17 Of the men of Israel also, beside the children of Benjamin, were found four hundred thousand that drew swords, and were prepared to fight.
Si fece pure il censimento degli uomini d’Israele, non compresi quelli di Beniamino; ed erano in numero di quattrocentomila uomini atti a trar la spada, tutta gente di guerra.
18 And they arose and came to the house of God, that is, to Silo: and they consulted God, and said: Who shall be in our army the first to go to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord answered them: Let Juda be your leader.
E i figliuoli d’Israele si mossero, salirono a Bethel e consultarono Iddio, dicendo: “Chi di noi salirà il primo a combattere contro i figliuoli di Beniamino?” L’Eterno rispose: “Giuda salirà il primo”.
19 And forthwith the children of Israel rising in the morning, camped by Gabaa:
E l’indomani mattina, i figliuoli d’Israele si misero in marcia e si accamparono presso Ghibea.
20 And going out from thence to fight against Benjamin, began to assault the city.
E gli uomini d’Israele uscirono per combattere contro Beniamino, e si disposero in ordine di battaglia contro di loro, presso Ghibea.
21 And the children of Benjamin coming out of Gabaa, slew of the children of Israel that day two and twenty thousand men.
Allora i figliuoli di Beniamino s’avanzarono da Ghibea, e in quel giorno stesero morti al suolo ventiduemila uomini d’Israele.
22 Again Israel trusting in their strength and their number, set their army in array in the same place, where they had fought before:
Il popolo, gli uomini d’Israele, ripresero animo, si disposero di nuovo in ordine di battaglia, nel luogo ove s’eran disposti il primo giorno.
23 Yet so that they first went up and wept before the Lord until night: and consulted him, and said: Shall I go out any more to fight against the children of Benjamin my brethren, or not? And he answered them: Go up against them, and join battle.
E i figliuoli d’Israele salirono e piansero davanti all’Eterno fino alla sera; e consultarono l’Eterno, dicendo: “Debbo io seguitare a combattere contro i figliuoli di Beniamino mio fratello?” L’Eterno rispose: “Salite contro di loro”.
24 And when the children of Israel went out the next day to fight against the children of Benjamin,
I figliuoli d’Israele vennero a battaglia coi figliuoli di Beniamino una seconda volta.
25 The children of Benjamin sallied forth out of the gates of Gabaa: and meeting them made so great a slaughter of them, as to kill eighteen thousand men that drew the sword.
E i Beniaminiti una seconda volta usciron da Ghibea contro di loro, e stesero morti al suolo altri diciottomila uomini de’ figliuoli d’Israele, tutti atti a trar la spada.
26 Wherefore all the children of Israel came to the house of God, and sat and wept before the Lord: and they fasted that day till the evening, and offered to him holocausts, and victims of peace offerings,
Allora tutti i figliuoli d’Israele e tutto il popolo salirono a Bethel, e piansero, e rimasero quivi davanti all’Eterno, e digiunarono quel dì fino alla sera, e offrirono olocausti e sacrifizi di azioni di grazie davanti all’Eterno.
27 And inquired of him concerning their state. At that time the ark of the covenant of the Lord was there,
E i figliuoli d’Israele consultarono l’Eterno l’arca del patto di Dio, in quel tempo, era quivi,
28 And Phinees the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron was over the house. So they consulted the Lord and said: Shall we go out any more to fight against the children of Benjamin our brethren, or shall we cease? And the Lord said to them: Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hands.
e Fineas, figliuolo d’Eleazar, figliuolo d’Aaronne, ne faceva allora il servizio e dissero: “Debbo io seguitare ancora a combattere contro i figliuoli di Beniamino mio fratello, o debbo cessare?” E l’Eterno rispose: “Salite, poiché domani ve li darò nelle mani”.
29 And the children of Israel set ambushes round about the city of Gabaa:
E Israele pose un’imboscata tutt’intorno a Ghibea.
30 And they drew up their army against Benjamin the third time, as they had done the first and second.
I figliuoli d’Israele salirono per la terza volta contro i figliuoli di Beniamino, e si disposero in ordine di battaglia presso Ghibea come le altre volte.
31 And the children of Benjamin boldly issued out of the city, and seeing their enemies flee, pursued them a long way, so as to wound and kill some of them, as they had done the first and second day, whilst they fled by two highways, whereof one goeth up to Bethel, and the other to Gabaa, and they slew about thirty men:
E i figliuoli di Beniamino, avendo fatto una sortita contro il popolo, si lasciarono attirare lungi dalla città, e cominciarono a colpire e ad uccidere, come le altre volte, alcuni del popolo d’Israele, per le strade, delle quali una sale a Bethel, e l’altra a Ghibea per la campagna: ne uccisero circa trenta.
32 For they thought to cut them off, as they did before. But they artfully feigning a flight, designed to draw them away from the city, and by their seeming to flee to bring them to the highways aforesaid.
Allora i figliuoli di Beniamino dissero: “Eccoli sconfitti davanti a noi come la prima volta!” Ma i figliuoli d’Israele dissero: “Fuggiamo, e attiriamoli lungi dalla città sulle strade maestre!”
33 Then all the children of Israel rising up out of the places where they were, set their army in battle array, in the place which is called Baalthamar. The ambushes also which were about the city, began by little and little to come forth,
E tutti gli uomini d’Israele abbandonarono la loro posizione e si disposero in ordine di battaglia a Baal-Thamar, e l’imboscata d’Israele si slanciò fuori dal luogo ove si trovava, da Maareh-Ghibea.
34 And to march from the west side of the city. And other ten thousand men chosen out of all Israel attacked the inhabitants of the city. And the battle grew hot against the children of Benjamin: and they understood not that present death threatened them on every side.
Diecimila uomini scelti in tutto Israele giunsero davanti a Ghibea. Il combattimento fu aspro, e i Beniaminiti non si avvedevano del disastro che stava per colpirli.
35 And the Lord defeated them before the children of Israel, and they slew of them in that day five and twenty thousand, and one hundred, all fighting men and that drew the sword.
E l’Eterno sconfisse Beniamino davanti ad Israele; e i figliuoli d’Israele uccisero quel giorno venticinquemila e cento uomini di Beniamino, tutti atti a trar la spada.
36 But the children of Benjamin when they saw themselves to be too weak, began to flee. Which the children of Israel seeing, gave them place to flee, that they might come to the ambushes that were prepared, which they had set near the city.
I figliuoli di Beniamino videro che gl’Israeliti eran battuti. Questi, infatti, avean ceduto terreno a Beniamino, perché confidavano nella imboscata che avean posta presso Ghibea.
37 And they that were in ambush arose on a sudden out of their coverts, and whilst Benjamin turned their backs to the slayers, went into the city, and smote it with the edge of the sword.
Quelli dell’imboscata si gettaron prontamente su Ghibea; e, avanzatisi, passarono a fil di spada l’intera città.
38 Now the children of Israel had given a sign to them, whom they had laid in ambushes, that after they had taken the city, they should make a fire: that by the smoke rising on high, they might shew that the city was taken.
Or v’era un segnale convenuto fra gli uomini d’Israele e quelli dell’imboscata: questi dovean far salire dalla città una gran fumata.
39 And when the children of Israel saw this in the battle (for the children of Benjamin thought they fled and pursued them vigorously, killing thirty men of their army)
Gli uomini d’Israele aveano dunque voltate le spalle nel combattimento; e que’ di Beniamino avean cominciato a colpire e uccidere circa trenta uomini d’Israele. Essi dicevano: “Per certo, eccoli sconfitti davanti a noi come nella prima battaglia!”
40 And perceived as it were a pillar of smoke rise up from the city; and Benjamin looking back, saw that the city was taken, and that the flames ascended on high:
Ma quando il segnale, la colonna di fumo, cominciò ad alzarsi dalla città, que’ di Beniamino si volsero indietro, ed ecco che tutta la città saliva in fiamme verso il cielo.
41 They that before had made as if they fled, turning their faces stood bravely against them; which the children of Benjamin seeing, turned their backs,
Allora gli uomini d’Israele fecero fronte indietro, e que’ di Beniamino furono spaventati, vedendo il disastro che piombava loro addosso.
42 And began to go towards the way of the desert, the enemy pursuing them thither also. And they that fired the city came also out to meet them.
E voltaron le spalle davanti agli uomini d’Israele, e presero la via del deserto; ma gli assalitori si misero alle loro calcagna, e stendevano morti sul posto quelli che uscivano dalla città.
43 And so it was, that they were slain on both sides by the enemies, and there was no rest of their men dying. They fell and were beaten down on the east side of the city Gabaa.
Circondarono i Beniaminiti, l’inseguirono, furon loro sopra dovunque si fermavano, fin dirimpetto a Ghibea dal lato del sol levante.
44 And they that were slain in the same place were eighteen thousand men, all most valiant soldiers.
Caddero, de’ Beniaminiti, diciottomila uomini, tutta gente di valore.
45 And when they that remained of Benjamin saw this, they fled into the wilderness and made towards the rock that is called Remmon. In that flight, also as they were straggling and going different ways, they slew of them five thousand men. And as they went farther, they still pursued them, and slew also other two thousand.
I Beniaminiti voltaron le spalle e fuggirono verso il deserto, in direzione del masso di Rimmon; e gl’Israeliti ne mieterono per le strade cinquemila, li inseguirono da presso fino a Ghideom, e ne colpirono altri duemila.
46 And so it came to pass, that all that were slain of Benjamin in divers places, were five and twenty thousand fighting men, most valiant for war.
Così, il numero totale de’ Beniaminiti che caddero quel giorno fu di venticinquemila, atti a trar la spada, tutta gente di valore.
47 And there remained of all the number of Benjamin only six hundred men that were able to escape, and flee to the wilderness: and they abode in the rock Remmon four months.
Seicento uomini, che avean voltato le spalle ed eran fuggiti verso il deserto in direzione del masso di Rimmon, rimasero al masso di Rimmon quattro mesi.
48 But the children of Israel returning, put all the remains of the city to the sword, both men and beasts, and all the cities and villages of Benjamin were consumed with devouring flames.
Poi gl’Israeliti tornarono contro i figliuoli di Beniamino, li sconfissero mettendoli a fil di spada, dagli abitanti delle città al bestiame, a tutto quel che capitava loro; e dettero alle fiamme tutte le città che trovarono.
