1 Samuel 7
1 So the people of Kiriath-jearim came and took the Ark of the Lord. They put it in Abinadab's house on the hill. They dedicated his son Eleazar to take care of the Ark of the Lord.
Que’ di Kiriath-Jearim vennero, menarono su l’arca dell’Eterno, e la trasportarono in casa di Abinadab, sulla collina, e consacrarono il suo figliuolo Eleazar, perché custodisse l’arca dell’Eterno.
2 The Ark remained there in Kiriath-jearim from that day for a long time, in fact for twenty years. Everyone in Israel mourned and in repentance came back to the Lord.
Ora dal giorno che l’arca era stata collocata a Kiriath-Jearim era passato molto tempo, vent’anni erano trascorsi e tutta la casa d’Israele sospirava, anelando all’Eterno.
3 Then Samuel said to all of Israel, “If you sincerely wish to come back to the Lord, then get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreth images you have, and commit yourselves to the Lord and only worship him, and he will save you from the Philistines.”
Allora Samuele parlò a tutta la casa d’Israele dicendo: “Se tornate all’Eterno con tutto il vostro cuore, togliete di mezzo a voi gli dèi stranieri e gl’idoli di Astarte, volgete risolutamente il cuor vostro verso l’Eterno, e servite a lui solo; ed egli vi libererà dalle mani dei Filistei”.
4 The people of Israel got rid of their Baals and Ashtoreth images and worshiped only the Lord.
E i figliuoli d’Israele tolsero via gl’idoli di Baal e di Astarte, e servirono all’Eterno soltanto.
5 Then Samuel said, “Have all the people of Israel gather at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.”
Poi Samuele disse: “Radunate tutto Israele a Mitspa, e io pregherò l’Eterno per voi”.
6 Once they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted that day, and admitted, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Samuel became the leader of the Israelites at Mizpah.
Ed essi si adunarono a Mitspa, attinsero dell’acqua e la sparsero davanti all’Eterno, e digiunarono quivi quel giorno, e dissero: “Abbiamo peccato contro l’Eterno”. E Samuele fece la funzione di giudice d’Israele a Mitspa.
7 When the Philistines found out that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers led an attack on Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were terrified at what the Philistines might do.
Quando i Filistei seppero che i figliuoli d’Israele s’erano adunati a Mitspa, i principi loro salirono contro Israele. La qual cosa avendo udita i figliuoli d’Israele, ebbero paura dei Filistei,
8 They told Samuel, “Don't stop pleading with the Lord our God for us so he can save us from the Philistines.”
e dissero a Samuele: “Non cessare di gridar per noi all’Eterno, all’Iddio nostro, affinché ci liberi dalle mani dei Filistei”.
9 Samuel took a young lamb and presented it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out for help to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord responded.
E Samuele prese un agnello di latte e l’offerse intero in olocausto all’Eterno; e gridò all’Eterno per Israele, e l’Eterno l’esaudì.
10 While Samuel was presenting the burnt offering, the Philistines approached to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered extremely loudly against the Philistines that day, which totally confused them, and they were defeated as Israel watched.
Ora mentre Samuele offriva l’olocausto, i Filistei s’avvicinarono per assalire Israele; ma l’Eterno tuonò quel giorno con gran fracasso contro i Filistei, e li mise in rotta, talché furono sconfitti dinanzi a Israele.
11 Then the men of Israel ran out from Mizpah and chased them, killing them all the way to a place near Beth-car.
Gli uomini d’Israele uscirono da Mitspa, inseguirono i Filistei, e li batterono fin sotto Beth-Car.
12 After this Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen. He called it Ebenezer, saying, “The Lord helped us right up to here!”
Allora Samuele prese una pietra, la pose tra Mitspa e Scen, e la chiamò Eben-Ezer, dicendo: “Fin qui l’Eterno ci ha soccorsi”.
13 In this way the Philistines were kept under control and did not invade Israel again. During Samuel's lifetime the Lord used his power against the Philistines.
I Filistei furono umiliati, e non tornaron più ad invadere il territorio d’Israele; e la mano dell’Eterno fu contro i Filistei per tutto il tempo di Samuele.
14 The towns the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, all the way from Ekron to Gath, and Israel also liberated the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.
Le città che i Filistei aveano prese ad Israele, tornarono ad Israele, da Ekron fino a Gath. Israele liberò il loro territorio dalle mani dei Filistei. E vi fu pace fra Israele e gli Amorei.
15 Samuel was Israel's leader for the rest of his life.
E Samuele fu giudice d’Israele per tutto il tempo della sua vita.
16 Every year he went around, going to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. At all these places he ruled Israel.
Egli andava ogni anno a fare il giro di Bethel, di Ghilgal e di Mitspa, ed esercitava il suo ufficio di giudice d’Israele in tutti quei luoghi.
17 Then he would return to Ramah because that was where he lived. He ruled Israel from there, and also built an altar to the Lord.
Poi tornava a Rama, dove stava di casa; quivi fungeva da giudice d’Israele, e quivi edificò un altare all’Eterno.
