1 Samuele 28
1 Or avvenne in quei giorni che i Filistei radunarono i loro eserciti per muover guerra ad Israele. Ed Akis disse a Davide: “Sappi per cosa certa che verrai meco alla guerra, tu e la tua gente”. Davide rispose ad Akis:
Some time later, the people of Philistia gathered their army to attack the Israelis [again]. King Achish told David, “I am expecting that you and your men will join with my men to attack [the Israelis].”
2 “E tu vedrai quello che il tuo servo farà”. E Akis a Davide: “E io t’affiderò per sempre la guardia della mia persona”.
David replied, “[We will go with you, and then] you will see for yourself what we can do!” Achish said, “Okay, I will appoint you to be my bodyguard permanently.”
3 Or Samuele era morto; tutto Israele ne avea fatto cordoglio, e l’avean sepolto in Rama, nella sua città. E Saul avea cacciato dal paese gli evocatori di spiriti e gl’indovini.
[While Samuel was still alive, Saul did many things that pleased Yahweh. One of the good things that] Saul [did was to] expel from Israel all the people who were fortune-tellers or who talked to the spirits of dead people. But Samuel had died, and all the Israeli people had mourned for him. Then they had buried him in Ramah, his hometown. [After that, Saul did not try to please Yahweh any more].
4 I Filistei si radunarono e vennero ad accamparsi a Sunem. Saul parimente radunò tutto Israele, e si accamparono a Ghilboa.
The army of Philistia gathered and set up their tents at Shunem [city, in the north of Israel]. Saul gathered the Israeli army and set up their tents at Gilboa [in the eastern part of the same valley].
5 Quando Saul vide l’accampamento dei Filistei ebbe paura e il cuore gli tremò forte.
When Saul saw the army of Philistia, he became so afraid that his heart pounded/shook.
6 E Saul consultò l’Eterno, ma l’Eterno non gli rispose né per via di sogni, né mediante l’Urim, né per mezzo dei profeti.
He prayed to Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him. Yahweh did not [tell Saul what he should do by] giving him a dream, or by [having the priest throw] the marked stones [that were in his sacred vest], or by [giving a message about Saul to] any prophet.
7 Allora Saul disse ai suoi servi: “Cercatemi una donna che sappia evocar gli spiriti ed io andrò da lei a consultarla”. I servi gli dissero: “Ecco, a En-Dor v’è una donna che evoca gli spiriti”.
Then Saul said to his servants, “Find for me a woman who talks to the spirits of dead people, in order that I can ask her [what will happen].” His servants replied, “There is a woman in Endor [town] who does that.”
8 E Saul si contraffece, si mise altri abiti, e partì accompagnato da due uomini. Giunsero di notte presso la donna, e Saul le disse: “Dimmi l’avvenire, ti prego, evocando uno spirito e fammi salire colui che ti dirò”.
So Saul [took off the clothes that showed that he was the king, and he] put on ordinary clothes (to disguise himself/so that people would not recognize who he was). Then he and two of his men went during the night to talk to that woman. Saul said to her, “I want you to talk to a spirit [of someone who has died]. Cause to appear the person whose name I will [give to you].”
9 La donna gli rispose: “Ecco, tu sai quel che Saul ha fatto, com’egli ha sterminato dal paese gli evocatori di spiriti e gl’indovini; perché dunque tendi un’insidia alla mia vita per farmi morire?”
But the woman replied, “You surely know what Saul has done. He expelled from this land all the people who talk to spirits of dead people and all fortune-tellers. I think that you are trying to trap me, in order that I will be executed [for doing something that is not permitted].”
10 E Saul le giurò per l’Eterno, dicendo: “Com’è vero che l’Eterno vive, nessuna punizione ti toccherà per questo!”
Saul replied, solemnly asking Yahweh to listen to what he was saying, “Just as surely as Yahweh lives, you will not be punished for doing this.”
11 Allora la donna gli disse: “Chi debbo farti salire?” Ed egli: “Fammi salire Samuele”.
Then the woman said, “Whom do you want me to cause to appear?” Saul replied, “Cause Samuel to appear.”
12 E quando la donna vide Samuele levò un gran grido e disse a Saul: “Perché m’hai ingannata? Tu sei Saul!”
[So] the woman [did that. But] when she saw Samuel, she screamed. She said, “You have tricked me [RHQ]! You are Saul! [You will execute me for doing this]!”
13 Il re le disse: “Non temere; ma che vedi?” E la donna a Saul: “Vedo un essere sovrumano che esce di sotto terra”.
Saul said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a god/spirit coming up out of the ground.”
14 Ed egli a lei: “Che forma ha?” Ella rispose: “E’ un vecchio che sale, ed è avvolto in un mantello”. Allora Saul comprese ch’era Samuele, si chinò con la faccia a terra e gli si prostro dinanzi.
Saul said, “What does he look like?” The woman replied, “An old man wearing a robe is appearing.” Then Saul knew that it was Samuel. So he bowed down with his face touching the ground.
15 E Samuele disse a Saul: “Perché mi hai tu disturbato, facendomi salire?” Saul rispose: “Io sono in grande angustia, poiché i Filistei mi fanno guerra, e Dio si è ritirato da me e non mi risponde più né mediante i profeti né per via di sogni; perciò t’ho chiamato perché tu mi faccia sapere quel che ho da fare”.
Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you bothered/disturbed me by causing me to appear?” Saul said, “I am very worried. The army of Philistia is about to attack my army, and God has abandoned me. He does not answer my questions any more. He does not give me dreams [to tell me what to do] or give messages to prophets [to tell me what to do]. That is the reason that I came to see you. So you tell me what I should do!”
16 Samuele disse: “Perché consulti me, mentre l’Eterno si è ritirato da te e t’è divenuto avversario?
Samuel said, “Yahweh has abandoned you and has become your enemy. So why do you ask me [what you should do]? [RHQ]
17 L’Eterno ha agito come aveva annunziato per mio mezzo; l’Eterno ti strappa di mano il regno e lo dà al tuo prossimo, a Davide,
He has done what he told me [previously] that he would do to you. He has torn the kingdom away from you, and he is giving it to someone who is another Israeli—David.
18 perché non hai ubbidito alla voce dell’Eterno e non hai lasciato corso all’ardore della sua ira contro ad Amalek; perciò l’Eterno ti tratta così quest’oggi.
You did not obey Yahweh. Yahweh was very angry with the Amalek people-group. You did not [kill all of their animals], with the result that you did not show that he was very angry with them. That is the reason that he has done this to you today.
19 E l’Eterno darà anche Israele con te nelle mani dei Filistei, e domani tu e i tuoi figliuoli sarete meco; l’Eterno darà pure il campo d’Israele nelle mani dei Filistei”.
Yahweh will enable the Philistia army to defeat you and all the other Israeli soldiers. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me [in the place where spirits of dead people are]. Yahweh will cause the whole Israeli army to be defeated by the Philistia army.” [And after Samuel said that, he disappeared].
20 Allora Saul cadde subitamente lungo disteso per terra, perché spaventato dalle parole di Samuele; ed era inoltre senza forza, giacché non avea preso cibo tutto quel giorno e tutta quella notte.
Saul immediately fell flat on the ground. He was so afraid because of what Samuel had said that he became paralyzed. He was also very weak because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.
21 La donna s’avvicinò a Saul; e vedutolo tutto atterrito, gli disse: “Ecco, la tua serva ha ubbidito alla tua voce; io ho messo a repentaglio la mia vita per ubbidire alle parole che m’hai dette.
The woman saw that he was extremely worried/terrified. She said to him, “Listen to me! I have done what you requested me to do. I could be executed for doing that.
22 Or dunque, anche tu porgi ascolto alla voce della tua serva, e lascia ch’io ti metta davanti un boccon di pane; e mangia per prender forza da rimetterti in viaggio”.
So now please pay attention to what I say. Allow me to give you some food, in order that you will [eat it and] get enough strength to go back [to your army].”
23 Ma egli rifiutò e disse: “Non mangerò”. I suoi servi, però, unitamente alla donna gli fecero violenza, ed egli s’arrese alle loro istanze; s’alzò da terra e si pose a sedere sul letto.
But Saul refused. He said, “No, I will not eat anything.” Then Saul’s servants also urged him [to eat something], and finally he heeded what they said. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.
24 Or la donna aveva in casa un vitello ingrassato, che ella s’affrettò ad ammazzare; poi prese della farina, la impastò e ne fece dei pani senza lievito;
The woman had a fat calf close to her house. She quickly slaughtered it [and cooked it]. She took some flour and mixed it [with olive oil], and baked it without putting in any yeast.
25 mise quei cibi davanti a Saul e ai suoi servi, e quelli mangiarono, poi si levarono e ripartirono quella stessa notte.
She placed the food in front of Saul and his servants, and they ate some of it. Then that night they got up and left.
