Deuxième livre de Samuel 20

BIBLES DES PEUPLES	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Alors il se trouva un homme de rien, un nommé Chéba, fils de Bikri, de la tribu de Benjamin. Il sonna du cor et fit cet appel: “Nous n’avons pas de part avec David, nous n’avons rien à attendre du fils de Jessé. Israël, retourne à tes tentes!”	1 And it happened that there was, in that place, a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a man of Benjamin. And he sounded the trumpet, and he said: “There is no portion for us in David, nor any inheritance in the son of Jesse. Return to your own tents, O Israel.”
2 Alors tous les hommes d’Israël abandonnèrent David et suivirent Chéba, fils de Bikri, tandis que ceux de Juda restaient avec le roi et l’accompagnaient du Jourdain jusqu’à Jérusalem.	2 And all of Israel separated from David, and they were following Sheba, the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah clung to their king, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem.
3 David rentra dans son palais à Jérusalem; il en fit sortir les dix concubines qu’il avait laissées pour garder le palais et les plaça dans une maison surveillée. Il assura leur entretien mais il ne s’approcha plus jamais d’elles. Jusqu’à leur mort elles restèrent ainsi enfermées, menant une vie de veuves.	3 And when the king had entered his house at Jerusalem, he took the ten women concubines, whom he had left behind to care for the house, and he put them into custody, allowing them provisions. But he did not enter to them. Instead, they were enclosed, even until the day of their deaths, living as widows.
4 Le roi dit à Amasa: “Tu as trois jours pour rassembler les hommes de Juda et te présenter devant moi.”	4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon to me all the men of Judah on the third day, and you shall be present also.”
5 Amasa partit pour rassembler Juda, mais il tarda au-delà de la date que le roi lui avait fixée.	5 Therefore, Amasa went away, so that he might summon Judah. But he delayed beyond the agreed time that the king had appointed to him.
6 À ce moment David dit à Abisaï: “Chéba, fils de Bikri, va être bientôt plus dangereux pour nous qu’Absalom. Pars à la tête de la garde de ton maître et pourchasse-le, sinon il pourrait gagner une ville fortifiée et nous échapper.”	6 And David said to Abishai: “Now Sheba, the son of Bichri, will afflict us more so than Absalom did. Therefore, take the servants of your lord, and pursue him, otherwise he may find fortified cities, and escape from us.”
7 Joab, les Kérétiens, les Pélétiens et tous les braves, partirent en campagne. Ils quittèrent Jérusalem derrière Abisaï et se lancèrent à la poursuite de Chéba, fils de Bikri.	7 And so, the men of Joab departed with him, along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And all the able-bodied men went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba, the son of Bichri.
8 Ils étaient près de la grande pierre qui se trouve à Gabaon, lorsque Amasa se présenta devant eux. Joab portait par-dessus son vêtement une ceinture à laquelle était attachée son épée dans son fourreau; l’épée sortit et tomba.	8 And when they were beside the great stone, which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was wearing a close-fitting coat of equal length with his garment. And over these, he was girded with a sword hanging down to his thigh, in a scabbard which was made so that the sword could be removed with the least motion, and then strike.
9 Joab dit à Amasa: “Mon frère, est-ce la paix?” Et de la main droite il saisit la barbe d’Amasa comme pour l’embrasser.	9 Then Joab said to Amasa, “Be well, my brother.” And he held Amasa by the chin with his right hand, as if to kiss him.
10 Amasa ne se méfiait pas de l’épée que Joab tenait à la main: Joab l’en frappa au ventre et ses entrailles se répandirent à terre. Il n’eut pas besoin de frapper un second coup, Amasa était mort. Alors Joab et son frère Abisaï se lancèrent à la poursuite de Chéba, fils de Bikri.	10 But Amasa did not notice the sword that Joab had. And he struck him in the side, and his intestines poured out to the ground. And he did not inflict a second wound, and he died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba, the son of Bichri.
11 On demanda à l’un des compagnons de Joab de rester à côté du corps d’Amasa; il disait: “Que ceux qui sont pour David et qui aiment Joab, suivent Joab!”	11 Meanwhile, certain men, from the company of Joab, when they had stopped beside the dead body of Amasa, said: “Behold, the one who wished to be in the place of Joab, the companion of David.”
12 Car Amasa s’était roulé dans son sang au milieu du chemin, et tous les hommes de l’armée qui arrivaient là s’arrêtaient. Voyant cela, le garçon tira le corps d’Amasa dans un champ et jeta sur lui un vêtement.	12 Now Amasa was covered with blood, and was lying in the middle of the road. A certain man saw this, with all the people standing nearby to look at him, and he removed Amasa from the road into a field. And he covered him with a garment, so that those passing by would not stop because of him.
13 Dès qu’il l’eût retiré du chemin, tous continuèrent derrière Joab et se lancèrent à la poursuite de Chéba, fils de Bikri.	13 Then, when he had been removed from the road, all the men continued on, following Joab in the pursuit of Sheba, the son of Bichri.
14 Chéba parcourut toutes les tribus d’Israël jusqu’à Abel-Beth-Maaka. Les hommes du clan de Bikri s’étaient rassemblés et ils se joignirent à lui.	14 Now he had passed through all the tribes of Israel into Abel and Bethmaacah. And all the elect men had gathered together to him.
15 Joab assiégea donc Chéba dans Abel-Beth-Maaka, on éleva contre la ville un terrassement qui s’appuyait sur le rempart. Quand toute l’armée de Joab creusait pour faire tomber le rempart,	15 And so, they went and besieged him at Abel and Bethmaacah. And they surrounded the city with siege works, and the city was blockaded. Then the entire crowd who were with Joab strove to destroy the walls.
16 une femme de bon sens qui était dans la ville cria: “Écoutez! Écoutez! Dites à Joab qu’il approche jusqu’ici, je voudrais lui parler.”	16 And a wise woman exclaimed from the city: “Listen, listen, and say to Joab: Draw near, and I will speak with you.”
17 Joab s’approcha et la femme lui dit: “C’est toi Joab?” Il répondit: “Oui, c’est moi.” Elle lui dit: “Écoute ce que j’ai à te dire.” Il répondit: “J’écoute.”	17 And when he had drawn near to her, she said to him, “Are you Joab?” And he responded, “I am.” And she spoke in this way to him, “Listen to the words of your handmaid.” He responded, “I am listening.”
18 Elle lui dit: “Autrefois on avait l’habitude de dire: C’est à Abel et à Dan qu’on vous enseignera	18 And again she spoke: “A word was said in the old proverb, ‘Those who would inquire, let them inquire in Abel.’ And so they would reach a conclusion.
19 les anciennes coutumes d’Israël. Et toi aujourd’hui, tu détruirais cette ville, un chef-lieu d’Israël? Pourquoi détruirais-tu l’héritage de Yahvé?”	19 Am I not the one who responds with the truth in Israel? And yet you are seeking to overthrow the city, and to overturn a mother in Israel! Why would you cast down the inheritance of the Lord?”
20 Joab répondit: “Je ne veux surtout pas détruire et ruiner.	20 And responding, Joab said: “May this be far, may this be far from me! May I not cast down, and may I not demolish.
21 La seule question, c’est que Chéba, fils Bikri, un homme de la montagne d’Éphraïm, s’est dressé contre le roi David. Livrez-le lui seul et je m’éloignerai de la ville.” La femme répondit à Joab: “C’est bien, on va te jeter sa tête par-dessus la muraille.”	21 The matter is not as you said. Rather, a man from mount Ephraim, Sheba, the son of Bichri, by name, has lifted up his hand against king David. Deliver him alone, and we will withdraw from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown down to you from the wall.’
22 La femme sut parler et convaincre les habitants de la ville; on trancha la tête de Chéba, fils de Bikri, et on la jeta à Joab. Aussitôt Joab sonna du cor; on se dispersa et chacun revint de là à son foyer. Quant à Joab, il retourna à Jérusalem auprès du roi.	22 Therefore, she entered to all the people, and she spoke to them wisely. And they cut off the head of Sheba, the son of Bichri, and they threw it down to Joab. And he sounded the trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, each one to his own tent. But Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
23 Joab commandait toute l’armée d’Israël, Bénayas, fils de Yoyada commandait les Pélétiens et les Kérétiens,	23 Thus Joab was over the entire army of Israel. And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over the Cerethites and Phelethites.
24 Adoram était chef de la corvée, Yochafat, fils d’Ahiloud était le porte-parole,	24 Yet truly, Adoram was over the tributes. And Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, was the keeper of records.
25 Chiya était secrétaire, les prêtres étaient Sadoq et Ébyatar,	25 Now Sheva was the scribe. And truly Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.
26 Ira le Yaïrite était également prêtre de David.	26 But Ira, the Jairite, was the priest of David.