Scrutatio

Giovedi, 16 maggio 2024 - San Simone Stock ( Letture di oggi)

ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α´ - 1 Maccabei - Maccabees I 9


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LXXNEW JERUSALEM
1 και ηκουσεν δημητριος οτι επεσεν νικανωρ και η δυναμις αυτου εν πολεμω και προσεθετο τον βακχιδην και τον αλκιμον εκ δευτερου αποστειλαι εις γην ιουδα και το δεξιον κερας μετ' αυτων1 Demetrius, hearing that Nicanor and his army had fal en in battle, sent Bacchides and Alcimus asecond time into Judaea, and with them the right wing of his army.
2 και επορευθησαν οδον την εις γαλγαλα και παρενεβαλον επι μαισαλωθ την εν αρβηλοις και προκατελαβοντο αυτην και απωλεσαν ψυχας ανθρωπων πολλας2 They took the road to Galilee and besieged Mesaloth in Arbela, and captured it, putting many people todeath.
3 και του μηνος του πρωτου ετους του δευτερου και πεντηκοστου και εκατοστου παρενεβαλον επι ιερουσαλημ3 In the first month of the year 152, they encamped outside Jerusalem;
4 και απηραν και επορευθησαν εις βερεαν εν εικοσι χιλιασιν ανδρων και δισχιλια ιππω4 they then moved on, making their way to Beer-Zaith with twenty thousand foot and two thousand horse.
5 και ιουδας ην παρεμβεβληκως εν ελασα και τρισχιλιοι ανδρες μετ' αυτου εκλεκτοι5 Judas lay in camp at Elasa, with three thousand picked men.
6 και ειδον το πληθος των δυναμεων οτι πολλοι εισιν και εφοβηθησαν σφοδρα και εξερρυησαν πολλοι απο της παρεμβολης ου κατελειφθησαν εξ αυτων αλλ' η οκτακοσιοι ανδρες6 When they saw the huge size of the enemy forces they were terrified, and many slipped out of thecamp, until no more than eight hundred of the force were left.
7 και ειδεν ιουδας οτι απερρυη η παρεμβολη αυτου και ο πολεμος εθλιβεν αυτον και συνετριβη τη καρδια οτι ουκ ειχεν καιρον συναγαγειν αυτους7 With battle now inevitable, Judas realised that his army had melted away; he was aghast, for he had notime to ral y them.
8 και εξελυθη και ειπεν τοις καταλειφθεισιν αναστωμεν και αναβωμεν επι τους υπεναντιους ημων εαν αρα δυνωμεθα πολεμησαι προς αυτους8 Yet, dismayed as he was, he said to those who were left, 'Up! Let us face the enemy; we may yet have the strength to fight them.'
9 και απεστρεφον αυτον λεγοντες ου μη δυνωμεθα αλλ' η σωζωμεν τας εαυτων ψυχας το νυν επιστρεψωμεν και οι αδελφοι ημων και πολεμησωμεν προς αυτους ημεις δε ολιγοι9 His men tried to dissuade him, declaring, 'We have no strength for anything but to escape with our livesthis time; then we can come back with our brothers to fight them; by ourselves we are too few.'
10 και ειπεν ιουδας μη γενοιτο ποιησαι το πραγμα τουτο φυγειν απ' αυτων και ει ηγγικεν ο καιρος ημων και αποθανωμεν εν ανδρεια χαριν των αδελφων ημων και μη καταλιπωμεν αιτιαν τη δοξη ημων10 Judas retorted, 'That I should do such a thing as run away from them! If our time has come, at leastlet us die like men for our countrymen, and leave nothing to tarnish our reputation.'
11 και απηρεν η δυναμις απο της παρεμβολης και εστησαν εις συναντησιν αυτοις και εμερισθη η ιππος εις δυο μερη και οι σφενδονηται και οι τοξοται προεπορευοντο της δυναμεως και οι πρωταγωνισται παντες οι δυνατοι βακχιδης δε ην εν τω δεξιω κερατι11 The army marched out of camp and drew up, facing the enemy. The cavalry was drawn up in twosquadrons; the slingers and archers marched in the van of the army, and al the best fighters were put in thefront rank;
12 και ηγγισεν η φαλαγξ εκ των δυο μερων και εφωνουν ταις σαλπιγξιν και εσαλπισαν οι παρα ιουδου και αυτοι ταις σαλπιγξιν12 Bacchides was on the right wing. The phalanx advanced from between the two squadrons, soundingthe trumpets; the men on Judas' side also blew their trumpets,
13 και εσαλευθη η γη απο της φωνης των παρεμβολων και εγενετο ο πολεμος συνημμενος απο πρωιθεν εως εσπερας13 and the earth shook with the noise of the armies. The engagement lasted from morning until evening.
14 και ειδεν ιουδας οτι βακχιδης και το στερεωμα της παρεμβολης εν τοις δεξιοις και συνηλθον αυτω παντες οι ευψυχοι τη καρδια14 Judas saw that Bacchides and the main strength of his army lay on the right; al the stout-heartedral ied to him,
15 και συνετριβη το δεξιον μερος απ' αυτων και εδιωκεν οπισω αυτων εως αζωτου ορους15 and they crushed the right wing, pursuing them as far as the Azara Hil s.
16 και οι εις το αριστερον κερας ειδον οτι συνετριβη το δεξιον κερας και επεστρεψαν κατα ποδας ιουδου και των μετ' αυτου εκ των οπισθεν16 But when the Syrians on the left wing saw that the right had been broken, they turned and followedhot on the heels of Judas and his men to take them in the rear.
17 και εβαρυνθη ο πολεμος και επεσον τραυματιαι πολλοι εκ τουτων και εκ τουτων17 The fight became desperate, and there were many casualties on both sides.
18 και ιουδας επεσεν και οι λοιποι εφυγον18 Judas himself fel , and the remnant fled.
19 και ηρεν ιωναθαν και σιμων ιουδαν τον αδελφον αυτων και εθαψαν αυτον εν τω ταφω των πατερων αυτου εν μωδειν19 Jonathan and Simon took up their brother Judas and buried him in his ancestral tomb at Modein.
20 και εκλαυσαν αυτον και εκοψαντο αυτον πας ισραηλ κοπετον μεγαν και επενθουν ημερας πολλας και ειπον20 Al Israel wept and mourned him deeply and for many days they repeated this dirge.
21 πως επεσεν δυνατος σωζων τον ισραηλ21 'What a downfall for the strong man, the man who kept Israel safe!'
22 και τα περισσα των λογων ιουδου και των πολεμων και των ανδραγαθιων ων εποιησεν και της μεγαλωσυνης αυτου ου κατεγραφη πολλα γαρ ην σφοδρα22 The other deeds of Judas, the battles he fought, the exploits he performed, and all his titles togreatness have not been recorded; but they were very many.
23 και εγενετο μετα την τελευτην ιουδου εξεκυψαν οι ανομοι εν πασιν τοις οριοις ισραηλ και ανετειλαν παντες οι εργαζομενοι την αδικιαν23 After the death of Judas, the renegades came out of hiding throughout Israel and al the evil-doersreappeared.
24 εν ταις ημεραις εκειναις εγενηθη λιμος μεγας σφοδρα και αυτομολησεν η χωρα μετ' αυτων24 At that time there was a severe famine, and the country went over to their side.
25 και εξελεξεν βακχιδης τους ασεβεις ανδρας και κατεστησεν αυτους κυριους της χωρας25 Bacchides deliberately chose the enemies of religion to administer the country.
26 και εξεζητουν και ηρευνων τους φιλους ιουδου και ηγον αυτους προς βακχιδην και εξεδικα αυτους και ενεπαιζεν αυτοις26 These traced and searched out the friends of Judas and brought them before Bacchides, who il -treated and mocked them.
27 και εγενετο θλιψις μεγαλη εν τω ισραηλ ητις ουκ εγενετο αφ' ης ημερας ουκ ωφθη προφητης αυτοις27 A terrible oppression began in Israel; there had been nothing like it since the disappearance ofprophecy among them.
28 και ηθροισθησαν παντες οι φιλοι ιουδου και ειπον τω ιωναθαν28 The friends of Judas then al united in saying to Jonathan,
29 αφ' ου ο αδελφος σου ιουδας τετελευτηκεν και ανηρ ομοιος αυτω ουκ εστιν εξελθειν και εισελθειν προς τους εχθρους και βακχιδην και εν τοις εχθραινουσιν του εθνους ημων29 'Since your brother Judas died, there has been no one like him to head the resistance against ourenemies, people like Bacchides and others who hate our nation.
30 νυν ουν σε ηρετισαμεθα σημερον του ειναι αντ' αυτου ημιν εις αρχοντα και ηγουμενον του πολεμησαι τον πολεμον ημων30 Accordingly, we have today chosen you to take his place as our ruler and leader and to fight ourcampaigns.'
31 και επεδεξατο ιωναθαν εν τω καιρω εκεινω την ηγησιν και ανεστη αντι ιουδου του αδελφου αυτου31 Whereupon, Jonathan took command, in succession to his brother Judas.
32 και εγνω βακχιδης και εζητει αυτον αποκτειναι32 Bacchides, when he heard the news, made plans to kil Jonathan.
33 και εγνω ιωναθαν και σιμων ο αδελφος αυτου και παντες οι μετ' αυτου και εφυγον εις την ερημον θεκωε και παρενεβαλον επι το υδωρ λακκου ασφαρ33 But this became known to Jonathan, his brother Simon and al his supporters, and they took refuge inthe desert of Tekoa, camping by the water-supply at Asphar storage-well.
34 και εγνω βακχιδης τη ημερα των σαββατων και ηλθεν αυτος και παν το στρατευμα αυτου περαν του ιορδανου34 (Bacchides came to know of this on the Sabbath day, and he too crossed the Jordan with his entirearmy.)
35 και απεστειλεν τον αδελφον αυτου ηγουμενον του οχλου και παρεκαλεσεν τους ναβαταιους φιλους αυτου του παραθεσθαι αυτοις την αποσκευην αυτων την πολλην35 Jonathan sent his brother, who was one of his commanders, to ask his friends the Nabataeans tostore their considerable baggage for them.
36 και εξηλθον οι υιοι ιαμβρι οι εκ μηδαβα και συνελαβον ιωαννην και παντα οσα ειχεν και απηλθον εχοντες36 The sons of Amrai, however, those of Medeba, intercepted them, captured John and everything hehad and made off with their prize.
37 μετα τους λογους τουτους απηγγειλαν ιωναθαν και σιμωνι τω αδελφω αυτου οτι υιοι ιαμβρι ποιουσιν γαμον μεγαν και αγουσιν την νυμφην απο ναδαβαθ θυγατερα ενος των μεγαλων μεγιστανων χανααν μετα παραπομπης μεγαλης37 Later, Jonathan and his brother Simon were told that the sons of Amrai were celebrating an importantwedding, and were escorting the bride, a daughter of one of the great notables of Canaan, from Nabata with alarge retinue.
38 και εμνησθησαν του αιματος ιωαννου του αδελφου αυτων και ανεβησαν και εκρυβησαν υπο την σκεπην του ορους38 Remembering the bloody end of their brother John, they went up and hid under cover of the mountain.
39 και ηραν τους οφθαλμους αυτων και ειδον και ιδου θρους και αποσκευη πολλη και ο νυμφιος εξηλθεν και οι φιλοι αυτου και οι αδελφοι αυτου εις συναντησιν αυτων μετα τυμπανων και μουσικων και οπλων πολλων39 As they were keeping watch, a noisy procession came into sight with a great deal of baggage, and thebridegroom, with his groomsmen and his family, came out to meet it with tambourines and a band, and rich,warlike display.
40 και εξανεστησαν επ' αυτους απο του ενεδρου και απεκτειναν αυτους και επεσον τραυματιαι πολλοι και οι επιλοιποι εφυγον εις το ορος και ελαβον παντα τα σκυλα αυτων40 The Jews rushed down on them from their ambush and killed them, inflicting heavy casualties; thesurvivors escaped to the mountain, leaving their entire baggage train to be captured.
41 και μετεστραφη ο γαμος εις πενθος και φωνη μουσικων αυτων εις θρηνον41 Thus, the wedding was turned into mourning and the music of their band into lamentation.
42 και εξεδικησαν την εκδικησιν αιματος αδελφου αυτων και απεστρεψαν εις το ελος του ιορδανου42 Having in this way avenged in ful the blood of their brother, they returned to the marshes of theJordan.
43 και ηκουσεν βακχιδης και ηλθεν τη ημερα των σαββατων εως των κρηπιδων του ιορδανου εν δυναμει πολλη43 As soon as Bacchides heard this, he came on the Sabbath day with a considerable force to the steepbanks of the Jordan.
44 και ειπεν ιωναθαν τοις παρ' αυτου αναστωμεν δη και πολεμησωμεν περι των ψυχων ημων ου γαρ εστιν σημερον ως εχθες και τριτην ημεραν44 Jonathan said to his men, 'Up! Let us fight for our lives, for today it is not as in the old days.
45 ιδου γαρ ο πολεμος εξ εναντιας και εξοπισθεν ημων το δε υδωρ του ιορδανου ενθεν και ενθεν και ελος και δρυμος ουκ εστιν τοπος του εκκλιναι45 You can see, we shall have to fight on our front and to our rear; we have the waters of the Jordan onone side, the marsh and scrub on the other, and we have no line of withdrawal.
46 νυν ουν κεκραξατε εις τον ουρανον οπως διασωθητε εκ χειρος των εχθρων ημων46 This is the moment to call on Heaven, to deliver you from the clutches of your enemies.'
47 και συνηψεν ο πολεμος και εξετεινεν ιωναθαν την χειρα αυτου παταξαι τον βακχιδην και εξεκλινεν απ' αυτου εις τα οπισω47 The engagement was begun by Jonathan, who aimed a blow at Bacchides, but the Syrian disengagedhimself and withdrew,
48 και ενεπηδησεν ιωναθαν και οι μετ' αυτου εις τον ιορδανην και διεκολυμβησαν εις το περαν και ου διεβησαν επ' αυτους τον ιορδανην48 whereupon Jonathan and his men leapt into the Jordan and swam to the other bank; the enemy didnot, however, cross the Jordan in pursuit.
49 επεσον δε παρα βακχιδου τη ημερα εκεινη εις χιλιους ανδρας49 That day, Bacchides lost about a thousand men.
50 και επεστρεψεν εις ιερουσαλημ και ωκοδομησαν πολεις οχυρας εν τη ιουδαια το οχυρωμα το εν ιεριχω και την αμμαους και την βαιθωρων και την βαιθηλ και την θαμναθα φαραθων και την τεφων εν τειχεσιν υψηλοις και πυλαις και μοχλοις50 Bacchides went back to Jerusalem and began fortifying some of the Judaean towns: the fortresses ofJericho, Emmaus, Beth-Horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon and Tephon, with high wal s and barred gates,
51 και εθετο φρουραν εν αυτοις του εχθραινειν τω ισραηλ51 and stationed a garrison in each of them to harass Israel.
52 και ωχυρωσεν την πολιν την βαιθσουραν και γαζαρα και την ακραν και εθετο εν αυταις δυναμεις και παραθεσεις βρωματων52 He also fortified the town of Beth-Zur, Gezer and the Citadel, and placed troops in them with suppliesof provisions.
53 και ελαβεν τους υιους των ηγουμενων της χωρας ομηρα και εθετο αυτους εν τη ακρα εν ιερουσαλημ εν φυλακη53 He took the sons of the leading men of the country as hostages, and had them placed under guard inthe Citadel of Jerusalem.
54 και εν ετει τριτω και πεντηκοστω και εκατοστω τω μηνι τω δευτερω επεταξεν αλκιμος καθαιρειν το τειχος της αυλης των αγιων της εσωτερας και καθειλεν τα εργα των προφητων και ενηρξατο του καθαιρειν54 In the year 153, in the second month, Alcimus ordered the demolition of the wall of the inner court ofthe sanctuary, destroying the work of the prophets. Alcimus had just begun the demolition
55 εν τω καιρω εκεινω επληγη αλκιμος και ενεποδισθη τα εργα αυτου και απεφραγη το στομα αυτου και παρελυθη και ουκ ηδυνατο ετι λαλησαι λογον και εντειλασθαι περι του οικου αυτου55 when he suffered a stroke, and his work was interrupted. His mouth became obstructed, and hisparalysis made him incapable of speaking at al or giving directions to his household;
56 και απεθανεν αλκιμος εν τω καιρω εκεινω μετα βασανου μεγαλης56 it was not long before he died in great agony.
57 και ειδεν βακχιδης οτι απεθανεν αλκιμος και επεστρεψεν προς τον βασιλεα και ησυχασεν η γη ιουδα ετη δυο57 On the death of Alcimus, Bacchides went back to the king, and Judaea was left in peace for twoyears.
58 και εβουλευσαντο παντες οι ανομοι λεγοντες ιδου ιωναθαν και οι παρ' αυτου εν ησυχια κατοικουσιν πεποιθοτες νυν ουν αναξομεν τον βακχιδην και συλλημψεται αυτους παντας εν νυκτι μια58 The renegades then al agreed on a plan. 'Now is the time,' they said, 'while Jonathan and hissupporters are living in peace and are ful of confidence, for us to bring back Bacchides, and he wil arrest the lotof them in one night.'
59 και πορευθεντες συνεβουλευσαντο αυτω59 So they went to him and reached an understanding.
60 και απηρεν του ελθειν μετα δυναμεως πολλης και απεστειλεν λαθρα επιστολας πασιν τοις συμμαχοις αυτου τοις εν τη ιουδαια οπως συλλαβωσιν τον ιωναθαν και τους μετ' αυτου και ουκ ηδυναντο οτι εγνωσθη η βουλη αυτων60 Bacchides at once set out with a large force, and sent secret instructions to al his allies in Judaea toseize Jonathan and his supporters. But they were unable to do this because their plan became known,
61 και συνελαβον απο των ανδρων της χωρας των αρχηγων της κακιας εις πεντηκοντα ανδρας και απεκτειναν αυτους61 and Jonathan and his men arrested some fifty of the men of the country who were ringleaders in theplot, and put them to death.
62 και εξεχωρησεν ιωναθαν και σιμων και οι μετ' αυτου εις βαιθβασι την εν τη ερημω και ωκοδομησεν τα καθηρημενα αυτης και εστερεωσαν αυτην62 Jonathan and Simon then retired with their partisans to Beth-Bassi in the desert; they rebuilt theruinous parts of the place and fortified it.
63 και εγνω βακχιδης και συνηγαγεν παν το πληθος αυτου και τοις εκ της ιουδαιας παρηγγειλεν63 When Bacchides heard this, he mustered his whole force and notified his adherents in Judaea.
64 και ελθων παρενεβαλεν επι βαιθβασι και επολεμησεν αυτην ημερας πολλας και εποιησεν μηχανας64 He then proceeded to lay siege to Beth-Bassi, the fighting was protracted, and he constructed siege-engines.
65 και απελιπεν ιωναθαν σιμωνα τον αδελφον αυτου εν τη πολει και εξηλθεν εις την χωραν και ηλθεν εν αριθμω65 Jonathan, however, leaving his brother Simon in the town, broke out into the countryside with ahandful of men.
66 και επαταξεν οδομηρα και τους αδελφους αυτου και τους υιους φασιρων εν τω σκηνωματι αυτων και ηρξαντο τυπτειν και ανεβαινον εν ταις δυναμεσιν66 He launched a blow at Odomera and his brothers, and at the sons of Phasiron in their encampment;whereupon, these too came into the struggle, joining forces with him.
67 και σιμων και οι μετ' αυτου εξηλθον εκ της πολεως και ενεπυρισαν τας μηχανας67 Simon and his people, meanwhile, made a sortie from the town and set fire to the siege-engines.
68 και επολεμησαν προς τον βακχιδην και συνετριβη υπ' αυτων και εθλιβον αυτον σφοδρα οτι ην η βουλη αυτου και η εφοδος αυτου κενη68 Taking the offensive against Bacchides, they defeated him. He was greatly disconcerted to find thathis plan and his assault had come to nothing,
69 και ωργισθη εν θυμω τοις ανδρασιν τοις ανομοις τοις συμβουλευσασιν αυτω ελθειν εις την χωραν και απεκτεινεν εξ αυτων πολλους και εβουλευσατο του απελθειν εις την γην αυτου69 and vented his anger on those renegades who had induced him to enter the country, putting many ofthem to death; he then decided to take his own troops home.
70 και επεγνω ιωναθαν και απεστειλεν προς αυτον πρεσβεις του συνθεσθαι προς αυτον ειρηνην και αποδουναι αυτοις την αιχμαλωσιαν70 Discovering this, Jonathan sent envoys to negotiate peace terms and the release of prisoners withhim.
71 και επεδεξατο και εποιησεν κατα τους λογους αυτου και ωμοσεν αυτω μη εκζητησαι αυτω κακον πασας τας ημερας της ζωης αυτου71 Bacchides agreed to this, accepting his proposals and swearing never to seek occasion to harm himfor the rest of his life.
72 και απεδωκεν αυτω την αιχμαλωσιαν ην ηχμαλωτευσεν το προτερον εκ γης ιουδα και αποστρεψας απηλθεν εις την γην αυτου και ου προσεθετο ετι ελθειν εις τα ορια αυτων72 Having surrendered to Jonathan those prisoners he had earlier taken in Judaea, he turned about andwithdrew to his own country, and never again came near their frontiers.
73 και κατεπαυσεν ρομφαια εξ ισραηλ και ωκησεν ιωναθαν εν μαχμας και ηρξατο ιωναθαν κρινειν τον λαον και ηφανισεν τους ασεβεις εξ ισραηλ73 The sword no longer hung over Israel, and Jonathan settled in Michmash, where he began to judgethe people and to rid Israel of the godless.