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Lunedi, 29 aprile 2024 - Santa Caterina da Siena ( Letture di oggi)

1 Maccabees 10


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NEW AMERICAN BIBLENOVA VULGATA
1 In the year one hundred and sixty, Alexander, who was called Epiphanes, son of Antiochus, came up and took Ptolemais. He was accepted and began to reign there.1 Et anno centesimo sexage simo ascendit Alexander An tiochi filius,Epiphanes, et occupavit Ptolemaidam; et receperunt eum, et regnavit illic.
2 When King Demetrius heard of it, he mustered a very large army and marched out to engage him in combat.2 Etaudivit Demetrius rex et congregavit exercitum copiosum valde et exivit obviamilli in proelium.
3 Demetrius sent a letter to Jonathan written in peaceful terms, to pay him honor;3 Et misit Demetrius epistulam ad Ionathan verbis pacificis,ut magnificaret eum.
4 for he said: "Let us be the first to make peace with him, before he makes peace with Alexander against us,4 Dixit enim: “ Anticipemus facere pacem cum eo,priusquam faciat cum Alexandro adversum nos;
5 since he will remember all the wrongs we have done to him, his brothers, and his nation."5 recordabitur enim omnium malorum,quae consummavimus in eum et in fratrem eius et in gentem eius ”.
6 So Demetrius authorized him to gather an army and procure arms as his ally; and he ordered that the hostages in the citadel be released to him.6 Et deditei potestatem congregare exercitum et fabrificare arma et esse ipsum sociumeius; et obsides, qui erant in arce, dixit tradi ei.
7 Accordingly Jonathan went up to Jerusalem and read the letter to all the people. The men in the citadel7 Et venit Ionathas inIerusalem et legit epistulas in auditu omnis populi et eorum, qui in arce erant;
8 were struck with fear when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather an army.8 et timuerunt timore magno, cum audirent quoniam dedit ei rex potestatemcongregandi exercitum.
9 They released the hostages to Jonathan, and he gave them back to their parents.9 Et tradiderunt, qui erant in arce, Ionathae obsides, etreddidit eos parentibus ipsorum.
10 Thereafter Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem, and began to build and restore the city.10 Et habitavit Ionathas in Ierusalem et coepitaedificare et innovare civitatem;
11 He ordered the workmen to build the walls and encircle Mount Zion with square stones for its fortification, which they did.11 et dixit facientibus opera, ut exstruerentmuros et montem Sion in circuitu lapidibus quadratis ad munitionem: et itafecerunt.
12 The foreigners in the strongholds that Bacchides had built, took flight;12 Et fugerunt alienigenae, qui erant in munitionibus, quas Bacchidesaedificaverat,
13 each one of them left his place and returned to his own country.13 et reliquit unusquisque locum suum et abiit in terram suam;
14 Only in Beth-zur did some remain of those who had abandoned the law and the commandments, for they used it as a place of refuge.14 tantum in Bethsura remanserunt aliqui ex his, qui reliquerant legem etpraecepta; erat enim ad refugium.
15 King Alexander heard of the promises that Demetrius had made to Jonathan; he was also told of the battles and valiant deeds of Jonathan and his brothers and the troubles that they had endured.15 Et audivit Alexander rex promissa, quae misit Demetrius Ionathae, etnarraverunt ei proelia et virtutes, quas ipse fecit et fratres eius, et labores,quos habuerunt.
16 He said, "Shall we ever find another man like him? Let us now make him our friend and ally."16 Et ait: “ Numquid inveniemus aliquem virum talem? Et nuncfaciemus eum amicum et socium nostrum ”.
17 So he sent Jonathan a letter written in these terms:17 Et scripsit epistulam et misit eisecundum haec verba dicens:
18 "King Alexander sends greetings to his brother Jonathan.18 “ Rex Alexander fratri Ionathae salutem.
19 We have heard of you, that you are a mighty warrior and worthy to be our friend.19 Audivimus de te quod vir potens es viribus et aptus es, ut sis amicus noster;
20 We have therefore appointed you today to be high priest of your nation; you are to be called the King's Friend, and you are to look after our interests and preserve amity with us." He also sent him a purple robe and a crown of gold.20 et nunc constituimus te hodie summum sacerdotem gentis tuae, et ut amicusvoceris regis — et misit ei purpuram et coronam auream — et, quae nostrasunt, sentias nobiscum et conserves amicitias ad nos ”.
21 Jonathan put on the sacred vestments in the seventh month of the year one hundred and sixty at the feast of Booths, and he gathered an army and procured many arms.21 Et induit seIonathas stola sancta septimo mense, anno centesimo sexagesimo, in die sollemniScenopegiae; et congregavit exercitum et fecit arma copiosa.
22 When Demetrius heard of these things, he was distressed and said:22 Et audivit Demetrius verba ista et contristatus est nimis et ait:
23 "Why have we allowed Alexander to get ahead of us by gaining the friendship of the Jews and thus strengthening himself?23 “ Quidhoc fecimus quod praeoccupavit nos Alexander apprehendere amicitiam Iudaeorum adfirmamentum?
24 I too will write them conciliatory words and offer dignities and gifts, so that they may be an aid to me."24 Scribam et ego illis verba deprecatoria et dignitates et dona,ut sint mecum in adiutorium ”.
25 So he sent them this message: "King Demetrius sends greetings to the Jewish nation.25 Et misit eis secundum haec verba: “ RexDemetrius genti Iudaeorum salutem.
26 We have heard how you have kept the treaty with us and continued in our friendship and not gone over to our enemies, and we are glad.26 Quoniam servastis ad nos pactum etmansistis in amicitia nostra et non accessistis ad inimicos nostros, audivimuset gavisi sumus.
27 Continue, therefore, to keep faith with us, and we will reward you with favors in return for what you do in our behalf.27 Et nunc perseverate adhuc conservare ad nos fidem, etretribuemus vobis bona pro his, quae facitis nobiscum,
28 We will grant you many exemptions and will bestow gifts on you.28 et remittemus vobispraestationes multas et dabimus vobis donationes.
29 "I now free you, as I also exempt all the Jews, from the tribute, the salt tax, and the crown levies.29 Et nunc absolvo vos etremitto Iudaeos a tributis et pretio salis et a coronis;
30 Instead of collecting the third of the grain and the half of the fruit of the trees that should be my share, I renounce the right from this day forward: Neither now nor in the future will I collect them from the land of Judah or from the three districts annexed from Samaria.30 et pro tertia parteseminis et pro dimidia parte fructus ligni, quod debetur mihi accipere, remittoex hodierno die et deinceps accipere a terra Iudae et a tribus regionibus, quaeadditae sunt illi ex Samaritide et Galilaea, ex hodierna die et in totum tempus;
31 Let Jerusalem and her territory, her tithes and her tolls, be sacred and free from tax.31 et Ierusalem sit sancta et libera et fines eius et decimae et tributa.
32 I also yield my authority over the citadel in Jerusalem, and I transfer it to the high priest, that he may put in it such men as he shall choose to guard it.32 Remitto etiam potestatem arcis, quae est in Ierusalem, et do eam summosacerdoti, ut constituat in ea viros, quoscumque ipse elegerit, qui custodianteam.
33 Every one of the Jews who has been carried into captivity from the land of Judah into any part of my kingdom I set at liberty without ransom; and let all their taxes, even those on their cattle, be canceled.33 Et omnem animam Iudaeorum, quae captiva est a terra Iudae in omni regnomeo, relinquo liberam gratis, et omnes a tributis solvantur etiam pecorumsuorum.
34 Let all feast days, sabbaths, new moon festivals, appointed days, and the three days that precede each feast day, and the three days that follow, be days of immunity and exemption for every Jew in my kingdom.34 Et omnes dies sollemnes et sabbata et neomeniae et dies decreti ettres dies ante diem sollemnem et tres dies post diem sollemnem sint omnesimmunitatis et remissionis omnibus Iudaeis, qui sunt in regno meo;
35 Let no man have authority to exact payment from them or to molest any of them in any matter.35 et nemohabebit potestatem agere et perturbare aliquem illorum de omni causa.
36 "Let thirty thousand Jews be enrolled in the king's army and allowances be given them, as is due to all the king's soldiers.36 Etascribantur ex Iudaeis in exercitu regis ad triginta milia virorum, et dabunturillis copiae, ut oportet omnibus exercitibus regis.
37 Let some of them be stationed in the king's principal strongholds, and of these let some be given positions of trust in the affairs of the kingdom. Let their superiors and their rulers be taken from among them, and let them follow their own laws, as the king has commanded in the land of Judah.37 Et ex eis constituentur,qui sint in munitionibus regis magnis, et ex his constituentur super negotiaregni, quae aguntur ex fide, et praepositi eorum et principes sint ex eis etambulent in legibus suis, sicut praecepit rex in terra Iudae.
38 "Let the three districts that have been added to Judea from the province of Samaria be incorporated with Judea so that they may be under one man and obey no other authority than the high priest.38 Et tresregiones, quae additae sunt Iudaeae ex regione Samariae, addatur Iudaeaereputari, ut sint sub uno et non oboediant alii potestati, nisi summisacerdotis.
39 Ptolemais and its confines I give as a present to the sanctuary in Jerusalem for the necessary expenses of the sanctuary.39 Ptolemaida et confines eius dedi donum sanctis, quae sunt inIerusalem, ad necessarios sumptus sanctis.
40 I make a yearly personal grant of fifteen thousand silver shekels out of the royal revenues, from appropriate places.40 Et ego do singulis annis quindecimmilia siclorum argenti de rationibus regis ex locis, quae me contingunt;
41 All the additional funds that the officials did not hand over as they had done in the first years, shall henceforth be handed over for the services of the temple.41 etomne, quod reliquum fuerit, quod non reddiderant, qui super negotia erant, annisprioribus, ex hoc dabunt in opera domus.
42 Moreover, the dues of five thousand silver shekels that used to be taken from the revenue of the sanctuary every year shall be canceled, since these funds belong to the priests who perform the services.42 Et super haec quinque milia siclorumargenti, quanta accipiebant de sanctorum ratione per singulos annos, et haecremittuntur eo quod ipsa ad sacerdotes pertineant, qui ministerio funguntur.
43 Whoever takes refuge in the temple of Jerusalem or in any of its precincts, because of money he owes the king, or because of any other debt, shall be released, together with all the goods he possesses in my kingdom.43 Et quicumque confugerint in templum, quod est Hierosolymis, et in omnibusfinibus eius debentes regalia et quamlibet rem, dimittantur, et universa, quaesunt eis in regno meo.
44 The cost of rebuilding and restoring the structures of the sanctuary shall be covered out of the royal revenue.44 Et ad aedificanda vel restauranda opera sanctorumsumptus dabitur de ratione regis;
45 Likewise the cost of building the walls of Jerusalem and fortifying it all around, and of building walls in Judea, shall be donated from the royal revenue."45 et ad exstruendos muros Ierusalem etcommuniendum in circuitu sumptus dabitur de ratione regis et ad construendosmuros in Iudaea ”.
46 When Jonathan and the people heard these words, they neither believed nor accepted them, for they remembered the great evil that Demetrius had done in Israel, and how sorely he had afflicted them.46 Ut audivit autem Ionathas et populus sermones istos, non crediderunt eis necreceperunt, quia recordati sunt malitiae magnae, quam fecerat in Israel ettribulaverat eos valde.
47 They therefore decided in favor of Alexander, for he had been the first to address them peaceably, and they remained his allies for the rest of his life.47 Et complacuit eis in Alexandro, quia ipse fuerat eisprinceps sermonum pacis, et ipsi auxilium ferebant omnibus diebus.
48 King Alexander gathered together a large army and encamped opposite Demetrius.48 Etcongregavit rex Alexander exercitum magnum et admovit castra contra Demetrium.
49 The two kings joined battle, and when the army of Demetrius fled, Alexander pursued him, and overpowered his soldiers.49 Et commiserunt proelium duo reges, et fugit exercitus Alexandri, et insecutusest eum Demetrius et praevaluit adversus eos;
50 He pressed the battle hard until sunset, and Demetrius fell that day.50 et confirmavit proelium nimis,donec occidit sol, et cecidit Demetrius in die illa.
51 Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy, king of Egypt, with this message:51 Et misit Alexander ad Ptolemaeum regem Aegypti legatos secundum haec verbadicens:
52 "Now that I have returned to my realm, taken my seat on the throne of my fathers, and established my rule by crushing Demetrius and gaining control of my country--52 “ Quoniam regressus sum in regnum meum et sedi in sede patrummeorum et obtinui principatum et contrivi Demetrium et possedi regionem nostram
53 for I engaged him in battle, defeated him and his army, and recovered the royal throne--53 et commisi pugnam cum eo, et contritus est ipse et castra eius a nobis, etsedimus in sede regni eius;
54 let us now establish friendship with each other. Give me your daughter for my wife; and as your son-in-law, I will give to you and to her gifts worthy of you."54 et nunc statuamus ad invicem amicitiam, et damihi filiam tuam uxorem, et ego ero gener tuus et dabo tibi dona et ipsi dignate ”.
55 King Ptolemy answered in these words: "Happy the day on which you returned to the land of your fathers and took your seat on their royal throne!55 Et respondit rex Ptolemaeus dicens: “ Felix dies, in qua reversuses ad terram patrum tuorum et sedisti in sede regni eorum!
56 I will do for you what you have written; but meet me in Ptolemais, so that we may see each other, and I will become your father-in-law as you have proposed."56 Et nunc faciamtibi, quae scripsisti, sed occurre in Ptolemaidam, ut videamus invicem nos, etsocer fiam tibi, sicut dixisti ”.
57 So Ptolemy with his daughter Cleopatra set out from Egypt and came to Ptolemais in the year one hundred and sixty-two.57 Et exivit Ptolemaeus de Aegypto, ipse etCleopatra filia eius, et venit Ptolemaidam anno centesimo sexagesimo secundo.
58 There King Alexander met him, and Ptolemy gave him his daughter Cleopatra in marriage. Their wedding was celebrated at Ptolemais with great splendor according to the custom of kings.58 Et occurrit ei Alexander rex, et dedit ei Cleopatram filiam suam et fecitnuptias eius Ptolemaidae sicut reges in magna gloria.
59 King Alexander also wrote to Jonathan to come and meet him.59 Et scripsit rex Alexander Ionathae, ut veniret obviam sibi.
60 So he went with pomp to Ptolemais, where he met the two kings and gave them and their friends silver and gold and many gifts and thus won their favor.60 Et abiit cumgloria Ptolemaidam et occurrit ibi duobus regibus et dedit illis argentum multumet aurum et dona et invenit gratiam in conspectu eorum.
61 Some pestilent Israelites, transgressors of the law, united against him to accuse him, but the king paid no heed to them.61 Et conveneruntadversus eum viri pestilentes ex Israel, viri iniqui interpellantes adversuseum; et non intendit ad eos rex.
62 He ordered Jonathan to be divested of his ordinary garments and to be clothed in royal purple; and so it was done.62 Et iussit rex, et exspoliaverunt Ionathanvestibus suis et induerunt eum purpura; et ita fecerunt. Et collocavit eum rexsedere secum.
63 The king also had him seated at his side. He said to his magistrates: "Go with him to the center of the city and make a proclamation that no one is to bring charges against him on any grounds or be troublesome to him in any way."63 Dixitque principibus suis: “ Exite cum eo in medium civitatiset praedicate, ut nemo adversus eum interpellet de ullo negotio, nec quisquam eimolestus sit de ulla ratione ”.
64 When his accusers saw the honor paid to him in the proclamation, and the purple with which he was clothed, they all fled.64 Et factum est, ut viderunt, quiinterpellabant gloriam eius, quae praedicabatur, et opertum eum purpura,fugerunt omnes.
65 The king also honored him by numbering him among his Chief Friends and made him military commander and governor of the province.65 Et magnificavit eum rex et scripsit eum inter primos amicoset posuit eum ducem et participem principatus.
66 So Jonathan returned in peace and happiness to Jerusalem.66 Et reversus est Ionathas inIerusalem cum pace et laetitia.
67 In the year one hundred and sixty-five, Demetrius, son of Demetrius, came from Crete to the land of his fathers.67 In anno centesimo sexagesimo quinto venit Demetrius filius Demetrii a Cretain terram patrum suorum;
68 When King Alexander heard of it he was greatly troubled, and returned to Antioch.68 et audivit Alexander rex et contristatus est valdeet reversus est Antiochiam.
69 Demetrius appointed Apollonius governor of Coelesyria. Having gathered a large army, Appollonius pitched his camp at Jamnia. From there he sent this message to Jonathan the high priest:69 Et constituit Demetrius rex Apollonium, quipraeerat Coelesyriae, et congregavit exercitum magnum; et accessit ad Iamniam etmisit ad Ionathan summum sacerdotem
70 "You are the only one who resists us. I am laughed at and put to shame on your account. Why are you displaying power against us in the mountains?70 dicens: “ Tu omnino solus resistisnobis; ego autem factus sum in derisum et in opprobrium propter te; et quare tupotestatem adversum nos exerces in montibus?
71 If you have confidence in your forces, come down now to us in the plain, and let us test each other's strength there; the city forces are on my side.71 Nunc ergo si confidis invirtutibus tuis, descende ad nos in campum, et comparemus illic invicem, quiamecum est virtus civitatum.
72 Inquire and learn who I am and who the others are who are helping me. Men say that you cannot make a stand against us because your fathers were twice put to flight in their own land.72 Interroga et disce quis sum ego et ceteri, quiauxilio sunt nobis, et dicunt: “Non potest stare pes vester ante faciemnostram, quia bis in fugam conversi sunt patres tui in terra sua”.
73 Now you too will be unable to withstand our cavalry and such a force as this in the plain, where there is not a stone or a pebble or a place to flee."73 Et nuncnon poteris sustinere equitatum et exercitum talem in campo, ubi non est lapisneque silex neque locus fugiendi ”.
74 When Jonathan heard the message of Apollonius, he was roused. Choosing ten thousand men, he set out from Jerusalem, and Simon his brother joined him to help him.74 Ut audivit autem Ionathas sermones Apollonii, motus est animo et elegit decemmilia virorum et exiit ab Ierusalem, et occurrit ei Simon frater eius inadiutorium.
75 He pitched camp near Joppa, but the men in the city shut him out because Apollonius had a garrison there. When the Jews besieged it,75 Et applicuit castra in Ioppen; et excluserunt eum, qui erant decivitate, quia custodia Apollonii in Ioppe erat, et oppugnaverunt eam.
76 the men of the city became afraid and opened the gates, and so Jonathan took possession of Joppa.76 Etexterriti, qui erant in civitate, aperuerunt ei, et obtinuit Ionathas Ioppen.
77 When Apollonius heard of it, he drew up three thousand horsemen and an innumerable infantry. He marched on Azotus as though he were going on through the country, but at the same time he advanced into the plain, because he had such a large number of horsemen to rely on.77 Et audivit Apollonius et admovit tria milia equitum et exercitum multum. Etabiit Azotum tamquam iter faciens et statim exiit in campum, eo quod haberetmultitudinem equitum et confideret in eis.
78 Jonathan followed him to Azotus, and they engaged in battle.78 Et insecutus est eum Ionathas inAzotum, et exercitus commiserunt proelium.
79 Apollonius, however, had left a thousand cavalry in hiding behind them.79 Et reliquit Apollonius milleequites post eos occulte.
80 When Jonathan discovered that there was an ambush behind him, his army was surrounded. From morning until evening they showered his men with arrows.80 Et cognovit Ionathas quoniam insidiae sunt post se;et circuierunt castra eius et iecerunt iacula in populum a mane usque advesperam.
81 But his men held their ground, as Jonathan had commanded, whereas the enemy's horses became tired out.81 Populus autem stabat, sicut praeceperat Ionathas, et laboraveruntequi eorum.
82 When the horsemen were exhausted, Simon attacked the phalanx, overwhelmed it and put it to flight.82 Et eiecit Simon exercitum suum et commisit contra legionem;equites enim fatigati erant. Et contriti sunt ab eo et fugerunt,
83 The horsemen too were scattered over the plain. The enemy fled to Azotus and entered Beth-dagon, the temple of their idol, to save themselves.83 et equidispersi sunt in campo et fugerunt in Azotum et intraverunt in Bethdagon idolumsuum, ut ibi se liberarent.
84 But Jonathan burned and plundered Azotus with its neighboring towns, and destroyed by fire both the temple of Dagon and the men who had taken refuge in it.84 Et succendit Ionathas Azotum et civitates, quaeerant in circuitu eius, et accepit spolia eorum et templum Dagon et omnes, quifugerunt in illud, succendit igne.
85 Those who fell by the sword, together with those who were burned alive, came to about eight thousand men.85 Et fuerunt, qui ceciderunt gladio cum hisqui succensi sunt, fere octo milia virorum.
86 Then Jonathan left there and pitched his camp at Ashkalon, and the people of that city came out to meet him with great pomp.86 Et movit inde Ionathas castra etapplicuit ad Ascalonem, et exierunt de civitate obviam illi in magna gloria.
87 He and his men then returned to Jerusalem, laden with much booty.87 Et reversus est Ionathas in Ierusalem cum suis habentibus spolia multa.
88 When King Alexander heard of these events, he accorded new honors to Jonathan.88 Etfactum est, ut audivit Alexander rex sermones istos, et addidit adhucglorificare Ionathan
89 He sent him a gold buckle, such as is usually given to King's Kinsmen; he also gave him Ekron and all its territory as a possession.89 et misit ei fibulam auream, sicut consuetudo est daricognatis regum, et dedit ei Accaron et omnes fines eius in possessionem.