Giudici 20

BIBBIA CEI 2008	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Allora tutti gli Israeliti uscirono, da Dan fino a Bersabea e al paese di Gàlaad, e il popolo si radunò come un sol uomo dinanzi al Signore, a Mizpa.	1 And so all the sons of Israel went out like one man, from Dan to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, and they gathered together, before the Lord, at Mizpah.
2 I capi di tutto il popolo e tutte le tribù d'Israele si presentarono all'assemblea del popolo di Dio, in numero di quattrocentomila fanti, che maneggiavano la spada.	2 And all the chiefs of the people, and every tribe of Israel, convened as an assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot soldiers for battle.
3 I figli di Beniamino vennero a sapere che gli Israeliti erano venuti a Mizpa. Gli Israeliti dissero: "Parlate! Com'è avvenuta questa scelleratezza?".	3 (But it was not hidden from the sons of Benjamin that the sons of Israel had ascended to Mizpah.) And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was killed, being questioned as to how so great a crime had been perpetrated,
4 Allora il levita, il marito della donna che era stata uccisa, rispose: "Io ero giunto con la mia concubina a Gàbaa di Beniamino per passarvi la notte.	4 responded: “I went to Gibeah of Benjamin, with my wife, and I diverted to that place.
5 Ma gli abitanti di Gàbaa insorsero contro di me e circondarono di notte la casa dove stavo; volevano uccidere me; quanto alla mia concubina le usarono violenza fino al punto che ne morì.	5 And behold, the men of that city, at night, surrounded the house in which I was staying, intending to kill me. And they abused my wife with such an incredible fury of lust that in the end she died.
6 Io presi la mia concubina, la feci a pezzi e li mandai per tutto il territorio della nazione d'Israele, perché costoro hanno commesso un delitto e un'infamia in Israele.	6 And taking her up, I cut her into pieces, and I sent the parts into all the borders of your possession. For never before was such a nefarious crime, and so great a sin, committed in Israel.
7 Eccovi qui tutti, Israeliti; consultatevi e decidete qui stesso".	7 You are all present here, O sons of Israel. Discern what you ought to do.”
8 Tutto il popolo si alzò insieme gridando: "Nessuno di noi tornerà alla tenda, nessuno di noi rientrerà a casa.	8 And all the people, standing, responded as if with the word of one man: “We shall not return to our own tents, nor shall anyone enter into his own house.
9 Ora ecco quanto faremo a Gàbaa: tireremo a sorte	9 But this we shall do in common against Gibeah:
10 e prenderemo in tutte le tribù d'Israele dieci uomini su cento, cento su mille e mille su diecimila, i quali andranno a cercare viveri per il popolo, per quelli che andranno a punire Gàbaa di Beniamino, come merita l'infamia che ha commessa in Israele".	10 We shall select ten men out of one hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred out of one thousand, and one thousand out of ten thousand, so that they may transport supplies for the army, and so that we will be able to fight against Gibeah of Benjamin, and to repay it for its crime as it deserves.”
11 Così tutti gli Israeliti si radunarono contro quella città, uniti come un sol uomo.	11 And all of Israel convened against the city, like one man, with one mind and one counsel.
12 Le tribù d'Israele mandarono uomini in tutta la tribù di Beniamino a dire: "Quale delitto è stato commesso in mezzo a voi?	12 And they sent messengers to the entire tribe of Benjamin, who said: “Why has so great a wickedness been found among you?
13 Dunque consegnateci quegli uomini iniqui di Gàbaa, perché li uccidiamo e cancelliamo il male da Israele". Ma i figli di Beniamino non vollero ascoltare la voce dei loro fratelli, gli Israeliti.	13 Deliver the men of Gibeah, who have perpetrated this deplorable act, so that they may die, and so that the evil may be taken away from Israel.” And they were not willing to listen to the command of their brothers, the sons of Israel.
14 I figli di Beniamino uscirono dalle loro città e si radunarono a Gàbaa per combattere contro gli Israeliti.	14 Instead, out of all the cities that were their lot, they convened at Gibeah, so that they might bring them assistance, and so that they might contend against the entire people of Israel.
15 Si passarono in rassegna i figli di Beniamino usciti dalle città: formavano un totale di ventiseimila uomini che maneggiavano la spada, senza contare gli abitanti di Gàbaa.	15 And there were found from Benjamin twenty-five thousand who drew the sword, aside from the inhabitants of Gibeah,
16 Fra tutta questa gente c'erano settecento uomini scelti, che erano ambidestri. Tutti costoro erano capaci di colpire con la fionda un capello, senza fallire il colpo.	16 who were seven hundred very strong men, fighting with the left hand as well as with the right hand, and casting stones from a sling so accurately that they were able to strike even a hair, and the path of the stone would by no means miss to either side.
17 Si fece pure la rassegna degli Israeliti, non compresi quelli di Beniamino, ed erano quattrocentomila uomini in grado di maneggiare la spada, tutti guerrieri.	17 Then too, among the men of Israel apart from the sons of Benjamin, there were found four hundred thousand who drew the sword and who were prepared for battle.
18 Gli Israeliti si mossero, vennero a Betel e consultarono Dio, dicendo: "Chi di noi andrà per primo a combattere contro i figli di Beniamino?". Il Signore rispose: "Giuda andrà per primo".	18 And they rose up and went to the house of God, that is, to Shiloh. And they consulted God, and they said, “Who shall be, in our army, the first to contend against the sons of Benjamin?” And the Lord responded to them, “Let Judah be your leader.”
19 Il mattino dopo, gli Israeliti si mossero e si accamparono presso Gàbaa.	19 And immediately the sons of Israel, rising up in the morning, made camp near Gibeah.
20 Gli Israeliti uscirono per combattere contro Beniamino e si disposero in ordine di battaglia contro di loro, presso Gàbaa.	20 And setting out from there to fight against Benjamin, they began to assault the city.
21 Allora i figli di Beniamino uscirono e in quel giorno sterminarono ventiduemila Israeliti,	21 And the sons of Benjamin, departing from Gibeah, slew twenty-two thousand men from the sons of Israel, on that day.
22 ma il popolo, gli Israeliti, si rinfrancarono e tornarono a schierarsi in battaglia dove si erano schierati il primo giorno.	22 Again the sons of Israel, trusting in both strength and number, set their troops in order, in the same place where they had contended before.
23 Gli Israeliti andarono a piangere davanti al Signore fino alla sera e consultarono il Signore, dicendo: "Devo continuare a combattere contro Beniamino mio fratello?". Il Signore rispose: "Andate contro di loro".	23 But first they also went up and wept before the Lord, even until night. And they consulted him and said, “Should I continue to go forth, so as to contend against the sons of Benjamin, my brothers, or not?” And he responded to them, “Ascend against them, and undertake the struggle.”
24 Gli Israeliti vennero a battaglia con i figli di Beniamino una seconda volta.	24 And when the sons of Israel had continued to do battle against the sons of Benjamin on the next day,
25 I Beniaminiti una seconda volta uscirono da Gàbaa contro di loro e sterminarono altri diciottomila uomini degli Israeliti, tutti atti a maneggiar la spada.	25 the sons of Benjamin burst forth from the gates of Gibeah. And meeting them, they made such a frenzied slaughter against them that they struck down eighteen thousand men who drew the sword.
26 Allora tutti gli Israeliti e tutto il popolo andarono a Betel, piansero e rimasero davanti al Signore e digiunarono quel giorno fino alla sera e offrirono olocausti e sacrifici di comunione davanti al Signore.	26 As a result, all the sons of Israel went to the house of God, and sitting down, they wept before the Lord. And they fasted that day until evening, and they offered to him holocausts and victims of peace offerings.
27 Gli Israeliti consultarono il Signore - l'arca dell'alleanza di Dio in quel tempo era là	27 And they inquired about their state. At that time, the ark of the covenant of the Lord was in that place.
28 e Pincas, figlio di Eleazaro, figlio di Aronne, prestava servizio davanti a essa in quel tempo - e dissero: "Devo continuare ancora a uscire in battaglia contro Beniamino mio fratello o devo cessare?". Il Signore rispose: "Andate, perché domani ve li metterò nelle mani".	28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, was the first ruler of the house. And so, they consulted the Lord, and they said, “Should we continue to go forth in battle against the sons of Benjamin, our brothers, or should we cease?” And the Lord said to them: “Ascend. For tomorrow, I will deliver them into your hands.”
29 Israele tese quindi un agguato intorno a Gàbaa.	29 And the sons of Israel stationed ambushes around the city of Gibeah.
30 Gli Israeliti andarono il terzo giorno contro i figli di Beniamino e si disposero a battaglia presso Gàbaa come le altre volte.	30 And they brought out their army against Benjamin a third time, just as they had done on the first and second times.
31 I figli di Beniamino fecero una sortita contro il popolo, si lasciarono attirare lontano dalla città e cominciarono a colpire e ad uccidere, come le altre volte, alcuni del popolo d'Israele, lungo le strade che portano a Betel e a Gàbaon, in aperta campagna: ne uccisero circa trenta.	31 But the sons of Benjamin again burst forth boldly from the city. And since their enemies were fleeing, they pursued them a long way, so that they might wound or kill some of them, just as they had done on the first and second days. And they turned their backs along two paths, one bringing them toward Bethel, and the other toward Gibeah. And they struck down about thirty men.
32 Già i figli di Beniamino pensavano: "Eccoli sconfitti davanti a noi come la prima volta". Ma gli Israeliti dissero: "Fuggiamo e attiriamoli dalla città sulle strade!".	32 For they thought that they were falling back as they had done before. But instead, skillfully feigning flight, they undertook a plan to draw them away from the city, and by seeming to flee, to lead them along the above stated paths.
33 Tutti gli Israeliti abbandonarono la loro posizione e si disposero a battaglia a Baal-Tamar, mentre quelli di Israele che erano in agguato sbucavano dal luogo dove si trovavano, a occidente di Gàbaa.	33 And so all the sons of Israel, rising up from their positions, set their troops in order, in the place which is called Baaltamar. Likewise, the ambushes that encircled the city began, little by little, to reveal themselves,
34 Diecimila uomini scelti in tutto Israele giunsero davanti a Gàbaa. Il combattimento fu aspro: quelli non si accorgevano del disastro che stava per colpirli.	34 and to advance upon the western part of the city. Moreover, another ten thousand men from all of Israel were provoking a conflict with the inhabitants of the city. And the war grew heavy against the sons of Benjamin. And they did not realize that, on all sides of them, death was imminent.
35 Il Signore sconfisse Beniamino davanti ad Israele; gli Israeliti uccisero in quel giorno venticinquemila e cento uomini di Beniamino, tutti atti a maneggiare la spada.	35 And the Lord struck them down in the sight of the sons of Israel, and they put to death, on that day, twenty-five thousand of them, along with one hundred men, all warriors and those who drew the sword.
36 I figli di Beniamino si accorsero d'essere sconfitti. Gli Israeliti avevano ceduto terreno a Beniamino, perché confidavano nell'agguato che avevano teso presso Gàbaa.	36 But the sons of Benjamin, when they had seen themselves to be the weaker, began to flee. And the sons of Israel discerning this, gave them room to flee, so that they might arrive at the ambushes that were prepared, which they had positioned near the city.
37 Quelli che stavano in agguato infatti si gettarono d'improvviso contro Gàbaa e, fattavi irruzione, passarono a fil di spada l'intera città.	37 And after they had risen up suddenly from hiding, and those of Benjamin had turned their backs to those who cut them down, they entered the city, and they struck it with the edge of the sword.
38 C'era un segnale convenuto fra gli Israeliti e quelli dell'imboscata: questi dovevano fare salire dalla città una colonna di fumo.	38 Now the sons of Israel had given a sign to those whom they had stationed in ambushes, so that, after they had seized the city, they would light a fire, and by the smoke ascending on high, they would show that the city was captured.
39 Gli Israeliti avevano dunque voltato le spalle nel combattimento e gli uomini di Beniamino avevano cominciato a colpire e uccidere circa trenta uomini d'Israele. Essi dicevano: "Ormai essi sono sconfitti davanti a noi, come nella prima battaglia!".	39 And then, the sons of Israel discerned this sign during the battle (for the sons of Benjamin had thought that they fled, and they pursued them forcefully, cutting down thirty men from their army).
40 Ma quando il segnale, la colonna di fumo, cominciò ad alzarsi dalla città, quelli di Beniamino si voltarono indietro ed ecco tutta la città saliva in fiamme verso il cielo.	40 And they saw something like a pillar of smoke ascending from the city. Likewise, Benjamin, looking back, discerned that the city was captured, for the flames were being carried on high.
41 Allora gli Israeliti tornarono indietro e gli uomini di Beniamino furono presi dal terrore, vedendo il disastro piombare loro addosso.	41 And those who before had pretended to flee, turning their faces, withstood them more strongly. And when the sons of Benjamin had seen this, they turned their backs in flight,
42 Voltarono le spalle davanti agli Israeliti e presero la via del deserto; ma i combattenti li incalzavano e quelli che venivano dalla città piombavano in mezzo a loro massacrandoli.	42 and they began to go toward the way of the desert, with the adversary pursuing them to that place also. Moreover, those who had set fire to the city also met them.
43 Circondarono i Beniaminiti, li inseguirono senza tregua, li incalzarono fino di fronte a Gàbaa dal lato di oriente.	43 And so it happened that they were cut down on both sides by the enemies, nor was there any respite for the dying. They were killed and struck down on the eastern side of the city of Gibeah.
44 Caddero dei Beniaminiti diciottomila uomini, tutti valorosi.	44 Now those who were put to death in the same place were eighteen thousand men, all very robust fighters.
45 I superstiti voltarono le spalle e fuggirono verso il deserto, in direzione della roccia di Rimmon e gli Israeliti ne rastrellarono per le strade cinquemila, li incalzarono fino a Ghideom e ne colpirono altri duemila.	45 And when those who remained of Benjamin had seen this, they fled into the wilderness. And they were traveling toward the rock which is called Rimmon. In that flight also, among those who were scattering in different directions, they slew five thousand men. And though they scattered all the more, they continued to pursue them, and then they put to death another two thousand.
46 Così il numero totale dei Beniaminiti, che caddero quel giorno, fu di venticinquemila, atti a maneggiare la spada, tutta gente di valore.	46 And so it happened that all of those who were slain from Benjamin, in various places, were twenty-five thousand fighters, very willing to go to war.
47 Seicento uomini, che avevano voltato le spalle ed erano fuggiti verso il deserto, raggiunsero la roccia di Rimmon, rimasero alla roccia di Rimmon quattro mesi.	47 And so there remained from the entire number of Benjamin six hundred men who were able to escape and to flee into the wilderness. And they settled at the rock of Rimmon, for four months.
48 Intanto gli Israeliti tornarono contro i figli di Beniamino, passarono a fil di spada nella città uomini e bestiame e quanto trovarono, e diedero alle fiamme anche tutte le città che incontrarono.	48 But the sons of Israel, returning, had struck with the sword all that remained in the city, from men even to cattle. And all the cities and villages of Benjamin were consumed with devouring flames.