Primo libro di Samuele 4

BIBBIA CEI 2008	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 La parola di Samuele giunse a tutto Israele. In quei giorni i Filistei si radunarono per combattere contro Israele. Allora Israele scese in campo contro i Filistei. Essi si accamparono presso Eben-Ezer mentre i Filistei s’erano accampati ad Afek.	1 And it happened that, in those days, the Philistines assembled to fight. And Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle, and he made camp beside the Stone of Assistance. But the Philistines went to Aphek,
2 I Filistei si schierarono contro Israele e la battaglia divampò, ma Israele fu sconfitto di fronte ai Filistei, e caddero sul campo, delle loro schiere, circa quattromila uomini.	2 and they positioned their troops against Israel. Then, when the conflict began, Israel turned his back to the Philistines. And they were cut down in that conflict, in various places in the fields, about four thousand men.
3 Quando il popolo fu rientrato nell’accampamento, gli anziani d’Israele si chiesero: «Perché ci ha sconfitti oggi il Signore di fronte ai Filistei? Andiamo a prenderci l’arca dell’alleanza del Signore a Silo, perché venga in mezzo a noi e ci liberi dalle mani dei nostri nemici».	3 And the people returned to the camp. And those greater by birth of Israel said: “Why has the Lord struck us today before the Philistines? Let us bring to ourselves the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. And let it enter into our midst, so that it may save us from the hand of our enemies.”
4 Il popolo mandò subito alcuni uomini a Silo, a prelevare l’arca dell’alleanza del Signore degli eserciti, che siede sui cherubini: c’erano con l’arca dell’alleanza di Dio i due figli di Eli, Ofni e Fineès.	4 Therefore, the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, sitting upon the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 Non appena l’arca dell’alleanza del Signore giunse all’accampamento, gli Israeliti elevarono un urlo così forte che ne tremò la terra.	5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord had arrived in the camp, all of Israel shouted with a great clamor, and the land resounded.
6 Anche i Filistei udirono l’eco di quell’urlo e dissero: «Che significa quest’urlo così forte nell’accampamento degli Ebrei?». Poi vennero a sapere che era arrivata nel loro campo l’arca del Signore.	6 And the Philistines heard the voice of the clamor, and they said, “What is this voice of a great clamor in the camp of the Hebrews?” And they realized that the ark of the Lord had arrived in the camp.
7 I Filistei ne ebbero timore e si dicevano: «È venuto Dio nell’accampamento!», ed esclamavano: «Guai a noi, perché non è stato così né ieri né prima.	7 And the Philistines were afraid, saying, “God has entered into the camp.” And they groaned, saying:
8 Guai a noi! Chi ci libererà dalle mani di queste divinità così potenti? Queste divinità hanno colpito con ogni piaga l’Egitto nel deserto.	8 “Woe to us! For there was no such great exultation yesterday, or the day before. Woe to us! Who will save us from the hand of these sublime gods? These are the gods who struck Egypt with all the plagues, in the desert.”
9 Siate forti e siate uomini, o Filistei, altrimenti sarete schiavi degli Ebrei, come essi sono stati vostri schiavi. Siate uomini, dunque, e combattete!».	9 “Be strengthened, and be manly, O Philistines! Otherwise, you may serve the Hebrews, as they also have served you. Be strengthened and wage war!”
10 Quindi i Filistei attaccarono battaglia, Israele fu sconfitto e ciascuno fuggì alla sua tenda. La strage fu molto grande: dalla parte d’Israele caddero trentamila fanti.	10 Therefore, the Philistines fought, and Israel was cut down, and each one fled to his own tent. And an exceedingly great slaughter occurred. And thirty thousand foot soldiers from Israel fell.
11 In più l’arca di Dio fu presa e i due figli di Eli, Ofni e Fineès, morirono.	11 And the ark of God was captured. Also, the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
12 Uno della tribù di Beniamino fuggì dallo schieramento e venne a Silo il giorno stesso, con le vesti stracciate e polvere sul capo.	12 Now a man of Benjamin, rushing from the troops, arrived at Shiloh on the same day, with his clothing torn, and with his head sprinkled with dust.
13 Quando giunse, Eli stava seduto sul suo seggio presso la porta e scrutava la strada, perché aveva il cuore in ansia per l’arca di Dio. Venne dunque quell’uomo e diede l’annuncio in città, e tutta la città alzò lamenti.	13 And when he had arrived, Eli was sitting on a seat opposite the way, gazing out. For his heart was fearful on behalf of the ark of God. Then, after this man entered the city, he announced it to the city. And the entire city wailed.
14 Eli, sentendo il rumore delle grida, si chiese: «Che sarà questo rumore tumultuoso?». Intanto l’uomo avanzò in gran fretta e portò l’annuncio a Eli.	14 And Eli heard the sound of the outcry, and he said, “What is this sound, this tumult?” And the man hurried, and he went and announced it to Eli.
15 Eli aveva novantotto anni, aveva lo sguardo fisso e non poteva più vedere.	15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes had dimmed, so that he was not able to see.
16 Disse dunque quell’uomo a Eli: «Sono giunto dallo schieramento. Sono fuggito oggi dallo schieramento». Eli domandò: «Che è dunque accaduto, figlio mio?».	16 And he said to Eli: “I am the one who came from the battle. And it is I who fled from the troops today.” And he said to him, “What has happened, my son?”
17 Rispose il messaggero: «Israele è fuggito davanti ai Filistei e nel popolo v’è stata una grande sconfitta; inoltre i tuoi due figli, Ofni e Fineès, sono morti e l’arca di Dio è stata presa!».	17 And responding, the man reported and said: “Israel has fled before the Philistines. And a great ruin has happened to the people. Moreover, your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, also have died. And the ark of God has been captured.”
18 Appena quegli ebbe accennato all’arca di Dio, Eli cadde all’indietro dal seggio sul lato della porta, si ruppe la nuca e morì, perché era vecchio e pesante. Egli era stato giudice d’Israele per quarant’anni.	18 And when he had named the ark of God, he fell from the seat backwards, toward the door, and, having broken his neck, he died. For he was an old man of great age. And he judged Israel for forty years.
19 La nuora di lui, moglie di Fineès, incinta e prossima al parto, quando sentì la notizia che era stata presa l’arca di Dio e che erano morti il suocero e il marito, s’accasciò e, colta dalle doglie, partorì.	19 Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, and her delivery was near. And upon hearing the news that the ark of God had been captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she bent down and went into labor. For her pains rushed upon her suddenly.
20 Mentre era sul punto di morire, le dicevano quelle che le stavano attorno: «Non temere, hai partorito un figlio». Ella non rispose e non vi fece attenzione.	20 Then, when she was near death, those who were standing around her said to her, “You should not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond to them, and she did not notice them.
21 Ma chiamò il bambino Icabòd, dicendo: «Se n’è andata lontano da Israele la gloria!», riferendosi alla cattura dell’arca di Dio, al suocero e al marito.	21 And she called the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory of Israel has been taken away,” because the ark of God was captured, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
22 Disse: «Se n’è andata lontano da Israele la gloria», perché era stata presa l’arca di Dio.	22 And she said, “The glory has been taken away from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured.