Giudici 20

LA SACRA BIBBIA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Si mossero tutti gli Israeliti e si riunirono in assemblea, tutti unanimi da Dan fino a Bersabea e fino alla regione del Gàlaad, in Mizpa, alla presenza del Signore.	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 Erano presenti all'assemblea del popolo di Dio i capi del popolo di tutte le tribù di Israele: e c'erano quattrocentomila fanti abili nell'uso della 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 Beniaminiti sentirono dire che gli Israeliti si erano radunati in Mizpa. Gli Israeliti chiesero che fosse loro spiegato come era avvenuto quel delitto.	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 Prese allora la parola il levita, marito della donna uccisa, e disse: "Io ero entrato con la mia concubina in Gabaa di Beniamino per pernottarvi.	4 responded: “I went to Gibeah of Benjamin, with my wife, and I diverted to that place.
5 Quand'ecco che dei cittadini di Gabaa, sollevatisi contro di me, circondarono di notte la casa dove mi trovavo. Volevano uccidermi, e in quanto alla mia concubina, la violentarono in maniera tale che 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 allora ne presi il cadavere, lo feci a pezzi e li mandai per tutto il territorio dell'eredità d'Israele, perché era stata commessa in Israele un'infamia grande.	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 Ecco, ora tocca a voi tutti, o Israeliti, discutere e prendere una decisione, qui".	7 You are all present here, O sons of Israel. Discern what you ought to do.”
8 Tutto il popolo, come un sol uomo, insorse a dire: "Nessuno di noi tornerà alla sua tenda, nessuno tornerà alla sua 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 E ora, ecco quello che faremo a Gabaa: ci porremo contro di essa. Tireremo a sorte,	9 But this we shall do in common against Gibeah:
10 scegliendo dieci uomini su ogni cento da tutte le tribù di Israele, cento su mille e mille su diecimila, perché provvedano ai viveri per coloro che andranno a ripagare Gabaa di Beniamino per tutta l'infamia che essa ha commesso 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 uomini d'Israele si radunarono davanti a Gabaa, unanimi come un sol uomo.	11 And all of Israel convened against the city, like one man, with one mind and one counsel.
12 Allora le tribù di Israele mandarono alcuni uomini per tutto il territorio della tribù di Beniamino a dire: "Che è questo delitto che è avvenuto 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 Ora consegnateci quegli uomini figli di Belial che sono in Gabaa, ché li metteremo a morte, per togliere il male in mezzo a Israele". Ma i Beniaminiti non vollero dare ascolto alle parole dei loro fratelli 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 anzi si radunarono dalle loro città in Gabaa, decisi a 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 I Beniaminiti venuti dalle varie città, quel giorno, si contarono: erano ventiseimila uomini, tutti capaci di maneggiare la spada, senza contare gli abitanti di Gabaa.	15 And there were found from Benjamin twenty-five thousand who drew the sword, aside from the inhabitants of Gibeah,
16 Fra tutti quei soldati c'erano anche settecento uomini, scelti ambidestri, che erano capaci, tutti, di scagliare con la fionda un sasso con la massima precisione, senza mancare il bersaglio.	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 Anche gli uomini di Israele si contarono: erano quattrocentomila (il conto fu fatto senza Beniamino) capaci di maneggiare la spada, eran 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 per raggiungere Betel, dove interrogarono Dio per sapere chi di loro avrebbe dovuto essere il primo a muovere contro i Beniaminiti. Il Signore rispose: "Muova per primo Giuda".	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 Gli Israeliti mossero all'alba e posero il campo contro Gabaa.	19 And immediately the sons of Israel, rising up in the morning, made camp near Gibeah.
20 Gli Israeliti, usciti a battaglia contro Beniamino, schierarono l'esercito contro Gabaa.	20 And setting out from there to fight against Benjamin, they began to assault the city.
21 Ma i Beniaminiti, fatta una sortita da Gabaa, uccisero quel giorno ventiduemila uomini d'Israele.	21 And the sons of Benjamin, departing from Gibeah, slew twenty-two thousand men from the sons of Israel, on that day.
22 Si rincuorarono allora gli Israeliti e tornarono a schierare l'esercito nello stesso luogo in cui lo avevano schierato il giorno prima.	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 Allora gli Israeliti, tornati a Betel, piansero alla presenza del Signore fino a sera e gli domandarono se dovevano continuare la guerra contro i Beniaminiti che erano loro fratelli. 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 Così fu la seconda giornata che gli Israeliti muovevano contro quelli di Beniamino.	24 And when the sons of Israel had continued to do battle against the sons of Benjamin on the next day,
25 Anche questa volta i Beniaminiti uscirono ad affrontare quelli d'Israele fuori di Gabaa e ne uccisero ancora diciottomila, tutti capaci di maneggiare 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 Tornarono tutti gli Israeliti, tutto il popolo, a Betel per piangere. E restarono lì, davanti al Signore, digiunando fino a sera: fecero olocausti e sacrifici di comunione.	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 Poi gli Israeliti interrogarono ancora il Signore (in quel tempo l'arca dell'alleanza di Dio si trovava in quel luogo,	27 And they inquired about their state. At that time, the ark of the covenant of the Lord was in that place.
28 e ad essa prestava servizio Finees, figlio di Eleazaro, figlio di Aronne): volevano sapere se dovevano ancora continuare la guerra contro Beniamino che era loro fratello, oppure se dovevano smettere. Ma il Signore rispose: "Andate, perché domani darò Beniamino in vostra mano".	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 Gli Israeliti posero dei gruppi all'agguato intorno a Gabaa.	29 And the sons of Israel stationed ambushes around the city of Gibeah.
30 E così fu la terza giornata che gli Israeliti mossero contro quelli di Beniamino, schierandosi davanti a Gabaa 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 Beniaminiti vennero fuori dalle mura incontro al nemico, lasciandosi così attirare lontano dalla città. Cominciarono ad assalire come le altre volte, uccidendo fra gli Israeliti circa trenta uomini. Lo scontro avvenne in aperta campagna, al bivio da cui partono le strade che conducono l'una a Betel, l'altra a Gabaa.	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 I Beniaminiti pensarono che quelli di Israele fuggissero davanti a loro, come era successo le altre volte; invece gli Israeliti avevano fatto il piano di fuggire per attirare i Beniaminiti lontano dalla città, nella zona del bivio.	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 mossero dalle loro posizioni e si schierarono a battaglia a Baal-Tamar, mentre gli uomini disposti negli agguati irrompevano dai loro nascondigli posti nella piana brulla di Gabaa.	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 di tutto Israele si presentarono davanti a Gabaa. La battaglia fu molto aspra: e i Beniaminiti non si immaginavano che la sventura stava per toccarli.	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 a Israele. E gli Israeliti uccisero quel giorno venticinquemilacento Beniaminiti, tutti capaci di 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 Beniaminiti si accorsero di essere stati sconfitti. Gli Israeliti si erano ritirati davanti ai Beniaminiti perché avevano fondato la loro speranza sugli uomini che avevano posto all'agguato contro Gabaa.	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 Questi, infatti, si precipitarono in furia su Gabaa e vi penetrarono, passando tutti gli abitanti a fil di spada.	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 V'era stato un accordo fra il grosso dell'esercito israelita e gli uomini che erano all'agguato, che questi ultimi, una volta penetrati nella città, avrebbero fatto una grande 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 A questo segnale il grosso dell'esercito israelita avrebbe cessato di fuggire per dare battaglia. I Beniaminiti vennero all'assalto e uccisero una trentina di Israeliti. Perciò essi erano sicuri che Israele sarebbe riuscito sconfitto come nella battaglia precedente.	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 Quando, però, cominciò ad alzarsi dalla città la colonna di fumo, i Beniaminiti si volsero indietro e videro salire verso il cielo il fumo dell'incendio che divorava tutta la città.	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 Fu allora che il grosso degli Israeliti cessò di fuggire per far fronte ai Beniaminiti che furono presi dal panico, perché si rendevano conto che la sciagura li stava raggiungendo.	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 Si dettero alla fuga davanti agli uomini d'Israele in direzione del deserto, ma la battaglia li raggiunse ugualmente, mentre gli Israeliti che uscivano dalla città li prendevano in mezzo 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 Beniamino fu circondato e inseguito fin sotto Gabaa, dalla parte a oriente della città.	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 Furono diciottomila i Beniaminiti che caddero, tutti guerrieri valorosi.	44 Now those who were put to death in the same place were eighteen thousand men, all very robust fighters.
45 E si volsero ancora in fuga in direzione del deserto: raggiunsero la rupe di Rimmon; ma gli Israeliti ne rastrellarono altri cinquemila per le varie strade, continuando a inseguirli fino a Ghideom, uccidendone 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 quel giorno Beniamino ebbe, in tutto, venticinquemila morti, tutti capaci di maneggiare la spada. Ed erano guerrieri valorosi.	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 In seguito alla fuga raggiunsero la rupe di Rimmon, nel deserto, seicento uomini, i quali vi restarono per 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 Ritornati poi indietro per cercare ancora Beniaminiti, gli Israeliti passavano tutti a fil di spada nel territorio della città, uomini e bestie, chiunque capitasse loro davanti; davano alle fiamme anche tutti i villaggi che incontravano.	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.