2 Samuele 4

1 Quando il figlio di Saul seppe della morte di Abner in Ebron, gli cascarono le braccia e tutto Israele si sentì scoraggiato.

Now when Ishbaal, Saul's son, heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was troubled.

2 Il figlio di Saul aveva due uomini, capi di bande, chiamati l'uno Baanà e il secondo Recàb, figli di Rimmòn da Beeròt, della tribù di Beniamino, perché anche Beeròt era computata fra le città di Beniamino.

And Ishbaal, Saul's son, had two men who were captains of bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the people of Benjamin (for Beeroth was regarded as belonging to the people of Benjamin;

3 I Beerotiti si erano rifugiati a Ghittàim e vi sono rimasti come forestieri fino ad oggi.

and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have lived as foreigners there until this day).

4 Giònata, figlio di Saul, aveva un figlio storpio di ambedue i piedi. Egli aveva cinque anni, quando giunsero da Izreèl le notizie circa i fatti di Saul e di Giònata. La nutrice l'aveva preso ed era fuggita, ma nella fretta della fuga il bambino era caduto e rimasto storpio. Si chiamava Merib-Bàal.

Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son whose feet were crippled. He was five years old when the news came of Saul and Jonathan from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened as she was hurrying to get away that he fell and was injured. And his name was Mippibaal.

5 Si mossero dunque i figli di Rimmòn il Beerotita, Recàb e Baanà, e vennero nell'ora più calda del giorno alla casa di Is-Bàal mentre egli stava facendo la siesta.

The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbaal, as he took his rest at noon.

6 Or ecco, la portinaia della casa, mentre mondava il grano, si era assopita e dormiva: perciò Recàb e Baanà suo fratello, poterono introdursi inosservati.

And look, the doorkeeper of the house had been sifting wheat, and she became drowsy and fell asleep. And Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped by.

7 Entrarono dunque in casa, mentre egli giaceva sul suo letto e riposava; lo colpirono, l'uccisero e gli tagliarono la testa; poi, portando via la testa di lui, presero la via dell'Araba, camminando tutta la notte.

And they went into the house where he was lying on his bed in his bedchamber. And they struck him and killed him, and beheaded him. And they took his head and went by the way of the Arabah all night.

8 Portarono la testa di Is-Bàal a Davide in Ebron e dissero al re: «Ecco la testa di Is-Bàal figlio di Saul, tuo nemico, che cercava la tua vita. Oggi il Signore ha concesso al re mio signore la vendetta contro Saul e la sua discendenza».

They brought the head of Ishbaal to David at Hebron, and said to the king, "Look, the head of Ishbaal, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. The LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants."

9 Ma Davide rispose a Recàb e a Baanà suo fratello, figli di Rimmòn il Beerotita: «Per la vita del Signore che mi ha liberato da ogni angoscia:

David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

10 se ho preso e ucciso in Ziklàg colui che mi annunziava: Ecco è morto Saul, credendo di portarmi una lieta notizia, per cui dovessi io dargli un compenso,

when someone told me, 'Look, Saul is dead,' thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him, and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.

11 ora che uomini iniqui hanno ucciso un giusto in casa mentre dormiva, non dovrò a maggior ragione chiedere conto del suo sangue alle vostre mani ed eliminarvi dalla terra?».

How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?"

12 Davide diede ordine ai suoi giovani; questi li uccisero, tagliarono loro le mani e i piedi e li appesero presso la piscina di Ebron. Presero poi il capo di Is-Bàal e lo seppellirono nel sepolcro di Abner in Ebron.

David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbaal, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.