1 Samuel 7

1 Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD.

1 Que’ di Kiriath-Jearim vennero, menarono su l’arca dell’Eterno, e la trasportarono in casa di Abinadab, sulla collina, e consacrarono il suo figliuolo Eleazar, perché custodisse l’arca dell’Eterno.

2 And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.

2 Ora dal giorno che l’arca era stata collocata a Kiriath-Jearim era passato molto tempo, vent’anni erano trascorsi e tutta la casa d’Israele sospirava, anelando all’Eterno.

3 Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

3 Allora Samuele parlò a tutta la casa d’Israele dicendo: “Se tornate all’Eterno con tutto il vostro cuore, togliete di mezzo a voi gli dèi stranieri e gl’idoli di Astarte, volgete risolutamente il cuor vostro verso l’Eterno, e servite a lui solo; ed egli vi libererà dalle mani dei Filistei”.

4 So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.

4 E i figliuoli d’Israele tolsero via gl’idoli di Baal e di Astarte, e servirono all’Eterno soltanto.

5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”

5 Poi Samuele disse: “Radunate tutto Israele a Mitspa, e io pregherò l’Eterno per voi”.

6 When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

6 Ed essi si adunarono a Mitspa, attinsero dell’acqua e la sparsero davanti all’Eterno, e digiunarono quivi quel giorno, e dissero: “Abbiamo peccato contro l’Eterno”. E Samuele fece la funzione di giudice d’Israele a Mitspa.

7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines

7 Quando i Filistei seppero che i figliuoli d’Israele s’erano adunati a Mitspa, i principi loro salirono contro Israele. La qual cosa avendo udita i figliuoli d’Israele, ebbero paura dei Filistei,

8 and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”

8 e dissero a Samuele: “Non cessare di gridar per noi all’Eterno, all’Iddio nostro, affinché ci liberi dalle mani dei Filistei”.

9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.

9 E Samuele prese un agnello di latte e l’offerse intero in olocausto all’Eterno; e gridò all’Eterno per Israele, e l’Eterno l’esaudì.

10 As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.

10 Ora mentre Samuele offriva l’olocausto, i Filistei s’avvicinarono per assalire Israele; ma l’Eterno tuonò quel giorno con gran fracasso contro i Filistei, e li mise in rotta, talché furono sconfitti dinanzi a Israele.

11 Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth-car.

11 Gli uomini d’Israele uscirono da Mitspa, inseguirono i Filistei, e li batterono fin sotto Beth-Car.

12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

12 Allora Samuele prese una pietra, la pose tra Mitspa e Scen, e la chiamò Eben-Ezer, dicendo: “Fin qui l’Eterno ci ha soccorsi”.

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

13 I Filistei furono umiliati, e non tornaron più ad invadere il territorio d’Israele; e la mano dell’Eterno fu contro i Filistei per tutto il tempo di Samuele.

14 The cities from Ekron to Gath, which the Philistines had taken, were restored to Israel, who also delivered the surrounding territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites.

14 Le città che i Filistei aveano prese ad Israele, tornarono ad Israele, da Ekron fino a Gath. Israele liberò il loro territorio dalle mani dei Filistei. E vi fu pace fra Israele e gli Amorei.

15 So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

15 E Samuele fu giudice d’Israele per tutto il tempo della sua vita.

16 Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.

16 Egli andava ogni anno a fare il giro di Bethel, di Ghilgal e di Mitspa, ed esercitava il suo ufficio di giudice d’Israele in tutti quei luoghi.

17 Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.

17 Poi tornava a Rama, dove stava di casa; quivi fungeva da giudice d’Israele, e quivi edificò un altare all’Eterno.