1 W hen Saul’s son Ish-bosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost his strength of heart. All Israel was troubled.

Quando Ish-Bosceth, figlio di Saul, seppe che Abner era morto a Hebron, gli caddero le braccia e tutto Israele fu preso da sgomento.

2 S aul’s son had two men who were captains of small armies. The name of one was Baanah, and the name of the other was Rechab. They were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of Benjamin. (For Beeroth is thought of as part of Benjamin.

Il figlio di Saul aveva due uomini che erano capitani di schiere; il nome dell'uno era Baanah e il nome dell'altro Rekab; erano figli di Rimmon di Beeroth, della tribú di Beniamino. (Poiché anche Beeroth è considerata parte di Beniamino,

3 T he people of Beeroth ran to Gittaim, and have been strangers there to this day.)

benché i Beerothiti si siano rifugiati a Ghitthaim, dove sono rimasti fino al giorno d'oggi).

4 N ow Saul’s son Jonathan had a son who could not walk because of his feet. He was five years old when the news of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse had picked him up and ran. In her hurry to get away, he fell and hurt his feet so he could not walk. His name was Mephibosheth.

Or Gionathan, figlio di Saul, aveva un figlio con i piedi storpi, egli aveva cinque anni quando giunse da Jezreel la notizia della morte di Saul e di Gionathan. La sua nutrice lo prese e fuggí ma nella fuga precipitosa il bambino cadde e rimase zoppo. Il suo nome era Mefibosceth.

5 T he sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, left and came to the family of Ish-bosheth. It was during the heat of the day, while Ish-bosheth was taking his noon rest.

I figli di Rimmon Beerothita Rekab e Baanah, si mossero e giunsero nell'ora piú calda del giorno a casa di Ish-Bosceth, che stava prendendo il suo riposo pomeridiano.

6 T hey came to the center of the house as if to get wheat, and they hit Ish-bosheth in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah ran away.

Entrarono all'interno della casa, come per prendere del grano e lo colpirono al ventre. Poi Rekab e suo fratello Baanah, si diedero alla fuga.

7 T hey had come into the house while he was lying on his bed in his room. And they had hit him and killed him and cut off his head. They took his head and traveled by the way of Arabah all night.

Quando entrarono in casa, Ish-Bosceth giaceva sul letto nella sua camera; lo colpirono, l'uccisero e lo decapitarono; poi, presa la testa, camminarono tutta la notte seguendo la via dell'Arabah.

8 T hen they brought Ish-bosheth’s head to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “See, the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, who hated you and tried to kill you. So this day the Lord has punished Saul and his children for the king.”

Cosí portarono la testa di Ish-Bosceth a Davide in Hebron e dissero al re: «Ecco la testa di Ish-Bosceth, figlio di Saul, tuo nemico, il quale cercava la tua vita; oggi l'Eterno ha concesso al re, mio signore, la vendetta sopra Saul e sopra la sua discendenza».

9 D avid answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite. He said to them, “As the Lord lives, Who has saved my life from all trouble,

Ma Davide rispose a Rekab ed a Baanah suo fratello, figli di Rimmon Beerothita, e disse loro: «Com'è vero che vive l'Eterno, il quale mi ha liberato da ogni avversità,

10 w hen one told me, ‘See, Saul is dead,’ he thought he was bringing good news. But I took hold of him and killed him in Ziklag. This was the reward I gave him for his news.

se ho preso e fatto uccidere a Tsiklag colui che mi portò la notizia: "Ecco, Saul è morto", benché egli credesse di avermi portato una buona notizia e si aspettasse di ricevere un premio,

11 H ow much worse it is when sinful men have killed a man who is right and good, on his bed in his own house! Should I not now punish you for his blood and destroy you from the earth?”

quanto piú ora che uomini scellerati hanno ucciso un uomo giusto in casa sua, sul suo letto, non dovrò chiedere conto del suo sangue dalle vostre mani e eliminarvi dalla terra?».

12 T hen David had the young men kill them and cut off their hands and feet. They hung them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in Abner’s grave in Hebron.

Cosí Davide diede ordine ai suoi giovani, e questi li uccisero, troncarono loro le mani e i piedi, poi li appesero presso la piscina di Hebron. Presero quindi la testa di Ish-Bosceth e la seppellirono nel sepolcro di Abner a Hebron.