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Giudici 11
Nuova Riveduta 2006

Iefte, giudice d’Israele

11 (A)Iefte, il Galaadita, era un uomo forte e valoroso, figlio di una prostituta, e aveva Galaad per padre. 2 La moglie di Galaad gli aveva dato dei figli, e quando essi furono grandi, scacciarono Iefte e gli dissero: «Tu non avrai eredità in casa di nostro padre, perché sei figlio di un’altra donna». 3 Iefte se ne fuggì lontano dai suoi fratelli e si stabilì nel paese di Tob. Degli avventurieri si raccolsero intorno a Iefte e facevano delle incursioni con lui.

4 Qualche tempo dopo avvenne che i figli di Ammon mossero guerra a Israele. 5 Mentre i figli di Ammon erano in guerra contro Israele, gli anziani di Galaad andarono a cercare Iefte nel paese di Tob. 6 Dissero a Iefte: «Vieni, sii nostro capitano e combatteremo contro i figli di Ammon». 7 Ma Iefte rispose agli anziani di Galaad: «Non mi avete odiato e scacciato dalla casa di mio padre? Perché venite da me ora che siete nell’angoscia?» 8 Gli anziani di Galaad dissero a Iefte: «Appunto per questo ora torniamo da te, perché tu venga con noi a combattere contro i figli di Ammon e tu sia capo di noi tutti che abitiamo in Galaad». 9 Iefte rispose agli anziani di Galaad: «Se mi fate ritornare da voi per combattere contro i figli di Ammon e il Signore li dà in mio potere, io sarò vostro capo». 10 Gli anziani di Galaad dissero a Iefte: «Il Signore sia testimone e giudice se non facciamo quello che hai detto». 11 Iefte dunque andò con gli anziani di Galaad; il popolo lo nominò suo capo e condottiero e Iefte ripeté davanti al Signore, a Mispa, tutte le parole che aveva dette prima.

12 (B)Poi Iefte inviò dei messaggeri al re degli Ammoniti per dirgli: «Perché vieni contro di me per fare guerra al mio paese?» 13 Il re degli Ammoniti rispose ai messaggeri di Iefte: «Mi sono mosso perché, quando Israele salì dall’Egitto, s’impadronì del mio paese, dall’Arnon fino allo Iabboc e al Giordano. Rendimelo amichevolmente».

14 Iefte inviò di nuovo dei messaggeri al re degli Ammoniti per dirgli: 15 «Così dice Iefte: “Israele non si impadronì del paese di Moab, né del paese degli Ammoniti; 16 ma, quando Israele salì dall’Egitto e attraversò il deserto fino al mar Rosso e giunse a Cades, 17 inviò dei messaggeri al re di Edom per dirgli: ‘Ti prego, lasciami passare per il tuo paese’; ma il re di Edom non acconsentì. Ne mandò anche al re di Moab, il quale pure rifiutò; e Israele rimase a Cades. 18 Poi camminò per il deserto, fece il giro del paese di Edom e del paese di Moab, giunse a oriente del paese di Moab e si accampò di là dall’Arnon, senza entrare nel territorio di Moab; perché l’Arnon segna il confine di Moab. 19 Israele inviò dei messaggeri a Sicon, re degli Amorei, re di Chesbon e gli mandò a dire: ‘Ti preghiamo, lasciaci passare attraverso il tuo paese, per arrivare al nostro’. 20 Ma Sicon non si fidò d’Israele e non gli permise di passare per il suo territorio; anzi Sicon radunò tutta la sua gente, si accampò a Iaas e combatté contro Israele. 21 Il Signore, il Dio d’Israele, diede Sicon e tutta la sua gente nelle mani d’Israele, che li sconfisse; così Israele conquistò tutto il paese degli Amorei, che abitavano quella regione; 22 conquistò tutto il territorio degli Amorei, dall’Arnon allo Iabboc e dal deserto al Giordano. 23 Ora che il Signore, il Dio d’Israele, ha scacciato gli Amorei davanti a Israele, che è il suo popolo, dovresti tu possedere il loro paese? 24 Non possiedi tu quello che Chemos, il tuo dio, ti ha fatto possedere? Così anche noi possederemo il paese di quelli che il Signore ha scacciato davanti a noi. 25 Sei tu forse migliore di Balac, figlio di Sippor, re di Moab? Litigò egli con Israele? Gli fece guerra? 26 Sono trecento anni che Israele abita a Chesbon e nelle città del suo territorio, ad Aroer e nelle città del suo territorio e in tutte le città lungo l’Arnon; perché non gliele avete tolte durante questo tempo? 27 Io non ti ho offeso. Tu agisci male verso di me, muovendomi guerra. Il Signore, il giudice, giudichi oggi tra i figli d’Israele e i figli di Ammon!”».

28 Ma il re degli Ammoniti non diede ascolto alle parole che Iefte gli aveva mandato a dire.

Disfatta degli Ammoniti; la figlia di Iefte

29 (C)Allora lo Spirito del Signore venne su Iefte, che attraversò Galaad e Manasse, passò a Mispa di Galaad e da Mispa di Galaad mosse contro i figli di Ammon. 30 Iefte fece un voto al Signore e disse: «Se tu mi dai nelle mani i figli di Ammon, 31 chiunque uscirà dalla porta di casa mia per venirmi incontro, quando tornerò vincitore sugli Ammoniti, sarà del Signore e io l’offrirò in olocausto».

32 Iefte marciò contro i figli di Ammon per fare loro guerra e il Signore glieli diede nelle mani. 33 Egli li sconfisse da Aroer fino a Minnit, devastando venti città, e fino ad Abel-Cheramin. Fu una grandissima sconfitta per i figli di Ammon, che furono umiliati davanti ai figli d’Israele.

34 Iefte tornò a Mispa, a casa sua; ed ecco uscirgli incontro sua figlia, con timpani e danze. Era l’unica sua figlia; non aveva altri figli né altre figlie. 35 Come la vide, si stracciò le vesti e disse: «Ah, figlia mia! Tu mi riempi d’angoscia! Tu sei fra quelli che mi fanno soffrire! Io ho fatto una promessa al Signore e non posso revocarla». 36 Lei gli disse: «Padre mio, se hai dato la tua parola al Signore, trattami secondo la tua promessa, poiché il Signore ti ha permesso di vendicarti dei figli di Ammon, tuoi nemici». 37 Poi disse a suo padre: «Mi sia concesso questo: lasciami libera per due mesi, affinché vada su e giù per i monti a piangere la mia verginità con le mie compagne». 38 Egli le rispose: «Va’!» e la lasciò andare per due mesi. Lei se ne andò con le sue compagne e pianse sui monti la sua verginità. 39 Alla fine dei due mesi tornò da suo padre; ed egli fece di lei quello che aveva promesso. Lei non aveva conosciuto uomo. Di qui venne in Israele l’usanza 40 che le figlie d’Israele vadano tutti gli anni a celebrare[a] la figlia di Iefte, il Galaadita, per quattro giorni.

Footnotes

  1. Giudici 11:40 A celebrare, ossia a fare lamenti su...
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Judges 11
Legacy Standard Bible

Jephthah Delivers Israel

11 Now (A)Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot. And Gilead [a]became the father of Jephthah. 2 And Gilead’s wife bore him sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of (B)Tob; and worthless fellows gathered themselves [b]about Jephthah, and they went out with him.

4 Now it happened after a while that (C)the sons of Ammon fought against Israel. 5 So it happened that as the sons of Ammon fought against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob; 6 and they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our chief that we may fight against the sons of Ammon.” 7 Then Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “(D)Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house? So why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” 8 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “For this reason we have now returned to you, that you may go with us and fight with the sons of Ammon and (E)become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” 9 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and Yahweh gives them up [c]to me, will I become your head?” 10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “(F)Yahweh is [d]witness between us; surely we will do [e]as you have said.” 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh at (G)Mizpah.

12 And Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, “What is between you and me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?” 13 Then the king of the sons of Ammon said to the messengers of Jephthah, “Because Israel (H)took away my land when they came up from Egypt, from the Arnon as far as the (I)Jabbok and the Jordan; so now, return them peaceably.” 14 But Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the sons of Ammon, 15 and they said to him, “Thus says Jephthah, ‘Israel did not take away the land of Moab nor the land of the sons of Ammon. 16 For when they came up from Egypt, and Israel (J)went through the wilderness to the [f]Red Sea and (K)came to Kadesh, 17 then Israel (L)sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “Please let us pass through your land,” but the king of Edom would not listen. (M)And they also sent to the king of Moab, but he was not willing. So Israel remained at Kadesh. 18 Then they went through the wilderness and (N)around the land of Edom and the land of Moab and came to the east toward the sunrise of the land of Moab, and they camped beyond the Arnon; but they (O)did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab. 19 And Israel sent (P)messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon, and Israel said to him, “Please let us pass through your land to our place.” 20 But Sihon did not believe Israel to allow them to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people and camped in Jahaz and fought with Israel. 21 Then Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they (Q)struck them down; so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. 22 (R)So they possessed all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok, and from the wilderness as far as the Jordan. 23 So now Yahweh, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before His people Israel. Are you then to possess it? 24 Do you not possess what (S)Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever Yahweh our God has taken possession of before us, we will possess it. 25 So now are you any better than (T)Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive with Israel, or did he ever fight against them? 26 (U)While Israel lived in Heshbon and its towns and in Aroer and its towns and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, 300 years, why did you not deliver them for yourself within that time? 27 I therefore have not sinned against you, but you are doing me evil by making war against me; (V)may Yahweh, the Judge, judge today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.’” 28 But the king of the sons of Ammon did not listen to the words which Jephthah sent him.

Jephthah Vows a Burnt Offering

29 Now (W)the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Jephthah, so that he passed through Gilead and Manasseh; then he passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he went on to the sons of Ammon. 30 Then Jephthah made a vow to Yahweh and said, “If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, 31 then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” 32 So Jephthah crossed over to the sons of Ammon to fight against them; and Yahweh gave them into his hand. 33 And he struck them with a very great slaughter from Aroer [g]to the entrance of (X)Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim. So the sons of Ammon were subdued before the sons of Israel.

34 Then Jephthah came to his house at (Y)Mizpah. And behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him (Z)with tambourines and with dancing. Now she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter. 35 So it happened that when he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are among those who trouble me. But I have opened my mouth to vow to Yahweh, and (AA)I cannot take it back.” 36 So she said to him, “My father, you have opened your mouth to vow to Yahweh; (AB)do to me according to what has gone out from your mouth, since Yahweh has avenged you of your enemies, the sons of Ammon.” 37 Then she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me; let me alone two months, that I may [h]go to the mountains and weep because of (AC)my virginity, I and my companions.” 38 Then he said, “Go.” So he sent her away for two months; and she went with her companions and wept on the mountains because of her virginity. 39 And it happened at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he did to her according to the vow which he had made; and she did not know a man. Thus it became a [i]custom in Israel, 40 that the daughters of Israel went yearly to [j]commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 11:1 Lit begat
  2. Judges 11:3 Lit to
  3. Judges 11:9 Lit before
  4. Judges 11:10 Lit hearer
  5. Judges 11:10 Lit according to your word
  6. Judges 11:16 Lit Sea of Reeds
  7. Judges 11:33 Lit even until you are coming to
  8. Judges 11:37 Lit go and go down on
  9. Judges 11:39 Lit statute
  10. Judges 11:40 Lit recount; ancient versions lament
Listen to Judges 11
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Judges 11
New King James Version

Jephthah

11 Now (A)Jephthah the Gileadite was (B)a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah. 2 Gilead’s wife bore sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have (C)no inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of (D)Tob; and (E)worthless men banded together with Jephthah and went out raiding with him.

4 It came to pass after a time that the (F)people of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 And so it was, when the people of Ammon made war against Israel, that the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 Then they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon.”

7 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, (G)“Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in [a]distress?”

8 (H)And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is why we have (I)turned[b] again to you now, that you may go with us and fight against the people of Ammon, and be (J)our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

9 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back home to fight against the people of Ammon, and the Lord delivers them to me, shall I be your head?”

10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, (K)“The Lord will be a witness between us, if we do not do according to your words.” 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him (L)head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words (M)before the Lord in Mizpah.

12 Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, saying, (N)“What do you have against me, that you have come to fight against me in my land?”

13 And the king of the people of Ammon answered the messengers of Jephthah, (O)“Because Israel took away my land when they came up out of Egypt, from (P)the Arnon as far as (Q)the Jabbok, and to the Jordan. Now therefore, restore those lands peaceably.”

14 So Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, 15 and said to him, “Thus says Jephthah: (R)‘Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the people of Ammon; 16 for when Israel came up from Egypt, they walked through the wilderness as far as the Red Sea and (S)came to Kadesh. 17 Then (T)Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “Please let me pass through your land.” (U)But the king of Edom would not heed. And in like manner they sent to the (V)king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel (W)remained in Kadesh. 18 And they (X)went along through the wilderness and (Y)bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, came to the east side of the land of Moab, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab. 19 Then (Z)Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, “Please (AA)let us pass through your land into our place.” 20 (AB)But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together, encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 21 And the Lord God of Israel (AC)delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they (AD)defeated[c] them. Thus Israel gained possession of all the land of the Amorites, who inhabited that country. 22 They took possession of (AE)all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.

23 ‘And now the Lord God of Israel has [d]dispossessed the Amorites from before His people Israel; should you then possess it? 24 Will you not possess whatever (AF)Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever (AG)the Lord our God takes possession of before us, we will possess. 25 And now, are you any better than (AH)Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel? Did he ever fight against them? 26 While Israel dwelt in (AI)Heshbon and its villages, in (AJ)Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities along the banks of the Arnon, for three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time? 27 Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the Lord, (AK)the Judge, (AL)render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon.’ ” 28 However, the king of the people of Ammon did not heed the words which Jephthah sent him.

Jephthah’s Vow and Victory

29 Then (AM)the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through Mizpah of Gilead; and from Mizpah of Gilead he advanced toward the people of Ammon. 30 And Jephthah (AN)made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, 31 then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, (AO)shall surely be the Lord’s, (AP)and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

32 So Jephthah advanced toward the people of Ammon to fight against them, and the Lord delivered them into his hands. 33 And he [e]defeated them from Aroer as far as (AQ)Minnith—twenty cities—and to [f]Abel Keramim, with a very great slaughter. Thus the people of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

Jephthah’s Daughter

34 When Jephthah came to his house at (AR)Mizpah, there was (AS)his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he (AT)tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I (AU)have [g]given my word to the Lord, and (AV)I cannot [h]go back on it.”

36 So she said to him, “My father, if you have given your word to the Lord, (AW)do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, because (AX)the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the people of Ammon.” 37 Then she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me: let me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains and [i]bewail my virginity, my [j]friends and I.”

38 So he said, “Go.” And he sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains. 39 And it was so at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he (AY)carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She [k]knew no man.

And it became a custom in Israel 40 that the daughters of Israel went four days each year to [l]lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 11:7 trouble
  2. Judges 11:8 returned
  3. Judges 11:21 Lit. struck
  4. Judges 11:23 driven out
  5. Judges 11:33 Lit. struck
  6. Judges 11:33 Lit. Plain of Vineyards
  7. Judges 11:35 Lit. opened my mouth
  8. Judges 11:35 Lit. take it back
  9. Judges 11:37 lament
  10. Judges 11:37 companions
  11. Judges 11:39 Remained a virgin
  12. Judges 11:40 commemorate
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Nuova Riveduta 2006 (NR2006)

Copyright © 2006 Società Biblica di Ginevra

Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

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New King James Version (NKJV)

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