Liber III Regum

Porro Benadad rex Syriæ congregavit omnem exercitum suum, et triginta duos reges secum, et equos, et currus: et ascendens pugnabat contra Samariam, et obsidebat eam.

And Benadad, king of Syria, gathered together all his host, and there were two and thirty kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and going up, he fought against Samaria, and besieged it.

Porro Benadade rege de Syria congrega omni exercitu suo, et triginta duo rege se, et equos, et currus: et ascende pugna contra Samaria, et obside illa.

Mittensque nuntios ad Achab regem Israël in civitatem,

And sending messengers to Achab, king of Israel, into the city,

Et mitte nuntios ad Achabe rege Israële in civitate,

ait: Hæc dicit Benadad: Argentum tuum, et aurum tuum meum est: et uxores tuæ, et filii tui optimi, mei sunt.

He said: Thus saith Benadad: Thy silver and thy gold is mine: and thy wives and thy goodliest children are mine.

Dic: hoc dic Benadade: argento tuo, et auro tuo meo es: et uxores tuo, et filios tuo bono, meo es.

Responditque rex Israël: Juxta verbum tuum, domine mi rex, tuus sum ego, et omnia mea.

And the king of Israel answered: According to thy word, my lord, O king, I am thine, and all that I have.

Et rege Israële responde: juxta verbo tuo, domino meo rege, tuo es me, et omni meo.

Revertentesque nuntii, dixerunt: Hæc dicit Benadad, qui misit nos ad te: Argentum tuum, et aurum tuum, et uxores tuas, et filios tuos, dabis mihi.

And the messengers came again, and said: Thus saith Benadad, who sent us unto thee: Thy silver and thy gold, and thy wives and thy children, thou shalt deliver up to me.

Et reverte nuntios, dic: hoc dic Benadade, qui mitte nos ad te: argento tuo, et auro tuo, et uxores tuo, et filios tuo, da ad me.

Cras igitur hac eadem hora mittam servos meos ad te, et scrutabuntur domum tuam, et domum servorum tuorum: et omne quod eis placuerit, ponent in manibus suis, et auferent.

To morrow, therefore, at this same hour, I will send my servants to thee, and they shall search thy house, and the houses of thy servants: and all that pleaseth them, they shall put in their hands, and take away.

Cras ergo hoc idem hora mitte servos meo ad te, et scrutor domo tuo, et domo de servos tuo: et omni quod ad illos place, pone in manus suo, et aufer.

Vocavit autem rex Israël omnes seniores terræ, et ait: Animadvertite, et videte quoniam insidietur nobis: misit enim ad me pro uxoribus meis, et filiis, et pro argento et auro: et non abnui.

And the king of Israel called all the ancients of the land, and said: Mark, and see that he layeth snares for us. For he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver and gold: and I said not nay.

Rege autem Israële omni sene de terra voca, et dic: animadverte, et vide quia insidior ad nos: mitte nam ad me pro uxores meo, et filios, et pro argento et auro: et non annue.

Dixeruntque omnes majores natu, et universus populus, ad eum: Non audias, neque acquiescas illi.

And all the ancients, and all the people said to him: Hearken not to him, nor consent to him.

Et dic omni magna natu, et universa populo, ad illo: non audi, neque acquiesce ad illo.

Respondit itaque nuntiis Benadad: Dicite domino meo regi: Omnia propter quæ misisti ad me servum tuum in initio, faciam: hanc autem rem facere non possum.

Wherefore he answered the messengers of Benadad: Tell my lord, the king: All that thou didst send for to me, thy servant at first, I will do: but this thing I cannot do.

Benadade itaque ad nuntios responde: dic ad domino meo ad rege: omni propter que mitte ad me servo tuo in initio, fac: hoc autem re facere non pote.

Reversique nuntii retulerunt ei. Qui remisit, et ait: Hæc faciant mihi dii, et hæc addant, si suffecerit pulvis Samariæ pugillis omnis populi qui sequitur me.

And the messengers returning brought him word. And he sent again, and said: Such and such things may the gods do to me, and more may they add, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.

Et reverte nuntios refer ad illo. Qui remitte, et dic: deos fac ad me hoc, et hoc adde, si pulvo de Samaria pugillo omni de populo qui seque me suffice.

Et respondens rex Israël, ait: Dicite ei: Ne glorietur, accinctus æque ut discinctus.

And the king of Israel answering, said: Tell him: Let not the girded boast himself as the ungirded.

Et respondente rege Israële, dic: dic ad illo: ne accinge, aeque glorior ut discinga.

Factum est autem cum audisset Benadad verbum istud, bibebat ipse et reges in umbraculis: et ait servis suis: Circumdate civitatem. Et circumdederunt eam.

And it came to pass, when Benadad heard this word, that he and the kings were drinking in pavilions, and he said to his servants: Beset the city. And they beset it.

Facto es autem cum Benadade audi verbo isto, ipso bibe et reges in umbraculos: et dic ad servos suo: circumda civitate. Et circumda illa.

Et ecce propheta unus accedens ad Achab regem Israël, ait ei: Hæc dicit Dominus: Certe vidisti omnem multitudinem hanc nimiam? ecce ego tradam eam in manu tua hodie, ut scias quia ego sum Dominus.

And behold a prophet coming to Achab, king of Israel, said to him: Thus saith the Lord: Hast thou seen all this exceeding great multitude? behold I will deliver them into thy hand this day: that thou mayst know that I am the Lord.

Et ecce propheta uno accede ad Achabe rege Israële, dic ad illo: Domino dic hoc: certe vide omni multitudine hoc nimia? Ecce me trade illa in manu tuo hodie, ut sci quia me es Domino.

Et ait Achab: Per quem? Dixitque ei: Hæc dicit Dominus: Per pedissequos principum provinciarum. Et ait: Quis incipiet præliari? Et ille dixit: Tu.

And Achab said: By whom? And he said to him: Thus saith the Lord: By the servants of the princes of the provinces. And he said: Who shall begin to fight? And he said: Thou.

Et dic Achabe: per quem? Et dic ad illo: Domino dic hoc: per pedissequor de principes de provincias. Et dic: qui incipie praelia? Et illo dic: te.

Recensuit ergo pueros principum provinciarum, et reperit numerum ducentorum triginta duorum: et recensuit post eos populum, omnes filios Israël, septem millia.

So he mustered the servants of the princes of the provinces, and he found the number of two hundred and thirty-two: and he mustered after them the people, all the children of Israel, seven thousand:

Recense ergo pueros de principes de provincias, et reperi numero ducenti triginta de duo: et recense post illos populo, omni filios Israële, septeme mile.

Et egressi sunt meridie. Benadad autem bibebat temulentus in umbraculo suo, et reges triginta duo cum eo, qui ad auxilium ejus venerant.

And they went out at noon. But Benadad was drinking himself drunk in his pavilion, and the two and thirty kings with him, who were come to help him.

Et egredior es meridie. Benadade autem temulento bibe in umbraculo suo, et reges triginta duo cum eo, qui ad auxilio de illo veni.

Egressi sunt autem pueri principum provinciarum in prima fronte. Misit itaque Benadad: qui nuntiaverunt ei, dicentes: Viri egressi sunt de Samaria.

And the servants of the princes of the provinces went out first. And Benadad sent. And they told him, saying: There are men come out of Samaria.

Egredior es autem pueros de principes de provincias in primo fronte. Mitte itaque Benadade: qui nuntia ad illo, dicente: viros egredior es de Samaria.

Et ille ait: Sive pro pace veniunt, apprehendite eos vivos: sive ut prælientur, vivos eos capite.

And he said: Whether they come for peace, take them alive: or whether they come to fight, take them alive.

Et illo dic: sive pro pace veni, apprehende illos vivo: sive ut praelia, vivo illos capite.

Egressi sunt ergo pueri principum provinciarum, ac reliquus exercitus sequebatur:

So the servants of the princes of the provinces went out, and the rest of the army followed:

Egredior es ergo pueros de principes de provincias, et reliqua exercitu seque:

et percussit unusquisque virum qui contra se veniebat: fugeruntque Syri, et persecutus est eos Israël. Fugit quoque Benadad rex Syriæ in equo cum equitibus suis.

And every one slew the man that came against him: and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued after them. And Benadad, king of Syria, fled away on horseback with his horsemen.

Et percute et unusquis viro qui contra se veni: et Syros fuge, et perseque es illos Israële. Benadade etiam rege de Syria fuge in equo cum equites suo.

Necnon egressus rex Israël percussit equos et currus, et percussit Syriam plaga magna.

But the king of Israel going out overthrew the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

Necnon egredior rege Israële percute equos et currus, et plaga magna percute Syria.

Accedens autem propheta ad regem Israël, dixit ei: Vade, et confortare, et scito, et vide quid facias: sequenti enim anno rex Syriæ ascendet contra te.

(And a prophet coming to the king of Israel, said to him: Go, and strengthen thyself, and know, and see what thou dost: for the next year the king of Syria will come up against thee.)

Accede autem propheta ad rege Israële, dic ad illo: vade, et conforta, et sci, et vide quid fac: sequenti nam anno rege de Syria ascende contra te.

Servi vero regis Syriæ dixerunt ei: Dii montium sunt dii eorum, ideo superaverunt nos: sed melius est ut pugnemus contra eos in campestribus, et obtinebimus eos.

But the servants of the king of Syria said to him: Their gods are gods of the hills, therefore they have overcome us: but it is better that we should fight against them in the plains, and we shall overcome them.

Servis vero de rege de Syria dic ad illo: deos de montes es deos de illos, ideo supera nos: sed bene es ut pugna contra illos in campestri, et obtine illos.

Tu ergo verbum hoc fac: amove reges singulos ab exercitu tuo, et pone principes pro eis:

Do thou, therefore, this thing: Remove all the kings from thy army, and put captains in their stead:

Te ergo fac verbo hoc: ama reges singulo ab exercitu tuo, et pone principes pro illos:

et instaura numerum militum qui ceciderunt de tuis, et equos secundum equos pristinos, et currus secundum currus quos ante habuisti: et pugnabimus contra eos in campestribus, et videbis quod obtinebimus eos. Credidit consilio eorum, et fecit ita.

And make up the number of soldiers that have been slain of thine, and horses, according to the former horses, and chariots, according to the chariots which thou hadst before: and we will fight against them in the plains, and thou shalt see that we shall overcome them. He believed their counsel, and did so.

Et insta numero de milites qui cade de tuo, et equos secundo equos pristino, et currus secundo currus que ante habe: et pugna contra illos in campestri, et vide quod obtine illos. Crede ad consilio de illos, et fac ita.

Igitur postquam annus transierat, recensuit Benadad Syros, et ascendit in Aphec ut pugnaret contra Israël.

Wherefore, at the return of the year, Benadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphec, to fight against Israel.

Ergo postquam anno transi, recense Benadade Syrose, et ascende in Aphece ut pugna contra Israële.

Porro filii Israël recensiti sunt, et acceptis cibariis profecti ex adverso, castraque metati sunt contra eos, quasi duo parvi greges caprarum: Syri autem repleverunt terram.

And the children of Israel were mustered, and taking victuals, went out on the other side, and encamped over against them, like two little flocks of goats: but the Syrians filled the land.

Porro filios Israële recenda es, et accipe cibarios proficiscor ex contra, et castros mete es contra illos, quasi duo minimo greges de capras: syros autem reple terra.

(Et accedens unus vir Dei, dixit ad regem Israël: Hæc dicit Dominus: Quia dixerunt Syri: Deus montium est Dominus, et non est Deus vallium: dabo omnem multitudinem hanc grandem in manu tua, et scietis quia ego sum Dominus.)

(And a man of God coming, said to the king of Israel: Thus saith the Lord: Because the Syrians have said: The Lord is God of the hills, but is not God of the valleys: I will deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.)

(Et accede uno viro de Deo, dic ad rege Israële: Domino dic hoc: quia Syros dic: deo de montes es Domino, et non es Deo de vallios: da omni multitudine hoc grandi in manu tuo, et sci quia me es Domino.)

Dirigebantque septem diebus ex adverso hi atque illi acies, septima autem die commissum est bellum: percusseruntque filii Israël de Syris centum millia peditum in die una.

And both sides set their armies in array one against the other seven days, and on the seventh day the battle was fought: and the children of Israel slew, of the Syrians, a hundred thousand footmen in one day.

Et hoc septeme die ex contra et illo acies dirige, septimo autem die committe es bello: et filios Israële percute de Syras cento mile de pedites in die uno.

Fugerunt autem qui remanserant in Aphec, in civitatem: et cecidit murus super viginti septem millia hominum qui remanserant. Porro Benadad fugiens ingressus est civitatem, in cubiculum quod erat intra cubiculum.

And they that remained fled to Aphec, into the city: and the wall fell upon seven and twenty thousand men, that were left. And Benadad fleeing, went into the city, into a chamber that was within a chamber.

Fuge autem qui remane in Aphece, in civitate: et muro cade super viginti septeme mile de homines qui remane. Porro Benadade fuge ingredior es civitate, in cubiculo quod es intra cubiculo.

Dixeruntque ei servi sui: Ecce, audivimus quod reges domus Israël clementes sint: ponamus itaque saccos in lumbis nostris, et funiculos in capitibus nostris, et egrediamur ad regem Israël: forsitan salvabit animas nostras.

And his servants said to him: Behold, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful; so let us put sackcloths on our loins, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: perhaps he will save our lives.

Et servos ad illo suo dic: ecce, audi quod reges domo Israële clemente es: pone itaque saccos in lumbos nostro, et funiculos in capites nostro, et egredior ad rege Israële: forsan salva animas nostro.

Accinxerunt saccis lumbos suos, et posuerunt funiculos in capitibus suis, veneruntque ad regem Israël, et dixerunt ei: Servus tuus Benadad dicit: Vivat, oro te, anima mea. Et ille ait: Si adhuc vivit, frater meus est.

So they girded sackcloths on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said to him: Thy servant, Benadad, saith: I beseech thee let me have my life. And he said: If he be yet alive, he is my brother.

Accinge sacces lumbos suo, et pone funiculos in capites suo, et veni ad rege Israële, et dic ad illo: servo tuo Benadade dic: vive, ora te, anima meo. Et illo dic: si adhuc fratre, meo es vive.

Quod acceperunt viri pro omine: et festinantes rapuerunt verbum ex ore ejus, atque dixerunt: Frater tuus Benadad. Et dixit eis: Ite, et adducite eum ad me. Egressus est ergo ad eum Benadad, et levavit eum in currum suum.

The men took this for good luck: and in haste caught the word out of his mouth, and said: Thy brother Benadad. And he said to them: Go, and bring him to me. Then Benadad came out to him, and he lifted him up into his chariot.

Viros accipe quod pro omine: et festina rape verbo ex ore de illo, et fratre: tuo Benadade dic. Et dic ad illos: greek.expression, et adduce illo ad me. Egredior es ergo ad illo Benadade, et leva illo in curro suo.

Qui dixit ei: Civitates quas tulit pater meus a patre tuo, reddam: et plateas fac tibi in Damasco, sicut fecit pater meus in Samaria, et ego fœderatus recedam a te. Pepigit ergo fœdus, et dimisit eum.

And he said to him: The cities which my father took from thy father, I will restore: and do thou make thee streets in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria and having made a league, I will depart from thee. So he made a league with him, and let him go.

Qui dic ad illo: civitates patre meo fer que ab patre tuo, redde: et plateas fac ad te in Damasco, sicut patre meo fac in Samaria, et me foede recede ab te. Pepega ergo foedere, et remitte illo.

Tunc vir quidam de filiis prophetarum dixit ad socium suum in sermone Domini: Percute me. At ille noluit percutere.

Then a certain man of the sons of the prophets, said to his companion, in the word of the Lord: Strike me. But he would not strike.

Tunc viro uno de filios de prophetas dic ad socio suo in sermone de Domino: perco me. Sed illo ne vol percute.

Cui ait: Quia noluisti audire vocem Domini, ecce recedes a me, et percutiet te leo. Cumque paululum recessisset ab eo, invenit eum leo, atque percussit.

Then he said to him: Because thou wouldst not hearken to the word of the Lord, behold thou shalt depart from me, and a lion shall slay thee. And when he was gone a little from him, a lion found him, and slew him.

Ad que dic: quia ne vol audire voce de Domino, ecce recede ab me, et leone percute te. Cumque paul(l)ulum recede ab eo, leone inveni illo, et percute.

Sed et alterum inveniens virum, dixit ad eum: Percute me. Qui percussit eum, et vulneravit.

Then he found another man, and said to him: Strike me. And he struck him and wounded him.

Sed et altero inveni viro, dic ad illo: perco me. Qui percute illo, et vulnera.

Abiit ergo propheta, et occurrit regi in via, et mutavit aspersione pulveris os et oculos suos.

So the prophet went, and met the king in the way, and disguised himself by sprinkling dust on his face and his eyes.

Propheta ergo i ab, et occurre ad rege in via, et muta aspersione de pulvere ore et oculos suo.

Cumque rex transisset, clamavit ad regem, et ait: Servus tuus egressus est ad præliandum cominus: cumque fugisset vir unus, adduxit eum quidam ad me, et ait: Custodi virum istum: qui si lapsus fuerit, erit anima tua pro anima ejus, aut talentum argenti appendes.

And as the king passed by, he cried to the king, and said: Thy servant went out to fight hand to hand: and when a certain man was run away, one brought him to me, and said: Keep this man: and if he shall slip away, thy life shall be for his life, or thou shalt pay a talent of silver.

Cumque rege transi, clama ad rege, et dic: servo tuo egredior es ad praelia cominus: cumque viro uno fuge, uno adduce illo ad me, et dic: ad custodio viro isto: qui si lapda es, es anima tuo pro anima de illo, aut talento de argento appende.

Dum autem ego turbatus huc illucque me verterem, subito non comparuit. Et ait rex Israël ad eum: Hoc est judicium tuum, quod ipse decrevisti.

And whilst I, in the hurry, turned this way and that, on a sudden he was not to be seen. And the king of Israel said to him: This is thy judgment, which thyself hast decreed.

Dum autem me turba huc et illuc me verte, subito non compare. Et rege Israële dic ad illo: hoc es iudicio tuo, ipso decerne quod.

At ille statim abstersit pulverem de facie sua, et cognovit eum rex Israël, quod esset de prophetis.

But he forthwith wiped off the dust from his face, and the king of Israel knew him, that he was one of the prophets.

Sed illo statim absterre pulvere de facie suo, et rege Israële cognosce illo, quod es de prophetas.

Qui ait ad eum: Hæc dicit Dominus: Quia dimisisti virum dignum morte de manu tua, erit anima tua pro anima ejus, et populus tuus pro populo ejus.

And he said to him: Thus saith the Lord. Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man worthy of death, thy life shall be for his life, and thy people for his people.

Qui dic ad illo: Domino dic hoc: quia dimitte viro digna morte de manu tuo, anima tuo es pro anima de illo, et populo tuo pro populo de illo.

Reversus est igitur rex Israël in domum suam, audire contemnens, et furibundus venit in Samariam.

And the king of Israel returned to his house, slighting to hear, and raging came into Samaria.

Reverte es ergo rege Israële in domo suo, audire contemne, et furore veni in Samaria.