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Warrior Prophets 2: Chapter 5 – The Berserker

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Warrior Prophets 2: Chapter 5

The Berserker

“Congratulations, Ehud!” Prince Giltar slapped Ehud on the shoulder. “That was a masterful battle. We did not lose a man! You were brilliant to focus your attack on Boaz. I think the Judeans have learned their lesson.”

“This is not cause for celebration,” Ehud muttered as he walked in the moonlight with Giltar outside the gates of Givaah.

“We have defeated our enemies. What more can you ask for?”

“It is not done. They are still camped around us.” Ehud motioned at the army surrounding them. “They will attempt again tomorrow, with greater force. We must prepare.”

“Are they mad? What chance do they have without their vaunted hero?”

“We are all mad to be engaging in this senseless battle. Nonetheless, they outnumber us and if anything they will be further enraged by their defeat.”

“What will you do?”

“We must prepare the ground. If we cannot best them with numbers, we shall let the land assist us.”

“I leave it to you then, Ehud.”

 

 

“I will not take any chances this time,” Elimelech said to Gheda in the Prine of Judah’s tent. “We shall go with a force five times as large as Benjamin’s and I shall lead them myself.”

“It is prudent to use overwhelming force,” Gheda said as he patted his stomach, “but is it wise for you to lead? Or anyone from one of the tribes for that matter?”

“Who else but someone from one of the tribes?”

“A Levite perhaps. We are neutral as far as the tribes are concerned. We have no tribal inheritance. We have no territorial interests. We are spread about amongst all of the tribes and known to all of them. We are the natural unifiers of all the tribes. And with such an overwhelming force, victory is assured.”

“And which Levite do you suggest to command the armies of Israel?”

“Why I would think it would be obvious to you, Elimelech. I should lead the united tribes of Israel. I have been at the forefront of the unification effort. It was my woman that was killed by the hand of those murderers. I should be the one to both exact retribution and bring the tribes together in victory.”

“There is some sense in what you say,” Elimelech volunteered hesitantly. “Perhaps we should lead together.”

“You know as well as I do, Elimelech, that there can be only one leader at a time. The tribe of Judah had its chance today, and that did not turn out well at all. I’ve spoken with the other princes about this. They insist that you stay behind tomorrow and allow me to take the reins.”

“You discussed this behind my back?” Elimelech asked in growing anger. “What military experience do you have? How will you deal with Ehud? He is the biggest threat.”

“Each of us must do what we can to secure victory, Elimelech. I am not without guile in earthly matters. I know how I shall deal with Ehud should our paths cross.” Gheda patted his sheathed sword.

“In any case, there are not many warriors of Judah left on the field,” Gheda continued. “Perhaps it would be better if you tended to the wounded amongst your family and consoled the mourners amongst your many cousins. How many thousands did you lose today?”

Elimelech closed his eyes and grimaced at the reminder of the disaster.

“Very well. I shall stay behind. I just want this over with already.”

 

 

“Pass the butter,” Gheda commanded his arms-bearer, Ralton.

Ralton, the young gangly Levite, reached to the other side of the wide table Gheda had placed in front of his tent. The table was laden with fresh bread and pita, olive oil, wine, mead, figs and scallions. Gheda had ordered a sumptuous breakfast for himself and was sitting beside the table enjoying the food surrounding him. “All must take note of who is in charge now and that we are in command of the situation,” Gheda told young Ralton through a mouthful of pita, as a thin rivulet of olive oil dripped from his fleshy lips.

“Gheda, the troops are ready. We are wasting precious minutes of the day,” a commander from the tribe of Dan urged.

“Calm yourself, commander,” Gheda waved his flabby hand. “There is no rush. I shall not run at Givaah like some green soldier. Let them become anxious as to the time and method of our attack. We have the strength of numbers and we shall destroy their resistance in due time.”

“Yes, Gheda,” the commander answered. “However our men are also tiring, and after yesterday’s massacre, they are not feeling so confident, even with our numbers.”

“Can’t a leader eat his breakfast in peace?” Gheda slammed his beefy fist onto the table, making the dishes bounce. “Very well, commander. We shall proceed. Ralton, give me my sword.”

Ralton took the sword in its scabbard from against the breakfast table and handed it to Gheda as he rose from his chair. Gheda smoothly drew the sword from its scabbard, careful not to touch its sharp edge. He noted with approval the dark liquid staining the cutting side of his sword. One slice will suffice, Gheda thought.

“Take me to the front line, commander,” Gheda bellowed. “We shall finish this pointless resistance and earn our place in history.”

Gheda, Ralton and the commander walked down from the encampment to the troops in the valley surrounding the city of Givaah. The Israelite army was organized in three waves of attackers. The princes expected that one wave would be enough, but they had decided on two more as reinforcements.

As Gheda walked through the waiting soldiers, he noted that the men were perspiring in the rising summer sun. He was comforted by the endless number of soldiers, but slowed his pace as he saw the Benjaminites arrayed in front of the gates of Givaah.

“I don’t need to be in the very front,” Gheda said to the commander. “A general should be able to direct his men from some distance. He needs to see the bigger picture. I shall stay here in the second battalion. You, commander, you should lead the first attack.”

“As you command, Gheda. The battle plan has been decided already, you merely need to order when to start and direct us as you see fit.”

“Very good, very good. Let’s get on with it then. Proceed.”

The commander walked briskly to the front of the line.

“Forward!” the commander ordered, sword drawn. Thousands of swords left their scabbards as the tribes of Israel marched against their brother once again.

Gheda was excited by the movement. The second wave, of which he was a part, marched forward, up the hill to Givaah. Parts of the wheat fields they were trampling seemed abnormally moist in the late morning. Gheda tried to spot Ehud. Ehud is the one we need to watch out for, he thought. There he is! At the very front of his men. Is he praying? It won’t help him. But they are not moving to engage. Are they wet? Why do they all seem as if they’ve bathed in the Jordan. Very strange.

The tribes marched resolutely up the hill as the Benjaminites stood their ground. Ehud seemed to be counting to himself.

“Swords!” Ehud bellowed. A wave of swords left their scabbards and appeared in the hands of the Benjaminite defenders. Ehud continued counting quietly to himself. The front line of the Israelites narrowed the distance. A normal army would have used the downhill advantage to meet our advance, Gheda thought. Why is he letting us get so close?

“Archers! Now!” Ehud exclaimed.

After those words time moved at a painfully slow pace for Gheda. He noticed half a dozen Benjaminite archers with fire on their arrows letting loose their projectiles. The front line of the tribes, led in an orderly unison by the commander, fell into an extremely long and deep ditch, stopping the assault. The fire arrows hit their hidden marks and the entire field seemed to go up in flames. A wall of flame rose in front of Gheda’s wave, cutting his group off from the first wave of Israelite attackers, now stuck between the trench and the fire. Another wall of fire rose behind Gheda, separating his wave from the third group behind him.

“Charge!” he heard Ehud yell.

The Benjaminites jumped over the trapped Israelites in the deep ditches, lopping off hundreds of heads as they crashed into the first wave of attackers. The Benjaminites hacked and sliced into the panicked soldiers who were unable to advance or retreat. Many of the Israelites ran to the sides, trying to escape the deadly Benjaminites and the blazing fire. Very few of the attackers of the first wave survived.

“Through the fire!” Ehud commanded.

Gheda then saw a sight he would never forget for the rest of his life. Thousands of Benjaminites jumped through the wall of fire. He finally understood Ehud’s brilliance. Their soaked robes, shields and head gear protected the Benjaminites from the flames. An army of steaming men appeared amongst the confused Israelites. Trapped between walls of fire and soldiers that could only be compared to the minions of Hell, pandemonium ruled the Israelite attackers. The Benjaminites methodically cut down the Israelite soldiers. Ehud ran from melee to melee, tearing down whatever resistance built up.

“Attack Ehud!” Gheda finally found his voice. “He is the key! Attack Ehud!”

Some of the Israelites took heart from the command, and turned to find the short blacksmith. Gheda, despite his wide girth, moved quickly, avoiding other deadly squabbles, until he was directly behind Ehud. Ehud was surrounded by half a dozen Israelites. Ehud, a sword in each hand, stood blocking the blows of the Israelites surrounding him, ducking under fatal slices. Gheda, feeling the heat from the flames, fell to the ground and crawled towards Ehud. Ehud stepped away from the pressing Israelites. Gheda crawled within sword’s-reach of Ehud’s leg.

Let it end, Gheda thought, as he nicked Ehud’s ankle with the tip of his sword. Gheda crawled away from the fracas and ran parallel to the walls of fire, seeking an exit.

“Retreat!” Gheda called out. “Retreat! Let’s get the out of this hell.”

The Israelites, confused yet again, ran in either direction trying to escape the fires. The Benjaminites pursued the army of the tribes, killing many from behind. Bodies littered the burning wheat fields of Benjamin.

“Enough!” Ehud called out woozily. “Let them run. Put out the fires. Perhaps they got the message this time, though I don’t know what trick I would use tomorrow.”

Ehud surveyed the carnage. Again he could see thousands of corpses. Not one Benjaminite dead. Why don’t they understand? he thought. Why don’t they give up this damned battle? This will scar our relationships for generations to come.

Ehud walked slowly through the field and then promptly fainted, as the poison coursing through his veins finally overtook him.

 

 

The tribes of Israel retreated from around Givaah. They regrouped at Bet-El. The princes of the tribes had all ripped their robes and placed ashes on their heads. All of them had lost family members on this second day of defeat. All of the survivors, ashen-faced and smelling of smoke, wept and took upon themselves a fast. Priests and Levites offered animal sacrifices to God, begging for mercy, forgiveness and understanding. Gheda sat in the center of the camp, head bowed in shame, embarrassed by the failure and secretly bemoaning all the wasted meat of the animal sacrifices.

“You walked right into a trap,” Elimelech accused Gheda as nightfall settled. “I will lead the army myself!” Elimelech faced the other princes. “We cannot count on just mere force. We must use some of our own subterfuge.”

“But we lost so many,” the prince of Naftali said. “God is clearly on their side.”

“They have done evil!” Elimelech answered. “They are defending criminals, and now at their hands we have lost forty thousand of our finest men. Forty thousand! In just two days! We cannot just walk away.”

“Let us ask the priest,” the prince of Naftali said.

“Let us,” Elimelech agreed.

The princes sought Pinhas the High Priest amongst the torches lighting up the night. He stood in front of the Ark of the Covenant overseeing the offering of the sacrifices and consoling mourners.

“High Priest,” Elimelech approached, head bowed.

“Yes, Prince of Judah. What is your request?” Pinhas responded.

“I would ask a question of God.”

“Do you not tire of these efforts?”

“I tire to the death, but I would not walk away from evil.”

“Yet you would cause it. You would nurture it until it grows to a beast beyond your control. Elimelech, these deaths are at your feet. Your hands have slain our brethren and I am unsure if a lifetime in the Jordan River would cleanse you of this damnation.”

“I asked you! I asked before each battle if we should proceed! I had the consent of God Himself!”

“You asked poorly,” Pinhas pointed at Elimelech and spoke more forcefully than he had in years. “Your questions presumed you should attack. God leads man to where he takes himself. You sought destruction. Vengeance. Power over your brethren. It is true the sons of Benjamin have erred, but you have fought, you have all fought, for the wrong reasons. God is not amongst those with false hearts or erroneous ideals. You have brought this sorrow upon us all.”

Elimelech and the princes stood silently in front of the High Priest. All the blood drained from Elimelech’s face. He had always had his doubts. He had always been unsure of the cause, but no one had blamed him before. No one had placed the exclusive blame for the massacre upon his shoulders.

Elimelech fell on his knees. His head dropped into his hands and he started crying. He cried painful racking sobs. “What have I done? What have I done?” Elimelech asked the palms of his hands. The princes stood, shaken by the sight of a broken Elimelech. Slowly, Elimelech stopped crying. He wiped his face, stood up and looked at Pinhas.

“What shall we do?” Elimelech asked, his voice hoarse and quiet from the tears.

“What would you ask of God?” Pinhas retorted.

Elimelech stared at Pinhas. He lifted his head heavenward. He looked at the princes surrounding him and the soot-covered soldiers behind them.

“Should we go out again, to fight with our brother Benjamin, or should we desist?”

Pinhas closed his eyes, grimly pleased with Elimelech’s question.

The stones of the High Priest’s breastplate remained dim. After a moment the etched letters of the stone lit up. The shining of the letters was brighter, longer and more elaborate than the previous two times.

In a voice not fully his own, Pinhas announced:

“Go up, for tomorrow I shall deliver them into your hand.”

Elimelech let out his breath and relaxed his shoulders. He knew what he would do and he now understood that God was finally on his side.

 

“They are fools,” Prince Giltar said from the front of the army of Benjamin.

The tribes of Israel were marching yet again upon the city of Givaah.

The tribes came from the north, as they had previously, though Givaah was not encircled as the two battles before.

“This shall be simple,” Giltar said to tall Yakshal by his side. “We shall defeat them, even without Ehud, though I hope he recovers from his malady.”

“The healer thought it might have been poison,” Yakshal said. “Though he has yet to regain consciousness.”

“No matter. The tribes cowered before our ferocity and this time we shall chase them all the way back to their lands. Ehud was too merciful, holding back our full might.”

“Yes, Prince Giltar.”

“I see Elimelech himself leads the attack now. That is appropriate.”

“Elimelech!” Giltar called down to the approaching army. “Are you so thick-headed that you wish to test our mettle personally? Turn back now, or we shall destroy you utterly.”

“Give us the criminals, or it is you who will be destroyed,” Elimelech called back, not slowing his pace or that of the soldiers with him.

“Never!” Giltar yelled.

Elimelech, jaw clenched, continued his march.

“Charge!” Giltar commanded.

The men of Benjamin ran down the mountain towards the army of Israel, swords and spears extended. The two armies crashed into each other, shield clashing into shield. The men of Israel held their own for a few moments, but the force and momentum of the Benjaminites became too much to withstand.

“Fall back!” Elimelech ordered.

The men of Israel quickly retreated on the road, heading northward.

“Give chase!” Giltar commanded. “We shall cut down every single one of them. All men, after me!”

The men of Israel sped ahead of the pursuing Benjaminites. They descended into the valley, climbed the hill opposite Givaah and then descended to the other side, facing the city of Michmash. The soldiers of Benjamin cut down the retreating stragglers of Israel. Giltar was in the lead, hacking at the men around Elimelech. One of his victims was a young nephew of Elimelech. The youth, with barely any hairs for a beard, fell to the ground in an unnatural position. Elimelech saw his nephew fall out of the corner of his eye. Giltar almost reached the back of Elimelech, when Elimelech turned around with a creeping madness in his eyes.

“Hold!” Elimelech ordered his men. “Enough! I shall not suffer the loss of another one of my men! Elimelech raised his sword and attacked Giltar with a mad fury. Giltar, surprised, stepped back, slipped on blood on the ground and fell backwards. He knocked his head on the hard road and lost consciousness.

Dozens of Benjaminites jumped into the fray to protect their leader. Elimelech stabbed at them in rapid succession, hacking, slicing and pounding them with an inhuman rage.

“Die!!” Elimelech yelled as he cut through the entire Benjaminite front line. It was as if a tornado had exploded in their midst. Elimelech possessed a sudden unstoppable strength, speed and energy that shocked the Benjaminites. The tide had quickly turned in favor of the Israelite army. They crashed into the confused Benjaminites, with Elimelech wearing down any serious resistance. Behind the Benjaminites a large cloud of thick black smoke rose into the bright summer sky.

“Givaah is burning! Givaah is burning!” the Benjaminites cried, seeing their city in flames. From the side of the road new Israelite forces attacked the Benjaminite army.

“Kill them all! Kill them all!” Elimelech yelled insanely. The standing Benjaminite army, more than twenty thousand strong, was quickly annihilated. A few hundred managed to escape the Israelite troops and flee eastward to the desolate mountains of the Desert Road.

Still enraged, soaked in blood and standing amongst the Benjaminite corpses, Elimelech called out:

“Do not stop! Every city, every village, and every farm of Benjamin we shall burn to the ground. This is a day none in Benjamin, none in Israel shall forget. Go! Now! Burn every one!”

The Israelite army spread out along the entire territory of Benjamin. None resisted them. There were none left to fight. They placed to the torch every walled city, every village and every farmstead they could find. The stone, wood and thatched structures burned quickly in the summer heat. From the mountain of Bet-El, Pinhas, the High Priest, could see the fires throughout the region south of him. A land of lush green was suddenly pockmarked with angry red flames and dead brown enclaves. He wept openly, tears rolling down and caressing the etchings of tribal names upon the stones of his breastplate.

The army of Israel had become as locust, extinguishing Benjaminite life and property wherever they came across it.

Elimelech was drawn eastward. He couldn’t say why. Perhaps to find the few Benjaminites that escaped the ambush. He and his men came upon a shepherd in the descent towards the Jordan River.

Elimelech, sword high in the air, ran towards the lone shepherd amongst his flock. Elimelech’s men followed their wild leader. Elimelech yelled as he impaled the shepherd. The shepherd looked at Elimelech and asked, “Elimelech?”

“Hafniel!? What are you doing here in the land of Benjamin?” Elimelech grabbed his dying cousin in his arms.

“I came to buy some sheep from my brother-in-law,” Hafniel said weakly as his life ebbed away.

“Your brother-in-law was from Benjamin?” Elimelech asked, confused.

“Of course. We’re all related,” Hafniel said with his dying breath.

Elimelech laid Hafniel gently on the ground. He released his bloody sword, as if it were on fire and ran. He ran eastward. He ran down the Desert Road towards the Jordan River. He passed the remains of the walls of Jericho, sitting desolate and lonely, and vaguely remembered their fall, a lifetime ago. He passed the encampment of Gilgal where all of Israel had lived united as one large family. He kept running until he reached the bubbling waters of the Jordan. He threw himself, fully clothed, into its waters. He closed his eyes, wishing he would drown, but his body floated to the surface. The river carried him southward towards the Sea of Salt.

I am a murderer, Elimelech thought to himself. They were all my brothers. It didn’t have to be this way. Pinhas was right. A lifetime in these waters will not cleanse me of my sin. How many lives? How many generations have I destroyed? God will not forgive me. He will not forgive any of us. We shall surely suffer for such horrific deeds.

The river washed Elimelech on to the eastern bank of the Jordan River, at the mouth of the Sea of Salt. Where am I? Elimelech wondered. This must be the territory of Reuben. But Elimelech was wrong, for now it was the under the dominion of Eglon King of Moab.

 

* * * * * *

 

Biblical Sources:

 

Book of Judges, Chapter 20

24 And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword. 26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto Beth-el, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even; and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before the LORD. 27 And the children of Israel asked of the LORD–for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days–saying: ‘Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?’ And the LORD said: ‘Go up; for to-morrow I will deliver him into thy hand.’ 29 And Israel set liers-in-wait against Gibeah round about.

30 And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. 31 And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite and kill of the people, as at other times, in the field, in the highways, of which one goeth up to Beth-el, and the other to Gibeah, about thirty men of Israel. 32 And the children of Benjamin said: ‘They are smitten down before us, as at the first.’ But the children of Israel said: ‘Let us flee, and draw them away from the city unto the highways.’ 33 And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar; and the liers-in-wait of Israel broke forth out of their place, even out of Maareh-geba. 34 And there came over against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore; but they knew not that evil was close upon them.

35 And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty and five thousand and a hundred men; all these drew the sword. 36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten. And the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted unto the liers-in-wait whom they had set against Gibeah.– 37 And the liers-in-wait hastened, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers-in-wait drew forth, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword. 38 Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers-in-wait, that they should make a great beacon of smoke rise up out of the city.– 39 And the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said: ‘Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.’ 40 But when the beacon began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven. 41 And the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were amazed; for they saw that evil was come upon them. 42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and they that came out of the city destroyed them in the midst of the men of Israel. 43 They inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and overtook them at their resting-place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrising. 44 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour. 45 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon; and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and followed hard after them unto Gidom, and smote of them two thousand men. 46 So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour. 47 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months. 48 And the men of Israel turned back upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city, and the cattle, and all that they found; moreover all the cities which they found they set on fire.

 

5771, Boaz, Book of Judges, Ehud, Elimelech, Fiction, Pinhas, Warrior Prophets

Warrior Prophets 2: Chapter 4 – Bloody Brothers

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Warrior Prophets 2: Chapter 4

Bloody Brothers

“Will you not deliver these criminals to us!?” Prince Elimelech ofJudahyelled across the future battleground, with the summer morning’s dawn.

“Never!” Prince Giltar of Benjamin replied, sword unsheathed, as he faced four hundred thousand soldiers, with little over twenty thousand at his back, in front of the city ofGivaah.

“We outnumber you twenty to one!” Elimelech pressed. “All the tribes of Israel are assembled against you. We are overflowing with soldiers. Give up the criminals and avoid this bloodshed.”

“It is you who is bringing bloodshed upon us. They are our tribesmen, our prisoners. Only by force will you ever retrieve them.”

“That man is stubborn,” Elimelech turned aside angrily to Boaz.

“One might say the same of you, uncle,” Boaz murmured.

“Now is not the time for second-guessing! We are committed to this path, but this assembly is truly too unwieldy. Where is that reclusive priest? I would seek God’s blessing and direction before we start. Pinhas? Where have you hidden?” Elimelech sought Pinhas amongst the princes and generals standing behind Elimelech as they faced the city of Givaah.

“I am here, Prince of Judah,” Pinhas stated stoically, as he approached in his full High Priest vestment. “What do you seek of me?”

“One of our tribes will be sufficient to overwhelm the Benjaminite rabble. Who should take the lead against them?”

“You are asking me this in my formal capacity?” Pinhas raised an eyebrow.

“Of course! What does God say?”

“Please formulate your question again, as the normative leader of most of the tribes ofIsrael.”

“Who shall go up first from amongst us to battle against the sons of Benjamin?”

“That is your question?”

“Yes, damn it! That is the question!”

The sadness in Pinhas’ eyes deepened. He closed his eyes and stood motionless in his rich blue raiment. His multicolored breastplate shone in the morning sun. The twelve precious stones, each stone representing a Tribe of Israel, glowed with an inner fire. The names and letters carved into the stones refracted the warm light. Suddenly certain letters lit up brightly, shining as a star on a moonless night. The letters flashed in a certain sequence. Pinhas nodded his head as if he had already anticipated the answer.

“Judah shall lead,” Pinhas stated with an ominous finality.

“Good,” Elimelech smirked tightly and faced the princes and generals of the united tribes ofIsrael. “You heard the priest! The tribe of Judah shall lead! The rest of you, take your forces and keep this perimeter secure. We shall move upon Givaah immediately, break through their defense and return with the criminals by noon. Dismissed!”

Boaz, troubled by the entire exchange, closed his eyes, drawing on the inner “sight” he had not used in many years.

He was struck by the black sadness in Pinhas. The High Priest’s white aura of inner peace was struggling with spreading tentacles of despair. Pained by the sight, Boaz turned to Elimelech. The Prince of Judah had a noble aura of a deep and regal purple, but with a growing red bloodlust that was overcoming his normally calm blue demeanor.

Boaz tried to perceive the emotions of the assembled tribes of Israel. He saw a dark red bloodlust in the troops that exceeded that of Elimelech’s, mixed with a deep green of arrogance and pride.

Boaz turned to the Benjaminite defenders of Givaah and could not tell the difference between their aura and the rest of Israel. It too was a mix of sharp red and green. He did notice the radiant blue pride of Prince Gilter. His attention was then drawn to a sickly yellow of fear, mixed with a grey steely determination. That’s Ehud! Boaz thought to himself. Ehud is the only one who could give me pause in battle. None in Israel could match my speed or reflexes, but Ehud has a natural cunning, an instinct in battle and strategy that might overwhelm my combat prowess. 

“Boaz,” Elimelech broke Boaz’s concentration. “Inspecting the enemy with your ‘sight’? Good. We are counting on you. With your speed and power you should be able to break their defenses single-handedly.”

“They are our brothers, uncle; not some foreign enemy. I shall strive to bring this fight to a quick end.”

“We are at war long-coming, Boaz. We have no choice but to kill and lay low this most arrogant of tribes. Once we have humbled them and they have accepted our judgment, we can welcome them again in brotherly embrace. Now go to your regiment. You will be in the lead. I shall launch the attack shortly.”

 

 

 

“Elimelech is neither subtle nor patient,” Ehud said to Prince Giltar as they faced the largest army in the history of their young tribe. The Tribe of Judah moved into formation opposite the gates of Givaah, while the rest of the tribes kept a perimeter, hundreds of thousands of men strong, around the entire city. “They shall send Boaz and his men first, thereby hoping for a quick victory. Boaz is uncommonly fast and deadly, and reacts instinctively to his enemies moves. It will be very hard to stop him.”

“You are the master strategist, Ehud. Advise us,” Prince Giltar ordered.

“I advised giving up the men, but that was ignored.”

“Do you aim to weaken our hand? Advise us in battle! It is both wrong and late to give up our men. They are our brothers. In any case, if it were not this issue there would be another that would bring them upon our doorstep. We shall have to hold them off to the best of our ability and teach them the price of forcing submission upon us. Now how should we proceed?”

“We need to neutralize Boaz as soon as possible, or he will wreck havoc upon our defenses. I will take a battalion of our sharpest sling throwers to deal with him. Watch out for arrows though. Elimelech is angry enough to start with a volley to soften us up. Shields at hand!” Ehud yelled as he assembled his sling throwers.

A regiment of Judah with Boaz in the lead ran towards the Benjaminite defenders of Givaah. Archers of Judah fired thousands of arrows in the air ahead of them.

“Shields up!” Ehud yelled. Moments later, thousands of arrows thudded into wooden shields. Not one defender of Benjamin was felled. Heartened, Ehud commanded: “Charge!”

Ehud saw Boaz speed ahead of the attackers. He’s not as fast as in the past, Ehud thought. Is it age, or is his heart not in this battle?

“Slings ready!” Ehud ordered as Boaz raced nearer.

“Wide spread on Boaz! Fire!”

A wall of stones shot out towards Boaz. Boaz turned to the side in a blur and raced the wave of flying projectiles. Boaz almost escaped the cloud of stones, when one struck him in the ankle, tripping him. Boaz caught his balance and continued to run ahead when two dozen stones hit him along his body. Boaz wobbled forward and finally three stones smashed into his head, dropping him to the floor unconscious. The Judeans paused in shock at the fall of their fabled commander.

“Forward!” Ehud ran towards the frozen Judeans, his battalion of sling throwers mowing down the attackers.

“Attack!” Prince Giltar yelled from behind. “All battalions engage the enemy!”

All the defenders of Givaah raced towards the Judeans, stones, arrows and spears flying. The Judeans, leaderless, as a man, retreated. The retreat turned into a rout. Benjaminite swordsmen slashed fleeing attackers. The Benjaminites cut into the main Judean camp as well as into the tribes holding the perimeter. In confusion, the tribes abandoned the perimeter, escaping the vicious Benjaminite counterattack.

“Fall back!” Ehud called out. “Fall back! We have done enough damage for one day.”

The other tribes continued to run in all directions from Givaah as the Benjaminites walked calmly back to their city. The battlefield was strewn with corpses. The soldiers looked for any fallen comrades, but did not find even one Benjaminite defender. Every single one of the dead was from the other tribes. Ehud was overwhelmed by the number of dead. He estimated it must be around twenty thousand. The Levites who would attend to all the corpses later in the day would place the number at twenty-two thousand. Never in the history of Israelhad a disaster of such proportions occurred. Ehud wept openly as he noticed familiar faces amongst the dead. Cousins of Boaz and Elimelech whom he had grown up with. Captains and officers whom he had trained. Even fellow brothers-in-arms from his days leading the militia. Is this the price? Ehud cried to himself. Is this the price of independence? To slaughter our brothers? This cannot be right!

Ehud sought Boaz.

Boaz lay in a shallow pool of his own blood. Rivulets of red trickled down the prone man’s forehead, gathering under his submerged ear. Ehud saw that Boaz was breathing. He ripped cloth off a nearby corpse, wiped the wound on the forehead and then tied a dry cloth around Boaz’s head to stop the bleeding.

Boaz moaned and opened his eyes groggily.

“The wound is not so bad. You’ll live, though you may not thank me for it,” Ehud said sadly.

“What happened?” Boaz sat up slowly.

“You lost. Badly. Levites are coming to deal with the dead and some of your men are coming to help the wounded. Tell Elimelech to stop. This is a catastrophe. He shouldn’t make it worse.”

Boaz looked around, surveying all of the corpses. Tears flowed from his eyes, cleaning a thin path through the fresh blood on his cheeks.

“How could it be worse than this?”

“He could win.”

Ehud patted Boaz on the shoulder and trudged wearily back to Givaah.

 

 

“We should never have relied on one man!” Elimelech banged his fist on the table in his tent. “It was a massacre.”

“Boaz has never been a supporter of this cause,” Gheda the Levite intoned.

“You would accuse my nephew? You think he wanted this? Twenty-two thousand dead? He led the assault. He almost died himself out there. No. Somehow they read our intentions and targeted their fire upon Boaz.”

“I have heard that he consulted with the enemy after the battle. That the son of Gerah himself tended to Boaz’s wounds.”

“Enough! Perhaps we must reconsider. For us to suffer such heavy losses against a smaller, weaker enemy is beyond bad fortune. It was reported that Benjamin did not lose a man.”

“You would stop now?” Gheda said. “Twenty-two thousand sacrificed for nothing!?”

“Let us consult with the priest. He has disapproved of this from the beginning, but he is not being open with me and somehow I’m asking the wrong questions of him. Let us seek Pinhas.”

Elimelech and Gheda left their tent and found Pinhas in the center of the camp of the Princes. A large mass of officers and captains sat on the ground around the High Priest, weeping and swaying. Many had ripped their garments in mourning. The pair made their way through the crowd to Pinhas. Pinhas sat on the ground, his garments intact, yet his face mirrored a heart sundered.

“Pinhas, I must consult with you.”

“Choose your question wisely, Prince of Judah,” Pinhas said without looking up. “Your words and thoughts are a channel of all of Israel to God. It is a heavy responsibility and one that has been both abused and punished this day. You may yet rue your position of leadership.”

Elimelech paused. He looked at the warriors sitting on the floor, crying like bereft children. Everyone he saw had lost someone they had known and loved, just hours before. In the morning the tribes had been so confident of their purpose and their victory. Elimelech tasted bile in his mouth as he warred within himself. We still have superiority of numbers, Elimelech thought.

“Should I once again go to war against the sons of Benjamin, my brother?” Elimelech asked with pain and humility.

Pinhas nodded briefly and closed his eyes. The letters of the breastplate shone once again, but in a different sequence. Pinhas hesitated, as if waiting for further details or confirmation. None came. He opened his eyes, but did not look at Elimelech. Then slowly, as if declaring a death sentence he announced:

“Go up against them.”

 

* * * * * *

 

Biblical Sources:

 

Book of Judges, Chapter 19:

12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying: ‘What wickedness is this that is come to pass among you? 13 Now therefore deliver up the men, the base fellows that are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel.’ But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel. 14 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of their cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. 15 And the children of Benjamin numbered on that day out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred chosen men. 16 All this people, even seven hundred chosen men, were left-handed; every one could sling stones at a hair-breadth, and not miss. {P}

17 And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword; all these were men of war. 18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to Beth-el, and asked counsel of God; and they said: ‘Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?’ And the Lord said: ‘Judah first.’ 19 And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah. 21 And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites on that day twenty and two thousand men. 22 And the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day. 23 And the children ofIsrael went up and wept before the Lord until even; and they asked of the Lord, saying: ‘Shall I again draw nigh to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?’ And the Lord said: ‘Go up against him.’

 

 

 

5771, Boaz, Book of Judges, Ehud, Elimelech, Fiction, Joshua, Moses, Pinhas, Warrior Prophets

Warrior Prophets 2: Assassin. Chapter 2: Trial of a Tribe

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Warrior Prophets 2: Assassin

Chapter 2: Trial of a Tribe

“We shall not relinquish the men of Givaah,” Prince Giltar announced at the assembly of Elders of Benjamin. “This is an internal tribal matter and we shall administer our own justice. The other tribes shall not dictate our actions.” Giltar, grey and proud, stood at the head of the council circle in the House of Elders. Two dozen men, with grey and white beards, sat in a circle on stone-hewn benches. A dozen torches protruded from a dozen pillars, brightening the white-washed walls of the chamber in the early summer evening.

“Will you go to war to defend such a right?” Ehud, the youngest of the assembly, stood up from the other side of the circle. “These men of Givaah are depraved. They have committed an act that only a child of Sodom would defend. I for one would hand them over to the tribes if it will appease them. Are the laws of Judah so different than our laws? Remember, it was a daughter of Judah that was the victim. They too have the right to justice.”

“Do you speak for justice, son of Gerah?” Giltar responded sharply. “Or for convenience? Or is it fear that drives you, Ehud? Do you so fear the might of the other tribes? Have you so little faith in the justice of our position?”

“There is faith, and there is wisdom, Giltar. I fear this decision lacks both.”

“You insult me in my own chamber?”

“I insult no man. I merely fear a disastrous decision.”

“Ehud, you are a trusted man of arms and a faithful delegate. This is the decision of the council. Except for Ehud, is there any man here that challenges this decision?” Giltar addressed the council. Silence answered Giltar’s question.

“It is agreed then. This is the position of the sons of Benjamin.” Giltar looked straight at Ehud and smiled grimly. “And I nominate you, Ehud son of Gerah, to be our messenger to the tribes at their meeting in Mitzpeh. As our official representative, you shall convey to them as follows: We are mortified. We are highly disturbed by this horrendous action by the men of Givaah. They have assaulted a woman of Judah, a concubine though she may have been, in a fashion that is indeed most appalling. The tribes should rest assured that these men will be judged and convicted according to the Laws of Moses. The tribes’ representatives are welcome to view our court deliberations. However, we shall not, under any circumstances, allow others to override the system set up by Moses and established by Joshua his disciple. We shall not placate, we shall not bend to the overbearing will of our brothers, and we shall not bow before their threats. If they wish to test our swords, they shall find that this youngest of tribes is not without strength. Do I make myself clear, young Ehud?”

“You are clear, Prince Giltar, though we may yet regret such an unbending position. I request the right to interview the men in custody, as the tribes will surely ask me for details, and I would prefer to give them first hand impressions.”

“That is acceptable. Speak to the prisoners. Take whom you wish to Mitzpeh with you. In the meantime know that we shall prepare for war. Do not fool yourself that the case of this concubine is the root of the matter. The tribes have resented our ascendancy. They have ever pushed for unification and imposition of their will – especially your friends the Judeans. Yes, I choose you especially because of your friendship to the Nachshon clan and his grandson Boaz. Perhaps you shall persuade them to desist, but I have little hope. This has been a storm long in the coming and the Judeans have found their rallying call. Take swift horses, as in their fury they may even strike down a peaceful delegate. Be strong and of good courage, Ehud. This Council of Elders is dismissed.”

Ehud strode quickly out of the chamber and found Tamir lounging outside amongst various captains and officers. Tamir had arrived that afternoon after having successfully delivered the copper from Moav to Ehud’s smithy.

“Tamir, find Yakshal and tell him we need four fast horses. We ride tonight to Mitzpeh.”

“Are we going to war?” Tamir asked with a mixture of excitement and fear.

“Not if I can stop it,” Ehud answered. “Now hurry up. You two did a good job with the copper from Eglon and you might as well see how this disaster develops. Go on now. Meet back here by the end of the first watch. See to provisions as well. I will bring our fourth rider.”

Ehud found the house where the accused men were held. It was an old squat stone structure that had belonged to a widow whose name Ehud could not recall. The house had been converted to a prison years ago, as the number of people awaiting trial for violent crimes grew. Most prisoners were sentenced to lashes. It was a painful and humiliating punishment, but rarely satisfying to the criminal’s victims or their kin. However, it was the best the judges could do with what were often few reliable witnesses. The number of repeat offenders had also grown. These coarse men had become immune to the lashes. It did little to dissuade them.

Ehud knocked on the door of the house.

“Who seeks entry?” A guard within asked.

“Ehud son of Gerah, by order of the Council of Elders.”

The guard unbolted the door. He wore leather armor and held a spear in one hand. A long sword adorned his belt. Ehud entered the poorly lit house where just a handful of torches jutted sporadically from the walls. He saw two dozen men shackled to each other and the wall. The smell of unwashed bodies hit Ehud like a wave. Ignoring the foul odor, the blacksmith in Ehud first sought to see the quality of the shackles. He immediately spotted his own handiwork, some of the first shackles the tribe ever used. He remembered regretfully their need and his distaste in creating them. Other blacksmiths copied his design and he was just as happy to let others make such instruments of imprisonment. He noted the work of Emri, one of his former apprentices, shoddy, but functional. Emri never bothered to hammer consistently and Ehud could see the uneven texture of many of the shackles. Ehud saw shackles that were cracked at the edges. That must be the work of Bargel, Ehud thought. Bargel rarely got his casting temperature right and his work often cracked too early.

Ehud then looked at the prisoners in their shackles of various qualities. There was a dull, yet rough look in their eyes. Their hair was long and unkempt. Their beards had pieces of leaves, grass and food caught within. These were thieves and marauders that had not performed a day of honest work in years. Ehud sought the cleanest looking man. He found a tall, bulky man with stray hairs of white in his black beard.

“What is your name?” Ehud kicked the slumbering man on the floor.

“Who’s askin’?” the man asked opening his eyes. They were black. The white of his eyes was a web of red.

“I am Ehud son of Gerah and by the authority of the council I ask that you answer my questions.”

“Go ‘way.”

Ehud kicked the man hard in the shin.

“Ow! Could’ve asked nicer,” the man growled.

“What is your name?”

“Znumeh.”

“Znumeh, tell me what happened that night.”

“We were just havin’ some fun, that’s all.”

“Fun you call it? Raping and killing a woman? “

“We didn’t kill no woman. She was still alive an kickin’ when we finished with her. Anyways, was her man we really wanted, but that coward threw her to us. Good lookin’ woman too. We just couldn’t resist.”

“Sick. You are all sick. All of you!”

“Now listen here smith. We know you. Don’t go on lecturin’ us now. You Elders think you’re all righteous and tellin’ us what to do. But Givaah is our town. We own it. We do what we like. Strangers come to town, they need to pay some dues. With their flesh. They don’t like it, then don’t come to our town. You Elders make a big fuss, give us some lashes, but then you’ll be gone, back to your farms and sheep, and Givaah will still be ours. Go bother someone else.”

Ehud kicked Znumeh hard in the groin. Znumeh doubled over into fetal position on the floor, groaning in pain.

“You idiot! Your lust may well bring war upon us! The Judeans want blood! If it were up to me I would hand the lot of you over to the other tribes and let them kill you, but the Elders are making a political stand out of this debacle.”

“Didn’t kill nobody. Just havin’ fun.” Znumeh groaned as Ehud stomped out of the prison.

 

Ehud, Yakshal, Tamir and the fourth rider reached the mountain of Mitzpeh at the break of dawn. Hundreds of thousands of small tents littered the craggy landscape. Leather-clad soldiers exited their tents and proceeded to break camp. Tens of thousands of new soldiers from the eleven other tribes arrived from the four compass points of the land of Israel to join the hustle and bustle of the camp. Enterprising youngsters roamed up and down the impromptu campground, selling fresh pita and loaves of bread. There was a certain bawdy excitement about the gathering. Young men who had grown up on tales of the conquest of Canaan arrived with their father’s swords. Old soldiers who had never adjusted to farm life came with a wildness in their eyes.

“Our prince received her arm,” a young man of eastern Menasheh was telling a crowd of soldiers. He spoke with a lisp characteristic to his tribe.

“Which one?” a fat soldier asked.

“Does it matter?” the young Menashite answered. “He rode throughout our towns carrying the smelly tender arm. He proclaimed at each town: ‘This is the arm of a young maiden of Judah! She was raped and killed by the men of Benjamin. Has such a horror ever occurred amongst the Children of Israel? Shall we allow such a deed to go unpunished? We march upon Benjamin to demand justice!’”

“We got her leg!” the fat soldier shouted. “We shall kill those Benjaminites! I heard it was a whole town of them that raped the girl. Those Benjaminites have had it coming for a while. Why those arrogant ruffians! They think they can get away with murder. We will show them!”

“It seems war has been decided,” Yakshal whispered to Ehud as they passed the excited group. The scene was repeated over and over as the Benjaminites made their way through the camp. Groups described different grizzly body parts they had seen and how all the able-bodied men had rallied to the call of war. It hadn’t hurt that the early summer harvest was done and most of the men could spare a few weeks until the late harvest would start in earnest. Shepherds were notoriously absent from the army, but many accompanied the tribes, offering from their flock to the hungry men.

The riders reached the top of Mitzpeh and dismounted. Eleven large tents of the princes formed a circle on the clearing. A twelfth, smaller, but more ornate tent was set slightly beyond the circle. It would be the tent of Pinhas, the High Priest. Inside the circle of the tents was a large circle of men. The eleven princes were in the innermost circle in crisp white robes, together with their generals and captains of thousands. Surrounding them were captains of hundreds, and other judges and officers. Ehud, with his small group, squeezed themselves through the crowd to the innermost circle. He found himself between the delegation of the tribe of Judah on his right and the High Priest with his retinue on his left. Pinhas wore the beautiful blue robe of his office with the breastplate of the precious stones upon him.

“You are brave to have come, Ehud,” a tall redhead whispered to Ehud.

“Boaz!” Ehud embraced quickly with his former comrade. “The situation looks dire.”

“Indeed. Are you then the representative of your tribe? Did your prince fear coming?”

“He felt I would best represent our tribe on this issue, though we have little hope. Who is that?” Ehud pointed at a tall yet portly man stepping into the middle of the circle.

“Why, that is your accuser, the Levite, Gheda, the one whose concubine was killed. We know him well. He is a man of no small influence. And the girl was my cousin, Dramital from Bethlehem. Our Prince Elimelech is incensed. If you wish to forestall trouble, speak quickly.”

“To avenge a crime of national proportions, we have assembled,” Gheda proclaimed to the princes. “We have gathered as one man, to exact justice, vengeance and retribution from Benjamin our brother, for the hurt, the pain, the unforgivable sin it has committed upon the body of Israel. Shall we let such crimes go unnoted? Shall those that protect evil remain without blame? Is there any here that is not of like mind?”

“We are not,” Ehud stepped into the circle.

“And who might you be, whelp?” Gheda retorted savagely.

“I am Ehud son of Gerah, messenger of Prince Gilton of Benjamin and representative of our council of Elders, and I say that you err.”

“I err? I err!? Pray tell in what do I err, young man? Do not the pieces of my beloved lay strewn throughout the tribes of Israel? Was I not attacked and almost killed by the vicious murderers of your tribe? Has not your tribe refused to bring these murderers to justice?”

“He lies!” Ehud addressed the princes, realizing who needed convincing.

“Do you know who I am?” Gheda’s pale face reddened. “Do you know my ancestry, you from the youngest of tribes? How dare you accuse me? What evidence, what witnesses do you bring that you would defame me so?”

“I bring your host,” Ehud stated, and motioned for the fourth rider, an old man, to step into the circle.

“Princes of Israel,” Ehud addressed the princes, looking primarily at Elimelech and Pinhas, the High Priest. “This is not a court and this is not a trial in the formal sense. Rest assured that we shall try the guilty from our tribe and they shall receive the maximum punishment according to the Law of Moses, the law that binds us all. However, given the extreme circumstances and sensitivity of the crimes that were committed I have brought this witness here, and I will testify myself as to my findings, so that the truth will be disclosed and calm decisions reached.”

All the princes looked to Elimelech of Judah. The tribe of Judah was the one personally hurt and was the natural leader from amongst the tribes. Elimelech nodded to Ehud.

“We recognize you, Ehud son of Gerah, of Benjamin. Speak. Speak truthfully and concisely, for we have little patience for further stories and delays. It is a great evil that has occurred in Israel and Gheda is correct that things cannot remain as they have been. We must take responsibility for our errant brother, even if it means a painful lesson.”

“It is true that the woman from Judah was assaulted by the men of Givaah. For that they will be punished fully.”

“That is no punishment!” Gheda exclaimed.

“However, when this man” – Ehud pointed at Gheda – “left Givaah and the territory of Benjamin, the woman still lived! I do not know what possessed this illustrious Levite to cut her up into pieces, nor do we know if she was alive when he did so. I will not conjecture as to his political motivations in bringing us to war. However, what I do know for certain is that the men of Givaah did not kill that woman. They may be guilty of other crimes, but they are not guilty of murder!”

“This man is a witness?” Elimelech pointed at the old man.

“Yes, sir,” the old man bowed to Elimelech. “I am Natol of the tribe of Ephraim, though I have lived for some years in Givaah of Benjamin. I was there that horrible night. I gave sanctuary to Gheda, his woman and his servant. It was a frightful night that I will not forget for as long as live. I feared the men of Givaah. They are criminals that take and pillage at will. Unless you pay them. They generally leave me alone. I am poor and give them a monthly gift from my meager purse. I knew they were capable of great evil, which is why I insisted Gheda come into my house quickly. Someone must have seen him enter my house. By nightfall the house was surrounded and they were demanding Gheda come out to them, just as in the story of Sodom. However, no angels came to save us. Gheda threw his woman out to the rabble as one would throw a piece of meat to rabid dogs. We heard the men’s laughter and the woman’s screams throughout the night. At least my daughter and I did. Gheda seemed strangely pleased with himself, asked for a bed and promptly went to sleep, untroubled.”

“That is untrue!” Gheda interrupted. “I tossed and turned the entire night. But what could I do for her? I decided I might as well get some sleep.”

“He then woke up in the morning,” Natol continued, “opened the door and tells the half-dead girl on the doorstep “let’s go”. I had never seen a more callous act in my life. The poor girl had probably lost her mind already. She looked blankly at Gheda and fainted. Gheda hoisted her like the side of a cow and laid her on the back of his donkey. He trotted off without as much as a goodbye. The girl was still alive when she left Givaah.”

“You would believe him?” Gheda shouted. “You would take the word of this worthless wretch over mine? Is this evidence? The drivel of one tribeless man against a Levite? Against me? You would believe me a villain? A city-worth of men rape my woman, cause her to die and you cast aspersions of immorality upon me!? I did cut up her dead body as a sign and a message. A horrible thing had been done in Israel. I needed to wake up the tribes from their morass. We are gathered all together now. Princes, you know me. We have worked for years on our unification efforts. We are finally united in a purpose and goal as we have not been since the days of Joshua. Princes, are you men? Decide here and now, in front of all of Israel!”

“We shall decide, Gheda,” Elimelech said. “Ehud, my cousin is dead and dismembered by members of your tribe. I will not be appeased; we will not be appeased until the guilty stand in front of us for our judgment. I do not wish for stories or witnesses or promises of weak internal justice. You have until the end of the day to bring them here or we shall come fetch them ourselves with an army of all of Israel behind us. What say you, delegate of Benjamin, to that?”

Ehud looked at all the princes. He noticed Gheda’s smirk. He noticed Pinhas sitting quietly and sadly. Pinhas had remained silent though morosely attentive throughout the discussions.

“Since the days of Moses and Joshua, no tribe has judged its brother,” Ehud responded. “We have coexisted peacefully. We share the bonds of faith and marriage. The Law of Moses guides us all and the Tabernacle is our central place of worship, though few remember that unifying place. You would unify by violence what you did not achieve in peace? You would force justice down our throat? Is your interpretation of the Law superior to ours? Is strength of numbers the equivalent of truth of purpose? God has ever shown us otherwise. We too are a tribe of Israel! In this our council is adamant. We shall not give up our right, our responsibility, to judge our own. Delegates of yours are welcome to observe the trial for themselves and see how we follow the Law of Moses. But under no circumstances will we give them up. Prince Giltar added that if you think to come to us in force, the sons of Benjamin will be prepared with sharpened swords.”

“You leave us no choice then, son of Gerah. You bring this doom upon yourselves. The next time we meet shall be upon the battlefield. Run now, child of Benjamin. Run to your tribe. Tell them that the sons of Israel have gathered as we have not gathered since the destruction of the kings of Canaan. We come for justice. We come for vengeance. We come to right wrongs and to clear the land of its filth. Depart!”

Ehud looked at the stern faces of the princes. Without further word he turned to leave, heartbroken. From the corner of his eye he noted Pinhas, the High Priest of Israel. Tears streamed down Pinhas’ eyes, soiling his beautiful priestly garments.

* * * * * *

Biblical Sources:

Book of Judges, Chapter 19

Book of Judges, Chapter 20

Special thanks to Dr. Yael Ziegler for her crash course on the Book of Judges and special insights into these stories. Many of the ideas here are drawn from her, particularly the horrific textual possibility that the concubine was not dead when she was dismembered…

5771, Boaz, Book of Joshua, Caleb, Elimelech, Fiction, Joshua, Pinhas, Ploni, Warrior Prophets

Warrior Prophets – Chapter 30: Wedding Crashers

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Warrior Prophets Chapter 30

Wedding Crashers

Yered, still cloaked, watched the wedding proceedings from a nearby alleyway. Risto clung to his back, completing Yered’s disguise as a hunchback. Yered kept smacking Risto’s hairy tail that flicked in and out of the cloak. They were surprised by the velocity of the Philistine attack upon Bethlehem and the large armored man who had made it through the gates.

“Your former master, that is?” Yered asked Risto as they watched Akavish fight Caleb near the city gate.

Risto chittered affirmatively.

“Frightening, he has become.”

Risto agreed and chittered a few choice curses, caressing his own prosthetic wooden arm.

“Most dangerous, he is. Lessened, danger will be if we stop him. Small threat, Raskul is.” He pointed at Raskul slowly making his way towards the fallen wedding canopy, as guests and residents ran for cover. A handful of people lay dead or injured in the city plaza. Arrows rained down on Bethlehem from outside the walls. Joshua stood in the center of the plaza, immobile behind the wedding canopy. He stood with eyes closed, head and palms heavenward, guarded by Boaz, with Vered standing next to Boaz.

Risto jumped up and down under Yered’s cloak.

“Patience, Risto,” Yered told the monkey. “When absolutely needed, enter fray and reveal ourselves we will.”

Risto chittered wildly, pointing at a fallen Caleb on the ground. The clear blue skies suddenly turned overcast, with dark heavy clouds rolling in, as Boaz ran to intercept Akavish’s claw before it impaled the unconscious Caleb. Boaz knocked the claw aside with his sword, but could not get through Akavish’s metal armor and helmet. However, Akavish was unable to injure the faster Boaz. Akavish finally turned from Boaz and walked towards Vered with his claw pointed at her.

The entire city shook as the Philistine battering ram smashed through the wooden gate ofBethlehem, scattering the Israelite defenders. A river of Philistines poured into the city, with Boaz the only one in their way to stop their surge.

Yered saw Raskul approach Vered menacingly. Boaz looked wildly between the approaching Philistine army and his bride. Vered was threatened by both Akavish and Raskul. Joshua stood oblivious as a statue next to Vered. Thunder rumbled in the previously clear summer sky.

“Needed, we are,” Yered said as he removed his cloak. “To split up, it is time.”

Akavish aimed his claw at Vered and reached for the lever that would launch his poisonous projectiles.

“Boaz!” Yered yelled. “Protect your woman, we shall. Focus on fighting Philistines, you should.”

Risto jumped off of Yered’s back and with a wild screech launched himself at Akavish’s head, blocking his view. Akavish tried impaling the monkey with his claw. Risto climbed to Akavish’s back and wrapped his tail around the eye slits of Akavish’s helmet.

“Risto?” Akavish hollered incredulously. “You are stopping me? After all these years, this is how you greet me? I will squash you as the insignificant creature you are!”

≈

“Greetings, seeker,” Yered addressed Raskul’s back.

Startled, Raskul turned around. “Ancient One? What are you doing here?”

“Harm I encouraged, preventing I am.”

“What harm is that?”

“Revenge. As friend to an enemy, you are appearing.”

Raskul’s face turned crimson. “I meant no harm. Just introducing myself to the lovely bride of my old friend.”

“Who are you?” Vered aimed her wooden pole at the ancient Yered.

“Of Boaz, an acquaintance. Yered son of Job.” He smiled, showing his golden teeth.

“You, I’ve heard well of.” Vered lowered her pole. “You saved Boaz from the mines of Timna.”

“To save again, I have come. In mortal danger you are.” Yered pointed at Akavish struggling with the monkey on his back.

≈

Boaz looked from the rapidly approaching Philistine army, to Akavish and to Vered. There is no way I can split myself to tackle Akavish and his army. What do I do!? Boaz agonized. Then he heard Yered’s call and saw a wooden-armed Risto flying at Akavish’s head. Thank you, God! Boaz thought fervently. Please keep her safe.

Boaz ran into the approaching Philistine army and slashed recklessly into their front. Half a dozen soldiers fell from his first blow. A deluge poured from the sky as thunder and lighting rocked the walls of Bethlehem. Philistine soldiers slipped on the wet stones as the front line came to a standstill under Boaz’s onslaught. Boaz fought with a fury he did not recall. You come to my home? Boaz thought angrily at the intruders. You threaten my family? My bride? On my wedding day!? Boaz slashed and hacked through the Philistine lines, moving like a whirlwind. Dozens of Philistines fell to Boaz’s ferocity.

≈

Elimelech ran back and forth on the western ramparts of Bethlehem, killing one Philistine invader after another. His men were holding up against the endless barrage, but he knew they would shortly falter. More scaling ladders were propped against the wall uncontested. More Philistine soldiers were reaching the ramparts and engaging his men. Most of the dead on the ramparts were Philistine. The number of the Philistine dead outnumbered the Israelites living. But soon the living Philistines would overwhelm the defenders of Bethlehem. Zuki had fallen, and his brother Achi with him. Lerel would never walk again and Drami would never see. Avli would not return to his pregnant wife and Brenyah would not rejoin his nine children. Friends, relatives and neighbors fell to the Philistine arrows and swords. Yet Elimelech pushed on, encouraging his men with his spirit and his sword. Somewhere inside of him, though, his spirit broke. He could not bear this tragedy, this hardship, this pain. Why, God? he asked, as he stabbed with his sword a large Philistine wielding a mace. How can you let this happen? Why must we suffer so?

As if in response, a bolt of lighting cracked upon one of the Philistine ladders, incinerating the dozen soldiers on and around it. Then another flash struck from the sky followed rapidly by yet another. Three, four, five fires burned in the pouring rain against the walls of Bethlehem.

Thank you, God, Elimelech thought, as the tide on the western wall turned to the Israelites favor. But why the suffering? Elimelech looked at his dead and crippled men. I cannot bear to see my people suffer.

≈

Ploni awoke to the sound of thunder and the cold rain on his body. He saw the throngs of Philistines march through the broken gate, felt his own broken bones and fainted from the pain.

≈

An arrow shot the flying Pinhas out of the sky. He landed hard on the eastern ramparts. He lost consciousness amongst the dead bodies of the Philistines and Israelites. Philistines overran the eastern wall, killing the last Israelite defenders on that rampart, and poured into the city. Krafus smiled from outside the gates where he could see his soldiers joining the phalanx in the plaza.

≈

“No!!” Akavish howled at the rain, “the water will dilute my poison!” With his healthy hand, Akavish finally grabbed hold of Risto and threw him into the sky. Akavish shot his remaining poisoned darts at the monkey. Risto twisted mid-air and avoided the deadly barrage as he landed safely on one of the courtyard houses.

“Blasted monkey. I will deal with you later. First to kill the bride, while Boaz is occupied with my men.” Akavish step over the still prone body of Caleb on the ground, pointed his claw at the redheaded girl and let loose his stars of death.

≈

Joshua felt the cold rain on his closed eyelids. God had given him the keys to the skies and he was determined to use it well. He sensed the thousands of Philistines attacking the walls. Through his closed eyes he saw the hundreds pouring through the destroyed gate. He felt every Israelite death and injury. Elimelech, leading the defense on the western wall, the hardest hit, was on the edge of despair. Joshua flicked his wrist and lightning struck a ladder filled with Philistines right next to Elimelech. Joshua moved his fingers again and another lighting bolt struck a Philistine ladder. Again and again Joshua expertly moved his fingers as a conductor guiding an invisible orchestra. Lightning fell upon critical attack points, stemming the tide of the Philistine invasion. He noted the curious monkey struggling with the metal beast, and the slowly stirring Caleb on the ground. He was pleased to see Boaz holding the center. He sensed Vered confronting two men. He turned his attention to the eastern wall in time to see Pinhas shot down and the wall overrun. We shall need assistance from another source, he told God, the bolts are not enough, as he continued to conduct the lighting from the sky.

≈

“I must protect Joshua,” Vered said to Yered and Raskul as she stood closer to the praying leader amidst the thunderstorm. “He is bringing the lightning and the rain, and that is probably the only thing giving us an advantage.” She looked anxiously at Boaz sprinting amongst the Philistine army, mowing down line after line of soldiers. How long can he last? she wondered.

Raskul followed Vered’s gaze and saw her fear and longing for Boaz. He had never seen such a look of love. At once he was both amazed and insanely jealous of Boaz. Look at him risk his life, Raskul thought in wonder. Look at his speed. His deadliness. One man against an entire army. Scribes shall write of this. And she loves him, she truly loves him. What a woman. Brave and beautiful! How could I come between such love?

“Go to safety,” Raskul commanded, as he drew his long knife and faced the Philistines by the gate. “I shall watch over your leader.”

He turned in time to see Akavish launch a whirling metallic disc at Vered. Raskul jumped in front of Vered. The star of death cut Raskul’s arm and then embedded itself in Vered’s shoulder.

Both Raskul and Vered fell to the floor writhing in agony.

≈

Boaz’s heart shattered as he saw Akavish launch his star of death at Vered. He was amazed to see Raskul jump to intercept the star and then heartbroken to see him and Vered collapse. Something in him died. Unconsciously he slowed down. What do I have to live for now? he thought morosely. One Philistine tripped him. A dozen fell on him. He was trapped under an avalanche of soldiers. This is it, Boaz thought. Both of us die on our wedding day. He shed a tear in the pouring rain.

Then he heard the trumpeting. It was a ram’s horn. Amitai! That’s Amitai’s horn. The militia. He has brought the militia.

“Boaz,” he heard Vered call out softly. She still lives! There is hope! I will not die by these uncircumcised heathens! Boaz hacked frantically at the Philistines covering him, and then spun wildly, slashing at the bodies around him. He launched himself off the ground powerfully and cut all around him like a tornado through a field of wheat. He saw Akavish walking to the downed Vered, apparently to finish the job. He saw Yered and Risto tending to Vered. Boaz ran at Akavish and tackled him, both falling to the ground, the metal of Akavish’s armor banging loudly on the wet stones.

≈

Yered whistled loudly and shrilly as he kneeled next to the prone bodies of Raskul and Vered. In moments Risto was on his shoulder, chittering heatedly.

“Yes,” Yered agreed. “Poisoned, they both are. Seconds, we have. Your arm, give me.”

Risto opened the panel on his wooden arm.

Yered ran his finger quickly over the small compartments in Risto’s arm. “Thyme, Silverweed, Anise, Celandine, Alkanel, Buckthorn. Yes. Buckthorn. For poison, only hope. A few moments, it will take.”

Yered took the crushed leaves, placed them in his mouth and chewed them vigorously with his golden teeth.

“Risto. Cup and water, fetch,” Yered commanded. Risto shut his wooden arm closed to keep his store of leaves dry and hopped away. He returned moments later, sloshing water in a clay mug.

“Ancient One,” Raskul groaned. “Save her first.”

“My intent, it was,” Yered answered through a mouthful of saliva and leaves. “Though a noble act of yours, I did not expect. Fortunate, you are, that the rain diluted the poison. Otherwise, dead you would already be.”

“Boaz,” Vered moaned, her eyes fluttering to semi-consciousness.

Yered spat his mouthful of chewed leaves into the cup and stirred the mixture with his finger. He lifted Vered’s mouth and brought the cup to her lips.

“Fully, drink. Save you, it may.”

Vered drank greedily from the cup and lost consciousness, the grimace of pain easing from her face.

“I feel my life ebbing,” Raskul croaked. “There is no time.”

“A few more moments, hold on,” Yered ordered, as he stuffed fresh Buckthorn leaves in his mouth.

“No. I have been a scoundrel my entire life. I would rather leave having done something good. Farewell, Ancient One.” Raskul forced a dry raspy cough.

“To die, in such a rush you are?”

“I have nowhere else to go.”

Raskul closed his eyes, breathed a last rattling breath, and was still, forever.

“Bah!” Yered spat the leaves on the ground. “Taste of Buckthorn hate. Waste of good leaves, it is.”

He turned to see Boaz struggling with Akavish, the regrouping Philistine army and the lightning blazing across the sky.

≈

“You will not succeed.” Boaz smashed his sword ineffectively against Akavish’s armored side.

“I already have. Your gate is broken. My army is on and within the walls. Your bride is dying in painful agony and shortly so will you.” Akavish answered with a slash of his metal claw to Boaz’s head. Boaz ducked, kicking Akavish in the midriff. Caleb, on the floor behind them, opened his eyes and looked at the fighting in a daze.

They heard the ram’s horn again.

“You hear that, Akavish?” Boaz said triumphantly. “God sends us our salvation.”

Smoke exploded amongst the Philistines at the gate. The rain, thunder, lighting and smoke completely disoriented the Philistine soldiers. When the smoke cleared, Akavish was shocked to see the Philistines split into two, with a wedge of Israelites cutting a swath through the Philistine ranks. Boaz saw Amitai and young Ehud at the lead, cleaving the Philistine army.

“I will not be denied!” Akavish head-butted Boaz with his metal helmet. Boaz, dazed, took a step back. Akavish pointed his claw at Boaz, ready to fire.

“Hey! Ugly!” Ehud called out. Ehud was a short brown-haired youth with a muscular build. He wore a simple, but blood-smeared, rain-soaked tunic, and held a short sword in each hand. Akavish turned to look at the new voice.

“Yes, you, metal-face,” Ehud continued as he approached Akavish. “I’m talking about you. Are you so horrific that you need to hide your face behind a mask? Is this the powerful King Akavish that is too cowardly to show his face?”

“I will kill you miscreant, for your affront.” Akavish fired his stars of death at Ehud. Ehud spun out of the way, letting the stars kill Philistines behind him.

“You’ll have to do better than that, loser.”

“Die!” Akavish yelled and ran at Ehud.

Ehud ran at Akavish, a sword in each hand and jumped into the air. With one sword Ehud knocked Akavish’s claw aside. The other sword he stabbed into the eye-slit of Akavish’s helmet.

“Argh!!” Akavish screamed in agony as the tip of Ehud’s blade blinded his right eye.

“Now, Boaz. His arm,” Ehud called.

A recovered Boaz together with Ehud grabbed the sides of Akavish’s claw and pulled forcefully. Caleb, fully awake, crawled behind Akavish, and grabbed both his legs. Ehud raised his own leg onto Akavish’s chest for leverage as Akavish struggled against the Israelite warriors, with Ehud’s short sword still stuck in his eye-slit. Finally the metallic arm came off, revealing a pink fleshy stump that ended a few inches below the shoulder.

As Caleb kept Akavish’s legs pinned to the ground, the large Philistine screamed again and clawed the wet air uselessly with his healthy hand. “My arm! My arm!”

“Do not fear, old friend,” Boaz said, turning the heavy metallic device around. “We’re borrowing it for just a moment.”

Boaz slammed the edge of the claw into Akavish’s pinky stump. The force of the impact let loose the five different poisons and acids Akavish had stored in his arm and launched the rest of his stars of death and arrows at point-blank range. Akavish’s shoulder exploded inside his armor leaving a blackened stump of dripping flesh. There was not enough flesh for all the different and now combined poisons Akavish had carried. A wave of black ooze quickly disintegrated Akavish’s chest, appendages and finally his head. A sickly dark vapor wafted up to the thunderous clouds. Nothing remained of Akavish except for an empty armor and his metallic claw. Caleb rolled away from the steaming armor.

“Good.” Ehud kicked the empty armor. “I had no interest in burying this sicko anyway.”

“The fight is not over.” Boaz clasped Caleb’s arm, raising him from the floor and turned back to the gate. Fresh Philistine troops arrived from the eastern wall, amidst the lightning and rain.

From outside the gate, Krafus raised his hand.

“Retreat! Retreat!” the Philistines called. “Akavish is dead! Retreat!”

Just as quickly as they had attacked, they pulled back.

Amitai and the Israelite militiamen pulled further into the city, letting the Philistines depart unchallenged.

“Make sure it’s not a trick,” Boaz told Ehud. “I’m going to Vered.”

Boaz ran and reached Vered, who was very still on the floor. Caleb followed behind him.

“Live, she shall,” Yered said to Boaz.

“What about Raskul?” Boaz asked.

“Dead. Saved her life, he did. Deep within him, good he had.”

“I told you he was likable,” Caleb added.

“I will treasure this act of his, no matter how poorly I thought of him,” said Boaz.

The lightning and thunder stopped. The clouds dissipated quickly on a gentle southern breeze. The sun was a bright red on the western horizon. Joshua awoke from his trance, his robe and white beard soaked. “It is over. They have retreated. That was close.”

“Thank God,” Boaz said.

“Indeed,” Joshua agreed. “Now we need to tend to the wounded and bury our dead. Yered, we are in your and your monkey’s debt once again. You have come to us unbidden in our time of need. First to rescue Boaz, and now to save Bethlehem and all of us. May God grant you all the blessings of your father Job, on you and your descendents.”

“Pfah,” Yered spat. “Blessings, already received, I have. Though, that you acknowledge my father, happy I am. To clear my conscience, I have come. Bless monkey instead.”

“Very well. Monkey, may God ease your pain.” Joshua touched Risto’s arm. “And may He reward your noble actions.”

Risto jumped up and down excitedly on Yered’s shoulder.

“Yes,” Yered agreed with Risto. “Well spoken this youngling is. Risto thanks you and to you and your people wishes well. Our time to depart, it is. Brave warrior, farewell,” Yered bowed to Boaz. “A long and blissful life with your bride may you have. An uncommon woman she is. Treasure her.”

Yered walked to the exit of the city, with Risto on his shoulder, waving his tail merrily in the air. They noted the residents of the city tending the wounded. The healthy soldiers covered the corpses and moved them outside the gates of the city. Two weary soldiers took the body of Raskul, while Vered’s parents returned to tend to the bride asleep on the floor.

At the broken gate of Bethlehem, Yered bowed to an old Philistine walking in, escorted by Amitai and Ehud. The two Israelites and the Philistine in the middle reached Joshua, Caleb and Boaz.

“I am Krafus of Ashkelon,” the old Philistine announced to them. “And I ask for parley. I wish to explain and to apologize, for we did not pursue this battle whimsically. We have been ruled these last years by a tyrant, the metal warrior Akavish. Our people have been in mortal terror of him. His madness, his paranoia, his hatred of the living, his random murders, almost destroyed our city and our people. We tried to depose him, to kill him, but nothing worked. Then we played on his hatred and fear of you Israelites, and you in particular, Boaz, in the hopes that you would do what we could not. If you did not kill him, we would have gained your territory. But our hope was that you would succeed. That is why we retreated as soon as the tyrant was destroyed. We had no wish to fight your lightning and sorcerer’s powers. We thank you. You have done us a great service.”

“You have done us great harm,” Joshua said, “to bring war to our homes. I do not believe that the Philistines are so peaceful or benevolent that you do not harbor further ambitions against us. But I see that you have achieved your prime mission of eliminating your ruler. Admirably crafty. He thought he had his army with him, when they were ever at a distance. Go in peace for now, Krafus. We accept your apology, but not your explanation. We shall ever be wary of you Philistines. Ehud, see Krafus safely out of our walls.”

Krafus bowed to the Israelites and left towards the gate with Ehud.

Boaz hugged Amitai.

“You came just in time,” Boaz said. “I thought this was the end. It was worse than when the Amonites ambushed us at Nurad.”

“I didn’t want to miss your wedding. How is Vered?”

“She will live. She rests.”

“I’ve had enough resting,” Vered said feebly from the floor. “What happened?”

“We won,” Boaz answered. “Akavish is dead and the Philistines have retreated. Raskul, Yered and Risto saved your life. Raskul died. He tried to stop Akavish’s star of death with his own body.”

Pinhas, Elimelech, Boaz’s parents and other friends and relatives returned to the wet and fallen wedding canopy. Pinhas winced with every step, a broken arrow shaft still protruding from his shoulder.

“High Priest,” Vered addressed Pinhas from the ground as her parents helped her sit up. “Would you still marry us? The marriage contract was penned for today and the sun has not yet set.”

Pinhas looked at Joshua and then answered Vered. “Today and this week will be a time of bereavement for many of us. All of us will have relatives and friends that have died today. Do you still wish to proceed, knowing that your week of celebration shall be a week of mourning for everyone else?”

“I share in the sadness and the mourning,” Vered said, standing up unsteadily, supported on either side by her parents. “But I want to show our city that this attack cannot stop us, will not stop us. They dared attack us unprovoked, and by the grace of God we were victorious. I will not compound our grief by denying our joy, our celebration.”

Joshua smiled and nodded at Pinhas.

“I take it neither you, nor Boaz has lost immediate relatives.”

Boaz’s father, Saalmon, spoke. “I have not seen my brother, Ploni. I do not know if he is amongst the living or the dead.”

“I saw him, brother,” Elimelech said. “He was badly injured at the gate, but he lives.”

“I will not hold up the sun for this,” Joshua said, “so I suggest we conduct a brief ceremony. The bride, groom, and their immediate families should have a modest celebration. The rest of us shall help with burying the dead, caring for the sick and comforting the mourners. This was a heavy blow for us, but the spirit of this new couple will soften the blow and put a smile on the face of the mourners. Life does go on!”

 “Boaz, the ring,” Pinhas asked.

Boaz searched the ground and, incredibly, found the ring right where he had dropped it. Joshua, Caleb, Elimelech and Amitai raised the tattered canopy above the couple.

“Boaz, place the ring on the second finger of Vered’s right hand and repeat after me: Hereby you are betrothed to me with this ring, according to the law of Moses andIsrael.”

Boaz gave the bloody sword he was still holding to Amitai and then gently slid the ring onto Vered’s extended finger. Though wet and dirty, Vered glowed joyfully.

In a powerful voice, Boaz declared: “Hereby you are betrothed to me with this ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel!”

“Betrothed, betrothed, betrothed!” everyone sang.

Boaz took Vered’s hand. “Finally,” he said.

“Yes. Finally. I’m glad you had your sword handy and just as glad you’ve given it to Amitai. Let’s go.”

Vered and Boaz walked hand in hand to their new house.

“May they build a steadfast house inIsrael,” Joshua blessed the departing couple.

“Amen,” everyone answered, as the sun set on the city ofBethlehem.

* * * * * *

Notes:

While there is no recorded battle betweenIsraeland the Philistines during the time of Joshua, there are multiple elements of the story that are drawn from the Prophets:

There were multiple battles (many of whichIsraellost) with the Philistines especially, during the times of the Judges, Saul and David.

We have a couple of instances of a man single-handedly defeating an army, most notably Samson against the Philistines.

Though there is no record of Joshua calling for additional miracles, the Prophet Samuel is recorded as having called for a thunderous lighting storm during a clear summer day.

Naomi (mentioned in last week’s story) and Elimelech do marry.

Ploni and Elimelech were uncles of Boaz.

The Midrash writes of the greatness of Elimelech but blames him for later abandoningBethlehemand his people in their time of need during the famine.

5771, Boaz, Book of Joshua, Caleb, Elimelech, Fiction, Joshua, Naomi, Pinhas, Ploni, Warrior Prophets

Warrior Prophets – Chapter 29: Prenuptial Warfare

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Warrior Prophets Chapter 29

Prenuptial Warfare

Raskul rode his donkey cautiously on the road to Bethlehem. He passed the city of Hebron uneventfully and tried to enjoy the view of the rolling vineyards and olive groves of the Judean Mountains. The cool summer breeze dissipated the heat of the afternoon sun. Nonetheless, he was anxious about the coming encounter. In the distance he could make out the walled city of Bethlehem surrounded by acres and acres of wheat fields.

A rider on a chestnut horse approached Raskul from behind. He was a tall man with a flaming red and white beard and a broad grin.

“Greetings, traveler,” the man called out as he matched Raskul’s pace.

“Greetings, my lord,” Raskul nodded to the princely man.

“My name is Caleb. Who are you?” The man inquired.

“I am Raskul of the Kenites,” he said, adding quickly, “no enemy of the Israelites.”

“Welcome, Raskul. What brings you to the tribe of Judah?”

“A wedding.”

“You’re an acquaintance of Boaz, then?” Caleb asked jovially.

“A f-friend,” Raskul stuttered.

“I’m his uncle and am also traveling to Bethlehem. Let us ride together to the city.”

Neither of them noticed a hunchback figure in a long cloak riding behind them. From the folds of the cloak a hairy tail peeked out.

≈

“Why do we need to be on duty today?” Eran complained to Yashen.

“Someone needs to.” Yashen yawned.

The two of them stood on the eastern tower of the city gate. The gate of Bethlehem was a large stone arch with two swinging heavy oak doors. The gate faced north, towards nearby Jerusalem. They could barely make out the walls of Jerusalem through the summer haze.

“It’s a waste of time, I say,” Eran continued. “We should be down there mingling with all the guests.”

Yashen looked at the stonework city plaza within the gates where a growing number of people gathered. Long tables with freshly baked cakes stood next to the stone homes that surrounded the plaza.

“The whole Nachshon clan makes it look like a meeting of redheads,” Yashen commented. “I’d be interested in a Benjaminite brunette myself.”

“I think Naomi is the prettiest girl in town,” Eran sighed. “But looks like Elimelech has already made his move.” He pointed at the two redheads standing close to each other.

“Good day, men,” a commanding voice called to them from the gate.

Eran and Yashen turned around to see an old man with a long flowing white beard. Next to him was a middle-aged bearded man, with bright eyes. Both rode gray donkeys.

“Our Master, Joshua. High Priest Pinhas. Welcome,” Eran blurted.

“Thank you, young man. What is your name?” Joshua, the old leader ofIsrael, asked.

“Eran son of Haser.”

“Eran,” Joshua instructed. “Though I know you would much rather be down at the celebration, I would advise you to take your duty seriously. We have been blessed with years of peace here, in no small part thanks also to the recent efforts of our groom. Nonetheless, we must remain vigilant.”

“Yes, Joshua,” Eran said. “Though I hear rumors of a new warrior leading the militia together with Amitai.”

“Ehud of Benjamin. I have met him. Cunning and sharp. But I’ve also heard rumors of the Moabites regaining their strength and for some reason I have an ominous feeling today. Keep your eyes open.”

“Yes, sir!” Eran and Yashen responded.

“Good. Carry on.” Joshua commanded and rode off with a smiling Pinhas. 

≈

“Hello, Boaz,” Raskul said nervously.

Boaz turned around from talking with his uncle Ploni.

“Raskul?” Boaz said, surprised.

“Yes, I thought I’d join you on this day of celebration.”

“Why, thank y-. Wait. Someone give me a sword! I vowed to kill you on sight, you backstabbing, traitorous wretch. How dare you come here on this day? Ploni, fetch me a sword.”

“Now, now, now, Boaz.” Raskul raised his hands. “Let’s not be so hasty. I swear, I won’t swear by any of the gods, which I know annoys you so much. You are a forgiving people. A gracious people. Is this how you would treat an old journey-mate?”

“What’s the matter, Boaz? What did he do? He seems like a pleasant enough fellow,” Caleb asked.

“He tried to sell me and Amitai into slavery. He is a snake that should be killed without hesitation. Ploni, what are you waiting for? Run into my father’s house and get me my sword.”

“On your wedding day you will kill a defenseless man?” Ploni asked.

“Perhaps you’re right. Get some rope and let’s bind him and I can kill him tomorrow.”

“One moment, Boaz,” Caleb interceded. “I realize this man has done you great wrong, and had terrible intentions, which in the end did not materialize. He has come to you on your wedding day, knowing your anger towards him, in order to make amends. I think that in the spirit of this day you should forgive him.”

“Fine. Ploni, please bring me my sword in any case. I don’t trust this uncircumcised lout for a moment. His coming is a bad omen. The sword will be a good reminder to keep him from wagging his idolatrous tongue. I will slice it off, Raskul, if you so much as think the wrong way.”

“You are kind as always,” Raskul mock bowed. “Where is your mate Amitai? He was always the better spoken one of you two.”

“Amitai is at the front leading the militia. If it weren’t for criminals like you, he might have been here to celebrate with me.”

“You are too harsh, Boaz. I never actively harmed someone. Perhaps I tried to make some silver off the misfortunes of others, but I never lifted a finger against someone in anger.”

“No, just out of greed. You are incorrigible, Raskul, and I will be happy once you leave.”

“May I stay to see you successfully married?”

“Yes. But one wrong word and you will regret having ventured toBethlehem.”

“Enough, Boaz,” Caleb interjected. “I’ll keep an eye on your friend. I see Joshua and Pinhas have arrived and the guests look ready. Let’s get started.”

≈

Eran and Yashen looked dutifully to the east, across the Jordan River from where the Moabites would logically approach, while keeping half an eye on the northern road from Jerusalem. The eastern front was quiet as the sun started its slow descent to the west. A group of twenty cloaked horsemen trotted leisurely towards the gate. Eran was the first to notice them approaching the gate.

“More friends of Boaz?” Eran pointed out to Yashen.

“Must be. They are heavily armed. Either some militiamen or some former captains of hundreds or thousands. But why are they so covered up in this heat?”

“Something is not right. They are wearing heavy armor under their cloaks. Where is that trumpet. Pass me the trumpet, Yashen.” Eran said urgently. Yashen reached for the trumpet in the corner of the tower and handed it to Eran.

Suddenly, from amongst the riders, a giant of a man, completely covered in armor, with a metal helmet that enveloped his head, galloped at breakneck speed towards the gate. He aimed his right arm at the two watchmen. An arrow shot out of the man’s arm and hit Eran in the shoulder before he could blow the trumpet. The trumpet clattered to the floor as Eran fell, writhing in agony. Yashen reached for the trumpet, but was pierced by an arrow to the abdomen before he could touch the bright metal rolling on the floor. The last thing he saw was an army of thousands approaching Bethlehem from the west with scaling ladders and a large battering ram.

The other horsemen raced after their leader towards the open gate of Bethlehem.

≈

Boaz stood under the wedding canopy that was erected close to the gate of the city. Vered walked around him slowly seven times, smiling shyly. They were both in white. Boaz wore a new long white tunic and Vered was in a flowing dress of white cotton, with gentle white lilies adorning her flaming red hair. Boaz and Vered’s parents stood under the canopy together with Pinhas, who was officiating. The canopy was constructed of a large white shawl supported by four long wooden poles. Joshua and Caleb held the front poles and Elimelech and Ploni held the back ones. A large assembly filled the town square.

“Do you have the ring?” Pinhas asked.

“Elimelech?” Boaz asked his uncle.

“Of course, of course. Here it is.” Elimelech retrieved an unadorned gold ring from his pouch. As he handed the ring to Boaz, they were distracted by the sound of loud galloping. The ring dropped and Boaz bent down to pick it up. An arrow whizzed by where he had been standing and struck an elderly man beyond the canopy. It hit the man in the leg. The man immediately fell to the ground, where he convulsed and then stopped breathing.

“Take cover!” Joshua commanded as he lowered the canopy to cover the wedding party. “We’re under attack!” Several more arrows punctured the canopy. One hit a woman’s arm. In seconds she was on the floor, dead.

“Poison!” Caleb yelled, as he looked at the victims.

They all saw the twenty horsemen approach the gates with a metal giant in the lead.

“Caleb,” Joshua ordered, stepping naturally into the role of command. “The gates. Pinhas. The walls. Elimelech. Ploni. Organize the men. Boaz, with me. The rest of you, into the houses.”

Caleb moved like a blur to the gate. He closed one door before the invaders arrived. As he was closing the second one, he saw the metal giant would make it in. He was surprised to see an older, familiar-looking attacker motion with his hands for the rest of the riders to slow down. The intruder made it past the swinging door. Caleb shut and bolted the gate shut. The metal giant kept galloping towards the wedding party and the fallen canopy. Caleb raced after the rider and launched himself at him, knocking him off the horse. The rider clanged heavily on the plaza stonework, cursing as he stood himself up. Caleb rolled as he fell and was on his feet in a moment facing the invader.

“I’m not interested in you, old man,” the intruder with the metal face said. Only two slits for the eyes and one for the mouth revealed darkness within. “But I’ll kill you just as well.” He pointed his arm at Caleb, turned a dial on it with his left hand and a metal dart shot out. Caleb ducked and the dart struck a young boy who had been running for cover. The boy fell, convulsed, and was still.

Caleb launched himself at the intruder and tackled him to the floor. Caleb struck a series of blows at the metal clad warrior to no effect. The intruder tried hammering at Caleb with his metallic arm, but Caleb was faster.

“Out of my way! It is Boaz I want!” the intruder bellowed.

“Akavish, isn’t it? Caleb breathed heavily as the metallic arm missed him by a hairsbreadth. “And that was Krafus with you.”

“Yes. I am King Akavish of Ashkelon and soon I will rule your people as well.”

Akavish grabbed Caleb with his massive healthy arm and tried to stab him with his metallic claw. Caleb wriggled and punched, avoiding the claw, but unable to escape Akavish’s grasp. Frustrated, Akavish threw Caleb above him into the air and then shot three darts in rapid succession at Caleb’s falling body. Caleb managed to contort his body and avoid all the darts, but as he fell he struck his head on the side of Akavish’s metallic arm, falling to the floor, unconscious.

≈

Pinhas, the High Priest, closed his eyes for a moment as he stood behind the wedding canopy and then quickly levitated. He flew towards the gate tower, as he watched Caleb reach the doors. He saw two dead watchmen at the eastern tower, where he landed. On the western side thousands of Philistine troops ran towards the walls ofBethlehem. Pinhas spotted the tall scaling ladders and the massive, metal-tipped battering ram. Elimelech and Ploni approached the stairs to the eastern tower.

“Elimelech,” Pinhas called down. “Assemble your men at the western wall. The first wave of attackers will be there in moments. Ploni. You will need to get men to reinforce the gate. The Philistines have a gargantuan battering ram and your oak gates will not last long under their onslaught. Go! I’ll see what I can do from the air.”

Pinhas took to the air as the first ladder abutted the wall. Half a dozen men were on the ladder and one reached the top of the wall before Pinhas reached them. Pinhas flew feet first into the Philistine on the rampart and knocked him over the two-story wall. He then grabbed the top of the ladder, and with all the Philistines on it, pushed it backwards. Ladder and soldiers fell on the troops below. Pinhas flew and knocked over ladder after ladder, weaving in and out of a rain of arrows from below, until Elimelech reached the rampart, followed by a few dozen defenders.

“There are thousands!” Elimelech stood gaping at the hordes massing under the walls.

“You’re just in time,” Pinhas landed, exhausted. “I need a rest. Keep the ladders off as long as you can. I see they are massing on the eastern wall. I will hold them off until we can get reinforcements on that side. God be with you.” Pinhas flew to the eastern wall of the city as half a dozen new ladders landed simultaneously on the western wall, followed by a barrage of arrows.

≈

Joshua calmly observed the maelstrom of metal jousting with Caleb. He noted the dead victims of the poisoned arrows and darts. He closed his eyes and sensed the thousands of Philistines crashing against Bethlehem like stormy waves upon the shore.

“Looks like your childhood nemesis has returned with some friends,” Joshua said to Boaz and Vered, all hiding behind the pockmarked wedding canopy.

“Akavish with Philistines? That metal monster is Akavish?” Boaz asked, incredulous.

“He has an amusing way of celebrating your wedding. We need to stop them, but we’re going to need some help. I’m going to pray. Guard me while I focus my attention. Salvation will come from the sky.”

Without further word, Joshua stood up, closed his eyes and turned his head heavenward. Boaz stood up, with sword in hand, watching for any arrows that might threaten Joshua as he concentrated on his communion with God.    

“You know this attacker?” Vered pointed at Akavish struggling with Caleb.

“He has wanted me dead since I was a kid. Last I heard he was king ofAshkelon.”

“Was he upset you didn’t invite him to the wedding? I told you to double-check your list.”

“Not funny, Vered. People are dying because of this madman.”

“Well, I’m sorry, my hero, but if I don’t make light of the situation, I will panic out of sheer terror. What’s Joshua going to do?”

“He said salvation will come from the sky. I don’t see anything. Stopping the sun won’t help us this time.”

“I see clouds forming,” Vered pointed at a dark cloud moving in from the north. “Perhaps he’ll make it dark.”

“No! Caleb has fallen. I must help him. I must hold off Akavish. Watch Joshua, my love.”

“Boaz, wait! How am I supposed to protect him?” Vered called to Boaz. But he had already jumped over the canopy and was speeding towards Akavish. He knocked the tip of Akavish’s claw away from Caleb’s prone body.

“Your timing was always miserable, Akavish,” Boaz stated as he smashed his sword against Akavish’s helmet.

“I think I might have gotten it right this time,” Akavish responded as he swung his claw at Boaz. “Great audience. All your nobles, princes and leaders ripe for the picking. Tell me, can I congratulate you on the wedding or was I too early? Can I kiss the bride?”

“You sick man. You stopped the wedding.” Boaz’s sword clanged off Akavish’s armor. “Are you causing all this bloodshed on a mere vendetta? You’ve dragged your people into this as well?”

“My people are mine to do with as I will. Your wedding was merely a good opportunity to attack.” Akavish kicked Boaz away from him, aimed his arm, and shot a barrage of darts, arrows and stars of death.

Boaz’s sword moved faster than the eye could follow, picking each deadly object out of the air.

“You have become faster,” Akavish said. “But you will not find a way to harm me. It is just a matter of time until you fall.” Akavish shot a second barrage of weaponry at Boaz. They all clattered to the ground, repelled by Boaz’s blade.

The sound of steel against oak resonated throughout the city as the battering of the gates began.

“My people shall be here soon and then it will indeed be a celebration. Where is that bride of yours? I would have you watch her die in agony before I end your miserable life.” Akavish turned away from Boaz and walked calmly towards the downed wedding canopy.

≈

Vered grabbed one of the poles of the canopy and looked around frantically for signs of attack. She kept an eye on the duel between Boaz and Akavish.

“Can I be of assistance?” a leathery voice addressed Vered from behind. “We’ve never been properly introduced. I’m Raskul, an old friend of Boaz.”

“I’ve heard of you,” Vered pointed the pole at the older man, grateful for a manageable threat. “Stay away from me, or I swear I’ll knock you on the head.”

“So violent! A fitting bride for Boaz. And one who swears. A woman after my own heart. But you misunderstand me. I am just here to help. And it looks like you can use help.”

“Boaz said you were a greedy old man, capable of great mischief.”

“He would, and I am.” Raskul edged closer.

“Stay away, Raskul.” Vered backed away, noticing for the first time the long knife at Raskul’s side.

≈

Ploni didn’t mind battle. He had fought in one successful battle after another with Joshua, soundly defeating the kings ofCanaan. But this was different. He had never been in a siege before. Never had to wait for an enemy to breach his last physical defense. This is what it must have felt like to be on the receiving end, he thought.

“Hold the doors!” Ploni called out, as together with a dozen men they held the crumbling oak doors against the Philistine battering.

“They’re breaking!” someone yelled. “The next hit will break through!”

“HOLD!” Ploni yelled, as he pressed his body against the door.

The metal of the battering ram crushed wood and bone as it smashed through the doors ofBethlehem. Ploni and the men around him were thrown from the gate like rag dolls. Ploni lost consciousness as hundreds of Philistines poured into Bethlehem.

Akavish smiled behind his helmet as he heard his troops at his back and aimed his metallic claw at the redheaded girl in the white dress.

* * * * * *