Category Archives: Fiction

5774, Chayei Sara, Fiction, Genesis, Paintings, Parsha, Spanish

Reconciliación

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ficción bíblica: Jaiei Sara

Reconciliación

Hagar y Ismael
Hagar y Ismael

Aunque Ismael tenía trece años más que Isaac, aún así parecía más musculoso y vigoroso que su medio-hermano de aspecto intelectual. Las décadas de Ismael como merodeador no habían hecho nada para disminuir su vitalidad. La enorme asamblea le abrió el paso a Ismael mientras caminaba con confianza, haciéndose camino para encontrarse con Isaac a la entrada de la cueva de Majpelá, en las colinas de Hebrón.

Isaac había estado pensando en esta reunión desde hacía algún tiempo. Él debería demostrarle el tradicional honor a su distanciado y exiliado hermano.

Ismael se detuvo a dos pasos de Isaac con una expresión indescifrable en el rostro. Todas las personas presentes parecieron contener el aliento, a la espera de ver cómo se desarrollaría el reencuentro de los hijos de Abraham.

Isaac extendió sus brazos a Ismael, dándole un ligero abrazo y besos superficiales en cada mejilla. Ismael correspondió por instinto, pero aún se mantenía tenso.

—Hermano —dijo Isaac con formalidad, inclinando ligeramente la cabeza.

—Hermano —Ismael reflejó el movimiento.

—Es un gran honor para nuestro padre que hayas venido a participar en la ceremonia de su entierro —anunció Isaac.

—Isaac, eres tú el que me honra por permitirme participar.

—¿Como podía ser de otra manera? Eres su hijo mayor. Por favor, condúcenos tú a la cueva para comenzar la ceremonia —Isaac hizo un gesto hacia la abertura estrecha cueva.

—No, Isaac. Tú debes ingresar en primer lugar.

—Nuestro padre habría querido que yo te honre a ti y que te dejara que comiences el procedimiento.

—Me honras por haber esperado por mí y permitirme participar en absoluto. Yo ni siquiera merezco este honor. He sido una vergüenza y una mancha para el nombre de nuestro padre. Tú eres su verdadero heredero. El mundo lo sabe —Ismael miró a Isaac a los ojos y luego bajó la cabeza.

Isaac se acercó y tomó a Ismael por el hombro.

—Es cierto que nuestro padre podría haber estado decepcionado con tu estilo de vida, pero no dudo de que te haya amado de cualquier manera.

Ismael miró hacia arriba, con la voz cargada de emoción.

—Eso es lo que es tal vez lo más doloroso. Él me amaba y aún así me exilió.

—No le dejaste otra opción. Amenazaste con arruinar su misión y todo lo que él representaba y creía.

—Ahora lo sé. Yo era demasiado testarudo. No entendía lo que me decía. Siguió dándome segundas oportunidades. Supuse que no habría una línea que yo no podría cruzar.

—Creo que si hubiera sido únicamente por nuestro padre, él nunca te habría desterrado. Dios le dio una orden directa.

—Sí. Padre probablemente debería haber sido más firme conmigo en una etapa temprana, antes de que tuviera que tomar medidas tan drásticas. Casi me muero en el desierto.

—Dios estuvo contigo, en su propia manera. No creo que Dios jamás te haya abandonado, ni siquiera en lo más profundo de tus problemas.

—Dios ha estado conmigo y me ha dado una gran riqueza, niños y el éxito en todas mis empresas. Sin embargo, yo no siempre estuve con Dios.

—Entonces ven, hermano —Isaac intentó maniobrar Ismael hacia la entrada—. Condúcenos a la cueva. Puedo ver claramente que te has arrepentido de sus acciones. Dios ama a los penitentes y sería un gran placer para nuestro padre que tú puedas iniciar la ceremonia.

—No —dijo Ismael con firmeza tranquila, sin moverse de su lugar—. De esto estoy convencido, lo he pensado mucho. Tú has sido y siempre serás el verdadero heredero de nuestro padre, tú eres el hijo de su amada alma gemela, Sara. Cualquier reclamación que podría haber tenido como primogénito, la renuncié por darle la espalda a las enseñanzas de nuestro padre. Aunque lamento profundamente lo que he hecho con mi vida, y voy a tratar de hacer las paces con lo que queda de ella, algunas cosas no se pueden cambiar. Algunos errores no pueden ser corregidos. Las manchas no pueden sanar por completo. Tú eres el heredero único y verdadero. La fe y la misión de nuestro padre correrán puramente por tus venas.

—¿Estás seguro de que deseas renunciar a este honor? —Isaac preguntó tiernamente.

—Sí, mi hermano. Además, es una falta de respeto tanto a nuestro Padre como a la multitud reunida que nosotros sigamos aquí debatiendo.

Isaac apretó el hombro de Ismael, y de repente lo abrazó en un abrazo fuerte y largo. Las lágrimas corrían por sus ojos.

Sin decir una palabra, Isaac dio la vuelta y se dirigió hacia la entrada de la cueva estrecha, seguido de cerca por Ismael.

Por primera vez en su relación, Isaac sintió que su espalda no estaba en peligro por amenazas de su hermano. De hecho, se sentía más seguro.

 

5774, Fiction, Genesis, Paintings, Parsha, Spanish, Vayera

Escape de Sodoma

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[Translation of Escape from Sodom]

ficción bíblica: Génesis: Vaierá

Traducido del Inglés por Caro Cynovich

Escape de Sodoma

—¡Quítame tu mano de encima! —Edis chilló al Arcángel Mijael.

Mijael no le prestó atención a Edis. Con una resolución inhumana, Mijael tomó las manos de Lot y de su esposa Edis, y se puso a caminar a paso rápido fuera de la ciudad de Sodoma, bajo el cielo oscuro y nublado.

doreSodomlighterEl Arcángel Gabriel estaba haciendo lo mismo con las hijas más jóvenes de Lot. Madis, la mayor de los dos, estaba a su derecha, y Atis, la más joven, a su izquierda. Las niñas estaban tomadas firmemente de la mano, incapaz de escapar de sus garras de hierro e incapaz de hacer otra cosa que mantener el ritmo rápido en el que se movía el ángel.

Las dos hijas mayores de Lot, de pie al lado de sus maridos, miraban con incredulidad mientras la extraña procesión rápidamente se alejaba del patio de la casa de Lot.

—¿A dónde van? —Shutis, la mayor, gritó.

—¡Nos vamos! ¡Ahora! —Lot respondió apresuradamente—. Sodoma será destruida en cualquier momento.

—Sólo tengo que recoger algunas cosas más y ya los alcanzaré —Shutis prometió, mientras se oía a su marido reírse por lo bajo.

—¡No! —Lot dijo determinante—. No hay tiempo. ¡Ven con nosotros ahora mismo o estarás perdida!

—¡Acuérdate de traer mis joyas! —Edis le pidió a su hija, esperanzada.

Shutis rápidamente corrió de vuelta a la casa y se perdió de vista.

—Vamos a destruir toda la llanura —explicó Gabriel en un tono neutral, manteniendo el ritmo rápido.

—Por favor. Por favor, espere al resto de mi familia —le pidió Lot.

—Es demasiado tarde —dijo Gabriel con firmeza—. Ellos están más interesados ​​en sus posesiones materiales que en sus vidas.

—¿De qué estás hablando? —Edis preguntó enojada—. Ellos están por llegar. Las cosas que fueron a buscar son importantes

—No lo entiendes, mujer. Los pecados de estas ciudades son tan grandes que Dios no podía retrasar la destrucción de ellas por más tiempo. Y eso es lo que haremos, las destruiremos. Absolutamente. Nada quedará de lo que se conocía como Sodoma. Si no fuera por el mérito de tu tío Abraham, tú también morirás ahora.

Llegaron a las puertas de la ciudad.

Mijael y Gabriel soltaron simultáneamente a sus cautivos.

Gabriel levantó las manos al cielo. Las nubes oscuras retumbaron. Truenos y relámpagos agrietaron el aire espeso. El cielo estalló como si el fin del mundo hubiera llegado. Del cielo enojado cayeron piedras de fuego y lluvia ácida. Lot y su familia escucharon el pánico y los gritos que venían del interior de la ciudad. La suma de gritos obligó a las hijas de Lot a cubrirse las orejas. Un corrosivo olor a carne quemada llenó el aire.

Mijael habló con la familia de Lot con una voz de trueno que resonó en los cielos.

—¡Escapen por sus vidas! No miren hacia atrás y no paren en ningún lugar en toda la llanura; huyan a la montaña para que no sean destruidos.

Mijael levantó la mano y un rayo de luz surgió de sus dedos. La luz llegó al lado de la montaña. La roca y la tierra explotaron, enviando fragmentos en todas direcciones. La montaña estaba envuelta por una nube de escombros. Después de unos momentos, las cosas se calmaron. Para su asombro, Lot y su familia se vieron los contornos de una carretera. El camino era el camino más recto y más suave que jamás habían visto. Conducía directamente a la montaña – a Abraham.

Lot amaba a su tío, pero no podía regresar a él. A la sombra de su tío él siempre sería menos. El pecador. El malo. Repugnante. Sin valor. Moriría antes de regresar con Abraham. No. Tenía que escapar a otro lugar. Ahora.

Lote cayó de rodillas y suplicó.

—¡Por favor , no! Mi Señor – usted ve, ahora vuestro siervo ha hallado gracia en vuestros ojos, y la misericordia que has tenido conmigo al salvar mi vida fue genial, pero no puedo escapar al monte a menos que el mal se adhiera a mí y yo muera. Mire allí, por favor, aquella ciudad está lo suficientemente cerca para escapar —Lot señaló más arriba en la llanura— y es pequeña —la voz de Lot empezó a romperse—. Voy a huir allí. ¿No es pequeña? – Y voy a vivir.

Mijael se quedó pensativo por un momento y luego respondió:

“He aquí, yo te voy a conceder incluso esto, y no voy a destruir la ciudad de la que me has hablado. Date prisa, escapa hacia allí, porque yo no puedo hacer nada hasta que llegues allí.

Mijael levantó la mano hacia la ciudad que se llamaría Zoar. Luz irradió de su mano y atravesó los campos ondulados de hierba y pasto. En la cuesta arriba a Zoar, Mijael creó un nuevo camino.

Mijael se desvaneció en el aire, mientras que Gabriel continuaba haciendo llover fuego y azufre sobre Sodoma.

El calor detrás de ellos aumentó. Lot agarró a sus hijas y le gritó a Edis:

—Edis, vámonos. Salvemos al menos estas dos niñas.

La familia caminó rápida pero mecánicamente por la colina, a través de una niebla espesa de ceniza. Estaban en shock al no entender lo que estaba ocurriendo.

Las chicas fueron las primeras en empezar a llorar. Ahí empezaron a desacelerar.

Lot continuó tirando a todas de la mano.

—Madis. Atis. Vamos. Debemos seguir avanzando. Y hagas lo que hagas – ¡no miren hacia atrás!

Los lamentos de Sodoma estaban llegando a un tono febril. El olor de fuego y carne quemada era insoportable. Luego los gritos se calmaron. Finalmente todo se quedó en silencio. Un inquietante silencio.

Edis lloraba en quietud, caían las lágrimas en su cara cubierta de hollín. Poco a poco iba repitiendo:

—Mis bebés. Mis pobres bebés.

Miró a Lot, caminando delante de ella con las dos chicas. Su angustia se transformó en confusión y en ira. Se abalanzó sobre Lot, tirándolo al suelo. Le dio un puñetazo en la espalda con los puños.

—¡Es todo por tu culpa! —Edis sollozaba histéricamente—. ¡Mis hijos están muertos! ¡Mis joyas han desaparecido! ¿Por qué tenías que dejar pasar a esos seres? Siempre estás tratando de ser mejor que los demás. ¡Superior ! ¡Tú y tu moralidad! Eres un sucio, sanguijuela lujurioso como todo el mundo. ¡Pero mira lo que has hecho! ¡Mira lo que has hecho!

Madis y Atis rápidamente agarraron a su madre de uno y otro lado y suavemente la separaron de Lot. Lot volvió sobre sus pies y miró tiernamente a Edis.

—Lo siento, Edis, pero no es mi culpa. Los sodomitas eran tan inmorales que era inevitable que fueran castigados. Hice lo que pude, pero no fue suficiente. Los jefes de Sodoma se burlaron y me amenazaron cuando mostré siquiera una pizca de bondad —Lot inclinó la cabeza—. Lo siento por nuestros hijos. Tampoco ellos quisieron escuchar. Lo intentamos.

—¿Lo siento? ¿Intentado ? —preguntó Edis, loco de dolor —. Eres un llorón, excusa de un hombre. Voy a volver a buscarlos.

—Edis —dijo con mucha firmeza Lot, apretando su brazo—. No podemos volver atrás. Ni siquiera podemos mirar hacia atrás ya que seguramente moriríamos.

Instintivamente, Madis y Atis se posicionaron detrás de su madre para evitar que ella diera la vuelta, y para bloquear su visión si eso sucedía.

Edis arrancó bruscamente su brazo del agarre de Lot.

—¿Cómo te atreves a decirme qué hacer? Mi riqueza fue destruida. Mis bebés pueden estar muertos, o podrían estar siguiéndonos a nosotros en este momento, y tú es demasiado cobarde para salvarlos – incluso a dar la vuelta y ver. Voy a ir yo misma si tengo que hacerlo.

—¡Madre! ¡No! —Madis agarró a su madre por la espalda—. ¿No escuchaste al  ángel? Todo el mundo está muerto. Puedo sentir el calor cada vez más cerca. Si no continuamos, si incluso miramos hacia atrás, ¡vamos a morir!

—¿Cómo puedo seguir adelante? —Edis sollozaba incontrolablemente—. Mis hijos están muertos. Mi marido no es un buen marido. ¿A dónde iremos? ¿Qué hay de mi casa, mis joyas, y mis amigos? Tengo que volver .

Edis comenzó a deslizarse fuera del abrazo de Madis. Atis vio el movimiento y trató de agarrar a su madre y bloquear su visión. Pero Edis fue más rápida. Se dio la vuelta, ahora abrazada a cada lado por sus hijas, y echó un vistazo frontal completo en la destrucción de Sodoma.

No podía creer lo que vio. Los campos exuberantes. Las paredes fuertes. Las casas ricas. Los patios coloridos. Todo había sido completamente destruido. Toda la llanura estaba ennegrecida y deformada. Humo negro grueso cubría todo el cielo. El único color era el rojo de las llamas furiosas, consumiendo los restos muertos de una civilización una vez orgullosa.

Entonces comprendió. Ella entiendió que Sodoma había estado llena de maldad. Entendía que ella había sido un participante activo y sabía que ella también merecía morir.

Lágrimas saladas vertieron libremente por su rostro, y se juntaron como una piscina a sus pies.

El cosquilleo comenzó en sus pies y se fueron entumeciendo. La sensación se extendió rápidamente por sus piernas. Edis jadeó por el shock y se miró las piernas. Madis y Atis saltaron hacia atrás y miraron con incredulidad ante lo que parecía ser la sal reemplazando la piel de su madre. Edis pudo degustar la sal en su boca a medida que la metamorfosis se abrió camino hasta su torso. La sensación de horror de Edis se reflejó en los rostros de sus hijas.

—MADRE —gritaron al unísono, agarrándola de nuevo, como si por abrazarla podrían detener el proceso.

Edis tenía tiempo para sólo dos palabras antes de la transformación fuera completa.

—Lo siento —susurró con sus últimas lágrimas.

Y entonces ella era una estatua de sal.

5774, Abraham, Fiction, Genesis, Lech Lecha, Parsha, Spanish

Hermanos de Juramento

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ficción bíblica: génesis: lech lejá

Hermanos de Juramento

—No voy a ir con Abram en esta campaña enloquecida —Eshkol pisoteó sus largos y ágiles pies en el piso de mosaico de la casa de Mamre—. ¡Es un suicidio!

—¿Cómo puedes pensar en abandonarnos, Eshkol? —Mamre respondió desde lo profundo de su grueso pecho—. Quebrantarías nuestro pacto sagrado con Abram, ¿por cobardía?

Aner, el mayor de los tres, observaba el debate con creciente preocupación, y se puso de pie para interceptar Eshkol antes de que se acercara a corta distancia de Mamre.

—Vamos, vamos, Mamre —Aner afirmó en tono tranquilizador, mientras agarraba a Eshkol—, no hay necesidad de hablar tan despectivamente de nuestro hermano.

—Mamre, hemos luchado codo con codo con Abram en escaramuzas previas y pequeñas incursiones —dijo Eshkol secamente—, donde me vi amenazado personalmente y en peligro. Pero lo que Abram propone ahora es nada menos que un suicidio. Para atacar a legiones de Amrafel, luego de que ellos hubieran destruido con éxito los ejércitos combinados de Sodoma y Guemará, es simplemente una locura. Estamos hablando de enfrentar a los trabajadores y los esclavos contra los soldados profesionales de Amrafel.

—No trates de asustarme —Mamre respondió con enojo—: Soy leal a Abram hasta la muerte, y más aún al Dios de Abraham, quien visiblemente lo protege como un niño favorecido. Abram tiene que rescatar a su sobrino de Amrafel, y nosotros, sus hermanos de juramento, tenemos que ir con él. El Dios que protege y bendice a Abram continuará protegiéndonos y bendiciéndonos a nosotros también.

—Yo también creo en su Dios —explicó Eshkol—. Sin embargo, en contra de un enemigo tan formidable, bien podríamos matarnos nosotros mismos aquí en casa — nos ahorraríamos el viaje, y al Dios de Abram la molestia.

Aner se aclaró la garganta, consiguiendo la atención tanto de Mamre como de Eshkol.

—Yo también tengo miedo de una empresa tan trascendental. Sin embargo, no podemos renunciar a nuestro hermano Abram —dijo Aner.

—Por situarnos así en una posición tan imposible —Eshkol replicó—, Abram es el que nos está abandonando. No voy a desperdiciar mi vida en contra de toda razón.

—En primer lugar —Mamre levantó un dedo fornido, hablando con voz cada vez más fuerte—, Abram no nos ha pedido ayuda. En segundo lugar, Abram , nuestro gran hermano, no pensará menos de nosotros por no unirnos a él. En tercer lugar, y lo más importante – te está faltando fe. ¡Fe! Si no tienes la fe de que el Dios de Abraham , el Dios único , como Abram nos ha enseñado, que el Creador y Señor de la Tierra, pueden hacer milagros más allá de nuestra imaginación – entonces tal vez es mejor que se queden en casa . Aunque creo que eso rompería mi corazón y tal vez nuestra amistad —Mamre se sentó pesadamente, mirando a sus huéspedes.

Eshkol estaba sin habla. Tenía la boca abierta por las declaraciones de Mamre. Se sentó con aire taciturno. Después de unos momentos de silencio incómodo se explicó:

—Puede ser cierto que el miedo es mayor que mi fe. Sin embargo, no puedo vivir con mi amistad siendo interrogada. Sólo necesito un poco de esperanza más tangible – algo concreto que la razón esté por encima de la inquietud.

La confesión de Eshkol fue recibida con un silencio incómodo.

—Entonces, permítanme sugerir una idea que me acabas de inspirar —Aner rompió el silencio—, que me anima y que puede darte la prueba concreta que necesitas. Amrafel acaba de reconquistar y saquear toda la llanura de nuestros vecinos ricos de Sodoma y Guemará. Si por algún milagro el Dios de Abraham colocara a Amrafel en nuestras manos, los tesoros de la guerra irían más allá de lo que hemos visto.

—Esta es sin duda una meta más tangible —Eshkol dijo con más entusiasmo—, aunque igualmente suicida.

—El botín sería nuestro por convención —añadió Mamre—, y sería realmente monumental. Aunque eso no es lo que finalmente me atrae, y estoy seguro de que tiene poco atractivo para Abram.

—Estamos de acuerdo entonces —el mayor Aner miró significativamente al delgado Eshkol—, que estamos juntos en esto y tenemos como condición explícita que una parte justa del botín es nuestra.

Eshkol miró pensativamente Aner y luego a Mamre. Tenía un miedo mortal de atacar a las legiones de Amrafel. La imagen de enfrentarse al ejército de Amrafel hizo temblar sus piernas y dar vuelta su estómago. Pero no podía hacer frente a la posibilidad de ser tildado de cobarde. Tal marca sería su ruina. Y la idea de decepcionar a Mamre, y lo que es peor , al santo Abram, era más de lo que podía soportar. ¿Cómo podía abandonar a sus amigos, sus hermanos de juramento? Siempre habían estado ahí para él, especialmente Abram. Abram era muy amable, gentil y sabio, sin embargo, tan fuerte, firme y valiente. Él sabía en su corazón que seguiría Abram hasta los confines de la tierra.

El viejo Aner tenía razón. La idea del botín era una buena distracción y disminuía el temor. Y Mamre también tenía razón. El Dios de Abraham había hecho milagros para Abram contra todo pronóstico. En realidad, era poderoso.

—Yo estoy con vosotros —Eshkol declaró emocionado—. Me equivoqué al sembrar la duda, incluso en nuestra amistad.

Mamre dejó salir una lágrima de sus ojos.

—Mi querido Eshkol —Mamre casi gritó mientras agarraba el antebrazo de Eshkol—, siento haber cuestionado tu amistad. Esta será una gran aventura.

En ese mismo momento, como por inspiración divina, Abram entró a la casa de Mamre.

Aner fue el primero en darle la bienvenida y rápidamente empujó a Abram dentro del abrazo de Eshkol y Mamre.

—¡Salve Abram! —Aner exclamó—: ¡Príncipe de Dios!

—¡Salve Abram! ¡Príncipe de Dios ! —Eshkol y Mamre respondieron.

—Estamos contigo en todos sus angustias. ¡Sé fuerte y valiente! —cantó Aner .

—Estamos contigo en todas sus angustias —Eshkol y Mamre respondieron al unísono—. ¡Sé fuerte y valiente!

5774, Fiction, Genesis, Noach, Paintings, Parsha, Spanish

Torre de Egoísmo

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[Spanish translation of the original story]

Ficción Bíblica

Torre de Babel
Torre de Babel

Torre de Egoísmo

Nimrod saltó los escalones de la torre de a tres a la vez con poderosas zancadas enérgicas. Se puso de pie en la parte superior de la torre como los primeros rayos de sol que brillaban sobre ella. Toda la población de la zona vio a su cuerpo grande y musculoso tapar la monstruosa e imponente estructura. Él marcó el comienzo de un nuevo día y formalizó su condición de Rey y Dios.

Sacerdotes de Nimrod ofrecían sacrificios y libaciones convencionales. El olor de la quema de grasa animal y el incienso impregnaba el aire. Se dirigió a una habitación por debajo de la parte superior de la torre donde él consumió un delicioso desayuno de pan, carne, huevos y verduras con un apetito feroz. Se comió delante de sus lugartenientes y funcionarios, todos esperando su menor capricho. Saciado, contenido y viendo su imperio, Nimrod permitió a sus lugartenientes que informe sobre la actividad y los asuntos del día. Nimrod hizo un gesto hacia un hombre alto y delgado parado delante de sus lugartenientes, Mebtah.

“Su Majestad,” Mebtah, su principal lugarteniente, hizo una profunda reverencia,” todos los grupos de trabajo se están quedando atrás en los hitos programados. He investigado personalmente cada grupo y fui testigo de que su productividad se ha deteriorado. Mi preocupación es que sus esfuerzos se reducirán aún más. No podemos completar toda la estructura de la torre antes de que las lluvias de otoño.”

“Esto es muy preocupante,” Nimrod afirmó amenazadoramente. “¿Qué propones?”

“Mi conclusión, Majestad,” Mebtah continuó imperturbable, “es que permitimos el día semanal de descanso solicitado. Permítanme dar un ejemplo. Este ladrillo;” Mebtah tendió en su delgada mano derecha un sólido y atractivo ladrillo, “se produjo a principios de nuestra construcción. Me tomé la libertad de mantenerlo como un modelo para la futura construcción. Sin embargo,” Mebtah tendió la mano izquierda igualmente delgada, extrayendo una pieza mala de forma, fea y frágil, “este ladrillo, se produjo ayer.”

“Ya veo. ¿Y cómo se hará con un día de descanso para resolver este problema? Pensaría que nos retrasaría aún más,” dijo el rey, el ceño fruncido en su rostro rubicundo creciendo.

“Sí, Majestad,” Mebtah respondió: “un día de descanso parece en un primer momento ir contra la razón. Sin embargo, creo que la principal causa de los pobres esfuerzos es que estamos empujando a los trabajadores demaciado. Si tienen la oportunidad de recuperarse de manera consistente, estoy seguro de que veremos una mejora de la productividad.”

“¿Qué va a pasar si te equivocas, Mebtah?”

“No lo sé. Pero incluso si lo supiera, perderíamos a lo sumo un día de trabajo, su Majestad.”

“¿Y qué soluciones podríamos tratar a continuación?”

“Necesitaríamos una manera de trabajar más difícil, motivar aún más.”

Nimrod se sentó pensativo durante unos minutos, mirando Mebtah, mirando a lo lejos, y mirando a los trabajadores que realizan sus tareas a lo largo de la torre y en la planta de abajo.

Se puso en pie de repente, como un animal a punto de saltar sobre su presa.

“Mebtah, no puedo correr el riesgo de que usted está equivocado.”

“Entiendo, Majestad.”

“Tenemos que completar la torre antes que lleguen las lluvias.”

“Estoy completamente de acuerdo.”

“Para mostrar suavidad en este momento crítica tendría un efecto negativo en la moral.”

“Um, tal vez, su Majestad.”

“Mebtah, has sido un teniente leal y dedicado.” Nimrod dijo con una mueca irónica en su rostro.

“Sí, su Majestad.” Mebtah repentinamente confuso, no siguiendo el pensamiento de su rey, como usualmente lo hacía.

“¿Podría dar tu vida a mi orden sin dudarlo?” Preguntó Nimrod.

“¿Por qué, por supuesto, su majestad.” Mebtah respondió lentamente, sintiendo como si una trampa había saltado sobre él, pero aún así no vio sus contornos .

“Entonces comprenderás lo que voy a hacer.”

Y sin más dilación, Nimrod agarró enérgicamente el alto pero delgado Mebtah. Nimrod se aferró a la correa de la cintura de Mebtah y la prenda por el hombro y alzó Mebtah sobre su cabeza. Para Nimrod, Mebtah era tan ligero como una marioneta en manos de un niño. Nimrod se subió con Mebtah a la parte superior de la torre. Mebtah, sus ojos salvajes y confusos, se agarró con fuerza a los ladrillos en cada mano, casi a la muerte.

En la parte superior de la torre, con Mebtah sobre su cabeza, Nimrod gritó con voz atronadora.

“Mi pueblo!”

“Mi pueblo!”

“Preste atención a las palabras de su regla!”

“El hombre que tengo en mis manos es Mebtah, mi jefe el teniente leal.”

“Él siente que no podemos completar nuestra Torre en tiempo.”

“Él está mal, y su falta de fe, es ofensivo para los dioses.”

“Esto es lo que pasa con los que no trabajan duro, y no obedecen a los dioses.”

Nimrod, con gran ademán y drama, procedió a lanzar a Mebtah desde el techo de la torre. Los ojos de todos los trabajadores estaban en el cuerpo de Mebtah. El descenso parecía una eternidad, sin embargo, el rotundo golpe seco se produjo muy rápidamente.

En cuestión de segundos, los trabajadores empezaron corriendo como hormigas y regresaron a sus tareas con renovado vigor y energía.

Nimrod tranquilamente vuelto hacia dos de sus otros tenientes y dijo:

“Asegúrasen de traer los dos ladrillos de Mebtah a mí.”

Corrieron hacia abajo, cada uno ansioso por llegar a los ladrillos primero.

_________________

Fuentes Bíblicas :

Génesis 10:8-10
8. Y Cus engendró a Nimrod, quien llegó a ser el primer poderoso en la tierra. 9. Este fue vigoroso cazador delante de Dios, por lo cual se dice: “Así como Nimrod, vigoroso cazador delante de Dios.” 10. Y fue el comienzo de su reino Babel, Erec, Acad y Calne, en la tierra de Sinar.

Fuentes secundarias:

Talmud de Babilonia, Tratado Julin 89a
“Dios le dio fama a Nimrod, sin embargo, dijo: ”Ven, vamos a construir una ciudad y una torre, cuya cúspide llegue hasta el cielo… ” (Génesis 11:04)

 

 

5774, Bereshit, Fiction, Genesis, Paintings, Parsha, Spanish

La Fragua de Música

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Ficción Bíblica

ancientBlacksmithsLa Fragua de Música

“Yuval! Cesa ese ruido infernal!” Lamec bramó en la herrería.
“Mis disculpas, Padre,” Yuval respondió dócilmente, “el espíritu de la música se apoderó de mí una vez más.”
“Tonterías,” replicó Lamec,” ¿Eres un hombre? ¿O eres un animal que no puede controlarte a tí mismo? Tu constante estruendo me está volviendo loco”, continuó enfadado. “Además , se van a arruinar nuestras herramientas y es una distracción de nuestro trabajo.”
“Sí, señor,” Yuval murmuró, mirando hacia abajo mientras examinaba la moldura que se estaba poniendo. Se estaban preparando para la producción de ollas.
Lamec entusiasmado volvió a concentrarse en el cobre fundido en el horno, por lo que el color llegó a un tono rojizo. Lamec tenía la amplia construcción y oscurecimiento de la piel de un maestro herrero, y prácticamente podía fabricar el metal por el instinto. Sin embargo, aún tenía que inspeccionar el colorante. La tonalidad específica de rojo significó el momento ideal para verter el metal que fluye en el molde.
De repente, Lamec escuchó un sonido tocando con un ritmo desconocido. Cuando se dio cuenta de la fuente del ruido molesto, su sangre comenzó a hervir. No podía creer que su hijo continuara golpeando después de recibir tan fuerte amonestación.
Con los dientes apretados, Lamec se volvió a Yuval y susurró en un tono mortal: “Por aquel maldito – los trastornos son cada vez mas imperdonables.”
Lamec luego comenzó a verter el cobre del horno en el molde, pero ya era demasiado tarde. El cobre había pasado el color correcto. La ira de Lamec fue explosivo. “Tonto hijo!” Rugió, “nos ha costado un buen metal y un día entero de trabajo!”
“Tú eres bueno para nada!” continuó, su ira. Él levantó amenazadoramente la moldura con el metal líquido todavía en ella. “Para agregar nada más que la angustia y dificultades!”
Yuval apartó de movimientos amenazantes de su padre y tomó un pan cerca para permitir a sí mismo algún tipo de protección.
Lamec tropezó y la moldura, con su contenido al rojo vivo, se fue volando hacia Yuval.
Yuval instintivamente levantó la sartén para cubrir el rostro del cobre fundido. El cobre caía sobre los hombros y el pecho, inmediatamente se quemó la ropa. Sin embargo, parte del cobre rebotó a la derecha del pan de Yuval en la cara de Lamec.
Gritos estallaron desde el taller de Lamec.

Los ojos de Lamec no habían sido quemados por completo, pero lo suficiente para que él apenas pudiera ver sombras. Le tomó varias semanas a Lamec, poder recuperarse.
Yuval se había recuperado rápidamente de sus quemaduras superficiales y se había dedicado exclusivamente a la herrería. Ya había rumores sobre las creaciones de Yuval que eran incluso mejor que el trabajo reconocido de Lamec. Se informó que Yuval también había empezado a producir muchas más herramientas de madera y no se centró principalmente en metal, como Lamec lo había hecho. Sin embargo, también hubo rumores de que Yuval estaba creando herramientas que nadie había hecho nunca antes y que, al parecer no habían servido de nada.
El hijo menor de Lamec, Tuval-Kayin, se convirtió en sus ojos. En el transcurso de unas pocas semanas en la casa, habían desarrollado una relación. Con una orientación mínima por Tuval-Kayin, Lamec podía moverse y funcionar de nuevo. La gran prueba, sin embargo, llegaría en la herrería.
Cuando Lamec se acercó al taller, ya sabía que algo andaba mal. Los sonidos que no eran naturales de la metalurgia emanaban de la forja. No es el sonido del horno ardiente, ni la de un martillo sobre un yunque, ni siquiera el sonido de delicado trabajo de metalistería. Era un sonido diferente a cualquiera que Lamec no había oído nunca, y no fue producido por el hombre.
Tenía el ritmo de palmas, o incluso silbar o una canción, pero no fue hecho por el hombre. Sonaba como si hubiera sido hecha por una herramienta.
Lamec, de común acuerdo con Tuval-Kayin, se precipitó a la herrería.
“Yuval,” Lamec preguntó con una mezcla de ira y confusión.” ¿Qué es ese sonido?”
“¿Qué sonido padre?” Preguntó Yuval, sorprendido por la intrusión repentina de su padre.
“Ese sonido que acabo de oír.”
“Nada, padre. Sólo el viento sacudiendo algunas de las herramientas que cuelgan.”
“No te hagas el tonto conmigo, hijo. Debería matarte por tu insolencia.”
“Ya lo ha intentado padre,” dijo Yuval silencio, con miedo y resentimiento en su voz, “y no resultó tan bien para usted.”
Lamec estaba a punto de cobrar hacia el sonido de la voz de Yuval, pero se congeló de medio. Después de una pausa, dijo:
“Mi intención nunca fue a hacer daño,” explicó Lamec vacilante, “la paciencia tiene lo mejor de mí, y el resto fue un accidente desafortunado.”
Yuval permaneció en silencio.
“Mmm,” Lamec exhaló, rompiendo el silencio.” Pasemos a continuación. Muéstrame lo que has estado trabajando.”
Yuval colocó una nueva maceta en las manos de Lamec.
Lamec tocó y acarició el recipiente en sus manos gruesas, como joyero examinaría un diamante.
“Dame una de mis viejas ollas.” Lamec solicitada.
Lamec repite el procedimiento. Después de haber inspeccionado todos los nuevos elementos con admiración silenciosa, Lamec preguntó:
“¿Hay algo más que usted ha estado trabajando?”
“¿Cómo qué?” Yuval respondió defensivamente.
“Basta, Yuval! Deja de jugar conmigo. Sólo quiero ver lo que tienes.”
Por obediencia instintiva, Yuval le entregó un instrumento.
Lamec inspeccionó el instrumento con las manos por un largo tiempo antes de hablar. Se dio cuenta de un marco de madera cubierto con bronce plateado en los bordes. Lamec contaba con sus dedos diez cuerdas elaboradas a través del marco. La combinación de madera, metal y cuerda fue uno que nunca había soñado, y mucho menos entendido.
“¿Qué es?”
“Yo lo llamo una lira. Reproduce música.”
Lamec se echó a reír de la sorpresa. Era una risa retumbando profundamente que irradiaba de su torso.
“Verdaderamente, Yuval. ¿Qué hace este artilugio?”
“Padre, el instrumento que tiene en sus manos, cuando se toca de una determinada manera, hace notas musicales que no pueden ser copiados por el hombre. Cuando se juega en ciertas secuencias puede ser muy bella.”
“Muéstrame.”
Yuval tomó el instrumento y se pasó los dedos por las cuerdas.
Al principio tocaba una melodía suave, seguido de una pieza dramática llena de ira, el amor y la pasión. Terminó con una puntuación melancólica que hablaba de sueños incumplidos.
Lamec estaba estupefacto. Durante unos momentos no se movió en absoluto. Entonces grandes lágrimas saladas corrían por su rostro lleno de cicatrices. Él se puso a llorar. Se sentó en el piso de la herrería y comenzó a llorar incontrolablemente.
Después de unos minutos se recompuso. Levantó la imponente figura de nuevo, frente a Yuval.
“Yuval,” dijo, con una voz que nadie había escuchado antes.
“Sí, padre,” respondió Yuval a la aprehensión.
“Lo que haz creado es mágico. Yo era un tonto ciego y arrogante en no apreciar tu inclinación musical antes.”
“Lo siento padre también, por ser la causa de su ceguera física.”
“No lo sientas. Por fin soy capaz de ver claramente. Mis heridas son auto-infligidas. Pero eso es suficiente el tiempo dedicado al remordimiento. Tenemos trabajo que hacer.”
“Sí, padre. ¿Qué te gustaría hacer?”
“¿Por qué, tenemos un montón de ollas y sartenes, y martillos y azadones, lanzas y puntas de flecha y muchas cosas más que hacer.”
Yuval fue abatido por el veredicto y regresó al horno con resignación.
Pero Lamec continuó: “Y también me gustaría que me muestre la forma de hacer los instrumentos musicales inteligentes de los suyos.”

___________________________

Fuentes Bíblicas:
Génesis 4:17-21
“Y conoció Caín a su mujer, y ella concibió y dio a Enoc. El (Caín) se convirtió en un constructor de ciudades, y nombró la ciudad después de que su hijo Enoc. Para Enoc nació Irad, e Irad engendró Mehuyael y Mehuyael engendró Metusael, y engendró a Lamec Metusael.
Lamec tomó para sí dos mujeres; el nombre de una era Ada, y el nombre de la otra, Zila. Y Ada dio a luz Yaval, fue el fundador de los que habitan en tiendas y crían ganado. El nombre de su hermano fue Yuval, fue el fundador de todos los que tocan arpa y flauta.”

5773, Boaz, Book of Kings, Book of Ruth, David, Fiction, Kings, Ruth, Warrior Prophets

Warrior Prophets 3 Epilogue – The Temple of Solomon

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Warrior Prophets 3 Epilogue

The Temple of Solomon

The chair bearers loved carrying Ruth. In her old age, she was so light that one of them could have carried her alone. And she was always so friendly and chatty. The servants vied for the duty of carrying her around, but today was a special day.

The oldest, most senior servants were given the honor of carrying Ruth this day. It was a sunny spring morning in Jerusalem, the City of David. A viewing stage had been constructed for the royal guests facing the entrance to the Temple. The Temple stood in front of them with a central building four stories high. It was one of the largest, most beautiful buildings the world had ever seen. Two tall gold-covered pillars framed the entrance to the Sanctuary. A massive altar of stone dominated the Temple courtyard. A gigantic copper basin resting on twelve copper oxen stood in front of the stone altar. Priests in white robes darted to and fro in the courtyard with flocks of sheep, goats and cattle ready to be sacrificed, the fat to be burnt and offered to God, the meat to be distributed to the masses of people.

King Solomon son of David was seated on his throne in the center of the stage. On either side of the stage sat the assembled princes of Israel with their own families and escorts. Together, they all watched the throngs of Israelites that had traveled from all over the land of Canaan to witness the consecration of the Temple. Foreign delegations had also arrived to give honor to the son of David on finishing the mesmerizing structure the Israelites had built to their God. Phoenicians, Ammonites, Moabites and Edomites all sat amongst the visitors from abroad. Egyptians with their shaved heads and white robes, Philistines in leather tunics and elaborate sandals, even black-skinned Shebans in multi-colored robes graced the royal stage. Trumpets blew, announcing the arrival of each distinguished visitor. Colorful garments flapped in the blustery gusts of the western wind which carried a hint of salt from the Great Sea.

Bathsheba, the Queen Mother, sat on one side of Solomon. Ruth’s sedan chair was carried onto the stage and placed on the other side of Solomon’s throne.

“Grandmamma,” Solomon greeted Ruth. “I have two gifts for you on this day.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to,” Ruth replied. “Living to see this day is more than sufficient for me.”

“Nonetheless, you are deserving of it, Grandmamma.”

“You are sweet to call me that, though I am not nearly young enough to be your grandmother.”

“Do you recall your age?”

“No. Just the generations. I was there for your father, David’s birth. I was there for his father, Jesse’s birth, my grandson. And of course I gave birth to Oved, your great-grandfather. Though Boaz missed it. Poor Boaz. Our time together was so short. How he would have loved to have been present for his son’s birth. I don’t know why God has blessed me with such an extraordinarily long life. But I’m enjoying it. What are these gifts that you speak of?”

“The first is the compass of Amitai that you lent to us.” Solomon presented a small box to Ruth. “It was instrumental in our construction. It has some unique properties that my own engineers have not been able to replicate until this day. It’s as if it has a mind of its own. It directed us where to place each of the altars and the other sacred utensils.”

“Oh!” Ruth let a tear of joy stream down her wrinkled face as she took the box lovingly with both hands. “Amitai would have been so pleased. I only knew him briefly when he was already an old man, but he was so knowledgeable of how the world and everything in it worked. And brave. He gave his life that I might live.”

“His descendants were instrumental in the construction and design of the Temple. His spirit surely lives on in them.” Solomon said.

“Good. Then give the compass to one of them. What will I do with this contraption at my age? My adventures were completed long ago.” Ruth handed the box gingerly back to Solomon. Solomon bowed as he accepted it.

“Now before my next gift, grandmamma, I’d like you to tell me a bit about your husband, my great-great grandfather.”

“Boaz? What can I say about Boaz?” Ruth tilted her head back, summoning memories from generations before. “He was tall. He was handsome, even in his old age. He was brave. I think he was the bravest man I’ve ever encountered, and I’ve known many in my day. It wasn’t just physical bravery, mind you. It was the courage to do what he felt was right no matter what the rest of the world thought. He reminded me of stories about Abraham. One man against an entire culture of belief. Boaz was that strong. And he was a leader. A natural leader. When he spoke, people couldn’t help but listen and follow. And he was kind. So kind. Imagine me – a destitute Moabite woman coming to Bethlehem – and he was the only friendly hand. He withstood the famine and kept Bethlehem together and safe. He had been a mighty warrior, but that was before I knew him, though even as a child I had heard stories of his accomplishments, of his unnatural speed, of his incredible instinct as a fighter, of how he founded the militia that fought Israel’s enemies, and so much more. Oh, Solomon. He was so much. He was a man of the utmost integrity, of such character, of faith, of self-control. He was a pillar of Judah and served as an example to all of Israel. It was my deepest privilege to be his wife and to bear his child.”

“Thank you, grandmamma,” Solomon said as his eyes moistened. “I’ve never heard you speak so passionately about him.”

“You never asked before. But why now?”

“That is the second gift. You see those two pillars?” Solomon pointed at the massive golden pillars at the entrance to the Temple. “We needed to name them. The one on the left is named Yachin, meaning ready. It symbolizes that we must always be ready to fulfill God’s commands, to serve Him as a servant before ones master.”

“And what is the name of the right pillar?” Ruth asked.

“We wanted to choose a name that symbolized all the traits you just mentioned. Of humility and nobility. Of justice and mercy. Of courage and discipline. Of faith and tradition. Of honor and beauty. We have named the right pillar after your husband, after our esteemed ancestor. We have named the pillar Boaz.”

Ruth wept joyfully. She looked at the pillar and imagined a giant version of Boaz guarding the entrance to the Temple. And she imagined him smiling back at her.

The End

End of Warrior Prophets 3: Ancestress and The Boaz Trilogy

* * * * * *

Secondary Sources:

Ruth the Moabite lived to see the kingdom of Solomon, her great-great grandson. Tractate Bava Batra 91b.

5773, Boaz, Book of Ruth, David, Eglon, Ehud, Fiction, Joshua, Moses, Ploni, Ruth, Samson, Warrior Prophets

Warrior Prophets 3 Chapter 29 – Lion of Judah

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Warrior Prophets 3 Chapter 29

Lion of Judah

Ruth completed her third circle around Boaz. She found herself out of breath and disoriented as her vision fluctuated between the battle around her wedding ceremony and her presence in the future, as her descendant David faced the Philistine giant, Goliath son of Orpa.

The first group of Philistine mercenaries that Alron the Danite had brought into Bethlehem lay dead or unconscious on the floor of the alcove where Boaz and Ruth had meant to marry. Four elders held the poles of the wedding canopy over the couple. Ehud, Ploni, Garto and the rest of the residents of Bethlehem fought a pitched battle against the new infusion of Philistine mercenaries in front of the city gate. Judean pitchforks, axes and walking sticks were wielded against the iron swords of professional soldiers.

It seemed that the more numerous Judeans would stem the tide pouring through the city gate, until a flurry of arrows killed half a dozen defenders.

Ehud identified the man-child Beor as the deadly archer standing next to the sorcerer Sumahtrid. Ehud grabbed a spear from a dead Philistine and threw it with all his might at Beor. The archer moved his body, but not before the blacksmith’s spear clove his bow in half.

“You’ll have to get your hands dirty now, Beor,” Sumahtrid instructed his disciple. “I know how much you love it.”

Beor drew his sword and approached the thick of battle as Sumahtrid continued weaving spells with his hands and voice.

*

David stood frozen for a moment as Goliath’s footsteps shook the earth. David felt the tremors of the wounded land through the soft soles of his leather sandals. He held his staff in one hand and his sling in the other and feared that even his vaunted faith would not be enough to sustain him against the unnatural menace barreling towards him.

“Now,” Boaz yelled to the ghost of his bride-to-be. “He needs us now.” Both he and Ruth floated to David and each took hold of one of his shoulders.

David felt the strength of their spirits pour into him. He stood tall and did not flinch as the giant suddenly halted his march.

Goliath looked at David in shock, not believing his size, age, or lack of armor or weaponry.

“Am I a dog,” Goliath barked harshly at David, “that you come to me with a stick, boy? This is the hero the Israelites send to fight me? By all the gods, I have never been so offended. I swear to you by the old gods and the new gods, by Zeus and Hera, by Baal and Ashtarte, come to me boy, and I will feed your carcass to the vultures and your rotting corpse to the jackals.”

David took a step back from Goliath’s threat. Ruth and Boaz held David’s shoulders firmly, and soon found other hands joining them.

Moses, with his flowing white beard stood right behind David and whispered.

“I smote a giant much larger than this one.”

Abraham stood next to Moses and whispered, “Do not fear, my son. You must kill him to set the course.”

Samuel the Prophet joined their hands and said, “It is for this that I anointed you. You are the chosen of God. You can defeat this heathen.”

More and more hands rested on David’s shoulders; the ancestors, warriors and prophets of countless generations. They whispered to him. They encouraged him. They gave him of their essence. David felt their spirit. He felt their strength flowing into his soul, into his blood. He felt his muscles burn with power.

“You are our child,” Ruth said above the chorus of the generations. “We are with you. You are a Lion of Judah. This is your destiny. Show this monster, show these heathens, how a son of the living God, how a prince of Israel, has no fear.”

David took a step forward and looked at Goliath in the eye. He felt a kinship in the eyes, a certain ferocity – but nothing else.

“You come to me with a sword, a spear and a javelin,” David called out in a voice that bounced off the mountains on either side. The Philistine and Israelite armies hushed to hear David’s words. “But I, I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted this day. And it is He that will deliver you into my hand. I will kill you. I will cut your head off and I will give the carcasses of your Philistines to the vultures of the sky and to the jackals of the field, that all will know that there is a God in Israel.”

A cheer arose from the army of Israel as the Philistines looked on in confusion and the beginning of fear.

“And all will know,” David continued in a louder voice over the cheering Israelites, “that God doesn’t save with the sword or the spear, for battle is God’s domain and he will give you into our hands.”

“Enough! Enough, you filthy little dog.” Goliath raised his spear. The spear was as thick as a tree with an iron point the size of a man’s head. “I have never heard such a loud blabbering Israelite before. Enough!”

Goliath threw his spear with blinding speed, but David had already moved and was no longer where he had stood when the spear penetrated the earth as if suddenly giving birth to a new tree. Goliath raised his sword and with a piercing battle-cry slashed at David. David ducked under the heavy sword and rolled to his feet. He grabbed a stone from his satchel and placed it into the mouth of his sling. Goliath slashed at the running David. David somersaulted into the air, flipping over the flashing sword and landing on his feet.

“Stay still you little monkey!” Goliath spat and slashed again at the place where David had been. “Fight like a man! I didn’t come here to hunt rabbits!”

David spun his sling. Goliath paused and laughed. He sheathed his sword and drew his javelin from behind his back.

“You think your little pebbles will hurt me? I’m indestructible!”

David continued spinning until he felt the speed was right. Goliath launched the javelin at David. David jumped out of the way of the javelin, the force of the wind almost knocking him over. He kept hold of the sling and continued his relentless spinning.

God! Let my aim be true! David prayed. He felt the presence of Ehud again, guiding his hand. “I told you I would be with you,” Ehud whispered. “A Wolf of Benjamin assists the Lion of Judah.”

The stone left the sling with a rush of sound. The armies of two nations watched as the small stone, no larger than a man’s fist, flew towards the giant’s head. Goliath’s eyes lost focus as they tried to follow the speeding path of the riverstone.

Then it struck. It struck right beneath the gleaming bronze helmet, upon the bridge of the nose between the giant’s eyes. The helmet with the bright red plume flew off the giant’s head as he reeled backwards. The stone embedded itself deep into his thick skin. The towering giant took a step back from the force of the blow.

And then the impossible happened. The giant stopped breathing. A universal gasp echoed from both sides of the valley. The Philistines on one mountain and the Israelites on the opposing mountain held their collective breaths as Goliath ceased to live. They knew it when his eyes rolled backwards. They had seen it in countless enemies, but never in a being so large. His life was snuffed out. It was as if a towering cedar, one of the famed majestic trees from the forests of Lebanon, had been felled. Goliath wobbled for a moment, his legs no longer wielding the power to sustain him. He fell to his knees. His arms went slack at his sides and his massive body fell forward.

The entire world moved in slow motion and only had eyes for the falling giant. It was as if the rules of nature had been overturned. A small, young, unarmed boy had killed the mightiest; the most invincible warrior the world had ever created. The tiniest details of Goliath came into sharp focus. His burnished breastplate displayed the fortress by the sea with the characteristic gate of Ashkelon, the city of his birth. The greaves on his legs with the engraved soldiers were smiling with glee in the burning sun.

There must have been sound when the enormous body hit the ground, but nobody heard it. The shock was so overwhelming, the deed so impossible, that the visual senses were overloaded and did not allow any other sense to function. It was impossible. The large body bounced, his face splattering into the muddy riverbank, and then he moved no more.

*

Ruth finished the sixth circle, panting and sweating profusely. She could barely focus on the scene in Bethlehem. Boaz remained in a light trance, not able or willing to break Ruth’s circles, yet frustrated that he could do nothing to fight their immediate danger. They were surrounded by an army. The four elders holding up the wedding canopy were using their staffs to fend off the Philistine mercenaries that got through the guard of the Bethlehemites that had made a circle around Boaz and Ruth. There were perhaps two dozen Bethlehemites standing against a force of three dozen professional soldiers. Ehud was in single sword combat with the dexterous Beor, neither of them gaining an advantage. Ploni stayed close to Ruth, watching for any Philistines that made it past the guard of the four elders.

Then Ploni saw it from the corner of his eye; an arrow flashing through the thick air towards Ruth’s heart. Instinctively he jumped in its way as Ruth continued her dream walk. The arrow punctured Ploni’s lung and he knew he would not last long as he collapsed outside Ruth’s path.

Alron, standing on the parapet, reloaded another arrow to shoot at Ruth. He pulled on the bow and aimed at the Moabite princess, until a sword erupted from his belly, sending the arrow awry.

“You dirty traitor,” Garto exhaled as he pulled the sword out of Alron’s body, kicking him over the parapet. “You deserve much worse than that for bringing enemies into our city.”

Garto spotted the sorcerer Sumatrid on a further parapet and ran towards him.

*

Ehud cried for every Israelite that died defending Boaz and Ruth. He wept openly when Ploni fell. He could have saved them, but the sorcery was stopping him. He didn’t understand it. It hadn’t incapacitated him. It had just taken away his extra edge, his extra speed, strength and stamina that had always accompanied him in battle. Now he was just an old blacksmith, an experienced warrior, fighting a fresher, younger assassin.

He saw Sumahtrid in the distance waving his hands in strange patterns, but he could not reach him. If he disengaged from Beor, the assassin would kill Boaz and Ruth in short order.

Then he saw Garto running towards Sumahtrid and prayed that the unskilled overseer would be a match for the sorcerer.

*

Sumahtrid had mixed feelings about the death of Alron. On one hand, he would no longer have to pay him the exorbitant fees he had demanded, but on the other hand, the Danite had almost accomplished the task of killing the princess. He would just need to redouble his efforts. He didn’t understand why Boaz, the ancient warrior, remained frozen in his wedding ceremony, but that left Ehud as the only threat, and he needed to weaken Ehud until Beor could overcome the old blacksmith.

He saw the overseer running towards him with the sword. Perhaps it was time to change tactics. Sumahtrid whistled shrilly. All stopped and looked at Sumahtrid for a moment.

“To me, my pet!” Sumahtrid called to Beor.

Beor immediately backed away from Ehud and ran back to Sumahtrid.

Sumahtrid gestured at Garto who continued running towards him. A stone that Garto stepped on dislodged from the floor, sending Garto flying over the parapet, landing onto a pile of corpses below. The stone continued flying and knocked into an Israelite defender, sending him crumbling to the floor.

Sumahtrid sent another stone flying towards Ruth. Ehud sheathed his sword in his scabbard, jumped to intercept the flying stone and redirected it at a Philistine soldier.

“Guard me from any attackers,” Sumahtrid instructed Beor as he met him on the parapet. “I will let the stones of the ancestors kill the progeny. There will only be so many stones the blacksmith can catch.”

Sumahtrid lobbed stones at a more rapid pace. Ehud struggled to catch each one and divert them. Some started to get through and hit other Israelites. One stone hit an elder holding the wedding canopy, throwing him against the wall of the alcove. Another elder grabbed the canopy pole before it fell, his staff in his other hand, wary of another stone and the Philistines, who had backed away from the magical stone attack.

Within minutes, Ehud was bruised and bloodied by the attack of the flying stones. One of his arms hung limply at his side. All of the Israelites were dead, unconscious or dispersed, except for four wounded elders holding up the canopy around Boaz and Ruth.

“Now to finish the job,” Sumahtrid purred, rubbing his hands for a final assault.

*

David looked in awe at the fallen Goliath.

There was a roar of victory from the Israelite army and a roar of anger from the Philistines. Even without Goliath, the Philistines outnumbered and outmatched the Israelites. The Philistines would have to engage the Israelites, but it would be a massacre nonetheless.

The remaining Philistine generals ordered their army to form into lines. They would attack the Israelites.

“No!” Ruth’s specter said. “We must press the advantage. David, my child, you are not done yet.” Ruth thought of her role, she thought of her purpose, she wondered what she contributed that the other mighty ancestors didn’t. Why did God need her in the supreme mix of souls? And then she knew it. She knew what the blood of Eglon carried. She knew what a descendant of Lot could do. She knew what the Israelites were lacking and she knew why she was chosen. She knew why it was her and no one else from Moab. She was the kind one from Moab, in a time when Israel desperately needed kindness. It was compassion, it was humility, it was faith, but there was something underlying all these traits.

For a moment she had a vision of a memory she had not thought of since her childhood. It had been in the Judean desert, when her father, Emperor Eglon, controlled the land of Canaan. On one of the many days that she would sneak out of the City of Palms and explore the land, she climbed the stark rocky hills that hid the lush wadis. In one of the wadis she spotted a lioness. The lioness was wounded and trapped by a sudden rockfall. One leg lay broken under a pile of stones. A pack of hyenas, smelling blood, exited their lair. They approached the wounded lioness, only to cower back at her angry roar. The hyenas circled around the trapped lioness and headed towards her den, where her newborn cubs lay.

The trapped lioness roared again and with supreme effort extricated herself from the rocks. With three healthy legs she pounced on half a dozen hyenas. The hyenas counterattacked and nipped at the lioness’ broken leg. The lioness roared in pain, but never gave up. She roared and attacked as the hyenas jumped onto her, biting into her back, her neck, her healthy legs. With the fury only a mother can show for her young, the lioness slashed and bit at the hyenas. She finally killed one, biting through its neck and battering the other hyenas with the body of their dead brother. The other hyenas scattered, whimpering, and never approached the lioness’ den again.

Young Ruth, from her safe haven above the wadi, cried as she witnessed the power and fury of the lioness. She had never been the same again.

Ruth of Moab awoke from her daydream, and still in her spirit state looked at the body of Goliath with his face in the mud. Her specter grabbed hold of David and she felt Boaz by her side, and Ehud, and Abraham, Moses, Nachshon, Joshua, Samson, Samuel and many more. She felt the spirits of generations channeling through her into the body of the young redhead. And she knew what she contributed, what was uniquely hers and what was needed now. Ferocity. She had the capacity for ferocity that was unrivaled. She now poured all of her ferocity into David.

David gritted his teeth and ran as if his body were on fire. David ran to Goliath’s corpse and removed his gigantic sword from its sheath. With supernatural strength he raised the iron sword and brought it crashing down over Goliath’s neck. The sword clove straight through the tough skin, separating the head from the body. David raised Goliath’s head by the hair, faced the combined troops of the Philistines and roared.

It was a roar that was heard from one end of the valley to the other. It rebounded off of the hills and into the sky. The clouds shook from the power of the roar. It was a roar that contained the voices of all the ancestors of David, of Judah, of Israel. Those that stood in the Valley of Ella that day swore that they saw a gigantic vision of a lion standing over David.

“Lion of Judah!” an Israelite warrior cried.

“Lion of Judah!” his fellow warriors repeated.

“LION OF JUDAH!!” the entire Israelite army screamed.

As one man, the Israelites raised their swords and ran towards the Philistines. No orders, no plan, no strategy. A sea of bodies and swords flowed down the mountain and filled the valley. It was as if a gigantic anthill had been kicked and now a ferocious assault was unleashed. The Israelites ran at the astonished Philistines fearlessly. David dropped Goliath’s head, yet retained the massive sword. He ran to the head of the oncoming Israelite army and was the first to engage the awestruck Philistines. With one swipe of Goliath’s sword David killed six Philistines.

“Lion of Judah!” the Israelites repeated and dove into the ranks of the retreating Philistines. That day thousands of Philistines were killed. Not one Israelite fell. David and the Israelite army pursued the Philistines all the way back to their cities of Gath and Ekron. David did not stop until the Israelites tired of massacring the fearful Philistines. Vultures of the sky and jackals of the field feasted on the Philistine bodies. That day David became a legend for all time. That was the day the tribes of Israel got their first glimpse of their future king, the one that would unite the tribes and establish the eternal monarchy of Israel.

*

Ruth finished her seventh circle as a stone block flew towards her head. Ehud lay gasping in pain on the floor. A large stone had broken three of his ribs. At that exact moment, generations into the future, a young redhead roared a roar that shook the earth. That roar escaped the lips of Ruth. It came out of the mouth of Boaz whose eyes opened widely. It came out of the lungs of Ehud that rasped with pain. Their roar shook the city. The flying stone stopped in midair and dropped harmlessly to the ground. Unconscious Bethlehemites woke up with vigor. The injured were healed. The fatally wounded were revived. Sumahtrid tried to cast a new spell, but found he could no longer speak. Ruth awoke from her trance, left the wedding canopy and marched towards Sumahtrid on the rampart. She climbed the stairs quickly, as a lioness pouncing on its prey.

Sumahtrid backed away from the woman with the fire in her eyes. Beor stood in front of him with his sword ready.

Ruth stopped a few feet away and planted her feet firmly on the stone.

“GOD!” she roared, raising her fists to the sky.

A blast of power emanated from Ruth, knocking Beor off the rampart. The effect on Sumahtrid was different. Sumahtrid’s form froze. His skin and clothing took on a grey color, like ashes from a dead hearth. Cracks formed all over his body and little flecks of dust were carried by the wind. The process accelerated, as Sumahtrid’s body decomposed and finally disappeared altogether in the Judean wind. Beor, watching his master’s fate from below, ran out of the city, never to look back.

Ruth walked regally down the stairs in her white wedding gown. The population of Bethlehem stood at attention and formed a passageway for Ruth to return to Boaz under the wedding canopy. Ehud stood by his side, dirty but healthy-looking. Garto was there as well, and even Ploni had been resuscitated, grinning more widely than he had in many decades with an arrow shaft still protruding from his chest.

“Shall we finish the ceremony?” Boaz asked.

“By all means,” Ruth responded. “I just had an uninvited guest to get rid of.”

Boaz and Ruth were married that day in Bethlehem, and everyone who was there swore that they saw a giant silhouette of a lion overlooking the wedding canopy.

* * * * * *

5773, Boaz, Book of Ruth, David, Ehud, Fiction, Nachshon, Ploni, Ruth, Warrior Prophets

Warrior Prophets 3 Chapter 28 – Battle of the Spirits

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Warrior Prophets 3 Chapter 28

Battle of the Spirits

Boaz stood under the wedding canopy next to Ruth. He was pleased that she had donned her white wedding dress. He was disturbed by Alron’s sudden appearance with Philistine troops. He caught Ehud’s eye. Ehud moved quickly to intercept the Danite. Boaz closed his eyes for a moment. He drew on his inner vision, on Isaac’s Sight, to understand what was going on around him.

He sensed Ruth’s blinding white spirit, most likely ecstatic about the upcoming ceremony with a tinge of yellow apprehension over Alron’s intrusion. He sensed the darker, browner fear and confusion amongst the Bethlehemites. He could see Ploni’s red anger and shame cooling down as he returned to the alcove to investigate this latest development. Boaz looked at the auras of Alron and the Philistines and saw a putrid green of greed. Mercenaries, Boaz understood. There is some financial gain for them in disrupting our marriage. Boaz let his senses float farther afield, beyond the walls of Bethlehem and then he saw the black hole that he knew to be the life-force of Sumahtrid the sorcerer. Next to him was the malevolent dull grey presence of the man-child, Beor. Behind them were several dozen greedy souls, more Philistine mercenaries.

“Ehud!” Boaz opened his eyes wide. “We are under attack! The sorcerer is here with more troops!”

Ehud jumped in front of Alron, whose extended sword still pointed at the Elder.

“I warned you, Danite, that the next time you appeared in Bethlehem, I would kill you.” Ehud drew his own sword.

“I remember, blacksmith. But I will not sully myself by dealing with you.” Alron backed away as his Philistine escort moved in on Ehud.

*

“Perhaps we should wait until after this attack,” Boaz suggested to Ruth under the canopy.

“Boaz son of Salmoon son of Nachshon the Brave,” Ruth said. “I shall not wait one more moment. The world may be coming to an end, but I will see this through now. We cannot delay any further. Ehud and the other residents of Bethlehem will have to fight without us.”

“I too feel a sense of urgency. You must circle me seven times. That is the first part of the ritual. It binds our spirits together. Forever. Do not stop or slow your pace. It must be seven complete circles.”

Ruth nodded and walked around Boaz, as four Elders nervously held the canopy. The assembly looked on in fear between the wedding ceremony and Philistines fighting Ehud.

*

Ehud moved with blinding speed. Three Philstines lay dead, as four others surrounded him and the remaining five spread out to reach Boaz and Ruth. Alron had disappeared into the now-panicked crowd.

Elders raised their walking staffs and expertly hit the Philistines approaching the wedding canopy. Ehud attacked and furiously parried the swords and spears of the Philistines around him.

One Philistine got through the Elders and launched his spear at Ruth. A stick crashed down on the spear in midair, sending it harmlessly into the ground. Ploni wielded the stick and attacked the lone Philistine.

“Get out of my way, old man,” the Philistine barked, raising his sword at Ploni.

“I am Ploni son of Nachshon, and though I may be old, I am not dead yet. I will not allow anyone to harm my family. Not my nephew and not his bride. I have accepted the judgment of the Elders, and Ruth is now one of us. Begone, Philistine!”

Ploni struck the Philistine with a rapid series of blows until the soldier fell to the ground, unconscious.

“Now to the gate,” Ploni said to himself, painfully remembering the last time he tried stopping Philistines at the gate of Bethlehem.

*

Ruth completed one circle around Boaz. Suddenly her vision blurred and she found herself in the Valley of Ella, with the specter of Boaz by her side. They looked across the valley at the massed army of Philistines. Rows upon rows of brass-clad soldiers pointed a forest of spears to the sky. The mountain range was filled with a confident army waiting to attack. The giant, Goliath, stood at the head of the army and bellowed, “I have disgraced the army of Israel this day! Give me a man that will fight me, or is there no man of courage amongst all the Children of Israel?” Goliath laughed long and hard. He radiated strength. He uprooted a young tree from out of the ground and then crushed it in his enormous hands. He was invincible.

The Israelites trembled in fear. The dread was palpable.

“The vision!” Ruth said to Boaz. “I feel myself still walking around you in Bethlehem, but we are also here in the Valley of Ella.”

“Don’t stop!” Boaz said. “This is the prophecy! This is the Defining Place that God spoke to us about. It is now!”

“What do we do?” Ruth asked.

“I think it will become apparent.”

A young redhead entered the tent of King Saul of Israel. The young David son of Jesse bowed before the king and then stood upright. Nobody noticed the spirits of Ruth and Boaz enter the tent.

Ruth and Boaz felt another presence beside them. A large redhead with a flaming beard and a cocky smile. Nachshon the Brave. His spirit touched young David on the shoulder. Nachshon’s spirit then smiled at Boaz and Ruth, said “congratulations” and disappeared.

“Do not let fear weigh your hearts,” David said to King Saul, “I, your servant, will fight this Philistine!”

“You cannot fight him,” King Saul responded. “You are but just a lad and the Philistine has been a warrior all his days.”

Another spirit appeared next to Boaz and Ruth. A handsome man with long hair.

“Who are you?” Boaz asked the spirit.

“A failure,” the spirit answered. “I am from after your time, noble Boaz, but before his. I am Samson son of Manoah. God allows me to give from my strength, from my flashes of purity to the anointed one.”

Samson’s spirit touched David on the shoulder and disappeared.

“I have killed the lion and the bear,” David said, “and this uncircumcised Philistine will die like one of them, for he has shamed the army of the living God!”

Saul took a step back from David’s ferocity and looked at the handsome redhead closely. David continued speaking.

“God, who saved me from the lion and the bear, will save me from this Philistine!” David raised his fist into the air.

“Go then,” Saul agreed, “and may God be with you.”

*

As soon as Garto heard Bethlehem was under attack, he ran towards the gate. He rallied Boaz’s workers to follow him. Other farmers and farmhands joined Garto’s group and he suddenly found himself the leader of a small army. They were perhaps fifty farmers. A dozen Israelite soldiers manned the ramparts and notched their arrows as the Philistines approached.

“Close the gate!” Garto commanded as he saw five dozen Philistines on horseback approaching the gate.

Farmers pushed on the gate. The sorcerer, Sumahtrid, in his black robe, raised his hand and chanted an incantation. The hinges of the gate buckled and could not be moved.

“Push it closed!” Garto yelled. The farmers pushed mightily, only to drive the bottom of the door into the ground. It would not budge further.

Philistines rode through the gate, hacking at the Israelite farmers. Guards on the ramparts managed to shoot some of the invaders. But before long they themselves were shot dead by Philistine archers and by the expert archery of Beor. Farmers defended themselves with axes and pitchforks. Only a handful had swords. Shepherds managed to knock Philistines off their horses and soon there was a pitched battle within the walls of Bethlehem, just a few feet away from Ruth walking in a trance around Boaz under the wedding canopy.

*

Ruth finished her second circle, sweating heavily. Her spirit and Boaz’s stayed with David as King Saul placed his armor on the redheaded youth and gave him the royal sword. They saw the spirit of Joshua touch David on the shoulder. “You won’t need it,” Joshua whispered. Joshua then turned, smiled at Boaz, bowed to Ruth and disappeared. David returned Saul his sword, took the armor off and walked down to the valley, wearing his simple tunic with a shepherd’s staff in one hand and a slingshot in the other. The army of Israel turned from the fearful giant and watched the brazen youth walk through the camp unafraid. “That is a son of Jesse,” men whispered.

“He’s just a lad.”

“He’s going to his death.”

“Our fate is in his hands?”

David trotted lightly through the awestruck soldiers of Israel until he reached the brook at the bottom of the valley. It bubbled happily, unaware of the two armies ready to overflow the stream with blood.

“He’s going to fight that giant with just a sling and a stick?” Ruth asked Boaz.

“He will need some stones,” Boaz noted. “They better be good ones.”

Then they saw the spirit of Ehud fly to David and touch him on the shoulder.

“There,” Ehud said to David. “Take those five. I reserved them for you with prophecy. My spirit will be with you.”

David found a pile of five smooth stones with sharp edges. They lay next to the stream covered with mud. David took the stones, rinsed them in the stream and placed them in the satchel slung across his shoulder.

The youth ran parallel to the stream towards the looming giant who was staring at him in confusion. Goliath stomped to meet David, each footstep shaking the shrubs and trees around him. As Goliath approached, David got his first good look of the Philistine. His body was covered in thick brass armor. The breastplate had an intricate engraving of a fortress by the sea. His greaves had a design of soldiers wielding spears, arrows and swords. His polished helmet reflected the afternoon sun, with a bright red plume rising from the crest of the helmet. Goliath’s shieldbearer, a large man, yet small compared to Goliath, ran by the Philistine’s side, struggling to keep up with the giant’s footsteps.

David felt the thunderous force of Goliath’s approach and stopped. What was I thinking? This is no mere mortal, David realized. He is imbued with great evil and bred for a monstrous purpose. I cannot do this alone.

The Philistine army cheered wildly as their champion bore down on young David.

* * * * * *

Biblical Source:

I Samuel Chapter 17

31 And when the words were heard which David spoke, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he was taken to him. 32 And David said to Saul: ‘Let no man’s heart fail within him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.’ 33 And Saul said to David: ‘Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.’ 34 And David said unto Saul: ‘Thy servant kept his father’s sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath taunted the armies of the living God.’ 37 And David said: ‘The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said unto David: ‘Go, and the Lord shall be with thee.’ 38 And Saul clad David with his apparel, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his apparel, and he essayed to go[, but could not]; for he had not tried it. And David said unto Saul: ‘I cannot go with these; for I have not tried them.’ And David put them off him. 40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his scrip; and his sling was in his hand; and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came nearer and nearer unto David; and the man that bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and withal of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said unto David: ‘Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his god. 44 And the Philistine said to David: ‘Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.’ 45 Then said David to the Philistine: ‘Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast taunted. 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand; and I will smite thee, and take thy head from off thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel; 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hand.’ 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slung it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 And David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw that their mighty man was dead, they fled. 52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou comest to Gai, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. 53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their camp. 54 And David took the head of the philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.

5773, Boaz, Book of Ruth, Ehud, Fiction, Naomi, Ploni, Ruth, Warrior Prophets

Warrior Prophets 3 Chapter 27 – House of the Removed Shoe

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Warrior Prophets 3 Chapter 27

House of the Removed Shoe

Boaz sat calmly on the stone bench beside the gate, inside the large open alcove. Benches lined each of the three walls of the enclosure, within view of the main thoroughfare of Bethlehem. It was the place of judgment. The streets of Bethlehem were quieter than usual at the early hour. The residents of Bethlehem were slow to rise on the morning after the harvest feast. For a few moments Boaz enjoyed the warm summer sun rising above the mountains of Moab. Then he saw Ploni walking slowly towards the gate.

“Uncle,” Boaz called.

“Good morning, Boaz. Thank you again for an enjoyable feast. What is the matter? Why do you sit here?”

“I call for judgment,” Boaz answered. “Please sit here and we will assemble the elders.”

“For what matter?”

“In regard to the family and the property of Elimelech.”

“Very well.” Ploni sat down on an opposing bench.

The elders walked from their homes, one by one, to the gate of Bethlehem. “We sit in judgment today,” Boaz announced to each one.

Within a number of minutes a quorum of ten Elders had taken their seats on the stone benches. Other passersby stood by the entrance of the alcove, awaiting the proceedings. Children sat cross-legged on the top of the walls, sensing that it would be a judgment worth watching. Word of the judgment spread quickly throughout the city as the crowd swelled around the enclosure.

Naomi and Ruth, not able to restrain themselves, joined the crowd. Ruth wore the new white dress Naomi had made for her. Ehud was there, as was Garto. Garto smiled gently at Ruth, raised his shoulders and whispered: “They’ll be no work in the fields today, that’s for sure.”

Boaz stood up and faced Ploni.

“The land of Elimelech is being sold by his wife Naomi who has returned from the fields of Moab,” Boaz said to Ploni in a strong voice that the entire assembly could hear. “And I have decided to formally announce this to you. You may buy the land in front of all of this assembly and in front of the Elders. This would be your redemption of the land. If you are willing, then redeem it. But if not, you must let me know, for you have the first right as Elimelech’s brother. I come after you, for I am only his nephew.”

“I am willing to redeem the land of Elimelech, my brother, and acquire it.” Ploni stood up solemnly and declared.

“The day you buy the land from Naomi,” Boaz replied, “you also must buy it from Ruth the Moabite, widow of Mahlon and inheritor of Elimelech. Furthermore, as a redeemer, it will become your obligation to take Mahlon’s widow as your wife to carry on the name of the dead on his inheritance.”

“Absolutely not!” Ploni yelled. “She is a Moabite. She is not of Israel. I do not recognize her marriage to Mahlon nor her eligibility to join the Children of Israel. This is nonsense, Boaz, and you know it.”

“Let us examine your claims,” Boaz said, unruffled. “A woman of another nation has taken upon herself the laws and traditions of Israel. She was married to one of our family for many years. She has returned with her mother-in-law to our land to live and work amongst us. She is of noble character, of humble bearing and possesses a modesty that all the daughters of Israel can learn from. She identifies completely with the people of Israel and has taken on the Law of Moses. What else does she require to be recognized as one of us?”

“Don’t bandy words with me, Boaz. She is a Moabite. Moses himself wrote ‘a Moabite shall not enter into the covenant of Israel.’

“True,” Boaz answered. “But it has been argued in front of us that Moses may have easily meant that only male Moabites are prohibited from marrying Israelites. More than that, we have the evidence of our very own eyes. Ruth the Moabite has lived amongst us for these last few months. The people of Bethlehem,” Boaz turned to the crowd, his arms open to them, “have come to know her kindness, her bravery, her piety. I ask you, my brothers, is Ruth not a woman of valor?”

“Yes!” A chorus resonated from the crowd. “Ruth is one of us!”

“My fellow Elders,” Boaz continued, “I submit to you. Let us resolve this question once and for all. Moses did not mean to exclude Moabite women from marrying into Israel – only the men. He could not have meant to prevent such beauty of spirit from joining our nation. What say you? Shall we allow such purity within our people or shall we reject it? You must decide now, for a life, a family, the very future of a line of Israel hangs in the balance. Please give us your judgment.”

The Elders huddled and argued with each other. They pointed at Ploni, at Boaz, at Ruth and Naomi in the crowd and then they nodded at each other.

One of the Elders stepped away from the huddle to the center of the enclosure and faced the crowd.

“We hereby decree,” the Elder stated, “that the prohibition against marrying Moabites is in force exclusively against the men from that nation. Israelite men are permitted to marry Moabite women provided they have renounced their idol-worshipping ways and have embraced the Laws of Moses and the traditions of Israel. The Moabite woman will then be considered a convert and will be subject to all the laws, commandments and prohibitions as any daughter of Israel. We recognize both the conversion of Ruth the Moabite and her lawful marriage to Mahlon son of Elimelech. Ruth is a legal childless inheritor and all our traditions of Redemption and Levirate marriage apply to her fully. Ploni is tasked with the redemption of the Elimelech’s land and taking Ruth as his wife in order to continue the name of the dead. This is our decree.”

“No!” Ploni exclaimed. “I cannot, I will not, bring myself to redeem her. I will not risk my name, my soul, my identity, by marrying this Moabite, even on your say-so. You redeem her, Boaz. I transfer the responsibility to you. You can acquire Elimelech’s land and marry Mahlon’s widow. I cannot bring myself to do this thing.”

“Then you must perform the Halitzah ritual,” the Elder advised Ploni. “This court calls upon Ruth the Moabite, widow of Mahlon, to fulfill the ceremony.”

The crowd by the entrance parted to let Ruth walk into the middle of the alcove. She walked slowly in her new gown, looking from side to side at the residents of Bethlehem watching the proceedings.

“Welcome, our daughter,” the Elder nodded at Ruth. “We shall now instruct you as to how the ceremony shall be conducted. Do not fear. It shall free you from Ploni’s obligation and transfer it to Boaz, allowing him to marry you.”

The Elder spoke quietly with Ruth, pointing at Ploni, at his shoe, and had her repeat a number of phrases. Satisfied that Ruth understood the procedure, the Elder directed her to start.

“My relative refuses to establish for his brother a name in Israel,” Ruth announced in a strong clear voice. “He does not consent to perform the Levirate marriage.”

“I do not wish to marry her,” Ploni responded formally.

Ruth sat on the floor and untied the sandal off of Ploni’s right foot. She took the sandal off his foot and threw it on the packed earth. She then stood up and spat on the ground in front of Ploni.

“So is done to the man who will not build up his brother’s house,” Ruth announced. “His name will be proclaimed in Israel as ‘the House of the one whose shoe was removed!’”

Red-faced, Ploni picked up his shoe and left the assembly. The crowd parted to let him out.

“Ruth is free from the bond of obligation to Ploni,” the Elder announced. “She may marry Boaz. We may now perform the Levirate marriage,” the Elder announced.

A wedding canopy was brought out. Four poles with a white fabric on the top. Four Elders grabbed each corner and directed Boaz and Ruth to stand under the canopy.

“I object!” a voice from the crowd called out.

The crowd parted once again, as Alron the Danite strode into the court area, followed by a dozen Philistine soldiers. They wore sturdy leather breastplates, carrying long spears in their hands and swords at their sides. They marched in two orderly rows behind Alron.

“What is the meaning of this!” the Elder berated Alron. “Who are you and why are these Philistines here?”

“I am Alron of Dan and I call for the end of this travesty. These men are my guards, for the last time I was in your inhospitable city I was threatened with death. A man is allowed to protect himself, is he not?”

“What is your connection to this matter?” the Elder asked.

“Princess Ruth, daughter of Eglon the Moabite, is meant to be my wife. And I will kill any man that thinks otherwise,” said Alron, as he pointed his sword at the Elder.

* * * * * *

Biblical Sources:

Book of Ruth, Chapter 4:

1 Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there; and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; unto whom he said: ‘Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here.’ And he turned aside, and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said: ‘Sit ye down here.’ And they sat down. 3 And he said unto the near kinsman: ‘Naomi, that is come back out of the field of Moab, selleth the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s; 4 and I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying: Buy it before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; but if it will not be redeemed, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee.’ And he said: ‘I will redeem it.’ 5 Then said Boaz: ‘What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi–hast thou also bought of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance?’ 6 And the near kinsman said: ‘I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance; take thou my right of redemption on thee; for I cannot redeem it.’– 7 Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour; and this was the attestation in Israel.– 8 So the near kinsman said unto Boaz: ‘Buy it for thyself.’ And he drew off his shoe.

 

5773, Boaz, Book of Ruth, Ehud, Fiction, Nachshon, Naomi, Ruth, Warrior Prophets

Warrior Prophets 3 Chapter 26 – Seducing a Saint

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Warrior Prophets 3 Chapter 26

Seducing a Saint

Boaz officiated at the wedding of Ruth and Garto. Ruth looked stunning in her new white gown. Garto was grinning from cheek to cheek. Naomi looked on in mourning, whispering to Boaz: “failure.” Vered joined Naomi’s chant and then Elimelech, Mahlon and Kilyon joined in proclaiming: “failure.” Boaz’s father, Salmoon appeared and stated: “You have failed me, son. All I ever wanted was continuity. Such a simple thing. But you have broken the chain. Our line ends with you.”

Finally, Nachshon the Brave appeared in Boaz’s dream. Boaz had never met his legendary grandfather, but there was no mistake who it was. The bright red hair and beard, the cocky confidence mixed with supreme faith.

“Such promise,” Nachshon said to Boaz. “You were the key, Boaz. You had the gifts, the training, the spirit, but you lacked that final bit of courage. Were you asked to jump into the sea? Were you asked to risk your life? No! Merely to take in this most worthy, most honorable woman and make her your wife. But you worried too much about the superficial. What people would think. What people would say. Blood of my blood! What a disgrace! Joshua prophesied to you; Ehud confirmed it; Vered returned from the dead to push you, but still you dragged your feet, and now it is too late, too late. You were my last anchor to this world. The King will not be born, the Tribes of Israel will never be united, the Temple will not be built, God’s hope has gone awry, the light will be extinguished, the world will return to chaos, another failed trial, so close this time.”

“No! Wait! What do you mean?” Boaz cried out. “How can one poor decision lead to such a catastrophe?”

“The balance of free will is always on the edge of a blade,” Nachshon explained, “it must ever be so, but this was a moment, this was a confluence of time, a pivot, and you failed, you in whose hands all our hopes rested. It is a shame. Such a shame. God will find another path, another vehicle, another history. He never tires. What is another world to Him? Infinity is His playground, though I truly thought our world, our history, our time would be the one. Too bad, Boaz. Farewell, son of my son. Use your remaining time well.”

The wind over his uncovered legs awoke Boaz with a start. His head spun, still heavy from the wine. The night was pitch black, thick clouds blocking any moonlight or stars. It was as if a thick blanket had snuffed out all the light of the world. Boaz could sense the large pile of grain to one side. He was shocked to discover a woman lying next to him though not touching him. He trembled in fear and apprehension. Am I still dreaming? Boaz wondered through the haze of the wine. He could feel the warmth radiating from her body and unconsciously he was aroused. It is dark, was his first thought. No one will know.

By God, no! Boaz swore to himself. I will overcome this urge. Did I not just admonish all my people against this very thing? Whoever she is, she is a person, not a thing! I cannot ignore that. I cannot give in to the anonymity of the dark or the effects of the wine. Am I as drunk as Lot who could not recognize his own daughters?

“Who are you?” Boaz whispered to the dark.

The woman froze, not expecting conversation, not expecting to identify herself.

“I am Ruth, your maidservant,” the dark whispered back.

Ruth!? Boaz gasped. She is the last person I expected here. What does this mean? What about Garto? Why is this most modest of women by my side after the harvest festival?

“Spread your wings over your maidservant, for you are a Redeemer,” Ruth answered Boaz’s unspoken question.

A Redeemer! She asks for the Levirate marriage! How can I deny her? Boaz’s heart was filled with joy. She maintains her purity. I have been remiss. I have delayed. God has given me a second chance!

“Blessed are you to God, my daughter,” Boaz whispered back, not moving a muscle towards Ruth. “Your kindness to me tonight surpasses all your previous kindnesses. You did not go with the younger men. Not with the wealthy Danite nor with hard-working Garto.”

“I request this for the line of Nachshon,” Ruth said more comfortably, feeling the invisible barrier Boaz had created between them, not touching her. For that alone she loved him even more. “I do this to restore the name of Mahlon, your cousin. I do this for you, and most of all I do it for Naomi.”

Can there be a more righteous woman than this? Boaz asked himself.

“My daughter, do not be afraid. All that you say I will do for you. All of our people, all the people of the gate of Bethlehem, know that you are a woman of valor. And yes, I am a Redeemer, but there is one who is closer. Lie here tonight and in the morning we will settle the matter. If the other Redeemer will redeem you, fine. But if not, I will redeem you. I swear by God. Stay here until the morning.”

Boaz did not say another word.

Ruth respected his silence, though she thought her heart would leap for joy.

He said yes! Ruth thought. He swore he would redeem me. There is no way Ploni would. But how will I break the news to Garto? I must tell him first thing in the morning, before he is further shamed. Poor Garto. But this is the right thing. I feel it in every fiber of my body! He is the one. Naomi was right, but not the way she thought. What a man! I did not need to foist myself upon him. How many men such as he can exist in the world?

Ruth eventually calmed down and fell asleep, never touching Boaz’s body.

She arose before dawn. Boaz was awake. In the dim light of the beginning of the world, she could tell he had not slept the rest of the night.

“It should not be known that a woman came to the threshing floor,” Boaz whispered.

Ruth nodded her understanding. Boaz smiled at her intelligence.

“Give me the scarf that is on you and grasp hold of it,” Boaz ordered gently.

Ruth unbound her scarf from her hair and held it in front of her. He dropped six kernels of barley into the scarf, one for each working day of the week.

“You should not return to your mother-in-law empty-handed,” Boaz whispered. “She will understand the symbolism. Return now to Bethlehem. I shall be right behind you to ensure that you come to no harm. Go, my daughter. I will send word as soon as the matter of the redemption is concluded.”

Ruth nodded one last time and returned to Bethlehem. Boaz waited a few moments and followed her, keeping her always within eyesight until she reached the gate of the city.

*

Ruth opened the door to Naomi’s house silently, not wanting to disturb her mother-in-law at the early hour. The first rays of sun peeked into the house before Ruth closed them out.

“What happened?” Naomi asked urgently, sitting upright at the table. Her face was puffy from tears. She had not slept the entire night. “Who are you, my daughter? Are you still single, or have you bonded with Boaz?”

“Neither,” Ruth responded with a smile. “Boaz is a man of the greatest honor. He did not touch me at all. He will redeem me this morning. He gave me these six kernels,” Ruth handed them to Naomi. “He said do not return empty-handed to your mother-in-law.”

Naomi looked at the kernels of barley tenderly. She held them as she would a newborn child. She stroked each one gently as tears of joy ran down her face.

“This is more than I hoped for,” Naomi spoke to the kernels. “He signals that our work is over. We have worked the six days of the week and now we can rest. He will redeem you. He will. Once he has said so, he will not stop until it is done. You must wait here now, until the matter is decided. He will most likely be in fierce debate with Ploni and the other Elders. But he will succeed. Boaz is masterful in debate and they all respect him. Wait here, daughter, for today it will be decided.”

“There is one thing I must do first.” Ruth looked downward. “I must inform Garto. He will be devastated. But I would rather tell him myself than have him find out from someone else.”

“Go then, my daughter. But then come right back. I am hopeful for good news.”

*

Garto had borrowed a fresh tunic from one of his wealthier neighbors. He had taken a significant portion of his savings and had the blacksmith fashion a simple, unadorned gold ring for Ruth. He was on his way to another neighbor to ask if they could help with the preparation of the wedding feast. He had never felt so happy, so excited in his life. Ruth is mine! Garto thought, still incredulous.

Suddenly, he saw Ruth, in a beautiful blue gown walking rapidly to intercept him. The look on her face was filled with anguish.

“Ruth, what is the matter?” Garto asked with growing concern.

“We must talk,” Ruth said simply.

“Of course. Have I done something wrong? I have just started to tell people the news. I told Boaz last night and he agreed to officiate at the wedding.”

“We cannot marry,” Ruth said.

“What? Why not? Don’t tell me you are suddenly concerned about the Elders. We can leave here if they make an issue of it. There are plenty of cities in Israel that are not so particular about the laws and I can make a good living in any of them. The most important thing is you and me, Ruth. Do not let the so-called righteous intimidate you.”

“It is not that. I have called on Boaz to redeem me, to perform the Levirate marriage.”

“What? When? How is this possible?”

“Last night. After the feast. You are a good man, Garto, and I have deep affection and eternal gratitude to you. But I am meant to be joined with Boaz. There is much more at stake than just the happiness of two people. There is a family line to be resuscitated. There is the memory of my dead husband that needs to be restored. I can only do that through the Levirate marriage. I can only do that with a relative of Mahlon, and Boaz is the best, the most honorable candidate. I know what you will say. Our time may be short. Be that as it may, I must do this thing; for myself, for the Nachshon clan and most importantly, for Naomi. Anything else will break her heart. Do you understand, Garto? Can you forgive me for leading you astray?”

“I don’t believe it! Do you know how much money I just spent? I’m not a rich landowner like Boaz whom you can toy around with. What sort of woman are you? You agree to marry one night and the very next morning you change your mind? Do I understand? Of course I understand. I’m just a plaything to you. A tool in your feminine manipulations. Who else are you using? Are you marrying Boaz for his money? Will you count the days until he dies and then seek some other victim of your Moabite wiles? Will you come back to me after you’re done with Boaz? I understand. I understand very well!”

Garto turned around and stomped back to his house.

“No, Garto, please.” Ruth ran after him. “Please listen to me. It’s not like that at all. I promise you. Please.”

Garto stopped and faced Ruth, his face red with anger.

“I don’t have time for games anymore, Princess. Say what you have to say and let me be on my way.”

“Garto, when I agreed to marry you, I truly meant it. What I didn’t realize, what I didn’t remember was how much my marriage meant to Naomi. She is a mother to me. She is the reason I am here. She is the reason I have joined the Children of Israel. The marriage is not about me alone. It affects my wider family. It affects the memory of my dear Mahlon. It gives continuity to the families of Elimelech, of Boaz, of Nachshon the Brave. It has to be me and Boaz, and it has to be now. I don’t know what the future holds. But I know I must do this. I hope you can forgive me, Garto. I never meant to hurt you. I can understand if you never want to see me again, but know that no matter what, I will always treasure the memory of your friendship and kindness.”

“How can you do this?” Garto responded. “How can you lift a man’s heart to the heavens and then dash it to pieces? How can you promise someone a life of commitment, of loyalty, of love and then just walk away? Are the ghosts of the dead that important? What makes you think Boaz will give you a child at his advanced age? You would walk away from a good thing for a memory? Together we can make as many children as you’d like and we can name them after the entire Nachshon clan. Would that satisfy you?”

“It’s not that.” Ruth shook her head. “It has to be Boaz. We are destined for each other. I know it. I feel it with every part of my body. Please, Garto. Just accept it. I’m sorry. I was wrong. I was confused. I should not have agreed to marry you. I don’t know what else to say in my defense. I just ask for forgiveness.”

Ruth got on her knees and cried.

“Get up, Princess. I get it. He’s the one for you. I forgive you, though it may take me time to forget.”

“Thank you, Garto.” Ruth stood up. “It means a lot to me.”

Garto felt the gold ring in his pocket. How much can I get for it? he wondered. It’s a good thing I didn’t tell the whole city yet.

“I did think it was too good to be true,” Garto finally said. “You are special, Ruth. Truly special. And I’m not sure that I deserved you. Well, good luck then. I expect I will still see you around. If anything should change, I am still here and won’t mind being considered again. Perhaps I should hold on to the ring.

“You are a prince, Garto. Now the rest is up to Boaz.”

* * * * * *

Secondary Sources:

“Nor is this world inhabited by man the first of things earthly created by God. He made several worlds before ours, but He destroyed them all, because He was pleased with none until He created ours.” Ginsburg, The Legends of the Jews, based on Bereshit Rabba 3.7 and 9.2, Midrash Koheleth 3.11 and Midrash Tehillim 34, 245, mentions there were 974 generations before creation of our world.

Biblical Sources:

Book of Ruth, Chapter 3:

1 And Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her: ‘My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 2 And now is there not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor. 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing-floor; but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.’ 5 And she said unto her: ‘All that thou sayest unto me I will do.’ 6 And she went down unto the threshing-floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn; and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was startled, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said: ‘Who art thou?’ And she answered: ‘I am Ruth thine handmaid; spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.’ 10 And he said: ‘Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter; thou hast shown more kindness in the end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou didst not follow the young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou sayest; for all the men in the gate of my people do know that thou art a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part; but if he be not willing to do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth; lie down until the morning.’ 14 And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before one could discern another. For he said: ‘Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor.’ 15 And he said: ‘Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it’; and she held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; and he went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said: ‘Who art thou, my daughter?’ And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said: ‘These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me: Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law.’ 18 Then said she: ‘Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day.’