“God keeps His own counsel,” Adam reasoned. “His ways are his own.”
Eve met them as they returned.
“It is Kenan,” Eve said to Adam. Ahavva had dreamed the same.
Though surprised, the confirmation was undeniable. The Spirit of God had produced multiple witnesses.
“Bring Enosh and Kenan to me,” Adam had said. “Gather my people.”
“Seth has served Adam as Melchizedek – son to father. You will serve Kenan – father to son,” Adam cryptically declared to Enosh.
“Kenan will be Melchizedek, and Enosh will serve him,” Adam declared before all their people.
Adam and Seth laid hands on a very fearful Kenan, then anointed him with oil. Kenan was only forty years old, not much more than a boy. Then they did the same to Enosh.
“Behold, Kenan the Melchizedek over God’s people. Behold, Enosh High Council to the Priest-King. Long may they serve!” Adam declared.
And it was done.
Adam had served as Melchizedek for so long, the transition of leadership did take time. When approached by their people for guidance or complaint, Adam supported Kenan wholeheartedly.
“Inquire of Kenan,” Adam would say with a laugh. “Our Melchizedek is wise, indeed!”
Enosh and Kenan settled into their roles in time. Father and son both learned both the ruling and priestly duties, respectively. Seth continued in his duties as chieftain of the armies and had always felt that role needed separation from the Melchizedek office. He longed to establish a successor for his responsibility as Chieftain and was pleased when Mahalalel, Kenan’s firstborn, arose as a gifted champion to serve him. Someday, Mahalalel would replace him. Adam was now relieved to catalog and pursue all the knowledge he could. Enosh held no ambition for earthly authority and thrived in the priestly duties as Kenan’s genius for the management of people and resources developed.
As the warrior-shepherd over Adam’s people, Seth was responsible for the security of the city and its borders. In the coming fall, he would be five hundred years old. His skills in battle were unmatched, and his vigor was not diminished. When Seth reached twenty years of age, he compelled Adam to compose the Truths of War. Then Adam, together with Seth, developed the disciplines of armed and open-handed combat. They spent twenty years training their minds and bodies to wage war against the Fallen and every other threat. Then Seth undertook what was called the First Purge, a forty-year conquest of destruction against the Fallen Earthbound. Seth spent four decades hunting and destroying nearly every Fallen in the nearby plains and hills.
Seth trained the city guards and the warriors who formed their army. Nearly all males in the city spent at least ten years as a guard. They manned the gates and towers, patrolled the borders, and watched over workers in the fields. Afterward or during this service, training in other vocations would begin. Some men would remain in the guard as a primary duty, presiding over the city gates and towers. Every boy and man learned how to fight. All women were trained to defend themselves, as well. The men who excelled in martial skills were further trained in open-field warfare and siege tactics. From this group of warriors, Seth would call up an army when the need arose. Seth had developed many mighty men, and he was chief among them.
To Seth’s right sat his son Enosh. His wife Noam sat with him. While brave and capable, Enosh was not called to war as his father was. When Kenan ascended to Melchizedek, Enosh began to rule and manage their growing nation serving as Chief Counsellor to his own son. This succession of leadership enabled Adam and Seth to concentrate their time on other pressing needs. Fortunately, Enosh and Kenan’s skills and temperament complemented each other powerfully. Kenan’s genius in the management of resources and engineering contrasted with Enosh’s innate expertise with people. This contrast of strength allowed Enosh to dedicate himself to the duties of priest, teacher, and judge.
Enosh was five years away from completing four hundred years of life. His deep love for people was matched by his unpretentious love for God. While many of their people found Adam moody and sometimes difficult to relate to, Enosh was easy-going and accessible. His personality was, in many ways, like his father Seth’s. Many decades ago, he had invented a pictorial language to record Adam’s teachings about the One God. As a child, he charted the constellations with Seth. Enosh was also a healer with an extensive understanding of natural substances to treat sickness, a passion he shared with Adam and Eve. Public worship and sacrifices were his joy. He also oversaw the instruction of their young in the history and customs of God’s people, including the Seven Laws of Adam.
Kenan sat to his father’s right, the Melchizedek of God’s remnant. His kingly bench was beautifully finished, similar to Adam’s, to honor his office. His spouse, Mualeleth, had given birth to a daughter recently and was resting at their compound. He was three centuries and five years old. Gifted with a passion for excellence and keen attention to detail, few had impacted the development of Adam’s people as powerfully as Kenan. His meticulous nature became evident as a child as he began replicating every tool or utensil he saw. Kenan not only reproduced items, but he would also improve upon their design. Kenan obviously inherited Adam’s passion for invention and discovery. His genius became evident when, at fifteen years of age, he took over crafting weapons for their people. Adam often invented something, then Kenan would perfect it. Their combined brilliance enabled their outnumbered, but better-equipped warriors to overcome the threats of more powerful enemies.
As the Sethites increased in number, Kenan devised a system of labor that utilized the latent talents of their people. Artisans and craftsmen were identified early, and their aptitudes were honed under appropriate mentors. Adam valued joy in work, believing God had created each of His children with unique skills. Kenan’s system allowed their people to work, at least part of the time, in tasks that they took pride in. Kenan’s rotating schedule of labor also ensured harvests were adequately staffed without interrupting Seth’s guard and war training demands. Food and clothing were freely available to all citizens of Har Shalem. Kenan devised a system of credits for the purchase of personal items. Barter was also encouraged, overseen by Kenan’s city-judges, if disagreements occurred.
Outsiders who sought counsel or trade with the city referred to Kenan as the king of Har Shalem. Kenan found the reference quite amusing. While he enjoyed the entertaining delegations from other cities, his ego needed no flattery. The stockpiles of grain, dried fruits, and textiles from Har Shalem bought goodwill among the other city-states, creating opportunities for Kenan to share the Seven Laws of Adam with them. In this way, his generosity and wisdom drew many of the sons of men to serve the One God.
As Adam had prophesied, Enosh and Kenan had a working relationship, much like Adam and Seth. They covered each other’s weaknesses well and multiplied their strengths. Enosh knew the heart of the people, while Kenan kept them industrious. Together they had enabled Adam and Seth to thrive in their respective duties. Adam was now free to create, invent, and teach. Seth could focus solely on the defense of the nation. Enosh had wisely served Kenan, who prospered in his role.
Mahalalel sat to the right of his father, Kenan. At two hundred and thirty-five years of age, he was considered young amongst its leaders. His wife, Dinah, was a woman of outstanding beauty and quiet strength. She chose to return home with their children after the evening offerings. Mahalalel was extroverted, charismatic, and gregarious. Unlike his father, he cared little for planning or details unless it involved music or weapons. In these areas, he was passionate and thorough. He loved to gather musicians and make music. Kenan’s oldest son was a gifted athlete and a formidable warrior. Mahalalel’s skill was deemed second only to Seth in battle. For this reason, he would preside over the army in Seth’s absence. He was first among Seth’s mighty men.
Jerod sat to the right of his father, Mahalalel. At the age of one hundred seventy, he, like his father Mahalal
el, was deemed young. His wife Baraka, known for her passion for prayer, was seated with him. Like his grandfather, Kenan, he had a desire for order, and his systemic mind prized efficiency. As such, he was being mentored by Kenan in the management of the city and its resources. He also invented the written language of their people, improving upon the symbol-based language Enosh had devised years before. His considerable intelligence was now being challenged by an exceptionally gifted eight-year-old son named Enoch.
Enoch sat at the right of his father Jerod, completing the circle of generations. Thus, to Enoch’s immediate right, Father Adam was seated. Enoch was the seventh bloodline proceeding from Adam and Eve. His disposition was pleasant, but he exhibited an occasional moodiness uncommon to other children. He was liked by other children but frequently asked to play alone. Adam and Eve recognized even while he was an infant that his exceptional intelligence contributed to his bouts of frustration. Like his forefather Adam, Enoch would often be found on the city walls gazing eastward, talking to himself, and seemingly oblivious to the world around him. He routinely knew things without being taught them and accurately predicted several events before they happened. He was moved by the Spirit of prophecy, and like Adam was given to dreams and visions. Unknown to him, the older patriarchs had deemed him to be the next Melchizedek over Adam’s people.
Behind Adam sat Mica, son of Kenan. Ever-present to serve the First Father, Mica was also part of the hunting party. On a bench behind Seth and his wife sat two tall, broad-shouldered young men. Their faces reflected the image of their mother, Ahavva-Azura, and their frames and bearing clearly indicated they were the sons of Seth. Identical twins, soon they would be two hundred years old, but their playful demeanors caused them to be considered younger. Like their father, they were lean-muscled, strong, and trained for swiftness. While Seth excelled with spears and hand-weapons, his sons’ expertise gravitated to projectile weapons of all kinds; slings, darts, and bows. Their skill, honed by almost two centuries of obsessive practice and use, was otherworldly. Loran and Lethan were named to hunt with their grandfather Adam and their father, Seth. They were mighty men second only to their father and Mahalalel, with whom they were fast friends.
Dinak, son of Mahalalel, was thirty years old and was the final member of the hunting party. Seated behind his father, Dinak wore a stoic expression as he listened attentively to the proceedings. He wore soldiers’ garb, sported a trim beard, and had short curly hair. Dinak was tall, muscular, and solemn in temperament. Though not often displayed, those who knew him intimately loved his smile and his warm laugh. While he carried his father’s image and warrior spirit, he possessed the quieter disposition of his mother, Dinah. Dinak was young but, unlike Jathan, proven in open battle. Like Jathan, he had served as a guard, then was trained as a shield-bearer. Bearing Lethan’s shield, together they killed seven men of Cain, marauders who were attacking caravans. Also, Dinak and Lethan recently purged a nearby region of a fallen angel that was victimizing a small village. They tracked Earthbound to its nest and killed it, preventing further loss of life. Dinak was a gifted horseman. Should a more significant threat become evident, he would return to Har Shalem for reinforcements on one of the supply horses. Dinak had recently been named to Seth’s company of elite warriors known as “The Lions.”
Kenan raised his hand. All talk ceased, and everyone’s attention was immediately focused on him. He gently directed his people’s attention to Adam and nodded in deference to the First Father.
“Sons of my sons let us reason together. The posterity of Seth remains faithful to the One God, the Creator of All. While Cain seeks false gods, may the one God of all wisdom help us shepherd his people,” Adam professed solemnly.
The patriarchs nodded or voiced their agreement to Adam’s appeal.
“Let us review our mistakes and the status of our readiness. Then we shall consider what God has spoken to us, as well as the nature of our enemy,” Adam declared.
Kenan spoke first.
“Jathan was deficient in allowing his partner to return to the city without him. His partner was reprimanded for leaving the field, as well. Guards remain in pairs and leave the fields only after their replacements arrive. Reminders will be issued tomorrow. Lyssa technically broke no guidelines as she has no place to reprimand a guard for failing to follow the rule. However, we must consider that portion of the field is on the periphery of view from the Fourth Gate tower. Mica saw Seth running towards Lyssa by only by chance.”
Jathan did not drop his head or look ashamed. He had been instructed on how to humbly receive correction; he had been humbled at Adam’s hand and restored. No further shame was directed by anyone in the room. Adam had an over-arching rule; mistakes can be valuable if learned from. Excellence comes through reasoning together, learning from both victories and mistakes.
“Furthermore, Mica erred in not communicating to the guard the nature of the threat to the tower captain,” Kenan stated. “Guards with spears could have left immediately.”
“It’s true,” Mica replied. “I was agitated and mumbled nonsensically to the tower captain, then frustrated I continued to your home, Father Adam. I am sorry, Brothers.” Those gathered nodded in acceptance or replied with words of forgiveness.
“Why were you in the lower fields, Mica?” Adam asked.
“I was counting sheep,” Mica replied innocently. Adam grinned, and other smiles crossed faces around the room. The twins of Seth laughed softly.
“I was making a list for father’s accountants; rams, ewes subdivided by pregnant or non-pregnant, lambs also subdivided by nursing or grass-consuming...” Mica continued, then stopped suddenly, “Oh, did I say something humorous?”
Eve nudged Adam slightly. Adam continued.
“Very well, Mica. That mistake cost us two, perhaps even four minutes. Inconsequential this time because Seth had the situation contained. The next time those two minutes deploying reinforcements could be critical. Communication must be clear,” Adam concluded.
“Understood, Father Adam,” Mica replied.
Adam nodded to Mahalalel, who chose to stand as he spoke. He was tall and lean-muscled like some of his brethren. Kenan’s oldest son was handsome, had an appealing smile, and his curly, golden-brown locks only added to his charm. He was trying to subdue his excitable nature as he endeavored to provide the factual details necessary for this council.
“I have eighty men ready to deploy for open battle at one minute’s notice. Lions all, experienced, and swift. Their arms and deployment rations have already been dispensed. They await my order. They are conditioned for rapid marches. If Dinak returns with orders to reinforce, we are ready,” Mahalalel declared confidently. “Another eighty will be ready within twelve hours, the third group by noon tomorrow.”
“Two hundred heavy infantry-men can be deployed soon as well. But their travel capability is slower,” Mahalalel continued. “Similarly, we have five groups of forty men on active duty in the guard force. Reserves will, of course, be called up in case of siege. The tower Captains and Kenan will review our siege defenses and heavy-weapons at the armory tonight.”
“I will review them with you. Three hours after midnight,” Adam stated.
“I long to hunt with you, brothers! How dare they touch our own! You are my chieftain – if they cut you, Seth, I bleed with you...” Mahalalel declared, his reserve finally overcome by anger.
Looking at Seth, Mahalalel longed to avenge the Fallen’s trespass against him. He was passionate now, rocking slightly back and forth in anger, hot tears lurking at the edges of his eyes.
He then looked at Adam, squared his shoulders, and declared, “The Sethites are ready, Fathers and Brothers! To deploy or repel a siege. Let them come – we will have a cold welcome for them!” Mahalalel then sat down, pushed his long hair back, and took a deep breath.
“Your words humble me, Brother. But the city is better served with you
here. Enosh, Kenan, and you Maha are exactly what is needed here if the situation escalates.” Seth stated directly to Mahalalel. “We may fight at each other’s side soon enough, though I hope war does not come to our city.”
Enosh courteously took the floor, sensitive to awkward pauses, to relieve his grandson Mahalalel of any need to speak further. “My brothers, God has given us favor even as the Serpent’s children were at our doorstep. I deem the people ready for hardship or trial. Their faith is strong. Our resources are excellent in both quantity and quality. They have deep trust in their leaders. Father Adam, share with us what God has spoken to you and Enoch. Then we can encourage our people with these words in your absence.”
“In the days of Jerod’s birth, I saw a vision of stars gathering at Baal-Hermon. There two hundred Watchers made a pact on Ardis,” Adam explained. “Never had the dark angels gathered in this fashion. We had faced our enemy’s followers before, those cast out of heaven by Michael, Gabriel, and the holy Host. Nevertheless, this alignment of wickedness was an omen of the evil to come. Led by Azazel’s example, their leader Semyaza encouraged the Watchers to satisfy their lust for the daughters of man. On Hermon, Semyaza bound the two hundred Watchers to an oath of equal guilt for any repercussions from the One God.”
This issue was a topic of considerable speculation among the Sethite scholars. Were the Watchers cast from the highest heaven in the Great Angelic War? Or did these two hundred luminaries become insubordinate at a later time? Adam believed it was possible, if not probable, that they betrayed their heavenly assignment after the creation of man and following the Serpent’s expulsion from the heavenly court. Ultimately, Adam was unsure.
Adam paused, then continued.
“Indeed, Seth and Enosh confirmed my vision stating that the night skies over Hermon had changed, the heavenlies were giving signs. The Fallen were wicked before, but now their wickedness had multiplied among men as Enosh recounted tonight. I was grieved and prayed to God for mercy and wisdom. I slept, and God spoke to me in a dream. The One God told me, ‘My Son, grieve no more, I will always keep a people for myself, those who call on my Name.’ Then I saw the stars washed from Baal-Hermon, and the places in the earth they had stained, in a great cleansing flood. Kenan has seen the same vision. Afterward, I saw the Angel of the Lord standing on Mount Hermon as he decreed the peace of God to all nations. I awoke with a great peace knowing God would keep his people close to Him, relieved in the knowledge that the earth would be cleansed.” For a moment, Adam’s face was joyful, his mind recalling the dream so vividly he was looking past everyone in the room.
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