Daughter of Deliverance

by Gilbert, Morris

  But after Joshua had prayed again, he came and stood directly before Achan and said loudly, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give Him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

  Achan was trembling then from head to foot. His face was ashen, and he lifted his hands, which were shaking violently. “It is true!” he cried out. “I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel.”

  “What have you done, my son?” Joshua asked. His voice was quiet, but there was a deadly quality in it.

  Othniel wanted to run and pull Achan away, but there was no hope of that now.

  Achan could barely speak. Finally he cried out, “This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

  Joshua pointed to some of his officers. “Go see.”

  The men left immediately, and whispers ran throughout all of the camp. But Achan fell on his face, weeping and crying. His wife and children were with him.

  “It looks bad for your friend Achan, Othniel,” Ardon whispered.

  Othniel could not even answer. He had been afraid when charging into the line of battle, but it was nothing like this. His legs felt so weak he thought he might collapse. Finally the officers came back. “The things are there, my lord,” they reported. One of them held out the exquisite garment and said, “The silver and gold are there too.”

  “Bring all those things to the Valley of Achor,” Joshua said sternly.

  Joshua led the way, and soldiers had to pick up Achan, who was crying and could not seem to walk. His family was brought too, and others went to get all of his livestock.

  “Surely they aren’t going to kill them!” Othniel cried out to Ariel, who was walking beside him.

  Ariel could not say a word. She knew a great deal of the history of the Hebrews, and she knew that men had been executed for lesser offenses than this. “I don’t think you ought to watch this, Othniel,” she said.

  But Othniel paid no attention. He walked along stiff-legged, as if unable to hear. His eyes were fixed on the pitiful form of his friend Achan, and he kept muttering, “They can’t kill him—they can’t.”

  Finally they reached the Valley of Achor, a small valley between two small hills where refuse had been thrown. Now Joshua turned, his face stern. “Why have you brought this trouble on us?” he cried. “The Lord will bring trouble on you today.” Then he moved away and said, “Carry out the commandments of Jehovah.”

  Othniel wanted to tear his gaze away, but he seemed to be frozen, turned to stone. He saw men and women pick up stones, and he heard the cry of Achan and his family as the stones hit them. He saw a large stone strike Achan on the forehead, opening up an awful wound, and he fell with a cry that Othniel knew he would never forget if he lived to be an old man.

  Caleb then came and held out a stone. “You must take part, Othniel.”

  Othniel stared at him and said, “No. I will never do such a thing!” He turned and fled, his eyes blinded with tears.

  Ardon and Ariel were standing near their father. They watched Othniel as he ran, and Ariel said, “I think this is wrong, Father.”

  “No, it is right. The God of Israel never does anything wrong.” He turned to his daughter and stared at her. “It is hard, but the judgment of God is hard.”

  “I was right about Othniel. He is too soft to be a soldier.”

  Ariel had turned away from the execution. The victims were silent now. She was thinking of the boy who could never stand to see an animal slaughtered, and now to see his best friend and the family he loved dearly battered into bloody corpses…it was no wonder he ran.

  “I don’t know if Othniel will ever get over this,” she said.

  “He’ll have to,” Caleb said grimly. “If he’s going to be a man and follow God, he’s got to learn to do as God commands.”

  Chapter 17

  After the execution, the bodies were burned and a great heap of stones was raised over them while Joshua wept for Israel. But the Lord spoke to him and comforted his heart. “Do not be afraid,” He said. “Do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.”

  Joshua was encouraged. He began to give orders, but he saw that Caleb looked sad.

  “What’s wrong? God will surely give us the victory, brother.”

  “It’s Othniel.”

  “What’s wrong with him?”

  “He hasn’t gotten over the execution of Achan and his family. He loved them, especially Achan. It was hard for him. I have tried to get him to take part, but he will not.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “He’s drunk. You know that band of wanderers that lives out north of the camp?”

  “They’re a rough bunch. Mostly harlots and thieves.”

  “That’s where he is. They’ve got plenty of wine. I had him followed. I even tried to get him to come back, but he wouldn’t even talk to me, he was so drunk.”

  Joshua laid his hand on Caleb’s shoulder. “I know this is grievous to you, my brother, but we must go on. We have Israel to think about.”

  “I know, Joshua. It is grievous. I loved his father dearly and promised to do my best for his son, but it seems nothing will touch Othniel. He’s a weak man.”

  ****

  Ariel looked up and saw that Rahab was waiting to speak to her. The woman was very modest, she had to admit, not like she had always thought a harlot would be. Now she said, “What is it, Rahab?”

  “I came to ask about Othniel.”

  “What do you want to know?” Ariel said sharply. She was ashamed of Othniel and didn’t particularly want to talk about him.

  “I came to ask you if you would go and try to talk to him,” Rahab said.

  “I’m not going over to that camp,” Ariel snapped. “It’s full of thieves and robbers and evil women.”

  “I will go with you, mistress. And surely your brother will go.”

  “No he won’t. We’re all disgusted with Othniel. He’s no good.”

  “I think he loves you,” Rahab said.

  Ariel was startled. “That’s foolishness!”

  “I don’t think it is. I’ve watched his eyes always go to you.”

  “He’s fond of me—we were children together. But now he’s ruined his life, and he’s blamed his family. He’s the nephew of Caleb. My father is the second in command in Israel, the head of the tribe of Judah. And now his own nephew is pouting and crying like a child.”

  “Have you ever lost a dear one to death, Ariel?”

  “My mother, when I was very young…but…no.”

  “I didn’t think so.”

  “That’s neither here nor there. Othniel is a bad man. He’s no good.”

  Rahab was silent for a moment; then she faced Ariel. Her eyes were clear, and she held her head high. “There’s good in all of us,” she said quietly, “and there’s bad in all of us too.”

  Ariel could not face the young woman. “I’m not going to argue about this. Othniel has got to grow up. Now, don’t come to me anymore about this matter.”

  “I won’t,” Rahab said. She turned abruptly and went away, leaving Ariel to stare after her.

  Who does she think she is? Ariel thought. She’s not a member of our family. It’s none of her business. The thought came to her then, Unless he’s been sleeping with her. She’s pretty enough. That thought troubled her even more, and she could not shake it out of her head as she went about her work that day.

  ****

  Phinehas had listened to Rahab as she made her case. She had come to him and asked him in a straightforward fashion t
o help Othniel. She had not begged outwardly, but there had been a pleading in her eyes.

  Phinehas listened until she fell silent; then he said at once, “I love Othniel. I think he has great potential.”

  “Will you help him?”

  “I’m not sure that I can.”

  “Surely, sir, if anyone can, it’s you. He respects you greatly.”

  “Sometimes a man reaches a point when he won’t listen to anyone. I think Othniel is there. It’s as if he’s on the edge of a narrow wall. If he falls one way, he’ll be saved and make a life for himself. If he falls the other way, he’ll be ruined.” Phinehas considered the young woman. He had come to know her better than most. Despite her past, he sensed goodness in her, and her hunger for God warmed his heart.

  “When someone we love falls, our first impulse, Rahab, is to rush in to save them. To fix whatever situation that they’re in so that they’ll be all right.”

  “Isn’t that a good thing?”

  “It can be,” Phinehas said, nodding. “But sometimes it doesn’t succeed. People have to be ready to accept help. If they’re not, there’s no helping them.”

  “But is there nothing you can do?”

  “Yes, there is, and you can help me.”

  “How can I do that?”

  “We can pray together that God will watch over this young man until he finds himself.”

  “I am but a stranger in Israel. You are the high priest.”

  “Do you think God hears only priests? No, no, my sister. You must learn that our God is everywhere and He’s always listening. He is searching for a humble and a contrite heart, and when He finds it, I promise you, He listens.”

  “I will pray, then.”

  “Let’s pray together right now.”

  The two prayed silently, and finally Phinehas said aloud in a firm voice, “God, put your hand upon Othniel. Let him not come to harm. If he must be hurt, so be it. But we pray together that you will redeem him.”

  Rahab smiled shyly at the priest. He was almost angelic to her, so holy and good and righteous, while she had had a terrible life. She could not understand how he could be so kind and loving and others could be so judgmental. Still, she said, “Thank you, sir.”

  “Will you believe that Jehovah will help our friend?”

  “I will believe.”

  ****

  After her visits with Phinehas and Ariel, Rahab tried to do as Phinehas had said. She tried to believe that all would be well for Othniel. Finally, however, after two days, she found herself more anxious than ever. She determined to speak with Ardon on his next visit. He always came two or three times a week under the orders of Joshua to be sure that all was well with her and her family. When he came next, she did not hesitate. “Ardon, have you thought about going to see Othniel?”

  “For what purpose?”

  “Tell him that he’s ruining his life.”

  “He knows that.”

  “You could tell him that you love him.”

  Ardon snorted and shook his head. “That’s woman talk. No, I won’t go. He knows I’d be ready to help him, but he doesn’t want help. He wants to stay drunk and live with those evil men and women.” As soon as he had said those last words, Ardon could have bitten his tongue off. “I didn’t mean to say that.”

  “It’s what you think, though, isn’t it?”

  “I think he’s given up. I don’t think he’ll ever amount to anything.”

  “But will you go to him and try to help him?”

  “No, I won’t. It would be foolish.”

  “One day you’ll have a problem and you’ll fall, Ardon. And when you fall, who will pick you up? Who will love you?”

  Ardon was stunned. It was almost exactly what Ariel had said to him. But then he dismissed it as merely weak, womanish thought and answered roughly, “He knows where his family is. He knows we’ll take him back if he comes. Until he does, there’s nothing I can do.” He turned and walked away, but the words of the woman stayed with him. “When you fall, who will pick you up? Who will love you?” He could not get away from it, and it disturbed him so greatly that he threw himself into the activity of getting ready for the battle to take Ai.

  ****

  Rahab found her way to the tents of the Amorites, who sometimes traded with the Israelites. They were a rowdy, sinful people, a type she knew well. When she approached the camp, several men tried to approach her, leering at her, but she cut them off sharply. “Where’s Othniel?”

  “You need a real man. Not that drunk.” A big, burly man approached her and put his hand on her arm. Swiftly she drew her knife and raked the blade of it down his arm.

  “Hey—ow,” the man said. “Why, you vixen, you cut me!”

  “I’ll cut your throat if you put your hands on me again.”

  The man grinned. “Well now, you’ve got some temper. Come on. I’ll take you to Othniel. He’s drunk, though. I doubt if you can get any sense out of him. What’s the matter with him, anyway?”

  “He’s had troubles.”

  “So what? Who hasn’t?”

  The burly Amorite led her into a tent. She found Othniel sitting up but obviously drunk. He had a bottle of wine in his hand, and a sluttish-looking woman stared at her.

  “What do you want?” the woman said.

  “Get out,” Rahab demanded. “I need to talk to this man.”

  The woman started for her, but at the sight of Rahab’s knife she changed directions, and with a curse she left the tent. Replacing the knife in her clothing, Rahab went over and stood before Othniel. “You must leave this place, Othniel.”

  “Why?”

  “This place is not for you. These are not good people.”

  “I’m not going back.”

  That was the beginning of a conversation that went on for a long time. Othniel drank steadily, and finally in desperation, Rahab cried, “God still loves you. He understands.”

  Othniel drank the last of the wine and threw the leather flask away. He turned to face her. “Don’t talk to me about God.”

  “Don’t say that, Othniel. Jehovah is the God of love.”

  “Then why did He let my friend Achan get killed?”

  That was the essence of Rahab’s visit. No matter how she pleaded, Othniel stubbornly refused to go. Finally she rose and went over to him. She laid her hand on his head and prayed, “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, this is one of your children. Do not let him perish.” She looked long and hard at Othniel, then turned and left the tent.

  Othniel stared angrily at the entrance of the tent, trembling. Then he fell forward, and great sobs racked his body.

  Chapter 18

  Dawn was just breaking, and as always, Zayna was pleased with the world. As she walked along with Oman beside her, she lifted her eyes to where high in the sky a flight of birds made their way steadily toward the south. Their V-shaped formation pleased her and made her wonder, How do they know to make that kind of shape? The thought stayed with her as she glanced at Oman, who had stopped to poke a frog with a stick.

  “Leave that frog alone, Oman!” Zayna said. “We’ve got to hurry and get the water and get back.”

  “I wonder if anyone eats frogs?”

  Zayna laughed. “I don’t think so. I wouldn’t want to eat one.”

  The two hurried along toward the stream, invigorated by the fresh morning air and the pink glowing light. Just a few minutes ago it had been quite dark, and the stars had been clear in the sky. Now as Zayna watched with delight, the eastern horizon was pulled apart, and long waves of light rolled out of the east. It was her favorite time of day.

  When they reached the stream, Zayna dipped her pot into the water and let it fill. She set it down on the bank and smiled as Oman splashed noisily in the shallows. His health had improved greatly since they had left Jericho, much to the delight of his family.

  Glancing back toward the camp, Zayna thought about the weeks that had passed since she had been taken away by the two Hebrew soldie
rs. She remembered her fear when she and her family had been thrust into the life of a people they did not know. Zayna had been terrified of them, for she had seen their soldiers kill without mercy, and at times she would curl up at night and have bad dreams of men with swords and spears coming to kill them.

  Now, however, as the fresh sunlight flooded the earth, she thought of how different it had been from what she had expected. The man called Ardon had seen to it that they had a large tent to share, and he had also made certain that they had plenty of food. The food was different from what Zayna and the others were accustomed to; nevertheless, both Rahab and Romar were excellent cooks, so they had actually fared better than they had in the city.

  “Come on, Oman. It’s time to get back.”

  As the two made their way back to their tent, they suddenly noticed two boys who were evidently on their way to the stream. One of them was a heavyset individual with blunt features and piggish eyes. The other was just the opposite, skinny and with the face of a fox. The foxy one said, “Hey, look. There’s the harlot’s sister.”

  The pig-eyed boy laughed crudely. “Yeah,” he said, “let’s make her tell us some stories of what it’s like to be a harlot.”

  The fox-faced boy laughed and the two came at once to stand before Oman and Zayna. “Hey, girl, my name’s Ezibal. This is my friend Kon.”

  Kon was the brutal-faced one, large and hulking. He grinned rudely and grabbed Zayna’s arm.

  “Let me go!”

  “Don’t be that way,” Kon said with an unfriendly grin. “We’re going to show you a good time, aren’t we, Ezibal?”

  “Sure. We heard about you and your sister.” He took her other arm, and they began pulling Zayna toward a clump of underbrush. “Come on. We’ve got something to show you.”

  Zayna cried out, and Oman ran quickly and threw himself against the smaller of the two. Ezibal knocked the boy flat on his back. “Stay out of this. You better go on back,” he warned.

  Zayna was fighting, but the brute strength of the large boy was painful. She could not pull away, and as she continued to cry, he laughed. “Go on. Nobody’s out here to hear you.”