Daughter of Deliverance

by Gilbert, Morris

  “Yes. Good for the sheep too.” She glanced ahead to where her small flock was ambling along, headed for the stream. They were stupid animals, but they had at least learned where the stream was. Now they paused long enough to nibble at the tender spring grass, and she murmured, “They’re such beautiful creatures.”

  “Beautiful. I’ve never called them that,” Ardon said, laughing. “And they have less sense than any creature I’ve ever seen.”

  “You like to eat them, though,” Oman piped up.

  “Right enough, Oman. Let’s eat one tonight.” He winked at the boy, knowing that Rahab was tenderhearted when it came to her animals. “Which one do you want to butcher, Rahab?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it. We don’t need any more meat, anyhow,” she said stiffly.

  Ardon laughed. “Come on, Oman. I’ll race you to the stream.”

  Rahab watched as the two made for the stream. Ardon was shortening his steps and her nephew was running for all he was worth. It gave her a warm feeling to think about how the two of them had become such friends.

  Ardon had become a new man after his meeting with Jehovah. Very few days went by without Rahab thinking of that time when he had called on God and confessed his sin. She had been expecting that Ardon would never mention it again, but he did quite often. He had not told anyone else that she knew, but many times he had remarked to her, “It was the most wonderful moment of my life, Rahab, when I did as you said and confessed my sin to God. It was like I had a huge boulder on my shoulders and it rolled off and I could stand up like a man again. He seemed to delight in telling her about this, and he also was quick to tell her how much he owed her. “I can never repay you,” he often said.

  But Rahab would never take credit, saying, “It was all God’s doing.”

  The three reached the stream, and Ardon brought out the string and fishhooks. As Rahab watched the sheep from a slight hillock, Ardon and Oman began to fish. The sound of their voices came to her clearly, and Rahab once again marveled over the wonderful change in Ardon.

  The morning passed, and the two caught several fish, but finally Oman grew sleepy. He curled up in a ball and fell asleep almost instantly. Ardon sat beside him for a while; then he turned and came over to stand beside Rahab. “I’m afraid I wore the fisherman out.” He smiled.

  “It does me good to see him have such pleasure. You’re so good for him, Ardon.”

  “Well, he’s good for me too.” He glanced down at the sleeping form and smiled. “Someday I’d like to have half a dozen boys just like that one.”

  “All at once?” She smiled at him mischievously. “That would be hard on your wife.”

  “Well, not all at once, of course.” He saw that she was teasing him and laughed. “One at a time.”

  The two stood there, and a feeling of peace lay upon them. The clouds drifted overhead silently. From far off there came the whistle of a shepherd signaling to his sheep. The breeze was warm, and finally she said, “I wish it could always be like this and you didn’t have to go to war anymore.”

  “That day will come, but it may be a while.”

  “Isn’t it amazing how God has led our people to this land and given it to them? I think so often how He promised it to Abraham, and Abraham had no idea that this would all happen.”

  “He was such a man of faith. I admire him greatly,” Ardon said.

  The two began to walk around, idly keeping their eye on Oman as he slept, but finally Ardon said, “You know. I’ve been worried about my sister.”

  “I’m so glad you got her back from the enemy. It was a miracle she escaped unharmed.”

  “Yes, but she hasn’t been the same since then. I don’t know what’s wrong with her. She was always such a happy girl, and now her face is long. She hardly ever laughs.”

  Rahab said, “I think she found out something about herself during that time.”

  Ardon turned to face her. “Like what?”

  “She had always had her own way and everything in life had been easy for her, and suddenly she was faced with either a terrible death or slavery. She found out that we can lose everything that we treasure in a moment.”

  “You think that’s what’s happening to her? But why would it make her so glum and unhappy?”

  Rahab had an idea of what was happening to Ardon’s sister, but she did not feel it was her place to speak of it. “We’ll just have to pray that she’ll get over it.”

  The two were quiet for a time, and finally he said, “Let’s sit down here.” He sat and Rahab sat closely beside him. He was quiet for a while, and she said, “You’re not saying much, Ardon. Is something wrong?”

  “I think there might be.”

  “But you’re doing so well. Your wounds are healed. Your father’s so happy with you. You’re on your way to becoming a leader in Israel. What’s wrong?”

  He turned to her and studied her face. The light was kind to her. He studied her eyes, which were widely spaced and colored a deep violet that seemed to have no bottom. They were still the most unusual eyes he had ever seen. He said in a guarded tone, “I’m wondering if you could ever forget about what I did.”

  “What do you mean, Ardon?”

  “The sin I committed with that woman.”

  “You must put that out of your mind, Ardon,” she said warmly. “I have.”

  “Have you really?”

  “Of course. Let me tell you what I do. Sometimes thoughts of things in the past that I did come to me, but I keep a little box—oh, not a real box, of course. Just a box that I make up. When those thoughts come, I open the box and I put them in and I shut the lid and I say, ‘I repented of that, and I’ve made the sacrifice. I saw the lamb that died and the priest that sprinkled the blood on the altar and that prayed for the sins to be gone. It’s all over.’ You have to think like that, Ardon.”

  Ardon was quiet for a time, and then he said, “I might as well confess something else to you. Another wrong.”

  Rahab turned to face him fully. He looked handsome and tanned and fit as he sat there. His body didn’t have an ounce of surplus flesh. She knew the young women of Israel eyed him often, and he had turned down innumerable opportunities to take a wife. “I can’t think of what that would be.”

  “Well, I’ve always felt that you were a beautiful and desirable woman. That’s why I was so cold to you for so long, Rahab. I felt desire for you. And I guess I have to ask you to forgive me for that.”

  “To forgive you for being a man?” She smiled. “Don’t you know that I have felt the same way toward you?”

  Her words shocked Ardon. “You have?”

  “Of course. There’s a fine line between being attracted to a person and engaging in lustful thoughts. I admit it’s hard to keep these thoughts in their proper place, but I was drawn to you from the moment you came into our house.”

  An intense quiet seemed to surround the two. Ardon could not move for a time, but then he smiled. He took her hand in his and said, “I owe you everything, Rahab.”

  Rahab met his glance and saw something in his eyes that only a woman can see. She put her hand on his cheek and said, “I’ve always cared for you, Ardon.”

  He reached out and pulled her close, kissing her on the lips. She leaned against him, and he held her tightly. “Then, let’s start right where we are and forget the past.”

  “Yes. We don’t know what the future holds, but we have today.”

  “I want you for my wife, Rahab.”

  She hesitated, and he leaned back to look in her face. “What’s wrong? Don’t you want me for a husband?”

  “People will talk. They know my past.”

  “Let them talk,” he said, leaping up and pulling her to her feet. “Let them say all they want to. I want to marry you, not them.” He grabbed her, swept her off her feet, and swung her around, laughing as she cried out in delight.

  “Why are you hugging her, Ardon?”

  Ardon stopped and lowered Rahab until she stood on he
r own feet. They both turned to see Oman standing there. “Because she’s pretty and sweet, that’s why.”

  “Well, why are you hugging him?”

  “Because he’s pretty and sweet.”

  “He’s not pretty, Aunt.”

  Rahab laughed and looked up into the face of the man she wanted to spend her life with. “Yes he is,” she said, and when their eyes met, something passed between them. They knew, each of them, that they would never forget this day on the hillside when they found each other.

  Chapter 31

  The news of the coming marriage between Ardon, the son of Caleb, and Rahab of Jericho brought a mixed reaction among the tribe of Judah. Some were shocked and could not seem to forget Rahab’s past. Others who had watched the woman’s growth into a true Israelite were happy about it.

  Ariel was one of these. She had seen the change in her brother’s life, and when he had told her and her father how it had happened, both of them eagerly welcomed Rahab into their family.

  Caleb was happy, for he longed for grandchildren. He was so enamored with the idea that his thoughts suddenly turned to his daughter. A scheme came to mind, and being a man of action he immediately proceeded to put it into place. The only thing he said to Ariel was simply, “I’m going to get grandchildren from my son and Rahab. I’d like to have grandchildren from you too, daughter.”

  “You will…someday,” she had said, surprised by his straightforward words.

  “You wouldn’t mind having a husband, then?”

  “Well, every woman wants a husband,” she had replied and thought that ended the matter.

  But it did not, and it was to be brought home to Ariel with a shock very soon.

  ****

  Caleb had called together the men of Judah to encourage them in their warfare. He had given a rousing speech and at the end, when they were done cheering him, he said, “I have one more thing to say of a personal nature.” A quiet fell on the crowd, and Caleb turned and smiled at his daughter Ariel, then lifted his voice. “Some of you may not know that Joshua has agreed to give me my part of the new land that will be ours. Hebron, our father Abraham’s old homeplace. He has also agreed to give me Kiriath Sepher. Some of you soldiers know this land. It is occupied by a tough group of our enemies. It’s going to be difficult to conquer, but I’m going to make it worth the while of one of you.” He smiled again at Ariel and continued. “Whoever conquers Kiriath Sepher in my name, to him will I give my daughter Ariel in marriage.”

  A buzz of talk arose, and those standing closest to her saw that Ariel had turned pale. The announcement had taken her totally by surprise.

  As soon as Caleb dismissed the troops, she turned to him and said, “Father, you can’t do this thing! I can’t marry a man just because he does as you say.”

  Caleb had spoiled Ariel all of her life, but his mind was made up on this matter. He laughed at her fear, saying, “This will settle it for you. You won’t have to weed out all the men who’ve been trying to get you to marry them. Now the best man will get you.”

  “But it may be a man I don’t love.”

  “He’ll be a good soldier of Judah, and you can learn to love him. I’ve given my word, Daughter—you heard me. There’s no backing down.”

  Ariel felt sick. Some of the soldiers, good men though they were, were not men she would ever learn to love. Some of them already had two or three wives, but her father, who loved her dearly, was a man of his word. He would never back down now.

  ****

  Ardon and Rahab were walking along holding hands, talking about their upcoming marriage. Ardon broached the matter of a husband for Ariel. “I don’t think I was ever as surprised as when my father promised Ariel to the man who takes that country in his name.”

  “You weren’t as surprised as Ariel,” Rahab said. “She turned absolutely pale and then begged him to change his mind.”

  “He’ll never do that. As far as I know, my father has never broken his word.”

  “But think of some of those men. Suppose old Gehazi took his men and won that place? Why, he’s hideous.”

  “He’s tough, though, and as a matter of fact, I heard him boasting that he was going to be the man to win Ariel.”

  “He wouldn’t win her,” Rahab said. “I think Ariel would kill herself before she’d give herself to a creature like that.”

  The two spoke for a long time, and finally Rahab stopped and faced Ardon. “I want to tell you something about your sister.”

  “About Ariel? What is it?”

  “I think she cares for Othniel.”

  Ardon laughed loudly. “No, no, you couldn’t be more wrong. They’ve picked at each other since they were children. And you know how angry she got at him when he became a drunk.”

  “I know all that, but she wouldn’t have become so angry if she hadn’t cared for him.”

  “Well, I don’t understand the ways of a woman, then. She certainly kept it covered up. Are you sure she cares for him?”

  “Yes.”

  Ardon thought for a moment, then said, “I take it you’re asking me to go to Othniel and tell him he needs to be the one to conquer Kiriath Sepher.”

  “I don’t know whether he cares for her or not, but if he does, now’s the time to show it.”

  “I’ll talk to him, but it would be a miracle if those two ever got together.”

  ****

  Othniel was surprised when Ardon came to speak to him, and even more surprised when he understood what Ardon was saying. The two men were standing facing each other just outside of Othniel’s tent. As soon as Ardon began to speak, Othniel stared at him.

  “Othniel, I have the feeling that Ariel cares for you. There’s no one I’d rather have for a brother-in-law and no one my father would rather have for a son-in-law than you.”

  “Have you lost your mind, Ardon! We’re talking about Ariel here. You know she doesn’t care for me.”

  “Rahab thinks she does. She’s a good woman, my sister. It’s hard to know what women are thinking. Why don’t you go to her? Tell her what you feel.”

  “To give her a chance to laugh at me?”

  “If you care for her at all, now’s your last chance.”

  Ardon left immediately, and Othniel could not get the conversation out of his mind. He brooded over it all day, and then later that night he said, “I’m going to find out about this one way or another.” He made his way to Caleb’s tent and waited outside until he saw Ariel come out. He immediately went over to her and said, “I need to speak with you, Ariel.”

  Ariel was surprised. “All right, Othniel.”

  “Not here. Come over where we can be alone.”

  Ariel was shaken by this. She had no idea what was on his mind. Ever since her father’s announcement, she had hardly slept. Three men had already vowed that they were going to conquer the land and claim her, and two of them were absolutely hideous. She couldn’t stand the sight of them.

  Othniel drew her aside and said, “I wanted to talk to you about your father’s offer.”

  “I think he’s lost his mind giving me away to just any man.”

  Then Othniel made a big mistake. “You’ve been spoiled all your life. It’s time you settled down, Ariel. Now, let’s talk like adults. I am thinking of conquering the land myself.”

  If Othniel had spoken to her gently, things might have been far different. But his harshness grated on Ariel’s nerves, and she could not stand to hear another word. “Go away! I don’t want to talk to you.”

  Othniel stared at her. “Why not? We’ve always talked.”

  But it was too late. Ariel’s nerves had given way to anger. “You’re nothing but a weakling, Othniel,” she cried, not meaning a word of it. “I know you better than any of them. You couldn’t conquer a sick cat, much less Kiriath Sepher!”

  Othniel responded just as angrily and made a rash decision. “I’m going to take that land, Ariel, and then I’m going to come back. And everybody’s going to expect me to marry
you. But I won’t,” he said grimly. “I’ll throw it in your face and laugh at you and tell everyone you’re no woman for a real man.” He whirled and stalked away.

  Stunned, Ariel began to weep. “Why did I do that? Why did I speak to him like that? I’m such a fool.” Sobbing now and not able to face anyone, she ran off. She wandered outside of the camp for over an hour, wondering if she could redeem the situation.

  “Why am I such a fool?” she said bitterly. “He’s proven himself, and all I’ve proven is that I’m a stubborn vixen with no sense at all. He’ll do exactly what he says and I’ll be humiliated in the eyes of all Israel.”

  Chapter 32

  During the weeks that followed the quarrel between Othniel and Ariel, the two did not speak to each other. More than once Ariel wanted to go and ask forgiveness for her hasty words, but in all truth she had no opportunity. She learned from her father and from others that Othniel had obtained permission from Joshua to lead a small army against Kiriath Sepher to take it for the glory of Israel.

  Caleb had been delighted with this. He had exclaimed to Ariel, “That’s wonderful! Now you’ll have a husband that will be a pride to all of us.”

  Ariel wanted to tell her father of the quarrel and how Othniel was taking on this task simply to humiliate her, but she could not bring herself to do so. She was utterly miserable and grew more withdrawn as time went on.

  ****

  Ariel was listlessly working on a scarf that she was weaving on her loom when she heard approaching footsteps. She looked up as Rahab burst in, her face alight. “Othniel is back with the army! And the scouts have told what a wonderful victory he’s had. He won the battle, and he’s come to claim you, Ariel.”

  But to Rahab’s great surprise, Ariel burst into tears. She got up and threw herself on her sleeping pad.

  “Don’t you understand? He’s come to claim you for his bride.”

  “Leave me alone,” Ariel moaned. “Don’t even talk to me.”

  Rahab could not believe what she was seeing. She came over and put her hand on the young woman’s shoulder. “What is it, Ariel?”