Daughter of Deliverance (17 page)

****

Ardon had fought hard, for he had thrown himself into the first wave when there were still enemy soldiers to battle. Now, as he backed up from the heat of the blaze, he heard his name called. “Ardon!”

Turning, he saw Joshua. He went to him at once. “Yes, master.”

“Did you get the woman out safe?”

“Oh, yes. She's all right.”

“What was her name again?”

“Rahab, but she's only a harlot,” he said slightingly.

Joshua struck Ardon across the chest with his forearm. The blow drove Ardon backward. He stared at Joshua in disbelief.

“Don't you speak like that of her! She was used of Jehovah to bring victory to our people.”

“I didn't mean—”

“You've got a hard heart, boy, but I'm going to help you. I'm putting you in charge of the woman and her family. I'll expect a good report. See that they're well taken care of. You hear me?”

Ardon had always been the favorite of Joshua, but now he saw the anger blazing from the commander's eyes, and he could only swallow and say, “Yes, sir. I'll see to it.”

****

Rahab and her family were seated outside of the tents that housed Caleb's family. Ariel had seen to it that they had food but had shown no further interest in them.

“Look. There comes Ardon.” Being crippled, Kadir had a hard time of it, and now he was leaning against one of the tent poles. He pointed, and Rahab turned quickly to see Ardon striding toward her. His face was stern, and she recoiled from fear of him.

Stopping in front of Rahab, Ardon looked down at her. “The battle's over,” he said. “Is your family all right?”

“Yes. Thank you, Ardon. We're all well.”

Ardon looked over at Kadir. “I'm afraid you had a hard time of it, Kadir,” he said. “But it's over now.”

Makon had shrunk back behind Romar. He had been terrified the whole time, convinced that they were all going to be slaughtered.

“Please, master, don't hurt us,” his voice quivered.

Ardon stared at the old man in disgust. “Nobody's going to hurt you,” he said. “Come along. I'm going to see that you have a place. We'll be staying here for a while.”

“We don't want to be any trouble, sir,” Romar said, her voice not quite steady. The sight of this fierce-looking warrior frightened her.

“Don't worry. You'll be all right. What happened to your other relative, the one who was living with you?”

“He ran away when he saw your army.”

Rahab and the family followed Ardon, and they all took heart, for he commandeered two tents for them to share, neither one of them overly large but both in good shape. He also saw to it that they were supplied with the necessary tools for keeping house—pots, pans, cups, and various pottery vessels. He borrowed these from different families, and by nightfall they were all set up.

He helped get a fire started, and Romar began cooking a late meal with the food he had allotted to them.

“You'll be all right here,” Ardon said.

He moved away, but he heard Rahab calling after him. He turned and saw that she was trembling. “Don't be afraid,” he said crossly. “Nobody's going to hurt you.”

“Are…are they all dead, everyone in Jericho?”

“Yes. All dead,” he said, watching her face. He saw shadows and shapes of odd things come and vanish, and though she was afraid, there was a certain courage in her.

“I'm sorry, but your family's all right.”

“Yes. God has delivered us all. Jehovah is a great God.”

He could not think of what to say, but at that moment Joshua and Caleb were passing by. They were both weary with battle, but Joshua's eyes took in the pair. He came over at once and said, “This is Rahab, I take it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“We owe you a great debt, young woman,” Joshua said warmly. “Have you been taken care of?”

Rahab was warmed by the man's thoughtful air. He was rough-looking and his voice was rather gruff, but he had kind eyes. “Yes. Ardon has seen to it that we have a place to live and food to eat.”

“Is there anything I can do for you in return for your service to our people?”

Rahab hesitated, and then she gathered her courage and said, “I want to worship your God, sir.”

Joshua was tremendously pleased with her answer. “Why, of course. Ardon, take her to Phinehas. Tell him that I want him to teach her the ways of Jehovah.”

“But—” Ardon almost blurted out that the woman was a harlot and an idolatress, but Joshua's eyes met his, and he stopped at once. “Yes, sir,” he said.

“Moses said many times that there would be no difference between our people and the stranger. He was very stern as he spoke these words. Now, you see that my orders are carried out. And Rahab,” he said turning to her, “you will always have a place in Israel.”

“I thank you so much—for me and my family.”

****

When Joshua and Caleb continued on, Caleb remarked, “Ardon doesn't like that woman because she's a harlot.”

“She saved many lives. Maybe all of our lives. Your son is too hard and proud.”

“I know,” Caleb said quietly. “He's a strong man, but he hasn't yet learned what it's like to suffer rejection.”

“He will someday—and when he has experienced such pain, perhaps he will be kinder to others who have suffered,” Joshua said grimly. “Now. We've got to think about other things.”

****

Ardon had been silent as he took Rahab to the tents of the Levites. He found Phinehas, introduced the two, and said, “Our commander requests that you teach this woman the ways of God.”

Phinehas was a small young man with bright black eyes and a black curly beard. He studied Ardon, then turned with a smile. “It will be my joy, my sister. We will start tomorrow. It's late tonight and I know you're tired.”

“Thank you, master,” Rahab said. She waited until the two men had made the arrangements, and then as they headed back, she said, “How can I thank you for all your kindness?”

“It's my duty,” Ardon said, his tone brittle. He resented being assigned this job, and he could not hide it. “Come along. I'll take you back to your tents.”

****

For two days after the battle the camp was in a state of rejoicing. God had delivered them from their enemy and given them a tremendous victory. Ariel had joined in all this but noticed that Othniel never smiled. She wondered about him until finally late one evening she found him sitting on the outskirts of the camp, staring out into the sunset. The air was cooling, the earth itself growing cooler, and the wind made a musical sound as she sat down beside him. “What's wrong with you, Othniel?” she said. “Are you sick?”

“No.”

“You look sick. Did you get hurt in the battle?”

“No.”

Ariel said with exasperation, “Come, now. You can't fool me. I know something's wrong. Tell me what it is.”

“It's what I saw at the battle.”

“What do you mean?”

“It was a slaughter. By the time I got there, the battle was really over. The soldiers of Jericho were mostly dead already, but the women and children and old people were being cut down. I couldn't stand the sight of it.”

“But they were our enemies. It was Jehovah's command that everyone be killed.”

Othniel did not answer. He sat there looking down at his feet, his hands locked around his knees. Finally he turned to her and said, “I saw a little girl there…. She was killed by one of our soldiers. She…she reminded me of you, Ariel, when you were a little girl.”

“Of me?”

“Yes. She was like you. What if it had been you? Her mother loved her. Perhaps her father. She had a life before her, and the soldier didn't think twice about killing her. I couldn't help being angry and grieving for her.”

Ariel reached out and put her hand on Othniel's arm. “You were always tenderhearted, even when you were a boy. You couldn't even stand to see an animal hurt. I remember,” she said, “when an animal had to be butchered for meat. You couldn't stand to watch.”

“I suppose so, but this was no animal. This was a little girl.”

Ariel was subdued by Othniel's words. “I remember once when I was very young,” she said quietly. “I think no more than six. I fell and cut my knee on a stone, and you were the one who came and carried me in. You washed it off and put a bandage on it. I think you were hurt by it worse than I was.”

“I remember that. It was a long time ago.”

The two fell quiet for a while, then Othniel sighed and turned to face her. “You know, I really did fall in love with you when we were children.”

“Not really, Othniel.”

“Yes, really. You were always so pretty. I hated all the boys who chased you.”

“I know you did. I made them chase me sometimes just to irritate you. You remember how you fought with Ezra when you caught him kissing me?”

“I remember. I jumped in and he whipped me.”

“Well, he was two years older than you and almost twice your size.”

“He gave me a bloody nose and a black eye, and you laughed at me.”

“Wasn't I awful?”

“I didn't think so.”

The silence of the evening had descended upon the camp. There were still the sounds of voices and the lowing of the cattle and the bleating of the sheep. Othniel had been shaken by the slaughter of the battle. He felt lonely and afraid, and now he turned and studied Ariel. It was true that he had loved Ariel with a boyish ardor. As he had grown older, he had learned to hide this, for she was scornful of him, but now he asked, “Could you ever love a fellow like me, Ariel?”

Ariel was shocked. She turned to see if he was joking. “Why, Othniel, you've chased every woman in our tribe. You've been in love so many times you've lost count.”

“I know it. I'm ashamed. I've been foolish. But I've always thought deep down that if you could love me, I'd be a better man.”

Ariel was absolutely stunned. “I don't think we're suited. We're too different.”

“I know, and I know you despise me.”

“No I don't,” Ariel said. “We can still be friends.” She reached out her hand and put it on his shoulder.

He covered it with his own and said, “You think I'm a foolish fellow, don't you?”

“You always were, but a sweet one at times. I really liked it when you fought Ezra for me, but I was afraid to show it. Then when you grew up and started chasing other girls, it hurt me.”

“All that didn't mean anything.”

Ariel was very much aware of his hand on hers. It disturbed her, and she got up abruptly. “Come along. You didn't eat anything, did you? I'll fix you something.”

“I'm not hungry.”

“Well, I am. You can watch me eat.” She pulled at him, and he came to his feet. “What about that woman you and Ardon brought back? Rahab. Ardon doesn't like her.”

“You know Ardon. He's not going to like a prostitute.”

“Well, you'd better stay away from her too.”

“But she's different now, Ariel. She's taking instruction from Phinehas. She wants to be a worshiper of Jehovah.”

“And you believe that?”

“Yes I do. She took care of her family under terrible circumstances. I think she's a woman of great courage.”

“She's attractive too. You stay away from her. You don't need to get mixed up with a woman like that.”

“No problem there. We'll be off fighting more battles.”

Ariel took his arm and pulled at him. “Come on. No more talk like that. I have some dates covered with sugar. You always like those.”

The two headed back toward the camp, and Ariel found herself wondering what kind of man Othniel really was. She had known him all her life and knew that he had a gentleness and a sensitivity that most men of Israel lacked. It intrigued her, but it also seemed like a weakness in a man. Or so she thought.

The battle of Jericho didn't come without a price for Israel. They had lost men in battle, not a great many, but the cries of grief had filled the air as the families who had lost loved ones mourned. Many others were wounded, and the healers among the people were kept busy.

During this period Rahab was also very busy. She had to see to it that her family was cared for, and it was Ardon who saw to it that they had food to eat and were not bothered. There were some in Israel who despised her, as they despised all who were not what they called true Hebrews, that is, the descendants of Abraham through blood. She and her family had received many dark looks, but Joshua's protection was upon them and no one dared violate the wishes of the commander.

Rahab was also suffering through other kinds of attention she did not welcome. Word had gotten out that she had been a prostitute, and she had learned to read the eyes of men only too well. They were sly about it, but they made their offers very plain. Rahab wasted no time on them. She either ignored them, or if they persisted, she reminded them that she was now part of Israel and would have nothing to do with such things. This did not make her popular with the men she rejected.

She mentioned this once to Phinehas while he was instructing her in the history of the Hebrews. He listened as she haltingly explained her problem and finally ended by saying, “I want nothing to do with anything like that. I was forced into prostitution to save my family. They would have been sold into slavery if I hadn't.”

“I did not know that.”

“I've not told anyone. My family knows it. No one else.”

“Didn't you tell Ardon?”

“No. He didn't seem interested.”

Phinehas knew his friend well. “He's a very straight-edged sort of man. He studies the law of Moses all the time. I think that's good, but he's too strict. He has a tender side, but it's as if he's afraid to show it to anyone.”