Daughter of Deliverance (33 page)

“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.

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.”

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?”

“He doesn't love me.”

“I think he does.”

“No he doesn't. You'll see. It's going to be awful!”

“You must go out to greet him.”

“I can't.”

“You must! Come. Your father's waiting. It's a great moment of victory for Othniel. You mustn't deny him that. It'll be all right.”

Rahab persuaded Ariel, and finally, after washing her face, Ariel forced herself to go out. Her father was waiting for her, grinning from ear to ear. “Well, he's back, and he's won the battle. Now I'll be waiting for those grandchildren of mine.”

Ariel tried to smile, but it was a pitiful attempt. She was glad when Caleb turned to greet the vanguard of the army.

Othniel came up and bowed low before his uncle. “The battle is won. Kiriath Sepher is yours, Uncle.”

“I knew you could do it, my boy. It was something I saw in you long ago.” Caleb stepped forward and embraced Othniel. Rahab noticed that Othniel did not so much as glance at Ariel, and this troubled her.

Caleb cried out, “We're going to have the greatest banquet ever held in Judah! You will be the guest of honor, Nephew. There I will make the public announcement that you and my daughter Ariel will be married.”

A cheer went up, but Othniel's face did not change. He merely said, “Thank you, Uncle,” and then he turned to look at Ariel for the first time. She was staring at him wide-eyed. He waited for her to speak, but when she did not, he nodded briefly, then turned and walked away.

“That was a strange thing,” Ardon murmured to Rahab. “They act like they've never seen each other before.”

“Something is wrong,” Rahab said. “Ariel won't tell me what it is.”

“I'll see if I can get it out of Othniel, but he can be a tight-lipped fellow when he chooses to be.”

****

Rahab was helping Ariel prepare herself for the banquet. She had a new gown made out of blue silk, and she looked beautiful in it. But her face was stiff, and she had cried herself sick.

“What's wrong with you, Ariel?” Rahab said. “You're going to be a bride.”

“No I'm not. He's not going to marry me.”

“What are you talking about?” Rahab said, staring at the girl. “That's why he conquered Kiriath Sepher.”

Suddenly it all began to pour out from Ariel's lips. “He did that because he was angry at me. You know what he told me? He said he was going to go conquer that place and then come back and refuse to marry me. He said he was going to laugh at me and tell everyone I was a spoiled brat—which is what I am, Rahab.”

Suddenly Ariel was weeping again, and Rahab put her arms around her. She waited until the worst of the weeping was over and said, “Listen, if God means for you to have Othniel for a husband, it will come to be.”

“It won't be Othniel I'll have for a husband. He hates me.”

Rahab stared at her and then said, “I'm going to talk to Othniel.”

“It won't do you any good.”

Rahab left at once and went to Othniel's tent. She called his name, and he stepped outside. “I have to talk to you, Othniel.”

“Go ahead and talk,” he said stiffly.

“Ariel tells me you plan to humiliate her.”

“That's right. I do.”

Rahab was taken aback. “But why?”

“You don't know everything that happened. She's a spoiled brat and always has been. She doesn't care about anybody but herself.”

Rahab wanted to shout at the young man, but she saw he was wound up tight. She began to speak gently. “She has been spoiled, but right now she's a very frightened young woman. All her life she's gotten her own way, but something happened to her when she was captured. She's told me about it. And when you appeared to rescue her, she knew that Jehovah had sent you. She loves you, Othniel. There's a goodness in her that the right man can bring out.”

“Well, I'm not the right man,” he cried, “and I wouldn't marry her if she were the queen.”