Psalmwriter: the Chronicles of David Book 2: The Chronicles of David Book Ii

By Michael Sandusky

In this second volume of a devotional novel series we see David emerge as a leader and then earn the right to be crowned king in both Hebron and Israel. It is filled with exciting adventure, murder, treachery, romance and even humor, but is also replete with heartache at the loss of a best friend and a beloved country. Wives are married and children grow up, but in the end Michal, his first wife returns. Finally after much patience the kingdom is given into his hands and the Golden Age of Israel begins.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 28, 2007
• ISBN: 9781462812295

Michael Sandusky

Michael Sandusky is the quintessential story-telling romantic. His fifty years of writing novels, short stories, poetry, self-help books and newspaper columns have been read and enjoyed the world over. He loves deep-sea fishing, traveling to exotic locales, cooking and public speaking relating thrilling, funny and poignant stories about his adventures, narrow escapes and interpersonal relationships. He still believes that the best stories cannot be made up, but come from actual human experience. He can be reached at [e-mail]

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Copyright © 2007 by Michael Sandusky.

All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or any other-except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the author.

Any Scripture quotation is in fact the author’s view, interpretation, translation and consideration of the original Hebrew text as well as a number of consulted versions.

The following sources were consulted:

The New International Version of the Bible (NIV) copyright © 1984 by the International Bible Society

The Living Bible (LB) copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers

The King James Version of the Bible (KJV)

The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (NRV) copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Any similarity to words or phrases in the above sources is unintentional and coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Dedication

This is dedicated to you, John Hopson, who thirty years ago,

discussed faithfulness with me. You taught me by your example

in more ways than you know. Today I am grateful that you, my friend, were faithful in your friendship to me during my years of wandering.

I did finally learn faithfulness, convinced of it at the

hand of David and in the life he lived.

Introduction

Time passes fast doesn’t it? Now I’m sure there are those of you left brained individuals who will argue that it is always constant, or it doesn’t pass at all. We are the ones going through it. I certainly won’t belabor the point. I don’t have the time to spend upon it other than to remember how it seemed so long for summer to come or how quickly it went when I was a child. Last evening I encouraged my daughter Susan, who is in college studying medicine, to not get discouraged with the number of years involved in her education. It will pass quickly. Just today I found it hard to believe that my own father passed away sixteen years ago. It certainly didn’t seem nearly that long.

When I finished this volume I realized that thirteen years had passed in David’s life. Thirteen years of waiting upon God. Thirteen years of refusing to manipulate. Thirteen years of doing what was right and living a life of integrity. That’s the good part. Try thirteen years spent running, sleeping on cave floors and hours of loneliness. Years of constantly looking over his shoulder only to be faced with the death of a best friend and what’s worse—the loss of his king and beloved country to the uncircumcised hordes. The loss of his first love could not fully be assuaged by more marriages or even the birth of children, although it helped. The scars and wounds appeared with more frequency upon our hero’s body . . . enough to make him want to give up—to throw in the towel. That’s the easy way out.

There’s something about David, however, in this time in his life that must find a special place in God’s heart and remain a potent memory in our mind’s eye:

He was faithful.

He may not have understood the hows or whys of his predicament. He certainly questioned God, even arguing with him at times. This is why we are all so much like him. Since that is the case, then let us as Jews or Christians continue as he did—and be faithful to our God.

This is an exciting volume. It’s full of treachery, deception, heartache, glory and . . . well in some places you may wince at the pain involved. This time, bring a handkerchief and . . . oh just go find a comfortable chair and start reading.

Michael Sandusky

Chapter 1

They were still alive.

Not a single man, woman or child in this rag-tag group of several hundred followers of the new young leader felt it cowardly to voice this sentiment today.

All, including the shepherd from Bethlehem, had prepared to meet their God the evening before. Their fate was to be either a sword thrust through them or a fatal fall as they were pushed into the canyon behind them. On this day, however, the sun was shining more than it ever had and the sky was bluer than ever. Mothers loved their children in a special way while husbands and wives blessed God for the reprieve they had received.

Sometimes desperate measures are needed in the lives of men to make them face their destiny. Such incidents are never welcomed, anticipated or even appreciated after the fact. Hard lessons are hard to face. Whereas David had seen the humor in an imposing army being detoured by his own enemy, certainly Benaiah despised what he thought was the recklessness of the warrior’s attitude. Friends like that are too valuable to lose. Likewise the nightmare that had haunted David since the death of the giant always loomed in his face with the sight of the giant’s sword. On this morning under this sun and this blue sky the warrior would not let the sword be an intimidation to him again. Though he didn’t know what lay ahead in his earthly existence . . . at least he would not be hindered by the reminder of the giant. Those who had put their trust in him saw this change and certainly breathed easier today.

His men were ready and David was ready too. Now, surrounded by his four leaders—Jashobeam, Benaiah, Abishei and Joab, David said, Get ready to move. We’re pushing out at mid morning. Send your scouts to the Southeast and up against Engedi; even the great Salt Sea. We won’t be caught in a position like last night again.

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It must be three hundred feet to the bottom, said Abishei as he leaned over the precipice. His left hand held onto a scrub oak clinging to the edge of the cliff. The setting sun cast a purple hue occasionally dotted with orange on the opposite cliffs. These were strange rock formations as though giant chisels had been used to scrape the top and edge of the opposite slope.

David laughed. This must have been how Moses felt when he came up against the Red Sea.

Even in the twilight, they could not see an end of the deep crevice as it went from north to south. But in the bottom and running the length of the gorge was something obvious for all to see. It was a long ribbon of water moving quickly towards the Salt Sea. On either side of the stream was an abundance of vegetation. David knew, as did everyone else that with the water would be wildlife.

Benaiah, in deep contemplation, finally spoke up.

My lord, it might be wise to settle on the other side. Since any army of Saul’s will also come to this impasse, should they pursue us again. It’s a natural barrier. Even if they should descend it here and then go up the other side they would be on the defensive against our aerial onslaught.

David looked at the large number of holes dotting the opposite slope. Excellent hiding places reminiscent of Adullam came to his mind.

What we need is a bridge, said Joab.

I’ll say, said Jashobeam, where are those Egyptians when you need them?

Such a dry comment brought a pause of silence from the heroes and then all burst out laughing and snorting until the tears ran down their dusty faces.

Finally, between chortles, David managed to get out, "We’ll set up camp here, tonight . . . . Joab and Abishei . . . Send your scouts out tomorrow morning before sun up in opposite directions down the gorge. I want to know how far it is until there’s a low enough place to cross and I want to know how long it will take to reach that place. They can report to us from the other side. The warrior watched as the four turned to give instructions to the group behind them. Before long there were fires dotting the landscape and tents going up before total blackness set in. David spent the evening rubbing down Lightning, before the fatigue of the previous evening caught up to him. Sleep came quickly, but not before he had an opportunity to review the events of the afternoon and past two hours. The mood had changed among the men and with him as well. As he retraced his steps he came back to the sword. Once an object of derision, now it was a rallying point, for he was indeed beginning to see his destiny. There was a no nonsense approach to leadership that had emerged from him that morning. The others saw it and felt comfortable enough with it that they could laugh at a joke in front of an impasse in the form of a deep chasm.

That was a good sign he thought. Additionally, he could see an excellent protective barrier and place to live in the cliffs on the opposite side. For the time being, this would do well. As for his family, his wife, and Jonathan, well, he couldn’t think of them right now.

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The next morning greeted the travelers with a severe case of reality. The evening had been chilly especially towards the dawn. Now, the ground began to get hot. As David surveyed the contour of the earth in front of them, there were no purple and orange shadows. What greeted him was a somber scene. A desert of leprous dryness with a fine gray dust that covered everything from the rocks to the bushes. Gray, ragged shale shards covered the steep slopes of the cliffs on both sides of the gorge. David doubted that any army would go down the steep slope for a fall of any kind would result in serious cuts and abrasions from the stone shards. The great cleft between the two margins of rock appeared to be over three hundred feet. It would have to be bypassed by circumventing it. David brought his best bowman to the edge.

How far have you been able to shoot an arrow? he said.

Almost a hundred yards, my lord, was the reply.

Let’s see if you can reach the other side, smiled David. It’s kind of like spitting off the edge of a cliff, you know.

The bowman took an arrow out of his quiver and then grasping the big bow, and holding it at a forty-five degree angle, pulled the string back until David was sure it would break. Out sailed the arrow whistling upward through the air and then gradually making it’s descent into the chasm. David smiled. The arrow had failed to make it all the way across and in fact was quite short. It was indeed over a hundred yards across and incapable of any surprise arrow attack.

Where did you learn that? the warrior asked.

From you, my lord!

From me?

I was in your division in those northern wars of Saul’s’ when we faced the Ammonites.

You mean you were in on that quick exercise in bows when no one else in the division had any military experience? asked David.

That was the time, my lord, replied the man, It was either learn it or die as far as I was concerned.

You’re right on that, my friend. David did not reveal the fact that he had felt in such a precarious position on that excursion. What is your name?

My name is Asahel. I am a brother of Joab.

You’re his brother? questioned David.

And Abishei’s as well.

The three of you are brothers? asked David in amazement. Where have I been?

Well, my lord, you know all of us are related in some way, said Asahel, and sometimes some of us don’t want to admit it.

They both laughed. How would you like to run beside me, Asahel? I think we might make a good team, said David.

At that point, their conversation was interrupted by a faint yell across the canyon. It was Jashobeam’s scout who had come up from the south.

Barely able to hear, they could make out that he had not found the end of the chasm, but had found a natural slope of about fifteen degrees some seven miles to the south. It had taken four hours to reach it and then following the stream back up about a mile to the north was another gradual slope easily traversal up the other side. The eastern side however, was more treacherous and pockmarked with areas that required numerous detours and switchbacks than he had faced when he had left that morning. That part of the journey had taken six hours and not just because of the upward pull on the East Side. He recommended waiting for the report from the other scout and in any case waiting until the next morning if David should decide to take the southern route. In which case he would meet them at the descending point the next day.

By nightfall, however, Joab’s scout had not been seen. Both Joab and David grew concerned, even though there was some consolation in the fact that perhaps the northern route was much longer before finding a crossing point. It had, after all, taken Jashobeam’s scout ten hours to get to the other side directly across from the group.

Morning brought still no sign of the man. Under David’s instructions, Joab dispatched four men to attempt to retrace the scout’s steps and see if he could be found. The enclave of seven hundred began their trip to the south along the gorge and by late morning rendezvoused with the scout at the drop off point. Time was spent along the stream for bathing, gathering figs, watering animals and resupplying water skins. Then, refreshed, they began the upward trek along the side of the cliff until they were all on fairly level ground. Once at the top, however, it was increasingly difficult to maneuver their way around boulders, outcroppings, and holes in the ground going who knew where. Then there were canyons with no exits and even the scout became lost at times. Towards the end of the day and as the group approached their destination, it was pointed out to David that a large set of stone steps was found going down into the chasm. David examined the hewn stone steps with interest, noting primarily their width. Each step, chiseled into the cleft of the rock was about thirty inches in width, twenty-four inches in depth, and about forty-five inches in length. He said nothing other than perhaps it would be an easier way down to the water. At twilight they met up with the four that had gone the other way to find the lost scout. There, in the open, they set up camp for that evening.

David, Asahel, and the four other leaders stood in a circle looking at the four men who looked tired, but more so, grim faced.

We followed his tracks about eight miles, reported the leader of the group. Then we came upon these big stone steps going down into the gorge. So we went down those . . . and they were big, hewn out of the shale. We went down those to the bottom. There we picked up his tracks again. They went up stream, but eventually we lost the tracks because there’s so many boulders up there. We never did find the end of the gorge, but did find a gradual pathway; probably similar to the one you utilized down south. So we came up that and it’s about twelve miles from there to here.

You didn’t see anything that would hint of an accident or foul play? asked David.

No.

Any wild animals in the area?

Some jackals and a couple of boar, but no cougar at all, responded the man. There’s a tremendous number of caves back there, and we looked in some, but there were too many to do a complete search.

It was in great puzzlement that the ten men broke up to go to their camps. David remained quiet as he sat with his legs hanging over the edge of the embankment later in the evening. He could barely make out the other side under the light of a small moon. Faintly, he could hear the water running below. As he pulled fig after fig from the bag, he would chew the fruit then spit or toss the pit out into the darkness.

What are you doing? asked Joab as he sat down by the warrior, Seeing how long it takes for the pit to reach the bottom?

David laughed. No, just thinking.

The two sat there for a while before Joab broke the silence. What do you make of those steps we saw?

David remained silent for a while and Joab said nothing, as though knowing an answer would eventually come forth.

There used to be giants in this area, whispered the warrior, as though treading on unknown ground. 1.

Giants? You mean like the Philistine? asked Joab.

He was puny compared to these beings, was the answer.

Have you seen one of these? Where are they now . . . ?

Now, out of necessity, Joab had become like a curious child. David remained silent, but then finally said, Those are old tales of times before Abraham. Joab’s mind was racing, but they must have been here after the flood, for surely the flood would have destroyed those steps.

David remained quiet. You have seen them haven’t you? asked Joab. I wouldn’t say anything about this to anyone, cautioned David. Who were their parents? asked Joab. David said nothing, but eventually volunteered, I don’t know before getting up to leave.

Joab thought of the boulders strewn about the area, of the strange rock formations, and of David’s uneasiness in answering his questions. He, again, visualized the steps and wondered what else they would find as they surveyed the territory over the next few weeks. He wondered if David was withholding information. He remembered the disappearance of his scout and nervously pulled his feet back up from the edge of the cliff. Then realizing he was alone and consequently hearing a real or imagined noise at the bottom of the gorge quickly retreated to the safety of the fires behind him.

1. Genesis 6:4

Chapter 2

Engedi and its cliffs proved to be a most advantageous place to sojourn. The hills lifted themselves to some five hundred feet above the Salt Sea to the east. The faces of the cliffs were pockmarked with openings, caverns, and caves, some of which were fitted with two and sometimes more openings. Many of the sandstone orifices were large enough to contain several hundred men. David put ten men to work mapping the area and the size of the caves. The eastern slope of the mountain that faced the Salt Sea was mapped for a length of five miles. The main camp, which rested in the tops of the hills facing the Salt Sea and also on the other side of the crest all the way to the gorge, was crisscrossed with areas to walk. The chasm was only about eighty yards in width here.

To the outcasts, it was reminiscent of Adullam, but more desolate. Even that aspect held its advantages. The vicinity of multiple dwelling places lent for more privacy and family rearing. There was room to fashion a trade and stable animals and butcher meat. Then, there was room for sacrifice. The group now became less of a family and more of a community. They had their own priest and their own prophet. And David was their own . . . would become their own king in due time.

There was protection on the west by the precipice. There was protection on the east by the Salt Sea. Upon going north or south, they could follow the stream or follow the shore of the sea. David told some of his craftsmen to develop a way to go down to the stream and up the other side of the cliff quickly. Within a week, they had rigged hemp and a series of stone wheels to lower a platform capable of holding two men to the bottom in less than three minutes. They could then be pulled back up by hand labor by means of even larger wheels. A separate series of pulleys on a smaller scale fed oaken buckets into the stream and back up the sloping hemp until it was dumped in a stone pool used as a community cistern. Each individual was expected to put back in what had been taken out. If a bucket of water were used, one would fill a bucket in the stream and empty a bucket in the pool. There was plenty of water, but plenty of work if it was used as more than a necessity.

This was a curious place. The area was named for the abundance of palm trees, but there were few to be found. There were no dried fronds, no nuts, not even any palm stalks. What had there been here that had harvested them? There was plenty of vine, grapes, figs, raisins and some wildlife, but not a lot. Instead of letting the vine go to seed, David had the fruit harvested, stored away, dried, or fermented depending upon type. Clay jars were made for wine, which all too often was taken before fully soured.

When the summer rains came, though, the water would run in little rivulets into some of the inhabited caves, giving good reason for those living there to either change location or engineer some way to divert the water.

And then there were the Amalekites.

They were more of a nuisance than anything. They reminded David and his renegades, of annoying flies, which when swatted and killed were replaced with others to answer the call. Often they were seen going north along the sea to some unknown destination. They did not venture into the Engedi area for reasons other than it was just too difficult to navigate. They were flies, but flies with blood on their swords. Yes, even insects that bit to draw the crimson from a man’s body and then take his bounty. These distant descendants of Esau were nomads, but their territory spread all the way down to Mount Sinai. It was fairly desolate, but dotted with small towns and private vineyards and farms here and there.

They seemed to be a stone in David’s craw. As the camp settled into a routine, the warrior began to fidget about their appearance. It was on a cloudless morning that he and Joab watched a group of fifty raiders making their way north along the sea.

Eventually, we’re going to come into contact with these parties of soldiers, Joab. He paused for a few seconds as Joab shielded his eyes from the low sun. And when we do, I don’t want any of them left alive.

Joab turned to look at him, Why so my lord?

Because I’m going to finish a job that’s never been done.

Joab looked puzzled.

The Lord gave more blessing to the Edomites and even the Egyptians, than He did to these vile parasites. David pursed his lips. They were the ones who attacked our fathers when they came out of Egypt. Moses gave specific instructions that the Lord wanted them annihilated, mainly for that reason. Gideon almost did it.

That’s right, my lord, said Joab.

It was Balaam that was the big failure, came a voice from the rear. The two turned around to see Gad walking towards them. What an idiot he was. He fell for the whole Amalek thing like spit from a camel’s mouth.

Why can’t we just master them and put them into subjugation? asked Joab.

Who wants to have a housefly as a pet? asked David.

I’m afraid, Joab, that they are of such a hostile character that they can’t be conciliated, replied the seer. Then looking up at David, he said, When you were young my lord, even before you were in the fields, Samuel brought instructions from the Lord to Saul, to annihilate them. He hasn’t done so yet.

David’s jaw was set as he viewed the party going north, totally oblivious that they were being watched from the heights.

Then we shall carry out that command, Joab. Make sure no Amalekite lives.

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The terrain south of the encampment was hilly and treacherous. Eventually it settled down into the plain of the Negev, where although still desert, contained a certain degree of vegetation. It was on this plain of gentle lolling hills that a number of families had staked their claim and raised their families. The nearest town was Ziklag to the southwest. It was a Philistine town similar to Gath to its north. Farther south was Kadesh Barnea. It was an older establishment and was the gateway to the wilderness of Paran. The Philistines had little interest in these towns, but the Amalekites were a constant nuisance. They knew enough to be a threat to every family and to occasionally shed some blood. What they were really after, being nomads, was extortion. As a result each area of population was repeatedly hit by the Amalekites and occasionally by the Edomites who came around the bottom of the Salt Sea and into the territory of the Negev.

It was in circumstances of this nature that David began to present the kingly qualities for which he had been anointed.

What do you think, Asahel? asked David looking down at the runner next to his horse.

They’re Amalekites all right. If they head this way when they’re done, we could ambush them easily. replied Asahel.

The two watched along with the twenty-five men with them, as the leader of the Amalekite group grabbed a young woman and began fondling her. The rest of the household was busy presenting bowls of figs, dates, skins of wine and several young goats to the marauders. One man had a knife to the throat of what appeared to be the patriarch of the house. David watched the scene from just over a close hill. There were about twenty Amalekites, from what they could see. Quietly David called his best bowman to his side.

When I give the signal I want you to shoot him through the throat, said the warrior. Then turning to the rest of the men, he gave instructions to charge and spear immediately. No Amalekite was to be left alive. It was not long before the leader pushed the girl to the ground, pulled her tunic up above her waist and kneeling in front of her spread her legs.

Now!

The arrow screamed through the air and then lodged, piercing all the way through the man’s neck. He turned to look at the direction from whence it came, and upon seeing David smiling at him, slumped over to the side. The charge was quick, but not easy. David’s men had not fought since Keilah, and had been retrained in the mountains towards the end of winter. The Amalekites were seasoned, but outnumbered. David spied one running away and chased him down allowing Lightning to literally kick the man to the ground. Using the butt of his spear he whacked the man in the back of the head and then turned him over pressing the point of the spear to his chest.

Where is your camp? demanded the warrior.

We don’t have one, came the reply.

David took the spear and thrust it through the man’s thigh bringing a loud exclamation of pain.

Where’s your camp?

I tell you, we don’t have one! was the anguished reply

David called the big black over and then moved aside as the horse rested his right front hoof on the man’s chest. It was a terrifying scene lying on the ground with his leg pinned to the soil and looking up at this huge animal standing much higher than the warrior who stood nearby. Lightning’s nostrils flared, but the victim probably didn’t notice for all he could see was a massive chest and underbelly and hooves that could easily crush him.

Where’s your camp? David asked sitting on his haunches.

Three miles to the west, was the painful reply. David backed the animal off and the man seemed as relieved as he could be considering his leg was stuck to the ground. The warrior mounted the horse and then standing close to the man; put his hand on the spear still swaying.

Did you ever hear the story of how your people attacked the Children of Israel after they had come out of Egypt?

Yes, it’s told all the time. They were scum.

The man seemed grateful when David pulled the iron blade from his leg.

Well, the story will never be told again in your camp, said David. He thrust the spear into the man’s mouth and all the way into the sand, before pulling it back out. He was speechless. Getting up he hobbled around in elliptical circles grasping at his neck and making gurgling sounds as though a chicken with its head cut off. David made sure he was dead before riding back to the house.

He wove Lightning among each body, poking and prodding to ensure death and then when satisfied, dismounted. The patriarch approached him. We don’t know who you are, but you are surely not Amalekites. Please accept our humble thanks for saving our lives today. We want to offer you these things in gratitude.

All the men were surprised that they were offering the bounty to them. David was no exception and seemed genuinely pleased. We are concerned, however, that their friends and relatives will return, which is usually the case said the gray-haired man. No one will know what happened here, said David. We will destroy their camp also. There will be none left alive to tell. You need to bury these bodies as well as one out in the desert some two hundred feet. He was a man of few words. Moving the men to the east, he stopped as the old man asked his name.

My name is David.

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It was a tired group of men who entered camp at Engedi that evening. The moon was now full and there was a good spirit among the group of inhabitants. Quickly the stories were told of saving the family from the Amalekites and then raiding the camp, killing all the women and children and a few old men. The desert was now pockmarked with the graves of these unfortunate few. To nearly seven hundred people, though, was the surprise of seeing a herd of goats, two camels, several heifers, tents, jewelry, wine and food. Then David dumped a sack of gold pieces and also silver pieces on the ground. He did not stop the bag of corn seeds from being taken for he soon heard the pop of roasting corn over the fire. It was a joyous time of celebration. Some of the booty was divided among the warriors who had won it. The rest went into the community storehouse.

David lay on his mat eating the popped seeds of corn. He reviewed the events of the day. The appreciation and generosity of the family that had been protected. The elimination of a group of Amalekites—scum . . .  Provision for his group of outlaws. But most of all, the goodwill of at least one family in this southern part of Judah. That might be beneficial some day.

Chapter 3

The protection offered by David became well known throughout the area. It was a welcome benefit to see David’s men either under him or one of the other commanders come riding into the area. Usually at least a fourth of the men were gone and this rotated among the captains. Sometimes there was no action at all, and even then, the settlers would invite the men to partake of their food or even sleep in the yard or village. Nevertheless, often, there was conflict and not always without loss to David’s men. The bounty was always taken and the camp destroyed. All human life was extinguished. It became quite a joke in the Engedi encampment to wonder what the Amalekites were saying among themselves when others failed to return. They just couldn’t take the sight of their wives any longer; their camels were prettier! They would rather die of thirst than go home to their fat wives! Every Amalekite needs a roadmap in the desert! Then there was one that had been around longer than anyone could remember, How many Amalekites doe it take to fill a latrine? All of them, but the last one in has to put down the seat. For some time, they didn’t know what was happening to the others, but then the outcasts began to notice that the raiding parties were getting larger and larger, although the forays were getting fewer and fewer. The outcasts didn’t believe the Amalekites were smart enough to figure it out by themselves so someone must have snitched in one of the households.

There’s something I believe you should see, my lord, Joab said as he scooped up his curds that morning. David looked at him and said, As you wish. They both mounted horses. Joab on his newly acquired mare—the result of a raid on the Amalekites, while David got up on Lightning. They headed south along the gorge, in the direction they had come up upon arriving at Engedi. Reaching the slope, they eased the horses down and rested at the base of the precipice and next to the stream. It was still early enough in the day that the south wall of the canyon provided shade.

We’re going to ride up here aways and stick close to the stream. said Joab as they mounted again. At a leisurely pace, the two horses worked their way among the rocks and boulders, sometimes walking in the stream itself if it wasn’t too deep or brisk. Occasionally the horses would act skittish and then settle back down as though they were again in familiar territory.

I’ve sent men up here to explore and map this area, he said to David. They have not yet found the end of the canyon or where the stream empties into the Salt Sea. But they have found orange trees and other types of fruit bearing trees that I’ve never seen.

Is that why you brought me out here? asked David.

No.

They rode for some distance without saying anything until Joab eventually pushed his horse into the lead. David noticed that the skittishness was not in just the horses, but also in his captain. Joab seemed nervous constantly looking to the right and left and up to the cleft of the cliffs. Occasionally he would look behind him. This concerned David to the point where he unstrapped his knife. Finally, Joab reined his horse to halt. Removing his knife, he looked at the warrior as he brought Lightning up beside the mare. Joab nodded looking up at the side of the precipice and David followed his eyes to a piece of cloth tied around a rock next to a large hole about half way up the cliff. There was a narrow ledge of about four feet in width that made its way up to the hole. David was cautious now.

What’s up there Joab?

You’ll see.

The captain led the way up the ledge with David close behind. Finally, he withdrew his knife and holding it in his left hand, beckoned for the warrior to follow silently. David surveyed the situation and the terrain looking for possible avenues of escape. Coming to the edge of the hole, Joab with wariness looked around the corner. David looked down some one hundred and fifty feet of pain if anyone should fall. Joab motioned for David to follow and the two stood in the mouth of the cave peering into the darkness. David knew not what to expect, but moved slightly deeper into the grotto mainly to get away from the ledge in case man or beast attacked him. It was quiet. Too quiet.

Suddenly David jumped and made an exclamation. There, several feet away sat someone looking at him. Both men clung to opposite sides of the cavern. You can smile or die! David exclaimed to the figure. His knife was thrust out in front of him, but the only response was the toothy smile.

My lord! He is dead already! whispered Joab from the opposite side. David wondered how he could be dead and still be smiling such a toothy smile. What bothered him most, however, was why Joab didn’t go any closer, and why he was still whispering. David strained to see farther back into the abyss, but could make out nothing. Joab marveled as the warrior inched closer and closer to the figure. Finally, directly in front of the body, he knelt down and gasped. The toothy smile was a full set of teeth in the skeleton’s mouth. There were only bones with some rotted flesh sticking to them. Joab remained in the background, nervously keeping watch. David examined the body carefully. He surmised it was a man. However, it hadn’t been there long. Most of the flesh and muscle was gone. There was still some hair, but no eyeballs in the sockets. Now David smelled the stench, but it was not that of human flesh for he was familiar with that routine. He followed the torso down until he saw a girdle with a knife sheath attached to it. But where was the knife? What disconcerted him; however, were the sandals still on the man’s feet. Reaching up to touch the shoulder blades of the man, he felt the right shoulder collapse into a jumble making a clattering noise. He took the sandal and pulled bringing the whole foot with it. Curiously, he made his way to the sunlit mouth of the cave and Joab followed suit, backing out while peering into the gloom at the back of the cave.

This is . . . this is . . . David looked incredulous. They both waited for their eyes to adjust until he finally said, This is one of ours, Joab.

Not just one of our Hebrew brothers, my lord. This is one of our family. This is my scout.

The two men looked at each other, David with a greatly puzzled look on his face. He brushed away the coarse red hairs on the sandal. But didn’t you send your scout to the north?

That I did, my lord.

Surely this is thirty miles from where . . . .

Come, I want to show you something that we can see now, said Joab.

Cautiously the two peered over the ledge and looked the distance down into the ravine. There was a sandy beach here where the stream pooled for a ways giving a serene treatment to the canyon. To the left were the horses tied to the trees. David looked at the men’s footprints in the beach sands and their approach