The Curse

By Mary Carpenter

Though the prophet Samuel has placed a curse on the house of Saul, life continues quite normally. So normally that Prince Jonathans waning hope of living a long life with his beloved wife, Sarah, begins to revive. When Sauls Captain, Abner, hires a lad to play his harp, hoping only that the kids music might soothe the kings worsening temperament, hardly anyone pays any attention. The childs face is ruddy from too much sun and wind, his hands smooth. His hair may look like a torch in the sunlight, but he is definitely not a warrior. Only God, the prophet, and the kid himself know the truth until the battle in the valley of Elah.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 16, 2007
• ISBN: 9781462827930

Mary Carpenter

MARY CARPENTER now writes a weekly health column, after a thirty-year career as a staff reporter for Time magazine and as a freelance journalist. Her articles and essays have been published in the Washington Post, the International Herald Tribune, People Magazine, the New York Times, and Cosmopolitan, and she is the author of two other middle-grade books: Rescued by a Cow and a Squeeze: Temple Grandin and Lost and Found in the Mississippi Sound: Eli and the Dolphins of Hurricane Katrina.

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Copyright © 2007 by Mary Carpenter.

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DEDICATION

For all my beautiful children and grandchildren whom I love dearly. Also for those yet to come who I may never know until eternity.

List of main characters in first two books

1

Jonathan rose slowly to greet Eliab over the back of the horse he was doctoring. Eliab had come from Bethlehem. He would have news.

Sarah is dying, Eliab said. His expression was grim, his eyes dark.

No, Jonathan whispered, feeling the blood draining from his face. It had been six long months since the battle at Amalek and the curse that had been placed on the house of Saul, six long months since he had seen Sarah blowing him a kiss from her mother’s porch as he had ridden out of her life forever.

Oh, when I ask her, she says she’s fine, Eliab hurried to add, but her cheeks are gaunt, and her eyes are hollow.

Jonathan took a grateful breath and tried to smile at his friend. You must tell her—

"It’s time for you to go, Jonathan. I’m not telling her any more lies."

But, Eliab, you know why I can’t go.

You can’t continue living like this, Jonathan. In spite of yourself, you are becoming just like your father.

Jonathan glanced away from Eliab’s piercing stare. He had tried to forget that he had married her. He had tried to forget the feel of her in his arms and the sound of her voice. He had thrown himself into being a soldier, doing whatever his father told him to do whether it was doctoring a horse, mending a harness, or spying on the Philistines until utter exhaustion of mind and body allowed him to sleep at night.

Even without Adriel’s influence, the men have rallied around you, Eliab prodded. They all want you to be king when your father steps down.

Father isn’t going to step down, Eliab, and you and I both know Reuben is merely waiting for some zealot to come along and—

Do you honestly believe that Sarah would rather die alone in Bethlehem! Eliab’s voice had risen to an angry pitch. Even if Reuben should succeed in killing you, do you think his men won’t find her wherever she might hide?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Sarah drew her scarf about her face and huddled her knees beneath her chin so that all of her would be shaded by the scanty shadow cast by the young oak tree beneath which she sat. The bright spring sun glared down unmercifully onto the rock-strewn soil, causing her wide dark eyes to become dry and bloodshot. In spite of her efforts to keep it covered, her nose was peeling. She nibbled nervously at a torn fingernail, because she had nothing better to do, and absently watched a lizard venturing out onto a rock.

Don’t be so rude, she scolded testily when the tiny reptile cocked his head curiously at her. She picked up a pebble, tossed it aimlessly at him, and laughed when he scurried back under the protection of the rock. A light breeze lifted a wisp of her long dark hair to blow beneath her nose. She sighed heavily and swiped it impatiently aside. The sun had disappeared behind the barren hills to the west now, and the lengthening shadows warned her, it was time to return home. Home, she thought with another heavy sigh. Once again, home had become her mother’s carefully plastered stone house perched at the end of a street on the very edge of the village of Bethlehem. For the long months since her young husband had come and gone this last time, she had endured the terror that it might be home for the rest of her life. Eliab had told her that he was doing well; that he was just worried about her safety in Gibeah; that he would come for her as soon as he was certain there would be no uprisings that might endanger her life, but she knew better. She swallowed hard about the lump in her throat. Why could Jonathan never understand that the greatest threat to her life was being away from him? She heaved herself to her feet like an old woman. Her mother had been right about one thing; marrying the crown prince of Israel had brought her much heartache. She bent to rub her long cramping legs and emitted a groan that seemed to come from the very depths of her tortured soul. She hadn’t known the army was passing Bethlehem until she had opened the door to his insistent knocking and seen him standing there. Though he had been different from the day they had gone to meet his parents at the palace in Gibeah, he was a stranger to her now. He had stood on her mother’s porch, silent and forlorn, and she had found solace only in the circle of his arms. Perhaps, because she had been so preoccupied with her own worries, she had not discovered why; and he had slipped away from her without even a proper good-by. Would she never see him again? It was a thought she refused to dwell on. Instead, she filled her days with the monotonous routine of coming to this spot to watch for him, even when there was snow on the ground. After a while, her mother had quit trying to dissuade her. She just smiled a sad little smile, told her to take a coat, and to be sure and to remember her scarf. Jonathan sent with Eliab more than enough gold to keep her and even pay Uncle Ammiel to take care of their land, so neither Aunt Adah nor her mother complained about her extended stay.

She brushed the back of her skirt with one hand and started down the path. She had not learned what had happened at Amalek until several days after Jonathan’s departure. When her Aunt Adah entered the house in her usual imperious way, full of news, she had been grateful that her young husband had at least taken the time to come tell her he was safe. As she mingled with the reveling villagers in the rehob that evening, her aunt’s wild tale had been confirmed. This time, Adah had not been just trying to scare her. It seemed that Saul had not carried out the battle in the manner required by Yahweh, and because of it, he and his four sons had been vanquished. All the idyll talk, however, had not prepared her for her aunt’s description of the violent death of the Amalekite king, Agag, and the curse that had been put upon the house of Saul. She had raced to the stable to find Joshua busy forging swords. The old smith had patted her shoulder in a reassuring way, but his expression had been worried. He hadn’t any more to add other than that her husband had last been seen traveling with his father and youngest brother and Abner on the road to Gibeah. She had trekked faithfully out the road every day since, hoping to see his black horse in the distance, only to return each night to stare at her ceiling until sleep finally came, feeling that hope beginning to wither and die.

Her head hung loosely between her shoulders, and she stared at the ground without truly seeing it. A minute or two passed in sullen dejection before the sound of thudding hooves penetrated the dark cloud of despair that had settled over her. She lifted a hand to shield her eyes and stared toward the lavender distance, imagining his magnificent black stallion on a distant knoll. When a small dark speck appeared on the crest, her breath caught in her throat. She ran a few paces toward it and stopped to listen. Yes, she could hear the hoofbeats plainly now, and only a horse like Jonathan’s would be running in this heat.

She had lost her scarf, and perspiration streaked her face by the time she made it to the top of the first rise. The sight of the black horse lunging across the next one made her forget everything other than her wildly pounding heart as she raced to meet him. Before the animal stopped, he was off and running toward her through the wake of dust.

Sarah? he cried, clutching her to him as though he feared she might be a mirage. How did you know I was coming today? She burrowed her face into the soft place between his neck and shoulder, relishing the feel of his damp skin and tasting its saltiness as her lips trembled upon it. Again and again, her hands stroked the back of his head until she was certain she wasn’t just dreaming again.

Oh, Jonathan, she managed at last, I’ve been so afraid.

He held her suddenly away from him and peered long into her thin face.

I’m sorry, she whispered. You’re tired and hot and thirsty, and I stand here clinging to you like a blathering idiot.

He gathered Samson’s reins into one hand and placed his free arm about her shoulders. As he guided her down the trail, she saw his dear crooked smile lifting one corner of his mouth. The sight of it made her feel better, and she leaned her head against his shoulder to stare at his chiseled profile, outlined against the fading sky. After his run, even the high-spirited horse was docile as a lamb, content to follow quietly behind, occupied with catching his heavy breath.

I suppose Eliab has told you that my mother is pregnant.

She imagined Merab’s shining face and smiled, feeling a deep love for this little sister of his who had so eagerly welcomed her into her heart as well as the forbidding stone fortress that was their home in Gibeah.

And . . . he added, lifting one dark brow in playful accusation, did he tell you that you were right about Miriam?

She turned swiftly to grip his arms as her eyes searched his face. No, Eliab didn’t tell me about Miriam, she whispered.

"You didn’t know that she was pregnant, did you? His tone was scolding. You told my brother that his wife was going to have a baby to keep him from going to Amalek with Father, didn’t you?"

Her eyes lowered to the spot where perspiration was gathering in the V of his collarbone. It . . . wasn’t entirely an evil thing to do, she said sheepishly, I prayed that neither you nor Abinadab would hate me for it, but . . . I know the law, Jonathan. I know that, should your brother die before a child is born, you would be required to take his wife and bear him an heir. I also knew that was Reuben’s plan. I was afraid that . . . you might come to love her more than me. Jonathan, she cried, hiding her face against his chest, I could not have borne it.

Silly, little girl, he whispered huskily into her hair and stroking the back of her silky head with a slender hand, he again clutched her to him. Even Father couldn’t have forced me to commit such a crime against you. Surely, you know that by now? His dark blue eyes appeared as those of the hunting hawk as he forced her away from him. You must never again doubt my love, Sarah, or my commitment to you.

But the law says—

"You think I don’t know what the law says? he interrupted her. Do you believe me to be such a coward that I couldn’t have borne her unloosing my shoe and spitting in my face in order to save you from such humiliation? I am not her only kinsman."

But Abinadab said your father would give you no choice in the matter. She shook her head miserably. "What I told him was not entirely a lie. I did suspect that she was pregnant."

He tossed his head backward in laughter and drew her against his side as they continued down the path. "So that is what Abinadab told you. And to think I have wasted all this time worrying about your fondness for Ishui."

She halted to stare up at him again. You knew he came to our room?

Why do you think I didn’t come back that night? Again his arm tightened about her shoulders, and they walked several paces in silence. It’s obvious that Miriam doesn’t love Abinadab or his baby.

Does Abinadab love the baby? she questioned, her head lifting from his shoulder in alarm.

I’m not sure, he said, shaking his head doubtfully.

Poor Ishui, she whispered, unable to keep from grieving for the black eyed boy who suffered his wife’s rejection in silence, his beautiful, sensitive face, so much like her own dear husband’s, a studied mask of indifference.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jonathan’s lips tightened, and he stared straight ahead. The simple clay and stone houses, quivering in the shimmering heat waves, reminded him of the chaos of his father’s house. Though Abinadab’s child had been born a healthy, robust boy, the poor little thing mewled like an orphaned kitten, both day and night. Miriam was impatient and complained that a baby was too much for her. Hannah would have mothered the little waif, but Miriam didn’t like the old servant and screeched at her if she caught her so much as touching him.

I wonder, he whispered, now that none of us will be king, if she doesn’t hate Abinadab even more.

So it’s true that the house of Saul has been vanquished? she queried hesitantly.

I’m afraid that it is, my love. He stopped to again grip her shoulders, his dark blue eyes peering deeply into her own. Do you remember the time that you told me you wished I wasn’t a prince?

"You know I didn’t mean it to be this way," she cried, her face crumpling with regret.

I knew what you meant, he said, his arm going quickly about her shoulders.

What is going to happen to you, Jonathan? she whispered.

Why are your eyes so red, Sarah?

The same reason my nose is, she retorted impatiently, hating it when he evaded her questions. I have come every day to wait for someone beside the road. I didn’t keep my head covered well enough.

You have come every day?

Every day since I heard about what happened at Gilgal. She caught his hands. I know you are trying to spare me, but I need to know the truth, Jonathan.

I don’t know what will happen to me, he replied honestly. That is why I haven’t come for you. All I know is that the prophet said my father’s kingdom has been taken away from him and given to another who deserves it more.

Her eyes flashed angrily. Who could deserve it more than you?

You mustn’t question Yahweh, he returned as quickly.

I don’t question Yahweh, she retorted, but I do question the wisdom of Samuel. Why would he anoint your father to be king then suddenly decide he was the wrong man? Mother says it’s probably all a political move to keep everyone from noticing his own wicked sons.

To the contrary, he argued. The prophet did question Yahweh’s anger. I saw the sorrow in his eyes. It was genuine. I knew Moses must have felt the same when he stood between God and the people at Mount Sinai. ‘Yahweh is not a man that he can repent for what he has already done,’ Samuel told me.

It cannot be so, she whispered, her fingers lifting to lightly touch his face. Father said, Yahweh was a God of mercy. There is no guile in you. Your heart is as honest and perfect as your face. She lowered her hand swiftly and turned to face the mountains of Moab.

Sometimes, we can’t see what is best for us. But I’m sure that Yahweh can. You must accept my destiny, even as I have, or we can never have a life together again!

She turned to face him, her eyes wide and frightened. "Then you believe that you were predestined for this moment?"

All I know is that for as long as I can remember the words of the blessing of Benjamin have been like a voice inside my head. The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety beside you. The LORD shall cover you all the day long, and he shall dwell between your shoulders," he imitated the booming voice in his dream.

"Surely you don’t believe that you are destined to help the man who is to take your place?"

I don’t know what it means. All I know is that Gibeah isn’t a very safe place for any of us to be, right now.

She escaped his arms and led the way toward Bethlehem with quick, jerky steps. I cannot bear to be like my mother, always listening for Father’s step on the threshold. When Jonathan hurried to catch up with her, she halted and turned to stare at him. She might as well have died with him!

Jonathan shrugged meekly, knowing he must be cautious with her perception. I . . . must admit that when I walked into my bedroom in Gibeah, I had the same thought.

Her arm went possessively about his waist, and they continued on to her mother’s doorstep. "Then we shall live one day at a time, Jonathan—together!"

I must take my horse to the stable, he said, and she saw that frantic, scared-rabbit look in his eyes.

Her breath caught like a little gasp in her throat, and her hands moved swiftly to clutch the collar of his simple herdsman’s cloak. No, Jonathan, she whispered as her eyes scoured his face for a trace of deceit.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jonathan took a ragged breath. Why did Sarah always have to be so difficult? Her hands moved swiftly to the back of his head; and before he had time to resist, she drew his face down toward her own and kissed him hungrily. His head spun dizzily. Difficult and clever, he thought and felt his spirit spiraling around her until all the little doors he had so carefully closed in his heart the past six months began to open again.

2

Sarah stared in disbelief at the table, covered with the length of precious bright linen she had not seen since her father had died, cloth her mother had used only whenever they had entertained his most important guests. Dinner was spread upon it, and places were set for three.

Go wash, her mother called cheerfully, and pour some for Jonathan. Though she hadn’t spoken evil of him since their wedding night, Sarah had been sure that her mother’s politeness was only a carefully studied mixture of resigned tolerance and a grudging hospitality that could be shattered by her former screaming anger at the slightest mistake the young man might make.

How did you know he has come, Mother? she ventured cautiously.

Her mother shrugged. You are late.

You would think we were entertaining a prince, she teased halfheartedly.

Her mother smiled, her dark eyes becoming wistful. "We are entertaining a prince. I knew I had been wrong about him the moment I saw him coming toward you with that sash about his waist. Does he know where it came from?"

I . . . don’t think so. Her mother frowned, and she shrugged. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him the beautiful embroidery he treasures so highly did not come from Egypt."

Rachel turned suddenly to rake a few pieces of shattered pottery from the kitchen shelf into her hand and extended it toward her.

Sarah stared in disbelief at all that was left of her mother’s precious goddess, Ashtoreth. Did you drop it? her voice faltered.

Her mother shook her head, and tears filled her eyes. I am so ashamed I don’t even know where to begin telling you how sorry I am. I have despised the ways of this king and his sons, just as I despised your father’s. It is because of people like me that Saul has fallen from the grace of his God. If a man like your father had been with him, he would not have gone against Yahweh’s command to destroy the flocks and herds and that evil king of Amalek. She turned abruptly and walked toward the window. "I couldn’t see the need for your father’s fetish obedience until Adah told me what happened at Gilgal. The truth was like the sun bursting over the hills of Moab. As your father said, our very existence depends upon it. Israel is peculiar from other nations. Our laws make us that way, but those laws have also made us strong. We can no longer ignore or neglect them if we wish to prosper. The people have made it hard on their king. In our rebellion, we have scattered the stones of the monuments our fathers have placed for a reminder. We have hidden the law in jars and crocks in our pretense of preserving them, when truly the only way they can be preserved is if they are engraved upon the hearts of our children. I made it impossible for your father to do this. It was because of my unbelief that he didn’t come back from the battle at Jabesh Gilead. My arguments made him lose heart in what he was doing. She shook her head sadly. Somewhere in the king’s camp, there is a traitor. Like my Eliab, Saul just got weary of battling someone near and dear to him."

Sarah’s lips tightened against her own tears as they embraced, and the walls that had been so impossibly high between them tumbled down to join the fragments of Ashtoreth in the floor.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Joshua met Jonathan at the stable door with a similar lament. In his eagerness to make amends, he forgot his fear of the horse and took the reins and deposited the animal in his usual stall. When he returned with water, Jonathan was grooming the lathered sides. He watched in silence until the overheated animal had noisily slurped the last drop of liquid.

It was the wrong thing for you to do—leaving her here, he ventured at last. Jonathan’s head lifted swiftly, and he motioned for him to take a seat on his workbench. "At first, I agreed with you that