Quest for a King

By Gary L Ivey

A catastrophic battle sets in motion events that birth Israel's first monarchy, but the king's fecklessness puts the fate of the nation in doubt. Can Israel's fledgling kingdom survive attacks from without and rivals within? No one escapes the palace intrigue, divided loyalties and tribal battles that characterized life 3,000 years ago. In the e

• Language: English
• Publisher: Studio IV Productions
• Release date: Apr 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9780999396834

Book preview

1

The hot afternoon air stopped dead and all nature fell silent, as if sensing some approaching horror. The birds, which were usually plentiful on these fields, were quiet or had flown away.

Like two malevolent monsters, the opposing armies had trampled forest flora and farmers’ fields alike to arrive here. More than 90,000 men faced one another across a field of green, awaiting orders which would soon come.

Eldad stared forward from his position on the front line and squinted through his black forelock, trying to make out faces in the mass of humanity opposing them across the field. The soldiers in the army of the Sea Peoples were nearly obscured by dust and the hazy distance. Through the shimmers rising from the plain, Eldad and the other men of the tribe of Benjamin standing with him could make out teams of horses hitched to iron battle chariots, each with a driver and a bronze-helmeted archer. The sight sent a shiver of fear up his back, in spite of the heat. He licked his lips, but his mouth was dry.

He marched near friends and neighbors from Mizpah, his hometown. Phanuel, Asaph and Zedekiah he knew well. The other man he had never met. Eldad hadn’t gotten his name, but he was dressed in the garb of a shepherd.

The shofar, a ram’s-horn trumpet, sounded once. Captains barked the order to advance and the men of Israel began walking deliberately forward by ranks over uneven ground. Some carried spears and swords, but many only had tools from their farms and shops; lethal though they could be.

Twenty-seven-year-old Eldad was tall and slender, with muscles made hard by hours of work. His face showed the steel of courage and determination, but his hands trembled with fear. This would be his first experience of war.

Like his fellow Israelite volunteer soldiers, he wore a simple tunic, the hem of which was brought forward and tucked into his belt to free his legs for the battle ahead.

He and his fellow volunteers lacked the heavy armor of the professional soldiers facing them across the field to the west, but he was better equipped than many of his fellow volunteers, thanks to his occupation as a metalsmith in Mizpah in a shop built by his late father, in the heart of the territory claimed by Israel’s smallest tribe.

Eldad had fashioned his own sword from bronze with a handle of sycamore wood covered in soft goatskin. It had a curved blade, sharpened on the outside. From its shape it got its name: sickle sword. Its design originated in Egypt, where it had been known as a kophesh.

He gripped the handle tighter as he walked. He was unaccustomed to the slap-slap of the leather scabbard against his thigh. In his other hand he carried a shield carved from wood, covered in beaten bronze. His helmet was made of several layers of goatskin, to which his wife, Hadassah, had attached a plume of donkey tail.

The battle lines were arrayed across nearly a mile of ground. Stone fences marking the boundaries of farmers’ fields were ignored as the two armies approached each other, their tramping creating its own definition of the land.

The Israelite battle line began moving faster without hearing an order to do so. The men were being driven by bloodlust now. A throaty cry rose from the ranks as their speed approached a run and Eldad heard his own voice join the shouting. Some shouted praise to Yahweh and others cursed their enemy, but eventually their shouting became one loud roar and the men broke into a run. It was downhill and their lines would soon crash into the Philistines.

2

ONE WEEK EARLIER

The town of Mizpah of the tribe of Benjamin sat on a prominent hill, which was why it received the name Mizpah, which meant Watchtower.

Today the marketplace was abuzz with loud bargaining at the booths of vendors of food, clothing, tools, livestock and more. Eldad, carrying a cloth bag, approached a merchant in a booth.

Are you from Gibeon? Eldad asked.

Yes, does it matter?

It did matter, because Gibeon, though it was easily visible from Mizpah’s lofty elevation, was not an Israelite city. There was bad blood going back centuries to when the residents of Gibeon misrepresented themselves to Joshua, dressing in worn clothing and covering themselves with the dust of the road, saying they were from a far country and wished to form an alliance. When the ruse was discovered ̶ that they only wanted to avoid being attacked ̶ Joshua kept the bargain, but Israel made the residents of Gibeon serve them as laborers.

It is good you are here, Eldad continued. I want to expand my trade to Gibeon. My brother and I are smiths. May I show you my samples?

The merchant motioned his assent wordlessly, accustomed to this process after thousands of transactions.

Eldad opened his bag and began laying bronze items on the table: a sickle, a bowl, a knife, a small bell and a figurine of the fertility god Ba’al in the form of a bull. The merchant looked over the assortment and picked up the knife.

Hmm. Decent quality.

We pride ourselves in our workmanship.

Picking up the image, the merchant looked at Eldad and asked, This is a Ba’al, no?

It is.

So you, a Hebrew, make Canaanite gods? You do not make images of Yahweh?

The Torah forbids images of Yahweh.

So you can't sell those, the merchant laughed, but you make Ba'als to sell to me?

You sell Ba’als, do you not?

Not in Mizpah, though maybe I could? the merchant sat the image down again. I will take your Ba’als. What would you trade?

I need silver.

Don't we all? sighed the merchant. I can give you a half bekah for three of these.

A half bekah for three! That's 12 for a shekel! I must get a shekel for eight!

Your work is not that good. I can find someone else, the merchant waved his hand and turned his attention to arranging his wares.

Ten then.

Ten for a shekel?

Eldad nodded.

The merchant then pointed to the bell. If I take twenty for two shekels, throw in two bells and you have a deal. When can you deliver?

Will you be here next week, fourth day?

If it please the gods.

I will deliver to you then. I require half up front.

The merchant nodded, since this was expected for this type of order. He reached under the table and produced a leather pouch. From it he took two small silver bars and gave them to Eldad.

Thank you, see you then.

What is your name, smith?

Eldad, son of Elishama.

See you next fourth day, Eldad.

Eldad moved away, threading his way through the milling crowd.

Eldad! Eldad son of Elishama!

Eldad turned to see who called his name. His friend, Phanuel, stalked toward him, carrying a bent sickle.

What is it, Phanuel?

Why do you harm me?

I would never harm you, friend.

You sold me this sickle, but it's junk.

Eldad took the bronze sickle Phanuel held out to him, by its wooden handle. He saw the blade was indeed bent.

Did you use it to hew stone? Eldad smirked.

No! I am not a fool! I was clearing thistles for planting.

Eldad handed the sickle back to Phanuel. I don't know why that would cause this. Our bronze is of the best quality; tough and strong.

You will make this right!

All right. I can make you a new sickle.

I don't want another of your sickles. I want my silver back. I will find another smith.

But your family has purchased tools from my family back to when my father was an apprentice.

If your father was still alive, he wouldn't have allowed this poor quality! I want my silver back!

Eldad reluctantly took a silver ingot from his bag and gave it to Phanuel. Let me take the sickle back to my forge and find out why it failed.

Phanuel gave the damaged tool back to Eldad and disappeared into the crowd.

Eldad puzzled over the way the metal was deformed.

What could cause this kind of integrity failure?

Then light dawned in his eyes.

Jacob!

3

Eldad, still carrying his cloth bag of bronze samples, hurried along a dusty, rutted street with head-high, mud-brick walls on either side. He stopped at a wooden gate and went through a stone archway into his family compound. The compound consisted of a courtyard and several stone apartments, built side-by-side and a wooden livestock pen in a forward corner. He wasted no time entering an open door to the forge on the main floor of the largest house.

The room was dark except for daylight from the door and a small window, plus the hot fire in the furnace. Eldad could hear the hammer ringing as it struck metal on the anvil.

Brother! Can you explain this?

Eldad's brother, Jacob, stopped hammering a bronze shearing knife. Eldad held out the bent sickle. Jacob looked at him, not understanding.

Phanuel demanded his silver back and vowed to find another smith. Why would this sickle bend this way? Is this not your work?

Eldad’s younger brother took the sickle.

I suppose it is.

Of course it is! Why did this happen?

Perhaps my experiment didn’t work as hoped.

Experiment? What do you mean?

Do you know how much the tin from Anatolia is costing now? And there’s precious little of it, so I tried a substitution.

You changed the alloy?! We have been making bronze the same way for generations. What did you use?

Sand. But only a little.

Sand?! Why would you think that would work? You should have known that would weaken the bronze.

How do we know, if we don't try it? Actually, when you melt sand, it bonds well...

But we can’t be selling untried materials to customers! If you want to experiment, do it on your own. Otherwise, stick to what we know works; the formula father taught us!

Eldad turned and angrily left the forge. It was still light, but the sun would be setting soon. He suddenly realized he was hungry.

The family compound was surrounded by a high wall and included three houses side-by-side with shared walls like apartments. Eldad's house was the largest, because he was the firstborn son. It had been the house of his father and mother and before that, his grandfather. It had been built by Eldad’s great grandfather, sometime after Israel conquered Mizpah and it was claimed for the tribe of Benjamin.

Connected to it was a small house for his widowed mother, then Jacob's house. There was room for more, but so far there was no need.

As Eldad walked toward a corner of the courtyard, where a stone oven stood, he shook off his anger. He came up behind his wife, Hadassah, who was absorbed in the baking of a loaf of pita, so she didn’t hear him coming. He wrapped his arms around her.

Oh! Hadassah exclaimed. At 20 years of age, her slim body was warm and soft in Eldad’s embrace and the smell of baking bread brought feelings of hearth and home.

Oh, what a day I've had!

Be careful! she chided.

Always. When do we eat?

It appears it will be late, came another voice. It was Eldad’s mother, Zemirah. Hadassah frowned.

It will be ready soon enough, if my husband will stop distracting me.

My son, wash up for supper. You smell of the forge.

It's the aroma of the work which pays for the bread, mother.

Still, clean up.

Yes, of course, I'm starved.

As he went to his house, he saw Jacob's wife, Ophrah, with a tray of food, and their four-year-old daughter, Talia.

The date cakes are ready, Ophrah said.

So we only lack the bread, Zemirah looked at Hadassah.

It’s almost done.

Bring it to the table when it is.

Yes, mother.

Hadassah remained at the oven alone as the others entered the main house.

The extended family were all seated on cushions on the floor around a low table, which was laden with food. In addition to the pita Hadassah had prepared, there was roasted lamb, greens and leeks, and Ophrah’s date cakes. The tableware was baked clay and bronze spoons and knives. Glazed clay cups held wine and water. Eldad said the blessing as they all bowed their heads.

Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. Amen.

Amen, Jacob repeated and the family began eating.

Golden light came from a single window, a fireplace and oil lamps mounted on strategically placed stone shelves protruding from the stone walls. The floor was hard-packed earth, but colorful drapes and carpets softened the room. In an alcove on one wall was a small image, a Ba’al, the Canaanite god of harvest.

As everyone reached for food and passed the serving dishes, Zemirah broke the brief silence.

The forge has been busy?

Yes, we have orders for many sickles, scythes and variety of knives. Eldad answered. Even swords. Today I got an order for the Ba’als.

Eldad, have you heard the rumors? Jacob asked.

About what?

That the Philistines are going to march against us?

I don't listen to gossip.

Would they come here? Hadassah asked softly.

Not likely, Eldad assured her.

Would you both have to fight? asked Ophrah, looking at the two men.

When the call to arms comes, the men of Israel should answer, Eldad said.

But both of you shouldn't go. Someone must mind the forge, Zemirah asserted, then looked at her two daughters-in-law. No one has yet given me grandsons.

If we had a king, like a real nation, he would have a standing army to protect us, said Jacob.

This again? Eldad responded. Yahweh is Israel’s king and His priests and judges tell us His will. That’s all we need.

That’s old fashioned, brother. We must look to the future.

We had no king when Moses freed us from slavery in Egypt! We had no king when Joshua conquered this promised land and we do not need a king now!

Nor Deborah, nor Gideon, nor Samson, I get it!

Ophrah interrupted the feuding brothers.

If Yahweh is all we need, why do we have the Ba’al watching over us?

Ophrah pointed to the alcove, with it’s bull-shaped statue.

Appealing to a god of abundant harvest is wise, Zemirah insisted. Father did. We can honor both.

Prophets, priests, judges; so add a king, what difference would it make? Jacob continued.

To a king, it is weakness to listen to prophets, Eldad argued.

So, make sure to have a godly king.

Well little brother, I doubt anyone will ask your opinion.

Nor yours. Your line won't even survive if Hadassah continues to fail to give you offspring.

And where is YOUR son?

At least Ophrah has proven she is not barren!

Eldad stood abruptly.

Sit down, and be quiet, shouted Zemirah. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the two of you were still 10- and 8-years old. Let us continue our meal in peace!

Eldad sat down again and put a large piece of pita in his mouth. Jacob sulked, but said no more.

Moonlight shone through a gap in the curtains hanging on the window of the upstairs bed chamber. Cool breezes brought brief respites from the summer humidity.

Eldad and Hadassah lay close together, but neither was near sleeping.

Eldad, will the Philistines come?

My beautiful Hadassah, don’t worry. There are always rumors.

But will they come someday?

Only if Yahweh wills it.

Hadassah said nothing and Eldad understood she wasn’t reassured. He rose on one elbow and passionately kissed her, wrapping her in his muscular arms to love her completely.

4

The sun was just coming up, but farmers were already at work many miles to the west of Mizpah. Whereas the highlands of Benjamin around Mizpah were very hilly due to the ridge that ran from north to south through the land of Israel and beyond, this land was mainly flat. It was desirable for growing crops like barley and wheat.

It was virtually no-man’s land, where the territory controlled by the Israelite tribe of Judah gave way to Philistia. In fact, Beth-Shemesh, the closest town of any size, was constantly faced with encroachment by the Sea Peoples, who called themselves Palusata.

It shouldn’t have been that way. The land to the west on the way to the Great Sea was to have belonged to the tribe of Dan. They tried to settle there, but the marauders of the Mediterranean rim prevented their occupation of the area.

Called the Sea Peoples because they apparently originated from islands in the Aegean Sea, these warriors invaded, sacked, burned and raped their way around the Sea until they were defeated by Egypt and retired to occupy five great cities and their satellite villages on the coast.

The Danites finally gave up and moved away to the north and occupied land there, just south of Phoenicia. They became the northern-most tribe of the children of Abraham so that it became a saying if you wanted to describe the whole of Israel, one would say From Dan to Beer-Sheva.

On this day, mischievous boys slipped away from the labor going on at their farms to play. Two nine- or ten-year-old boys, Ammiel and Yoshi, ran laughing and hid behind a rock and a bush beside the road. Their friend, Ali, ran after them.

Where are you? Ammiel! Yoshi! Where did you go?

Ammiel and Yoshi stifled giggles, watching Ali through the bush. Suddenly Ali turned to look down the road. The other boys followed his gaze and were surprised to see a Philistine soldier in battle armor over a green tunic, carrying a spear, with a sword strapped to his side.

Ali panicked and began running as the other boys watched from their hiding place. The soldier saw Ali and hurled his spear, impaling him, causing him to fall head over heels and then lie still.

The other boys stifled screams and ran away, but then Ammiel took hold of Yoshi and, putting an upright forefinger across his lips, motioning that they should return to the bush to see what happened next.

Enbol heard a commotion in nearby bushes as he walked over to retrieve his spear from the body of the boy, but didn’t see anyone. Using his leather-wrapped foot as leverage, he pulled the spear free and the body settled limp in the dust.

Enbol was big, with massive arms and a broad face covered in black stubble. His hair was relatively short and covered by the distinctive Philistine helmet, with horse hair attached all the way around the crown, pointing skyward.

He turned as a column of Philistine soldiers, in the same uniform as Enbol, rounded a bend in the road. Enbol stood watching them march by, still looking for anyone else who might be around. A few glanced his way to take in the massive soldier and the small dead boy at his feet.

He was about to join the marching soldiers, when the royal chariot approached, with the column of soldiers, flanked by generals on horseback and royal flags. He had a fleeting impulse to hide, which turned to panic, when King Maoch raised his hand, silently ordering the driver to stop.

The driver pulled the reins on the pair of horses pulling the chariot and Clamatos, the king’s adjutant, shouted, Halt!

Up and down the column, other officers repeated the order and the entire army of Gath jostled to a stop as the king looked down at Enbol and the small boy he had killed.

What is this? the king asked. You have dishonored Gath!

Pardon sire, but he could have told that we are coming.

I could have you killed right here, but I suppose you have a point. Do something with the body or it will cause a bigger uproar than if our approach was revealed!

Enbol scooped up the body and disrespectfully dropped it into a ditch beside the road, then joined the column as Clamatos gave the order to Forward, march and the soldiers began moving again.

There were thousands of them, all marching under the green banners of the city-state of Gath and commanded by the thirty-three-year-old King Maoch. Though this was his first campaign as king, he had been in battle before as a prince and had received the best military training the warlike Palusata could provide.

Maoch was one of five kings of the Philistines and each of the other four were marching with their own armies today, intent on striking a strategic target to the north.

Laboring in a freshly plowed field, Joshua, with a cloth seed bag slung over his shoulder, reached into the bag and with a single motion, pulled a handful of barley seed from it and broadcast it across his field. After each cast he took a step or two and repeated the process.

Ammiel and Yoshi ran up to him just then, both shedding tears and out of breath.

Father! Father! Come! Ammiel gasped.

Slow down. What is it?

They killed Ali!

What?! Who?

The Philistines!

Here? Where?

Come now! Ammiel cried and, not waiting for him to agree to follow, the boys turned and ran back the way they came. Joshua dropped his seed bag and ran after them.

Ammiel and Yoshi ran up and looked into the ditch where Ali's body lay. Joshua arrived as well, taking in the scene.

There were hundreds of them! Ammiel said through  his tears.

More like thousands! Yoshi added.

We must tell his father and mother, Joshua said, not relishing the task that would fall to him. And then we must warn everyone.

Will they kill us all? Ammiel asked, his voice breaking.

They have passed us by, said Joshua, looking down the empty road. More likely they are going to Shiloh.

5

Shiloh was a city in the central highlands of the territory claimed by the tribe of Ephraim, just a little ways north of Mizpah but just east of the central ridge that formed the backbone of the country. West of the ridge, water ran down toward the Great Sea, whereas east of it, water descended into the rift valley where it joined the Jordan River and ran south from there until it emptied into the Dead Sea.

The wilderness sanctuary constructed during the Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt had been at Shiloh ever since, on a plateau outside the city. It was an ideal place for it, because it was many miles from the heavily travelled coastal road which ran from Egypt to the north parallel to the Great Sea and connected with the trade routes that went east to the Tigris and Euphrates valleys.

For almost 400 years now, it had been the epicenter of the religion of the one true God, known as Yahweh, which literally meant Lord, but the word was unique to the Israelites. They might also use El to refer to their God, but the Canaanites used that word to refer to one of their gods, so Yahweh was the term to refer to the God who had appeared to Abraham almost a thousand years ago and more recently to Moses.

The Lord’s Tent was a portable building three times as long as it was wide, with gold-plated wooden walls and