Joshua Valiant

by Brian Godawa

  But this seraph was on earth, and it was deadly. He pulled out his sword and chopped off its head.

  He had heard legends about these creatures being in the Negeb, but this was the first one he had ever seen.

  He wondered if it had bitten anyone.

  And then he heard a woman scream.

  Instinctively, he ran toward the scream.

  As he did, he could hear others scream throughout the camp, and a dread came over him. He suspected he knew the reason.

  He saw another cobra crawling in front of him, about to launch itself in flight. Its wings were not large enough to fly like a bird, but they would enable short aerial bursts that made it look like the serpent was leaping like a jackrabbit. He cut it in half as it leapt.

  He was sure of it now. There must have been a nest of these seraphim cobras that was accidentally unsettled by someone.

  But as he turned past a lane of tents, he stopped in horror.

  He saw thousands of serpents slithering and flying throughout the camp. People were running to escape them. Some were throwing them out of tents. Some were trying to kill them.

  Caleb started hacking off the heads of the ones closest to him. But he soon discerned that it would be impossible to make a dent in their numbers.

  It had to be a miracle. Or more precisely, a curse.

  Moses’ words came back to him, “They want justice, do they? Then let us pray that Yahweh gives them justice.”

  More screams were all around him. People were being bitten throughout the camp. He knew that the venom of the seraph nachash could be lethal. Many would become very sick. And many others would die.

  He rushed home to make sure Achsah was okay.

  He reached his tent and heard a scream from inside.

  “Achsah!”

  He whipped back the tent flap to find Achsah standing on top of a pile of wood. The entire floor was covered with the nasty vipers. Some of them were leaping at her.

  But Othniel was there, hacking the snakes to pieces.

  Caleb helped him finish off the serpents and then hugged Othniel with fierce gratitude.

  “Once again, my brother, you have saved my precious treasure.”

  Othniel said, “It is my honor, brother.”

  Othniel opened his arms and Achsah let him carry her out of the tent. And at that very moment, Caleb could see a tenderness in Othniel toward his daughter that he had not noticed before. A connection between the two of them.

  But now was not the time for such petty observations.

  They arrived back at the tabernacle only to discover that there were no snakes around it. It was as if Yahweh was keeping them away from his holy presence.

  Evidently, others of the congregation had begun to discover this protection as well and had begun to crowd around as close as they could to the outer courtyard curtains.

  When Moses and Joshua came forth from the Tent of Meeting, people cried out, “Moses, save us!” and “We have sinned!”

  One of the elders ripped his clothes and bellowed in a loud audible voice, “We have spoken against Yahweh and against you! Have mercy on us!”

  Moses stopped, turned and walked back into the Tent of Meeting.

  Caleb thought it looked like Moses did not want to listen to their pleas. Like he wanted them to wallow in their sickness and death.

  Or he was going to plead with Yahweh.

  After a few minutes, Joshua led Moses out of the tent, and up to the courtyard entrance.

  People were still weeping and crying out. It was rather loud and noisy.

  Moses waved Caleb over. Caleb had to avert his eyes somewhat at Moses’ shining.

  Moses said to him, “You are an artist, of sorts, are you not?”

  Caleb wondered what that had to do with the pain and misery all around them.

  “Yes, Moses,” he said with hesitation.

  “Good. I need your help then.”

  Moses led Caleb over to a blacksmith’s station in the camp.

  He picked up some copper objects made by the smith, and spoke to Caleb.

  “Do you remember the image magic in Egypt?”

  “Yes.”

  The Egyptians believed in sympathetic magic that would replicate images of creatures like snakes as a means of scaring away those creatures.

  Moses said, “I want you to make a bronze seraph serpent on a pole, similar to what we saw in Egypt, only different.”

  Caleb said, “But that could take several days.”

  “We do not have several days. You will have to get the help of the blacksmith and make it within a day.”

  Caleb sighed. He hated doing things hastily, and it was even more important not to do mediocre work on an artistic object.

  Moses said with a glint in his eye, “Joshua tells me you are enamored with the art of the tabernacle.”

  “Yes.”

  “Now is your chance to make some art.”

  Caleb said, “I wish Bezalel were still alive.”

  Bezalel was the spirit-filled artist who crafted the tabernacle to Yahweh’s specifications with his own creative flair. His background in Egyptian and Philistine aesthetics had been a source of much beauty in the work.

  “He used to complain too,” said Moses. “You artists never have enough time to create your ‘masterpieces.’ But I need one tomorrow. So create for me a beautiful seraph serpent on a pole—and do not forget the wings.”

  “Okay,” said Caleb.

  With the help of the smith, Caleb sculpted a clay winged serpent wriggling around a pole, and had it cast into bronze. He could not put the detail he wanted into it, but he was not disappointed.

  • • • • •

  When Caleb brought the bronze serpent to Moses and Joshua at the tabernacle, the next day, He could barely stand up. He had worked all through the night and did not get any sleep.

  Moses looked at it, and said, “Well done, Caleb. It is beautiful.” And then he took the bronze serpent with a litany of priests to parade through the camp.

  As he walked through the camp, Moses had Joshua speak his words loudly for the ears of everyone. “Hear O Israel! We are entering into a land that worships the Serpent! These fiery serpents that have attacked you are an example of what will happen to you in Canaan if you continue to grieve Yahweh with your unfaithful hearts! The Serpent will bite your heel and you will die. Turn now from your unbelief and turn back to Yahweh. If a fiery serpent has bitten you, and you look upon this Nehushtan, you will be healed! Trust in Yahweh and he will do it!”

  Nehushtan was a Semitic wordplay on the words for bronze and Nachash, as well as a third word for practicing sorcery. It was a sarcastic jab at Israel’s wayward tendencies.

  Everyone was coming out of their tents to see the great sign before them. And those who had been bitten would merely look upon the bronze serpent and they were healed. Others had to be carried because they were sick and others were on their deathbed. But as Moses said, if they looked upon Nehushtan, they were healed. Caleb saw the serpent shining in the sun with the same brilliance as Moses would shine when seeing Yahweh.

  It was a beautiful picture to Caleb of how Yahweh would place their sins upon a cursed object, and then forgive the Israelite who simply looked to that object with faith.

  It was too bad that Canaan, the final destination to which they were arriving, was like a horrid pit of flying fiery serpents full of poison and death.

  Caleb decided to teach his daughter Achsah how to use a bow that day. Her life had been in danger twice and she was helpless without Caleb. Both times she had been protected by Othniel. But Caleb felt that he had failed her. Though he treasured the femininity of women, he thought that they should still have some ability to defend themselves in this hostile desert.

  He found a bow and some arrows and brought her outside the camp to begin her lessons. He was determined that she would never be caught without a defense again.

  After he taught her the basics of nocking an arrow, aiming and relea
sing at a target, he talked to her as she practiced her skills on a small desert tree at a short distance.

  “So, my little turtle dove, you are of marrying age.”

  Achsah aimed and hit the tree without response.

  “Good shot,” he added.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “Have you any young men who show interest?” he asked.

  She nocked an arrow and aimed with nary a concern.

  “None that I care about.” She aimed and hit the tree again.

  “You have a natural skill, Achsah.”

  “Not really,” she said. “Othniel has given me a few lessons.”

  “Othniel again,” he said annoyed. “I am being outdone in parenting by my own brother.”

  She snapped, “He is not my parent. You are. Othniel is a kind and giving man.”

  “There is no need for hostility.”

  She said, “I think the best thing you could learn from him is that he does not treat me like a child.”

  Caleb raised his eyebrows. “Indeed. And has he ever shown interest in you…”

  She looked at him trying to figure out what he meant.

  “You know, for marriage?”

  Like a spy, he wanted to gather intelligence, but he did not want to encourage her to actually consider such thoughts.

  “Ewww! No. We are best of friends. Why would you say that?”

  Caleb knew what was occurring. Othniel had always been in the shadow of his older brother’s notoriety and achievements. All his life, Othniel fought to make a name for himself that had nothing to do with being “the brother of the famous Caleb,” right hand of Joshua, Karabu giant slayer, and possessor of Yahweh’s special promise of entering the land.

  Othniel had actually become quite a warrior and leader in his own right, as he had recently secured the position of a commander of thousands in the army. There wasn’t anyone else Caleb would rather have had protecting his little Achsah.

  But he also knew that Othniel struggled with self-confidence in two areas: women and Caleb. Slaying a giant is easy compared to understanding the mysteries of the female sex. Failure was assured in that battle. And comparison with his older brother always ended in Othniel losing. How much more intimidating would it be if Othniel was interested in Caleb’s own daughter? Caleb considered that Othniel would probably take years before he could gather the courage to reveal to Achsah his intentions for her, let alone ask for Achsah’s hand from Caleb.

  Good, thought Caleb, the jealous father. The longer he takes, the better.

  Chapter 16

  Sheshai’s wife Izabel was eight feet tall, very athletic and very flexible. She was exercising that flexibility at this very moment with her legs pulled split behind her head. Her long slender neck writhed with erotic serpentine movements as she let out a groan of pleasure.

  She exploded in a deep orgasm that released her animal spirit.

  Her platinum blonde hair fell over her breasts inspiring a ravenous desire from Talmai as he lifted his face from below the bed sheets.

  He grabbed her while she was still delirious and weak. Anakim are violent in their sexual rituals, which fit Talmai’s temperament just fine. He slapped her and choked her. Asserted his dominance over her by throwing her to the ground on her stomach. He pulled her arms back into a painful contortion and pleased himself unnaturally.

  She whimpered with pain. It excited him more. He pulled her head back by her hair until he could see her face straining up at him. He was careful not to bite her, because they did not want Sheshai to discover their betrayal.

  And then it was over for him.

  Too quickly.

  As usual.

  He could never last long because he was as impatient in his sexuality as he was with his temper. At least this time he made it inside of her.

  He flopped on the bed, breathing heavily.

  She lay next to him.

  Talmai said, “Just be thankful I am not Ahiman.”

  “Why?” said Izabel. “Because he is too big?”

  “No, because he is impotent.”

  She looked at him for confirmation. It was true. She could not believe it.

  He said, “He is so pumped up on sorcery he cannot get it up.”

  They giggled together. The sorcery he was referring to was the use of drugs that would enhance muscle strength and the drive for violence.

  “He once killed four cult prostitutes trying to excite himself.”

  She said, “Are you sure he is not a secret boy lover?”

  Without warning, Talmai moved like a cobra and grabbed her neck. But this time, the choking was not erotic.

  Izabel’s eyes strained with confusion. She could not breathe. She felt her windpipe being crushed.

  He leaned in and whispered to her with finality, “He is my brother. And he is not a boy lover.”

  He released his iron grip on her.

  She rubbed her throat in fear. “I am sorry, Talmai. I was just having fun with you.”

  Talmai looked away from her and said, “I do not appreciate my family being made fun of.”

  “I am sorry,” she said. “It will not happen again.”

  A hard knock on the outer home door, jerked Izabel into fear. She looked to Talmai for direction.

  “Do not worry,” he said. “Sheshai rarely visits my quarters personally. Stay here.”

  Talmai got out of the bed and moved over to the house door. He was stark naked. But he picked up his sword just in case.

  Anyone would be a complete fool to attack Talmai in his home, even if Talmai was naked. Especially if he was naked. He would feel even more primal and was likely to act with more excess than he normally did.

  He opened the door and peeked out.

  It was a messenger from the king.

  • • • • •

  The palace of King Hoham was built upon the ruins of King Arba’s original palace in Kiriath-arba. It had been cursed and abandoned for a generation after King Arba and his queen Naqiya were slaughtered by Abraham and his Amorite allies.

  When their sole surviving son, Anak, grew strong and built a formidable force of warriors, he reclaimed the city and rebuilt it from its ashes.

  The city was on a large hillside above the valley, with a deep cliff protecting its backside. They had added a wall around the original town and extended some of its acreage.

  The king’s palace was on the top of the hill overlooking the city. It was made of red stone and brick. The Arba brothers all resided there, but it was large enough to maintain their privacy.

  Talmai raced across the palace courtyard to his destination.

  Sheshai, Ahiman, and King Hoham were inside the king’s war room with several other captains of the army when Talmai finally arrived out of breath.

  Sheshai said, “It is about time, little brother. You are as slow to obey as my wife sometimes.”

  Talmai responded, “Big brother, I am confident that Izabel is faster and more obedient than you let on.”

  Sheshai had no idea Talmai was referring to her infidelity with him. But that was the thrill of it after all.

  Talmai bowed to the king. “I am sorry, my lord, I could not leave my lady until she was satisfied.”

  Hoham smiled. “Talmai, you rascal. I can only imagine the number of servants whose gardens you have hoed.”

  “If you do not mind, my king, I like to keep it in the family.”

  Everyone laughed.

  And Sheshai had no idea that Talmai was taunting him right to his face.

  Ahiman watched Talmai closely. He did not care for his brother’s braggadocio or his impulsive ways. He could be the weak link in their secret plans for a coup if his lips were too loose to his many lovers.

  Ahiman was also envious of his little brother’s sexual prowess and how easily he seduced women. Because of his secret impotency, Ahiman had all but given up on sex and had tried to redirect that frustration into his battle training, but it was not working well. Even though
he was the mightiest of all the Anakim and a terror to all their enemies, he still felt like he was not a whole giant, and was less than his brothers.

  It made him angry. It made him want to become king more than anything. He glared at Hoham with hungry eyes.

  Hoham interrupted Ahiman’s brooding. “My council, we have received word from our returning scouts.”

  Hoham nodded to one of the captains who had received the intelligence. He was a fat one. He said, “The hostile Habiru wandering in the wilderness of Zin and Paran are indeed the Children of Abraham.”

  Ahiman said, “The scourge of Arba.”

  Sheshai said, “Who is their king?”

  “His name is Moses,” said the fat one.

  Talmai jumped up. “Let me hunt this Moses down and skin him alive.”

  “Patience, brother,” said Sheshai.

  “Sheshai is right,” said Hoham. “He is too old. He will surely die soon anyway. Our concern is to find out who will replace him.”

  Ahiman said, “I will muster our forces.”

  Hoham shook his head. “No. They are already traveling south, away from Canaan.”

  “That is strange,” said Ahiman. “They were on the threshold, and had wiped out Arad, and now they would run away?”

  Hoham looked to the fat one again, who said, “We believe they are traveling around Edom to enter the Transjordan.”

  Talmai responded, “Then let us cross the Jordan and welcome them with ‘arms’ held open wide.”

  They all knew he was making a pun of the word, “arms” as a reference to weapons.

  “No,” said Sheshai. “I say we wait to see what their strategy is. They will be coming to us. Then let them come.” Hoham’s face brightened with realization of Sheshai’s point. “If it is the Transjordan they want, they will have to face Sihon and Og. And that will not be a pretty sight.”

  “But we cannot let Sihon and Og steal our glory,” said Talmai.

  “True enough,” said Sheshai. “Your passion speaks to the importance of justice. But let us not forget who our enemy is. They are greedy, conniving deceivers who use the blood of our children to bake their bread. We will get our vengeance. But we must do so wisely. If we do not need to be the first to jump into the fray, then why should we? We can learn their weaknesses by watching them battle with others.”