“What’s that?” Othniel said.
“Why, it’s a rope. I never saw one like it,” Ardon said. “It’s red, isn’t it? It’s hard to tell in this light.”
“I made it out of spare material from a place where I once worked at a weaver’s shop.”
“You were a weaver?”
Rahab hesitated. She wanted desperately to tell them her story but did not. “It’s long enough to reach the ground. We can tie it here, and you can climb down it after it gets dark.”
“We’ll go as soon as it’s completely dark,” Ardon said. “This is a fine rope. It’ll hold our weight without any trouble.”
The three waited, and finally Ardon said, “We’ll go now. There’s not much moonlight.”
“Go to the mountains,” Rahab said. “Hide yourself there for three days.”
Othniel felt a warmth in his heart. “After we’re gone, pull this rope up. When we come into this land again, it will be as soldiers in a battle, but don’t worry, Rahab. When the battle starts, get the rope out again and hang it down from this window. I’ll tell Joshua that where we see the scarlet rope lives a friend to Israel.”
“That’s a good idea, Othniel,” Ardon said. “And, Rahab, do not go out of the house when the battle starts. You must stay inside or men will strike you down. I swear to you that we will save your lives.”
“You mean,” Rahab whispered, “like a covenant?”
“Yes. We have a covenant.”
Rahab bowed to them. “According to your words, so be it.”
Ardon bound the end of the rope, threw it over the outside of the wall, and said, “You try it first, Othniel.”
Othniel grinned. “So if I break my neck, you won’t have to worry about me.” He turned then and suddenly put out his hand.
Rahab, surprised, took it and he said warmly, “I’ll never forget you or your family, Rahab. Don’t worry. Jehovah’s going to take care of you.” He quickly shinnied down the rope and disappeared into the darkness.
“It will be hard for you with your wounded arm.”
“I’ll be all right.”
“Good-bye, then, and may the God of Israel keep you safe.”
Ardon hesitated. He wanted to say something, but old manners die hard and old convictions even harder. All his life he had heard of evil women, harlots, and this woman was one of them. True enough she did not have the appearance of harshness, but still that was what she was. “You have my thanks, Rahab, and you will have the thanks of my father and of Joshua, our commander. Remember to stay in the house when the battle starts. I will come for you.”
“It’s a covenant, then. I will wait for you, Ardon.”
He nodded and awkwardly made his way over the edge. It was difficult with his arm, but he was much stronger now. He lowered himself most of the way, but finally his grasp failed, and he fell a few feet, landed on the ground, and rolled over.
“You should have used the rope,” Othniel teased, helping him up.
Ardon got to his feet. He watched as the rope was drawn back up and then said, “Come along. We’re not home yet.”
“We will be. Rahab has saved us, Ardon.”
The two men turned and made their way toward the mountains, groping through the darkness by the pale light of a sliver of moon.
****
Caleb and Joshua were training a group of younger recruits in the use of the sword. The blades clanged on each other, and the two older men shouted out directions, at times pleased, at times disgusted, with the outcome.
Caleb especially was quick to point out the faults of the younger men. “That’s a sword, not a stick to poke at a rabbit with,” he said. With one blow he knocked the sword from the hand of an eighteen-year-old, who looked at him in astonishment. “Pick up that sword, boy. I don’t think—”
“Master, the spies are back.”
Joshua and Caleb both turned to look at the messenger, whose eyes were big. “They just came in. They’re waiting for you at your tent.”
“Come along, Caleb,” Joshua shouted. “Now we’ll find out something.”
****
Joshua and Caleb listened silently as the two men outlined what they had found on their journey.
Finally Ardon said, “Man for man we can beat them. They’re better trained than we are and our weapons aren’t quite as good, but they’re frightened to death of us.”
“How do you know that?”
“A woman named Rahab told us,” Othniel said. “They’ve heard about what God has done for us, and how we’ve destroyed our enemies.”
“It’ll be different this time, though, master,” Ardon said. “That wall is unbelievable. It must have taken hundreds of years to build it. It’s broad enough to drive two chariots around side by side. Why, there are, as we said, houses on it.”
Joshua saw the disbelief on the face of Ardon. “I don’t know how God will do it, but He’s bigger than any wall.”
“Tell us more about this woman and her family,” Caleb said.
“Well …” Ardon began uncertainly, “she’s not a good woman. She’s a prostitute, as a matter of fact.”
“Why did she save your life? Tell us that again,” Joshua said. He listened as Ardon spoke of Rahab’s fascination with the God of Israel.
“She asked me once if she could ever become a woman of Israel, and I told her no, of course.”
“Why’d you tell her that?” Joshua demanded. “My master Moses always said there would be no difference between a Hebrew and a stranger if their hearts were right.”
“I told him that,” Othniel interrupted. “She’s a good woman deep inside. I don’t know what path brought her to what she is now, but she saved our lives.”
Joshua listened as Othniel spoke warmly of Rahab; then he nodded, “You have given your word and it shall be kept. When the battle comes, you two will be responsible for bringing this woman Rahab and her family out safely.”
“Yes, master.” Othniel nodded eagerly. “We’ll do it.”
Joshua turned and clapped his old friend Caleb on the shoulder. “And now at last we cross the Jordan.”
“Yes,” Caleb said with feeling in his voice, “we finally come to the land that God promised to Abraham.”
Chapter 12
For several days after the return of Othniel and Ardon, they spent most of their time relating their adventures. Of course the soldiers all wanted to know about the wall and the strength of the army and the weapons, and the two did their best to describe those.
But Ariel was interested in another part of the story. She caught Ardon alone and said, “Sit down. I want to hear all about the story.”
“I’m sick of hearing myself talk about it.”
“Well, you’re going to have to talk about it one more time. Now sit.”
Ardon plumped himself down, and Ariel came to stand before him. “Now, tell me about this woman Rahab.”
“I’ve told you. She pulled us off the street. I had been wounded and was bleeding to death.”
“Why did she do that?”
“She said she had heard about Israel and how we were defeating all our enemies. She wanted us to have mercy on her and her family.”
“But she was a bad woman?”
“Yes, she was.”
“How do you know that, Ardon?”
“She told us,” Ardon said, throwing his hands wide. “She came right out and said it. She’s a harlot.”
Suddenly Ariel laughed. “That’s amusing.”
Ardon was offended. “Why is it amusing?”
“Because you’re so pure and stainless you’d cross the street to keep from walking close to one of those women, and now God chooses one of them to save your life.”
“I don’t think of it like that. As a matter of fact, maybe we made a mistake. I felt we were doing wrong just by being in her house.”
“From what you said there wasn’t any other choice.”
“I should have found a better way.”
A
riel shook her head. “You’re a stubborn man, brother. One of these days you’re going to have to learn how to change your mind. Well, I can get a better story from Othniel than from you.”
As she left, Ardon called out, “Don’t pay any attention to him. He’s taken with the woman.”
****
“Well, to be truthful, I liked her a lot, Ariel.”
Ariel had drawn Othniel aside, and the two were sitting down on a bench side by side. She had demanded the whole story by saying, “I’ve heard what my brother said. Now I want to hear it from you. Don’t leave out any details. What about the woman?”
Othniel was silent for a while, and she asked, “Well, what about her? She was a prostitute, wasn’t she?”
“She said she was, but she didn’t look like one, Ariel.”
“What did she look like?”
“Why are you so curious?”
“She saved my brother’s life. Naturally I’m interested.”
“But not because she saved mine?”
“Never mind that. Just tell me the whole story. Don’t leave out anything.”
Othniel began to talk, and as he related the tale, he was surprised to think of many details he had left out earlier. Perhaps it was because Ariel kept prompting him for more information, and finally he ended by saying, “…and so we slid down the rope and made our way back here.”
Ariel had listened intently. “I’m not surprised that you wound up in the house of a harlot, but I am surprised about my brother.”
“Ardon’s worse than you are, but I wish you wouldn’t be so judgmental.”
“I didn’t mean to be. Tell me. What did she look like?”
“She’s a very nice-looking young woman.”
“Was she as pretty as me?”
“I didn’t know it was a beauty contest,” Othniel said with a grin. “She’s quite different from you.”
“Tell me. What did she look like?”
“Well, she had the most unusual eyes. They were violet, purple like the sunset looks at times. Never saw anything like it. She told me her mother was a slave from up north with fair hair and blue eyes. I guess that’s where she got them.”
“Did she offer to make love to you?”
“Of course not!”
“Why are you so surprised? That’s what she does for money.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Your brother would be dead if it weren’t for her, and so would I.”
Suddenly Ariel was filled with compunction. “I’m sorry, Othniel. I don’t mean to be mean. I’m just so glad you and Ardon are safe. If I ever meet the woman, I’ll tell her so, no matter what she is.”
“You’ll meet her, all right. When the battle starts, I’ll be right there with Ardon, I hope. She’ll have the scarlet rope hanging out the window, and it’ll be our job to get her and her family out alive.”
“It would make a nice story if you would fall in love with her and marry her, wouldn’t it, Othniel?”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I have been in love with you since I was twelve years old. No, eleven, I think.”
Ariel laughed. Othniel had often thrown this up to her and she had never believed a word of it. “Get away with you, now. I don’t want to hear any more of your stories. But if you do bring the woman back, I want to thank her.”
Othniel started to leave, but first turned to say, “Tomorrow we’re crossing the Jordan. That’ll be something to see. It took us forty years to get from Egypt to this point. Should have taken no more than a month at the most.”
“What’ll happen when we cross the Jordan?”
“We’ll be in the land of milk and honey. That’s what Moses always called it. I could use a little milk and honey.”
****
Joshua had prepared the priests by telling them to sanctify themselves, and now the morning had come. The Lord had awakened Joshua early and given him a message. “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.” He had also given careful instructions about the crossing of the Jordan, and now the sun shone brightly down on all the people, who had gathered themselves together, every man, woman, child, and young person.
And Joshua had stood on a high rock and cried out loudly, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you, and that He will certainly drive out before you the inhabitants of the land. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you.”
Then Joshua commanded that twelve men be chosen, one from each tribe of Israel, and that as the priests bore the ark into the water, the Jordan would be cut off. “As He dried up the Red Sea, so will He dry up the Jordan.”
And so it was on that day. As the people prepared to pass over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant moved forward. As their feet touched the water of the Jordan, the waters that ran from upstream began to pile up. It was as though a huge dam had been built and the waters could go no farther. The people grew silent, and Caleb, who stood beside Joshua, said, “It reminds me of when God made a path through the Red Sea.”
“That was a miracle in its day, but this is a miracle for us now.”
And so the people watched until the bed of the Jordan was dry and they were all able to pass over. It took a long time for all of them to cross with their flocks and herds. About forty thousand men armed for battle also crossed over to the plains of Jericho. Finally, when everyone was on the far side, Joshua said to the twelve men he had selected from each tribe, “Go into the Jordan where the priests are standing and each take up a stone.”
He waited until the twelve men had brought out their stones, and he commanded them to take them to where they set up their camp, piling them up for a memorial to what God had done for them this day at the Jordan River. Then he stood and cried out with a ringing voice, “In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
When Joshua stopped speaking, a mighty cry of victory went up from Israel. Othniel was standing beside his friend Achan. “If God can dry up the waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan River, then He can do something about the walls of Jericho too, I expect.”
Ardon stood beside his father, Caleb, and found that he was thinking not of the massive wall of Jericho but of the woman who had saved his life. He tried to put her out of his mind, and now with an effort, he shook his head, determined to concentrate on what lay before them. Still, he could think of little besides the woman with the violet eyes whose name was Rahab.
Chapter 13
King Jokab of Jericho stroked the silken skin of the woman who lay close to him. She was a sloe-eyed woman with black hair and a wide, sensuous mouth. There was a lewdness about her that pleased King Jokab well.
Suddenly voices rose outside the door, and the king sat up, not releasing his hold on the woman. When he saw the commander of his army enter, he scowled. “What do you mean bursting in like this, Zanoah? I could have your head for this.”
Zanoah was a stocky man with bulging muscles and a scar pulling the right side of his face down. He was a fighter not a diplomat, and even though he knew it might be at the cost of his own life, he ignored the king’s angry shouts. “Sire,” he said, “I have evil tidings.”
King Jokab glared at his commander. “We’ll talk about it at the council meeting.”
“I think it’s something you should know now, Your Majesty.”
Roughly Jokab shoved the woman aside and got out of bed. He put on a silken robe and then turned to face the stocky commander. “Well, what is it, then?”
“It’s the Hebrews, sire. We have bad news.”
“Are they coming to attack?”
“Yes, sire.”
“I’m sure they are, but we have some time. Out with it, man, what have they done?”
Zanoah swallowed hard and was obviously trying to think of some way to put the news in a more palatable form. “It’s the River Jordan,” he said. “They…they dried it up.”
“Have you lost your mind, Zanoah! What do you mean they dried up the river? It’s still there, isn’t it?”
“It’s still there, but our spies reported what happened. We’ve been keeping track of them. The whole nation gathered on the far side of the Jordan, and then their priests headed for the river. It was a flood tide. It’s the time of year, sire.”
“I know what time of year it is! What happened?”
“As their priests’ feet came to the water, the river…well, it backed up. It was like an invisible dam was built upstream, and it held the waters back until all the people were across. Then, I suppose, their magicians took the spell off so the waters came rushing back into the river’s channel.”
“The spies were drunk!”
“No, they were reliable, King Jokab. They all agreed on what happened. Sire, these are mighty men, and more than that, they have a powerful god. I’m not a diplomat, but let me counsel you. Make peace with these people.”
“Peace with them! You know what they’d do? They would take my crown, they’d cut off your head, they would take over the city of Jericho.”
“They may do that anyway, sire.”
“Get out—get out—get out!” King Jokab screamed. “You’re the commander in chief of my armies. I want every man given a sword. Every man or boy who can walk. We have the strongest city in the world. No army can breach our walls. Now, do your job, Zanoah, or I’ll have your head for it.”
Zanoah stared at the king, then nodded and started to speak, but seeing the insane rage on King Jokab’s face, he shrugged his burly shoulders, turned, and walked out of the door.
King Jokab turned back to the woman who was watching him carefully. She smiled and held out her arms seductively. “Come back to bed, my love. Don’t worry yourself about those desert rats.”
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