"And Gideon isn’t happy about it."
"No. Not at all."
"Then that makes two of us who are completely unlucky in love."
"Yes. It would appear that way, wouldn’t it? So does this mean you’ve given up on the idea of ever marrying Michal?"
"No," David replied. "And you? Has Gideon frightened you away from Mara?"
"No. I intend to find a way to make her my wife."
"You’ve thought this through."
"Not well enough," Tobiah admitted. "I’ve made an enemy of her father, and he’s now aware of my intentions. As any good soldier knows, you don’t give the enemy the advantage of knowing your plans beforehand."
"True," David said. "But maybe, in this case, it was worth the risk. No matter what else happens, at least you have the satisfaction of knowing you made the attempt."
Tobiah looked quizzically at David, wondering if he was talking about Tobiah or himself.
"I may have thrown aside my one chance to be with Michal," David said, staring at the backs of his hands. "I didn’t want to risk revealing my heart to Saul in case this was another attempt to destroy me. But maybe, in the end, it would have been worth the risk."
"You’ll get your chance," Tobiah said. "It will just be on your terms instead of Saul’s."
David gave him a thin, sad smile. "I hope you’re right. I really hope you’re right. And I hope you get your chance, too. The chance to marry Mara, I mean."
Tobiah nodded. "So do I."
Chapter Twenty-Five
כה
My times are in thy hand:
deliver me from the hand of mine enemies,
and from them that persecute me.
Psalm 31:15
"I have good news from the Shephelah." Noph bowed low as he entered Achish’s throne room.
"I suppose it would be expecting too much," Achish said, "to receive news of Avad-baal’s untimely demise?"
"Unfortunately, Ekron’s young lord still lives," Noph answered, "but this news is still encouraging. Avad-baal has suffered a stunning defeat. More than half his chariots were lost during a ‘surprise attack’ against David’s army. Saul’s unlikely champion is proving to be a surprisingly capable military commander."
Achish grinned coldly.
"It’s good to hear David is capable of humiliating others besides me. Has news of this defeat spread to Philistia’s other lords?"
"With your permission, I’ll see it quickly does."
Achish laughed again then grew suddenly quiet as a new thought entered his head.
"What is the current state of Avad-baal’s army?"
"In disarray," Noph replied. "Scrambling to reorganize and reinforce."
"Would you say a quick attack by David’s army now would be sufficient to drive Avad-baal back to Ekron?"
Now Noph was grinning. "Are you suggesting we give David a little help?"
"If Avad-baal suffers another defeat, he will lose the trust of the fools who currently support him."
"What do you have in mind, my liege?"
"There is a man living in our city," Achish said, "a Hebrew who was forced to flee from Saul. We can send him to Beth-shemesh. We can encourage David to attack."
"But will this Hebrew be willing to risk his life to cross back into Saul’s kingdom?"
"Where the reward or punishment is great enough," Achish replied, "a man can be persuaded to risk almost anything."
Noph’s grin widened, and he gave his king a crisp salute. "It will be done, my king."
Achish watched Noph leave the room. These were strange times when a Philistine king felt inclined to aid a Hebrew enemy.
—
Mara stood by the well, hoping against all hope to see Tobiah walk up the road even though she knew all too well how unlikely this was. Her father’s angry words still burned in her ears. She now knew the size of the obstacle standing before her.
"You will not marry a worthless, unworthy shepherd! Do you understand me? I’ve worked too hard to arrange an acceptable marriage, and I won’t have you compromise it with your foolish infatuation! I most definitely will not allow a marriage to any of David’s kin! I am your father, and my word is law. Is that clear, Mara?"
Her only response was to submissively nod. What else could she do? In the privacy of her own mind, however, she had already been making plans.
She would have to leave Gibeah if she wanted to avoid marriage to Ish-bosheth. But where to go and how to get there were the troubling parts of her plan.
She wished Tobiah were here to comfort her. She wished he could be here by the well to listen to her ideas, encourage her, and help her see things more clearly. But he wasn’t here, and she might not have time enough to wait for his return. If she waited too long, there would be no chance of escape.
There was only one place Mara could think to go, and there was only one person she could trust. If she could somehow make it to Hebron, she was certain Ayalah and Joash would help her. They would hide her until she and Tobiah were of age to marry without her father’s permission.
Mara stared up the street again, heaved a heavy disappointed sigh, filled the large vase she’d brought, and balanced it on one shoulder. Slowly she made her way back up the hillside to Saul’s glowering citadel.
Michal was already awake and waiting when Mara arrived. She startled Mara by dancing around her, breathless with excitement.
"Have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"I’m going to be married! Father sent his advisors to Beth-shemesh to offer me to David!"
She probably should have smiled. She probably should have placed the vase on the floor, grabbed both of Michal’s hands, and joined in her bouncing dance. But all Mara could think to do was numbly say, "That’s…that’s wonderful, Michal."
Fortunately, Michal seemed not to notice the lack of enthusiasm in her voice.
"I’ll have to find new robes for the marriage," Michal said, "and I’ll need help to select the very best jewels for my hair. I want to look perfect for David. Imagine the look we’ll see on Merab’s face when she finds out!"
The rest of her words were lost on Mara. There were many things she would have expected to feel after hearing Michal’s dreams were about to come true, but jealousy wasn’t one of them.
She was forced to listen to Michal’s wedding plans for the rest of the day. If Michal wasn’t talking about clothing or jewelry, it was perfumes, scented oils, and how to do her hair. By the time the day finally ended, Mara was so exhausted she barely had strength to drag herself to the servants’ quarters. She was lost in her own depressing thoughts, standing at the servants’ quarters entrance, when a familiar voice called out to her. She turned to see Keren hurrying across the street.
"Mara! Have you heard? Did you hear what the king has done?"
"Do you mean the news about Michal?"
"Yes!" Keren looked outraged. "It’s a horrible thing to do! I can’t believe he would even think of such a thing! First he devastates Merab by giving her to Ariel. Now he turns around and says he’s going to marry Michal to David. He’s an awful man! A truly terrible, awful father!"
"How is she doing? Merab, I mean. Is she all right?"
"About as well as can be expected," Keren answered, her voice still filled with righteous indignation. "She cried all day long, and I couldn’t get her to leave her room. What’s worse is she’s found out Adriel is a gentile. A gentile! Can you believe it? The king is marrying his own daughter to an unbeliever!"
"I’m sorry," Mara replied. "When I heard about it, I felt heartbroken for her."
Keren nodded.
"Me, too. Sometimes I don’t know what to think of our king. It’s almost as if his daughters are two little ewe lambs at the market. He barters them off to one man and then another as if auctioning to the highest bidder."
Mara winced. Keren’s comparison was a painful reminder that she, too, was being auctioned off like property.
"Father left for Beth-she
mesh this morning," Keren said. "Apparently he spoke with David a few days ago and has gone to speak with him again. It has something to do with setting a bride price for Michal."
"A bride price? I thought David already paid the price by slaying Goliath."
Keren shrugged. "That’s what Saul promised, isn’t it? But he also promised to give Merab to David. I don’t know what good it is to have a king if you can’t trust a word he says."
"And the bride price?" Mara pressed. "What is it?"
"A hundred Philistines’ foreskins."
Mara grimaced and shook her head.
"That was my exact reaction when I heard," Keren said. "Gruesome, isn’t it? But that’s not all. To top everything, Saul wants the price delivered before the sun sets this coming Sabbath. I’ve tried to tell Merab there’s no way any man – even David – could accomplish it, but nothing will comfort her."
It did seem impossible. Dangerously so. It seemed very much like yet another attempt to end David’s life. Suddenly she felt worried for Tobiah. Would she ever see him again?
"By sunset on the Sabbath?" repeated. "That’s only a few days away. It will take a miracle."
"Hopefully David will have the good sense not to attempt it," Keren said. "It would be suicide."
"Yes," Mara agreed. "That’s exactly what it would be."
Somehow, however, she knew David would try. He loved Michal. He would probably do anything to make her his wife. And Tobiah would be right there with him, trying to help.
"It’s been a long day," Mara said, her voice heavy.
"You do like tired," Keren said. "Are you feeling well?"
Mara shook her head.
"Hopefully a little rest will get you feeling better," Keren said.
"Yes, hopefully," Mara answered. But she knew she wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight.
How could she sleep knowing Tobiah would do everything in his power to help David with his impossible task?
Even if it meant putting his own life in harm’s way.
—
"I was feeling good about this at first," David said, pacing restlessly around his one-room headquarters. "But now… Well, now I’m not so sure about it."
"I don’t understand," Tobiah said. "I thought this was what you wanted. You finally have your chance to marry Michal? You have a bride price you can actually pay. You’re having second thoughts then?"
"It’s not that," David said, shaking his head in frustration. "I do want her. I love her with all my heart. But I already lost over two hundred men in our last battle, and I don’t feel right about risking the lives of those who remain. If it were only my own life at risk, I’d go after the Philistines in a heartbeat, but it’s selfish to destroy their futures to build mine. It’s also tactically unsound to go on the offensive against a vastly superior army."
"It’s unfair," Tobiah said, glaring into empty space. "Saul knows he’s set an impossible task."
"Michal’s hand in marriage is no light matter," David replied. "I’m sure he carefully considered a price that would make me worthy of her."
"Maybe you’re right," Tobiah said, although there was little conviction in his voice. "Maybe he wants people to know you’re worthy of her – that it wasn’t just a fortunate series of accidents leading to Goliath’s death. But it doesn’t change the fact he promised his daughter to the man who could slay the giant. He didn’t keep his promise. You owe him nothing, David. If he were an honorable man, he would have given you Michal long ago."
"Michal’s a princess," David said, "and I’m just a shepherd. It’s generous of Saul to offer her to me under any conditions."
Tobiah shook his head. It did no good to argue with David about Saul or Saul’s intentions. This latest offer to make David Saul’s son-in-law was probably just another attempt to get David killed, but now wasn’t the time to argue about it.
"If you change your mind and decide to go after the Philistines," he said, "I’m willing to follow you. I know about eight hundred other soldiers who will willingly follow as well."
"Thank you," David said, placing an appreciative hand on Tobiah’s shoulder, "but you’re not a soldier yet. You’re my courier. And, like I’ve already said, I can’t ask any man – especially you – to risk his life to win me a wife. I won’t allow myself to be that selfish. I’ve made my decision. Unless the Philistines attack us first, we wait here at Beth-shemesh until Saul commands me to do otherwise."
Tobiah nodded. Perhaps his decision would be the same as David’s if he were placed in a similar situation, but he would love to see the look on Saul’s face if David actually brought back the one hundred required foreskins.
"Do you think we can hold the city if the Philistines attack us? Their chariots will do them no good up here, but they still have more men than we do."
"Whatever God wills us to accomplish, we can accomplish it," David said. "But I’d still like those reinforcements I asked Saul to send. I don’t understand it. This is a strategically located valley. We need to hold it. I don’t know why the reinforcements haven’t come."
Tobiah thought he knew why. The sanctity of human life meant little, if anything, to Israel’s jealous king. If the loss of a valley, several towns and villages, and several hundred soldiers meant Saul could be rid of David, it would be an acceptable price. Tobiah was pondering whether or not he should bring this to David’s attention when the sharp sound of knuckles rapping against wood made both turn their heads toward the door.
Tobiah glanced questioningly at David, and David gestured for him to see who was there. When he opened the door, three soldiers – two of them standing guard over a short, stocky man – were waiting to speak to David.
"We found this man sneaking through the hills toward the city," the soldier in front announced. "He says he’s come to deliver a message to David."
"Bring him in," David commanded, motioning for Tobiah to stand aside and let the soldiers through. "Let me hear what he has to say."
David’s soldiers pushed the man roughly into the room, watching him with suspicious eyes. It seemed odd they would treat a messenger with such surly attitudes, but Tobiah understood their behavior better once he got a good look at the man. A Philistine! At least he trimmed his beard and dressed like one. When he spoke, however, it was without Philistia’s heavy guttural accent. If he’d chosen to close his eyes while he listened, Tobiah would have sworn he was listening to a fellow Hebrew.
"My name is Boaz." The man’s voice trembled as he bowed before David. "I am a blacksmith by trade, formerly of Gibeah, but now residing in Gath. I bring a message of great importance to David, great slayer of Goliath, the giant."
"You say you were once a resident of Gibeah." David held his chin between his forefinger and thumb. "That makes you of the House of Israel."
Boaz nodded and cast a nervous glance at the soldiers standing beside him.
"So tell me," David went on. "Why is it you now live among our enemies?"
Boaz hesitated. It was obvious he didn’t wish to address this question. Tobiah could see fear in the blacksmith’s eyes, but Boaz swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, and answered the question.
"I fled to the Philistines," he said, "to escape Saul’s wrath. The king charged me to experiment with ores and discover the secrets of iron. He wanted weapons to match Philistia’s weapons. I did what I could with what little knowledge I have, but, every time, I failed. Finally Saul grew weary of me and sent his soldiers to throw me into his prison. I escaped and fled to Philistia. I’ve remained there ever since."
He paused, his fear momentarily replaced by anger. Then, choking on his own emotions, he said, "I was once the best blacksmith in all Israel. Now I am the lowliest of bronze workers in Philistia!"
David stared at the man. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet.
"I believe you Boaz of Gibeah. What is it you’ve traveled all this distance, risking your life and liberty to say to me?"
Boaz lifted his bowed
head and met David’s gaze. His voice was a little steadier when he answered this last question.
"I…I bring information about Avad-baal, the king of Ekron – the leader of the Philistine forces you now face. He was wounded in the recent battle against you, his shoulder being pierced by an arrow as he led the chariots. Many of his commanding officers were killed in the fight and his troops are in a state of serious disorganization and confusion. I’ve been told to inform you an attack now, while Avad-baal recovers in Ekron and while his army attempts to reform, could drive the Philistine forces out of the Nahal Sorek. He will be sending reinforcements soon. Your window of opportunity is rapidly closing."
David pondered this, looked up, and asked, "Who told you to bring me this news?"
Fear crept into Boaz’s eyes.
"I’ve been threatened, upon pain of death, to reveal that name to no man. All I can say to you is he who sends me is no friend of Avad-baal."
"Tell me this. How is it I can trust information from a Philistine – an avowed enemy of our people – when he won’t even allow his messenger to reveal his name to me? How can I trust his words are true and not just another attempt to lure me and my men into a trap?"
Boaz was stumped. When he answered, he gave the only answer he could.
"I don’t know," he said. "God alone can tell you if the things I’ve told you are true."
"Well said," David replied. "And it is to God I will go to prove the truthfulness of your words. In the meantime, I will take this matter up with my officers, and you will remain in this camp as my guest. This is my cousin, Tobiah." He paused to gesture in Tobiah’s direction. "He will arrange temporary lodgings for you in one of our supply tents. If you need food or water or anything else, he’ll see to your needs."
Boaz nodded, but it was obvious remaining at Beth-shemesh had not been in his plans. Tobiah, for his part, was no more pleased about this than Boaz. Perhaps it was true Tobiah wasn’t yet officially old enough to be a soldier; but hadn’t he proved himself in battle in the Nahal Sorek? It surprised him David would send him away to watch over this blacksmith when more important matters were at hand.
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