To Cleave

Chapter 2 “Belah, take Junia and flee at once! Go southeast to Soccoch. It is less than half a day’s journey away,” commanded her grandfather, Gebar. “You must come, too!” “No, I will only slow you down. Hurry, the Amalekite raiders are surrounding the town as we speak! Go on foot. It is a better way to keep hidden.” With trembling hands, Belah rolled up two blankets and took the water jug from her grandfather. She wrapped four barley loaves in a cloth and packed it in an empty grain sack with the blankets. Gebar kissed them both and shoved them out the door. The sun was a warm glow on the horizon to the east. It would be their only guide to safety. “Go out through the Water Gate and run to the trees! Keep the sun slightly to your left shoulder to get to Soccoch.” “Belah, I don’t want to go,” sobbed thirteen-year-old Junia. “Why can we not stay?” Belah’s green eyes flashed impatience as she thought of what would happen to those in the town of Azekah after they left. The Amalekites were without mercy. They would slaughter everyone in their path. She shoved the images and fear from her mind. “Be strong, Junia. We must get to safety.” “But what about grandfather? Shouldn’t he come, too?” “He will hide and be safe,” she lied. “No more talking. We must be silent and invisible.” They wove their way through the streets. The mouth-watering fragrance of freshly baked bread from the cooking pits made it seem like any other day, despite what was about to happen. Belah and Junia were joined by other girls and women who had heeded the warning and were escaping, as well. It would be dangerous with so many running to the tree line at the same time. While having doubts about her grandfather’s instructions, an idea popped into Belah’s mind. Go to the northeast corner of the wall. There is an opening there which is hidden from view. Follow the trench. The rocks on each side will conceal you from the hillsides above. Belah did not comprehend where the words and vision came from; maybe she had the gift of the seer like her grandmother. Both girls had raptly listened to incredible stories recited by their grandfather from the time they were toddlers. Junia and Belah’s parents had gone to Gath days ago to trade woven blankets and baskets for supplies they needed. Will we ever see them again? A tear ran down her cheek as she steered her sister away from the crowd to the northeast corner, searching for the opening. Belah was beginning to panic as she shushed her sister’s questions. Her keen eyes found the small passage which was almost obscured from view by a shrine with an idol of Dagon. Belah went out first, scanning the hills to ensure the way was clear. Finding no threat, she grabbed her sister’s hand, clutched the sack and water jug tightly, and ran toward the rising sun. She had to let go of Junia’s hand for each of them to hold their long robes up away from their feet to be able to race unimpeded to the shelter of the few trees ahead. Once beyond them, the girls would slow their pace a fraction to navigate the rocky landscape through the ascent into the hills. Their well-broken-in sandals, normally comfortable, slid back and forth on their feet while kicking up stones which stung their legs. They were headed to the Valley of Elah and the fortified gateway city of Soccoch in enemy territory. It was their only option. The way to Gath was blocked by the Amalekite raiders. Alone, a pair of dark-haired beauties, they hoped to find mercy and sanctuary among the Israelites. Belah and Junia cringed at the horrible screams of the other women and girls as they were captured. “May the gods hide us from view,” she prayed. “Don’t look back, Junia!” They had made it beyond the trees and up the hill where they beheld the valley for the first time. It was a place usually traveled by only the two opposing armies of Israel and Philistia. Soccoch was on the other side. The ground shook with the vibration of approaching hoof beats as Belah pulled Junia with her into a rapid descent. She dropped the jug in her haste, and it shattered at their feet. Maybe they won’t follow us. Surely it is too dangerous for their horses on these loose rocks, thought Belah. One of King Saul’s sentries watched the girls in amusement from the opposite ridge. Then he saw why they were fleeing. With a trumpet blast the camp was alerted to the Amalekites approach. Within minutes, mounted soldiers, itching for a fight, poured down the embankment like a flood. Being vastly outnumbered, the Amalekites thought better of pursuing their prey. They retreated to Azekah to rejoin their fellow raiders in counting their spoils. The captain at the head of Saul’s men halted their advance, choosing not to venture into the territory of the Philistines. He sent two men to take the girls captive and ordered the rest of his disappointed soldiers to return to camp. Kenan was stunned by the mesmerizing beauty of the young woman and child who rode silently on horseback, reluctantly clinging to the horses of the soldiers who had rescued them. They have been delivered from one dreadful fate into another, he thought.