Chapter 13
Saul ~ continued from Chapter 13 | You Need Friends
At dawn a ram’s horn blew loud and clear over the war town of Gibeah. Twelve priests stood in a line, their garments of white flax blowing in the breeze as they faced the soldiers who were gathering at the sound of the horn. The men came for prayer.
The Scorpion pulled his robe close to his body against the cold morning as he walked slightly behind David talking to himself.
“Their tunics worn to atone for killing, the pants to atone for sexual transgressions, the turban to atone for haughtiness, the breastplate to atone for errors in judgment, the ephod to atone for idolatry,” he mumbled to himself his eyes on the ground.
The soldiers quickly made for the center of town where a high altar was built and one step below stood the military priest wearing white robes and a jewelled crown.
The Scorpion continued his morning sermon, “His golden garments were not sewn but rather woven of one piece of linen. And the bottom of his robes had bells and was a rich, red pomegranate.”
The Scorpion continued with a darting glance at the war priests on the altar.
“Shesh, six.”
The Scorpion looked down at the mud remembering his teachings by the Moab priest so long ago.
“The six threads each garment is made of.”
Yazan and Shimea walked closely listening.
The Scorpion looked out over the crowd, “And they shall make the ephod of gold, sky blue, dark red and crimson, and twisted linen.”
He continued to look down at the dark mud that covered the camp.
“And they shall make the breastplate of judgment the work of an artist.”
Aron joined the men and yawned as he tucked in his dirty tunic and maneuvered his robes to keep out the cold.
“Why all this over clothes?” Yazan asked.
“The very clothes themselves are holy and give sanctity to those who wear them,” The Scorpion said. “They are garments of the temple.”
Other men joined the group as they moved toward the crowd that was gathering. The twelve priests stood facing the altar and the soldiers stood behind them watching and waiting.
“He is the Anointed for War,” The Scorpion said as the priest moved slowly up the steps.
The war priest walked up to the altar and turned to the soldiers. He spread his arms.
“Now you have gone out to battle against your enemies and have seen horses and chariots and people more numerous than you and were not afraid of them; for the Lord your God who brought you up from the land of Egypt is with you. When you were approaching the battle, I came near and spoke: ‘Hear O Israel you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid or panic or tremble before them, and you were not.”
The twelve priests loudly began their prayers so that all could hear across the camp:
“Blessed art Thou O Saviour of Israel who didst quell the violence of the mighty man by the hand of thy Lord and gavest the host of strangers into the hand of Saul and his armor bearer! Shut up this army in the hand of Thy people Israel, and let them be confounded in their power and horsemen; make them be of no courage and cause the bold- ness of their strength to fall away and let them quake in their destruction. Cast them down with the sword of them that love Thee and let all those that know Thy Name praise Thee with thanksgiving!”
Continue reading… Chapter 13 | One with the Lord
[…] Chapter 13 Saul ~ continued from Chapter 13 | Anointed for War […]