Chapter 2
The Lion and the Lamb ~ continued from Chapter 2 | King of the Universe
Obed sat at the head with his grandsons on either side.
“Is there going to be war?” David asked as he ate a slice of bread and cheese.
“There is always war,” Obed said. “In the highlands, along the shepherd paths, there is always a battle.”
Shimea ate in silence and drank beer.
“Is Saul a good king?” David continued.
Obed drank his beer. “He is the first king because we need to have a united front against the Philistines.”
“I mean is he a good fighter?” David asked.
“Yes, he was strong at Jabesh-Gilead.”
Obed dribbled some beer on his smock and wiped it away.
“But we don’t like kings. The tribes would rather fight the Moab or the Amalekites or the Philistines, and if not them, then we fight ourselves.”
“I fought alongside Saul against the Ammonites at Jabesh,” one farmer said. He ate his bread and drank beer. “He was strong.”
“Do you like kings?” David said as he looked at his barrel-chested, white-haired grandfather.
Obed nodded his head in response.
“Yes, my boy.”
He watched as Shimea rose and walked over to the others who were walking to the threshing floor.
“A king unites the tribes and protects us from our enemies.”
David stood up. “I will do that.”
“You?” Obed looked down at the redheaded runt of his family. “Well, you just might.”
He laughed and the other workers listened intently. War with the Philistines was ongoing and becoming worse. The Hebrews were not allowed to hold iron tools or weapons and the calls for battle were growing louder and louder from the tribal chieftains. Obed saw no other way.
“We fight to survive; we have to fight for soil,” one broken-toothed man said.
“Yes,” Obed said.
“All we do is fight,” said the worker as he drank more beer.
“And now the Philistines have taken the Ark from Shiloh to Ashdod,” another farmer said.
“We have no spears, not one sword,” the broken-toothed farmer said. “Give me one iron tool and I’ll take back our Tent-Shrine.”
“I will go with you, brother, and we will meet in the Tent of Meetings,” Obed said.
“Ah, if it were only so.”
Continue reading… Chapter 2 | Their First Kiss
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