way to protect them would be to hide everyone in the caves and hope they wouldn’t end up trapped there. David knew the women were a steadying force for his men, but at times like this he questioned his own sanity in allowing them to be part of his band.
He ran a hand through his hair, fighting weariness, a weariness that dogged his every step. At the crunch of sandals on stone, he turned. Benaiah and Joab approached.
“If you see something I’m missing, now would be a good time to tell me.”
Benaiah stepped closer, his gaze sweeping the hills. “Saul is likely to come around by the path of the sheep pens rather than take the hillier side to the falls. It’s not as narrow and easier for his men to set up camp.”
“It only takes a few archers to wind their way down the gorge to find us. But if we risk leaving the opposite way we think they’ll take, they’ll see us.”
“Divide the group and draw them away from the women like we did the last time.” Joab’s tone held a hint of impatience, as if David should have figured this out already.
“As usual, Nephew, you are right. We will leave the women and children where they are and put them far back into the cave.” Ahinoam wouldn’t like the closed-in feeling, but she would have to live with it. “Tell Abiathar and the rest of the men to stay with the women. Joab, you take the thirty to a cave on this side of the hill. Benaiah, get Abishai. Daniel, bring the three mighty men to join me in the cave at the Crag of the Ibex. If He is willing, the Lord can save by many or few. Let’s hope He is willing.”
David stood just inside the recesses of the cave, looking out at a family of goats picking at the tufts of grass found here and there among the sand-coated rocks. He closed his eyes and leaned against the cave’s wall, his stomach rumbling. Hours had passed since the morning meal of goat cheese and flat bread, and he wondered how long he would have to make the dates and almonds in the sack at his side last.
Birds twittered in the trees outside the cave, and as he walked toward the entrance, he ducked out of the way of a row of sleeping bats. Another thing Ahinoam feared, though he failed to understand her worries. If she was an insect, a bat might cause her angst, but this type cared little for men or women.
He glanced at the horizon, where the sun had begun to leave its midway point in the sky. His eye caught movement coming his way. Benaiah. Good. His faithful guard would not come without something to tell.
“Saul has broken camp and as we suspected is headed this way. They’re at a fast pace, so I suspect they’ll be here within the hour. What would you have us do?”
David glanced beyond Benaiah at the eastern sky, his thoughts turning heavenward. How often had he led his sheep through steep valleys or near rough waters of a recently flooded wadi, only to see Yahweh protect them from the predators that lurked in the mountain passes or calm the restless current? Even in the valley of the shadow, God was with him. Surely He would deliver David again from the man who sought his life. He had to believe that. But the struggle to do so grew tougher with every passing year.
O Adonai, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. Rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.
There was no escape apart from Adonai. Alone, he would not get far, and though the stronghold wasn’t an impossible distance away, the climb to the mountaintop fortress would take days. His enemies would surround and overtake him first.
He looked at Benaiah, then back at the sky, his heart surging with hope. “They’ve laid a snare for me, but God is our refuge and strength. We will hide in the cave until they leave.”
Benaiah’s brows knit, his expression filled with doubt. “If you but say the word, we could go to battle with them. As you said, the Lord can save by many or few, and we’re
He ran a hand through his hair, fighting weariness, a weariness that dogged his every step. At the crunch of sandals on stone, he turned. Benaiah and Joab approached.
“If you see something I’m missing, now would be a good time to tell me.”
Benaiah stepped closer, his gaze sweeping the hills. “Saul is likely to come around by the path of the sheep pens rather than take the hillier side to the falls. It’s not as narrow and easier for his men to set up camp.”
“It only takes a few archers to wind their way down the gorge to find us. But if we risk leaving the opposite way we think they’ll take, they’ll see us.”
“Divide the group and draw them away from the women like we did the last time.” Joab’s tone held a hint of impatience, as if David should have figured this out already.
“As usual, Nephew, you are right. We will leave the women and children where they are and put them far back into the cave.” Ahinoam wouldn’t like the closed-in feeling, but she would have to live with it. “Tell Abiathar and the rest of the men to stay with the women. Joab, you take the thirty to a cave on this side of the hill. Benaiah, get Abishai. Daniel, bring the three mighty men to join me in the cave at the Crag of the Ibex. If He is willing, the Lord can save by many or few. Let’s hope He is willing.”
David stood just inside the recesses of the cave, looking out at a family of goats picking at the tufts of grass found here and there among the sand-coated rocks. He closed his eyes and leaned against the cave’s wall, his stomach rumbling. Hours had passed since the morning meal of goat cheese and flat bread, and he wondered how long he would have to make the dates and almonds in the sack at his side last.
Birds twittered in the trees outside the cave, and as he walked toward the entrance, he ducked out of the way of a row of sleeping bats. Another thing Ahinoam feared, though he failed to understand her worries. If she was an insect, a bat might cause her angst, but this type cared little for men or women.
He glanced at the horizon, where the sun had begun to leave its midway point in the sky. His eye caught movement coming his way. Benaiah. Good. His faithful guard would not come without something to tell.
“Saul has broken camp and as we suspected is headed this way. They’re at a fast pace, so I suspect they’ll be here within the hour. What would you have us do?”
David glanced beyond Benaiah at the eastern sky, his thoughts turning heavenward. How often had he led his sheep through steep valleys or near rough waters of a recently flooded wadi, only to see Yahweh protect them from the predators that lurked in the mountain passes or calm the restless current? Even in the valley of the shadow, God was with him. Surely He would deliver David again from the man who sought his life. He had to believe that. But the struggle to do so grew tougher with every passing year.
O Adonai, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. Rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.
There was no escape apart from Adonai. Alone, he would not get far, and though the stronghold wasn’t an impossible distance away, the climb to the mountaintop fortress would take days. His enemies would surround and overtake him first.
He looked at Benaiah, then back at the sky, his heart surging with hope. “They’ve laid a snare for me, but God is our refuge and strength. We will hide in the cave until they leave.”
Benaiah’s brows knit, his expression filled with doubt. “If you but say the word, we could go to battle with them. As you said, the Lord can save by many or few, and we’re
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