Read Online The Prince: Jonathan by Francine Rivers - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Francine Rivers
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Philistines encamped at Micmash. King Saul returned to Gibeah and held court under the shade of a tamarisk tree. When no Israelite army came out to meet the Philistines, the Philistines sent out raiding parties. Ophrah was attacked, then Beth-horon. Soon after, they plundered the borderland overlooking the valley of Zeboim facing the desert.
Samuel returned to Ramah. Saul waited for a sign from God or a word of encouragement from the prophet. None came. He grew more sullen with each passing day. His army of six hundred sank into despair. Abner and the other leaders gave advice, but Saul didn’t listen. Numerous plans were laid out and then rejected. The king seemed incapable of action. Worse, he became suspicious. “Send someone to keep watch over Samuel. If he goes anywhere, follow him and report back to me!”
“Samuel prays for you, Father.”
“So you say, but can I trust him? He said God will choose another.”
Reports came in that the Philistines were on the move again.
Jonathan heard all the talk and kept his eyes open. The inactivity wore on him as much as it did the others. Was this what war was like? Long weeks, sometimes months, of waiting? And then the terror and exhilaration of battle?
The Philistines took cruel delight in raiding when and where they pleased, for King Saul sent no one to stop them. Jonathan’s father could not get his mind off Samuel’s prophecy.
Something had to be done to rouse the king and the men of Israel, something to bring them together as they had been when the Lord gave them Jabesh-gilead!
Jonathan prayed, Lord, help me. I don’t want to make the same mistake I did with Geba!
If Jonathan did anything, he must do it alone so the blame would fall only on him if he failed.
A Philistine detachment was camped at the pass at Micmash. Jonathan knew the area well. The slippery, thorny cliffs of Bozez and Seneh faced each other. But there was one place above, barely a furrow of land, where one man could hold ground and kill a score of Philistines, possibly more.
Jonathan might die. So be it. Better to die in battle with honor than live in fear of idol worshipers. He rose, shouldered the quiver of arrows, took up his bow, and left the city.
Ebenezer grabbed Jonathan’s shield and his own bow and arrows and ran after him. “Where are we going, my lord?”
“To see what the Lord will do.”
The boy stayed at his side, but Jonathan wondered if he would be brave enough to follow all the way.
When they were away from Gibeah, Jonathan faced Ebenezer. “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans. Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether He has many warriors or only a few!”
Ebenezer’s eyes brightened. He grinned broadly. “Do what you think is best. I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.”
Jonathan laughed. What would the Philistines make of the two of them?
When they reached the cliff opposite the Philistine encampment, Jonathan surveyed the gap between them and the enemy camp. Lord, send me a sign that You will give those men into our hands!
He felt a quickening, a flush of heat rushing through his veins, a yes, go rush of confidence. Jonathan pointed. “All right then. We will cross over and let them see us. If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are or we’ll kill you,’ then we will stop and not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the Lord’s sign that He will help us defeat them.”
Either way, they would fight against God’s enemies. One way would bring certain death. The other victory.
Ebenezer nodded. “We can hold them off as long as we have arrows, my lord. And then you have your sword!”
Jonathan gripped the boy’s shoulder. Whether in the gap or on the cliffs, the boy was as willing to die fighting as he was. Jonathan descended first, setting the pace. Slipping once, he caught hold and regained his footing. “Watch it there, my
Samuel returned to Ramah. Saul waited for a sign from God or a word of encouragement from the prophet. None came. He grew more sullen with each passing day. His army of six hundred sank into despair. Abner and the other leaders gave advice, but Saul didn’t listen. Numerous plans were laid out and then rejected. The king seemed incapable of action. Worse, he became suspicious. “Send someone to keep watch over Samuel. If he goes anywhere, follow him and report back to me!”
“Samuel prays for you, Father.”
“So you say, but can I trust him? He said God will choose another.”
Reports came in that the Philistines were on the move again.
Jonathan heard all the talk and kept his eyes open. The inactivity wore on him as much as it did the others. Was this what war was like? Long weeks, sometimes months, of waiting? And then the terror and exhilaration of battle?
The Philistines took cruel delight in raiding when and where they pleased, for King Saul sent no one to stop them. Jonathan’s father could not get his mind off Samuel’s prophecy.
Something had to be done to rouse the king and the men of Israel, something to bring them together as they had been when the Lord gave them Jabesh-gilead!
Jonathan prayed, Lord, help me. I don’t want to make the same mistake I did with Geba!
If Jonathan did anything, he must do it alone so the blame would fall only on him if he failed.
A Philistine detachment was camped at the pass at Micmash. Jonathan knew the area well. The slippery, thorny cliffs of Bozez and Seneh faced each other. But there was one place above, barely a furrow of land, where one man could hold ground and kill a score of Philistines, possibly more.
Jonathan might die. So be it. Better to die in battle with honor than live in fear of idol worshipers. He rose, shouldered the quiver of arrows, took up his bow, and left the city.
Ebenezer grabbed Jonathan’s shield and his own bow and arrows and ran after him. “Where are we going, my lord?”
“To see what the Lord will do.”
The boy stayed at his side, but Jonathan wondered if he would be brave enough to follow all the way.
When they were away from Gibeah, Jonathan faced Ebenezer. “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans. Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether He has many warriors or only a few!”
Ebenezer’s eyes brightened. He grinned broadly. “Do what you think is best. I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.”
Jonathan laughed. What would the Philistines make of the two of them?
When they reached the cliff opposite the Philistine encampment, Jonathan surveyed the gap between them and the enemy camp. Lord, send me a sign that You will give those men into our hands!
He felt a quickening, a flush of heat rushing through his veins, a yes, go rush of confidence. Jonathan pointed. “All right then. We will cross over and let them see us. If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are or we’ll kill you,’ then we will stop and not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the Lord’s sign that He will help us defeat them.”
Either way, they would fight against God’s enemies. One way would bring certain death. The other victory.
Ebenezer nodded. “We can hold them off as long as we have arrows, my lord. And then you have your sword!”
Jonathan gripped the boy’s shoulder. Whether in the gap or on the cliffs, the boy was as willing to die fighting as he was. Jonathan descended first, setting the pace. Slipping once, he caught hold and regained his footing. “Watch it there, my
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