Read Online Till Shiloh Comes by Gilbert Morris - Free Book Online Page A

are harlots.”
    â€œWhat’s a harlot?”
    â€œA bad woman that makes men do bad things.”
    â€œOh, I know what that means. Like Elspeth did when she was gotten with child with Lomenie of Lomar?”
    â€œYes. Like that.”
    Joseph watched, seemingly riveted to the scene. He saw the women dancing in their scanty costumes, and then he saw that Levi and Simeon were drinking heavily. “They need to get away from those women,” he said. “They’re bad for them.”
    Benjamin was struck silent by the scene and did not answer.
    Finally the two boys watched two of the women grab Simeon and Levi and pull them to their feet. They took them to two separate tents, and Joseph said abruptly, “Come along, Benjamin, we need to get away from here.”
    â€œAll right, Joseph. This is a bad thing.”
    As they made their way back, Joseph was silent, and Benjamin looked up and asked, “Are you going to tell Father?”
    Joseph was lost in thought. “I think I’d better. He needs to know such things.”
    â€œThey’ll get mad if we tell.”
    â€œYou’re not going to tell. I am,” Joseph said. “It’s for their own good!”
    ****
    Leah was giving her sons Simeon and Levi a tongue-lashing that had all the bite of a scorpion. She was a woman with a sharp tongue anyway, and now as her sons stood before her, both married heads of households, they stood humbled like two boys caught stealing sugared dates.
    â€œYou defile yourself with those harlots!” Leah screamed, her voice carrying over the entire camp. “Have you no shame! Both of you have good wives, and you defile yourselves. I’m the mother of fools!” Their mother struck them both and sent them out of her tent.
    Simeon turned to Levi and said, “It was that talebearer Joseph. He’s the one who brought the report to Father.”
    â€œWe were fools,” Levi said heavily.
    â€œMaybe we were. I’ve learned one thing, though. If you’re going to sin, don’t do it in public.”
    ****
    The public shame of the two men was painful, and they blamed Joseph for telling on them. All ten of the brothers were absolutely furious at Joseph.
    Even Reuben could make no defense for Joseph. After all, he had also carried the evil report to Jacob of Reuben’s misbehavior with Bilhah, which was much worse. But still he kept silent as his brothers raved and shouted, angry to the core. He knew that the Sons of the Maids were just as angry, and he whispered to Judah, “Try to quiet them down. They’re crazy.”
    â€œDon’t they have reason?” Judah said bitterly. “Does that pampered brother of ours have the right to carry tales?”
    â€œSimeon and Levi were wrong.”
    â€œIt makes no difference. Talebearing is wrong, especially against your own brothers! That is a sin against God himself! Family is important, Reuben.”
    Reuben could not argue, for he felt the same. He thought of going to Joseph and trying to talk him into apologizing, but he knew he did not have the words or the skill to speak to his quick-tongued younger brother. He sighed heavily and shook his head. He had no one to share his burden with except Judah, and even Judah was fed up with Joseph’s behavior.
    ****
    Two days after Jacob had received Joseph’s reports of Simeon and Levi’s behavior with the Canaanite harlots, Levi came to him, saying bitterly, “We’re going over to Shechem. Not only the six of us but also the four Sons of the Maids.”
    â€œAll ten of you?”
    â€œYes,” Levi said defiantly. He waited for his father to protest, but Jacob seemed crushed.
    â€œWhy don’t you wait awhile, my son?” he pleaded.
    â€œWe’re not waiting for anything.” Levi had never spoken to his father like this.
    Jacob knew well of the anger that burned in the hearts of his ten sons. “All right,” he soberly