The Second King - Chapter 2: The Tempest
copyright ©2010 Mitchell Malloy (http://mitchellmalloyblogspot.com/)
(Continued from Chapter 1: Duty)
Obed brought his chariot to a stop as Jehu ordered the army to a halt. The thunder of the chariots disappeared into an eerie silence, interrupted by the occasional cough of a dust-stricken soldier or the snort of a weary horse. With the exception of these intermittent sounds, the only noise Obed could hear was the whisper of wind in his ears. His brother was positioned slightly behind Jehu, and from his position to the right of Ginath, Obed had a clear view of the two approaching chariots. King Joram of the Northern country was accompanied by his nephew, King Ahaziah of the Southern kingdom. Obed knew them both well.
As the two royal chariots continued to approach the army, Obed allowed himself to drift into thought. He realized they had come to stop in the Royal Vineyard, purchased by Joram's father from Naboth the Jezreelite shortly after he “enlisted” in the Royal Guard. It was no longer the proud vineyard that Naboth had nurtured. Looking around the field, Obed saw how it had fallen into disrepair. It was just a shadow of the vineyard it had been when originally purchased.
“No!” he thought, “As surely as I was conscripted into the king's service, Naboth's field was confiscated.” Joram's father had wanted to purchase the field from Naboth, but the wine-maker had refused. Obed remembered rumors of the scandal. The king had made a generous offer to Naboth, one which most people would have accepted without much thought. But the field was so much more than dirt and grape vines to Naboth. It was part of his heritage, having been handed down from generation to generation since the One God had established his ancestores in the land. Naboth had poured his life into making that field the best vineyard in all the kingdom, and in the end, he refused to give up both his heritage and his life's work. The king was sullen, completely devastated that he could not have his way. Obed was standing guard outside the dining hall as the king told his wicked wife the cause of his disappointment.
“Why are you so resentful of everything?” She asked at the time, “Why don't you eat?”
“I talked to Naboth from Jezreel and offered to buy his vineyard. I even offered to give him another vineyard if he'd like, but he refused to give it to me.” replied the king.
Obed heard the queen stand up abruptly, obviously disgusted. “Aren't you the king!” Her admonishment prompted Obed to look inside the room. The queen was looking away from her husband, But then, she slowly turned around and smiled, that wicked-haughty smile that she so often wore. The smile that Obed imagined a spider made when it spun it's web, thinking of what prizes it might catch.
“Get up! Eat and cheer up! I'll get you that vineyard from Naboth of Jezreel!” And having said those words the queen walked out of the dining hall.
Obed dreaded her approach towards him from the doorway. Brushing past Obed, she lightly touched his bicep in a lingering fashion as she exited the dining hall. Obed could see out of the corner of his eye how she turned to look at him as she walked down the hallway. He could imagine her spider-smile as she swayed down the passage toward her chambers. He could smell her rich and fragrant perfume as his upper arm still tingled from the touch. Obed continued looking forward, wondering if he would be in the Royal Guard his entire career.
How long had he been in the King's personal guard? Joram had now ruled for 12 years, but Obed entered the army seven years earlier, before Joram had taken the throne. It was Joram's father who gave him that position as a reward for valor on the battlefield. The king thought he was rewarding Obed, but to the young officer, it seemed like a death sentence. He had observed countless Naboths being executed on made-up charges so that the royal family could live out their latest whims.
Over the years, Obed had often thought that Joram's father could have become a good king, but every time the king did something to inspire hope, the queen would do something to turn him back. He remembered the pain and sorrow the old king displayed when certain injustices happened. The queen, though, had a way of controlling her husband and perverting the truth into something that bent his will. She was truly a witch, and had practiced the dark arts of Phoenicia since childhood, passing them on to her children. And unfortunately she had a special interest in Obed. Even more disturbing, when the old king died, the witch-queen's interest became even less constrained.
In her late-thirties at the time of her husband's death, she was still a very attractive woman. She was ambitious, intelligent, and completely self-serving. Everyone knew that although the king wore the crown, it was really she who ruled the country. She had given her husband three children, all as wicked, ambitious and self-consumed as herself. Joram was the second of two boys, the eldest having died from complications after falling through a second-story window. Rumor had it that he was drunk at the time, but Obed decided not to listen to the gossip. It simply was. And as a result, Joram became the new king.
His older sister, Athalia, followed the career path of her mother. Like her mother, Athalia was crafty, beautiful and interested in certain members of the Royal Guard, expressing interest with a similar, spider-like smile. Fortunately for Obed, she had left the palace a few years earlier to marry the crown prince of the Southern country; it was part of her mother's long term plan to re-unify the two kingdoms. To Obed's regret, Athalia often returned to confer with her mother. Two spiders, spinning webs of intrigue, with spider smiles that sought to ensnare any man that would please their immediate interests.
***
“Is everything alright, Jehu?” asked King Joram, jolting Obed back to the present. The chariots of both kings had arrived. Joram scanned the eyes of the assembled army, seemingly coming to some conclusions in his mind. Concern slowly grew on his face as he finally made eye contact with Jehu.
Perceiving his cue, Jehu responded, his voice growing louder and more authoritative with each syllable. “How can everything be alright...” Joram's eyes widened with apprehension as Jehu's eyes flared in intensity “...as long as your mother continues her idolatry and witchcraft?”
Joram did not waste time with questions. He did not care for answers. Having realized his own army had become a threat, he quickly turned his chariot around as he yelled to his nephew: “It's a trap, Ahaziah!”
Ahaziah just stood in his chariot, watching in confusion, eyes darting left and right, his left hand twitching on the reins as if it trying to move. His mouth was hanging open, and he looked anything but kingly.
Jehu's composure was a stark contrast to the two kings. Where Joram was panicked, Jehu was composed. While Ahaziah was slow and confused, Jehu was quick and decisive. He swiftly strung an arrow in his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders with such force that it came through Joram's chest, coming to a halt in the grass a few feet in front of the chariot. The carriage came slowly to a stop as Joram slumped down, obviously dead.
Ahaziah continued to stare as his shaking became more pronounced.
Jehu turned to his attendant, Bidkar, and ordered: “Take him away and throw him into the field that once belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite.” Bidkar turned to jump off the chariot when Jehu grabbed his arm, speaking as a man does to a close friend.
“Remember when you and I were driving our chariots behind his father? There was a prophecy spoken at that time: 'Just as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, I will pay you back in this field.'” Realization formed on Bidkar's face as his eyes locked knowingly into the face of his new king.
At the mention of this prophecy about his grandfather, Ahaziah finally regained his composure, and understanding that these fanatic rebels could seek to fulfill the prophecy with his own death as well, he turned his chariot to the right, in the direction of Beth Haggan, hoping to make his way back to his own kingdom.
Obed and his brother Ginath heard Jehu's words to Bidkar. As Ahaziah sped away, Ginath spoke up. “What about that one, my king? Should we not bring him down as well?”
“Attend to Joram's body, Bidkar.” Jehu said, stepping down into the field and toward the two brothers. “Walk with me, my friends, for I have need of your counsel.”
Obed stepped off his chariot with legs like wet leather, ready to collapse into the ground. He hid his face for a moment as he struggled to contain the tears that welled up. Joram was dead and his old friend, Jehu, was now king! But beyond all that, he found himself a counselor to the new king!
In a few paces, they had walked off the path into rows of grape vines. Although the vineyard had fallen short of it's former glory, Jehu picked his way carefully through the vines, making every attempt to preserve the life and health of each plant. It reminded Obed of how Joram's father walked through this same field shortly after Naboth's execution. Smiling, laughing and jumping, the former king crushed many a vine, broke even more branches, as he happily claimed the object of his desire. As Obed watched the spectacle, he stood stoically by the king's chariot, inwardly recoiling at the abuse of another man's life's effort. At that moment, with the display of utter disregard for Naboth's work, Obed knew the vineyard would fall into disrepair. The queen encouraged her husband: “Explore my gift to you, my husband! It is all yours and for your pleasure! I, however, will wait here and enjoy the scenery as you examine your new prize.”
Obed remembered the way the witch-queen moved toward him, with her spider-smile. Although he continued to look forward, through her and past her gaze, he knew that she was trying to make eye contact with him. He remembered the wisdom of an earlier king, who wrote: “Do not desire her beauty in your heart. Do not let her catch you with her eyes.”
“Hmmph!” said the queen with an exaggerated pout. “Why do you not look at me, Obed? I am told by others that I am still a very desirable woman.” She moved closer to him, as the king ran further away into the field. “So strong you are, and yet so unable to enjoy yourself...” she purred as she moved within a hand's width of his body. “I can help you with that...” Obed felt her hand on the back of his upper thigh.
Maintaining control of his body and senses, Obed calmly and firmly replied: “As you are from Phoenicia, my queen, you are probably not familiar with our customs. I am simply following the wisdom of one of our country's fathers, written when the two kingdoms were one: 'Let your eyes look straight ahead and your sight be focused in front of you.'”
“Dearrr Ooobed...“ she almost whispered in his ear, her hand softly moving as she spoke, “you are so knowledgeable about your people's customs. Perhaps you could teach me things that my husband has not. I promise to give you my full attention.”
With the same impartial tone, Obed answered her. “My queen, I would be glad to do so. May I start with a lesson handed down from our people's law-giver. He taught that a man should not desire another man's wife, nor should he lay down with her as with his own.”
“Arghh!” cried the queen as took two brisk steps away from Obed. “You are a misguided, unimaginative fool!” and then regaining her composure: “Have you not noticed how certain guards can advance further than others? I can help, or hinder, your career like no other. My husband knows of my appetite for variety just as I encourage his own explorations. Your study of wisdom would be best applied to more modern techniques, rather than out-dated ways!”
“I understand your 'wisdom', my queen. But if I may further explain the culture of my people, it is written: 'There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death.'” Obed continued to stand guard, immovable and vigilant.
“It seems we may have a found a point of agreement, my young, devoted soldier. This way that seems so 'right' in your eyes is certainly leading to the death of your career. You will not advance if you cannot learn to think in new ways. I can promise you that.” The smile had disappeared from the queens face. Her eyebrows were slightly raised as she stood awaiting a response.
“My devotion to the royal family is founded on a devotion to the old ways, my queen. Perhaps you can learn to appreciate that. Or maybe you would prefer to transfer this simple soldier back to the regular army?” Obed hoped she would!
“No.” said the queen. “You are challenge. And unlike my husband, I enjoy a good challenge. You will come over to my ways, Obed. And I will make you beg for the pleasures that only I can bring you.” And with that said, her spider-smile returned. Her head turned quickly in the direction of her frolicking king and she ran toward him, shouting: “So how do you enjoy my gift? Does it not please you, my husband?”
***
Jehu stopped walking, and the two brothers looked toward him. “What do you think on this matter. Obed, you know him better than either of us. Will he run and hide or will this result in a war with the Southern Kingdom? And more importantly, I ask the both of you, what do you believe the right thing to do is?”
Both pairs of eyes drilled into Obed. His counsel and wisdom had been spurned for over a decade, excepting those inside his own house. It was now awkward to find himself as an advisor to the king. Yes, for years, he had observed the royal family of both kingdoms. He had watched this young king from the south grow up. The dolt was not worthy of the nation's fathers or the loyalty of his people. He embraced the 'new ways' of his grandmother. He was haughty, impetuous, and selfish like his grandmother with the weak character of his grandfather. Yet, did he deserve to die?
“I believe the young king will run and hide for a while. But his mother will spur him on in some way. Athalia has always been crafty and unpredictable. While her mother has always been content to rule through another, she is not her mother. I have a sense that she will play into our future somehow.”
“You have not answered my questions, Obed.” replied Jehu. The new king had always been direct and expected the same from others.
“My king, I give you information for your decision.” Obed replied. “But to answer directly, Ahaziah will not decide to wage war, his mother will make that decision based on how it will advance her own power. Her son has always been simply an instrument for her purposes.”
“Ginath, since your brother avoids an answer, can you give me your counsel?” The words hurt Obed tremendously. The right thing to do was to provide background information to his new king! But it was true, his king wanted a direct answer, and he did not give it. Obed would learn from this.
“Pursue and destroy Ahaziah, my king. It is a step toward fulfilling the prophecy you had stated yourself, regarding Naboth.”
“It is as you've said, Ginath. This is your assignment: to accompany me in this pursuit. Take as many men as you need for this purpose but no more. Upon my return, I will take our army to Jezreel to cleanse it of the filth that has occupied it for generations.
As they walked back, Jehu placed his arm on Obed's shoulder and spoke gently: “You are wise and knowledgeable, my friend, and I apologize for speaking so harshly. Now that I have an answer, I can see that I will value your words on this matter even more in the upcoming months. Teach me to understand you wisdom, but understand my need for a direct conclusion.”
His feelings restored, Obed simply nodded to his friend and king.
Removing his hand and walking more briskly through the vineyard, Jehu assumed his new mantle and commanded: “Obed, you will take charge of this army as its general and prepare it for our excursion into Jezreel. We have ridden quickly from the war to this new battle. There must be no ambivalence in the hearts of the men, nor unnecessary weariness in the horses.”
(Continued...)
(Continued from Chapter 1: Duty)
Obed brought his chariot to a stop as Jehu ordered the army to a halt. The thunder of the chariots disappeared into an eerie silence, interrupted by the occasional cough of a dust-stricken soldier or the snort of a weary horse. With the exception of these intermittent sounds, the only noise Obed could hear was the whisper of wind in his ears. His brother was positioned slightly behind Jehu, and from his position to the right of Ginath, Obed had a clear view of the two approaching chariots. King Joram of the Northern country was accompanied by his nephew, King Ahaziah of the Southern kingdom. Obed knew them both well.
As the two royal chariots continued to approach the army, Obed allowed himself to drift into thought. He realized they had come to stop in the Royal Vineyard, purchased by Joram's father from Naboth the Jezreelite shortly after he “enlisted” in the Royal Guard. It was no longer the proud vineyard that Naboth had nurtured. Looking around the field, Obed saw how it had fallen into disrepair. It was just a shadow of the vineyard it had been when originally purchased.
“No!” he thought, “As surely as I was conscripted into the king's service, Naboth's field was confiscated.” Joram's father had wanted to purchase the field from Naboth, but the wine-maker had refused. Obed remembered rumors of the scandal. The king had made a generous offer to Naboth, one which most people would have accepted without much thought. But the field was so much more than dirt and grape vines to Naboth. It was part of his heritage, having been handed down from generation to generation since the One God had established his ancestores in the land. Naboth had poured his life into making that field the best vineyard in all the kingdom, and in the end, he refused to give up both his heritage and his life's work. The king was sullen, completely devastated that he could not have his way. Obed was standing guard outside the dining hall as the king told his wicked wife the cause of his disappointment.
“Why are you so resentful of everything?” She asked at the time, “Why don't you eat?”
“I talked to Naboth from Jezreel and offered to buy his vineyard. I even offered to give him another vineyard if he'd like, but he refused to give it to me.” replied the king.
Obed heard the queen stand up abruptly, obviously disgusted. “Aren't you the king!” Her admonishment prompted Obed to look inside the room. The queen was looking away from her husband, But then, she slowly turned around and smiled, that wicked-haughty smile that she so often wore. The smile that Obed imagined a spider made when it spun it's web, thinking of what prizes it might catch.
“Get up! Eat and cheer up! I'll get you that vineyard from Naboth of Jezreel!” And having said those words the queen walked out of the dining hall.
Obed dreaded her approach towards him from the doorway. Brushing past Obed, she lightly touched his bicep in a lingering fashion as she exited the dining hall. Obed could see out of the corner of his eye how she turned to look at him as she walked down the hallway. He could imagine her spider-smile as she swayed down the passage toward her chambers. He could smell her rich and fragrant perfume as his upper arm still tingled from the touch. Obed continued looking forward, wondering if he would be in the Royal Guard his entire career.
How long had he been in the King's personal guard? Joram had now ruled for 12 years, but Obed entered the army seven years earlier, before Joram had taken the throne. It was Joram's father who gave him that position as a reward for valor on the battlefield. The king thought he was rewarding Obed, but to the young officer, it seemed like a death sentence. He had observed countless Naboths being executed on made-up charges so that the royal family could live out their latest whims.
Over the years, Obed had often thought that Joram's father could have become a good king, but every time the king did something to inspire hope, the queen would do something to turn him back. He remembered the pain and sorrow the old king displayed when certain injustices happened. The queen, though, had a way of controlling her husband and perverting the truth into something that bent his will. She was truly a witch, and had practiced the dark arts of Phoenicia since childhood, passing them on to her children. And unfortunately she had a special interest in Obed. Even more disturbing, when the old king died, the witch-queen's interest became even less constrained.
In her late-thirties at the time of her husband's death, she was still a very attractive woman. She was ambitious, intelligent, and completely self-serving. Everyone knew that although the king wore the crown, it was really she who ruled the country. She had given her husband three children, all as wicked, ambitious and self-consumed as herself. Joram was the second of two boys, the eldest having died from complications after falling through a second-story window. Rumor had it that he was drunk at the time, but Obed decided not to listen to the gossip. It simply was. And as a result, Joram became the new king.
His older sister, Athalia, followed the career path of her mother. Like her mother, Athalia was crafty, beautiful and interested in certain members of the Royal Guard, expressing interest with a similar, spider-like smile. Fortunately for Obed, she had left the palace a few years earlier to marry the crown prince of the Southern country; it was part of her mother's long term plan to re-unify the two kingdoms. To Obed's regret, Athalia often returned to confer with her mother. Two spiders, spinning webs of intrigue, with spider smiles that sought to ensnare any man that would please their immediate interests.
***
“Is everything alright, Jehu?” asked King Joram, jolting Obed back to the present. The chariots of both kings had arrived. Joram scanned the eyes of the assembled army, seemingly coming to some conclusions in his mind. Concern slowly grew on his face as he finally made eye contact with Jehu.
Perceiving his cue, Jehu responded, his voice growing louder and more authoritative with each syllable. “How can everything be alright...” Joram's eyes widened with apprehension as Jehu's eyes flared in intensity “...as long as your mother continues her idolatry and witchcraft?”
Joram did not waste time with questions. He did not care for answers. Having realized his own army had become a threat, he quickly turned his chariot around as he yelled to his nephew: “It's a trap, Ahaziah!”
Ahaziah just stood in his chariot, watching in confusion, eyes darting left and right, his left hand twitching on the reins as if it trying to move. His mouth was hanging open, and he looked anything but kingly.
Jehu's composure was a stark contrast to the two kings. Where Joram was panicked, Jehu was composed. While Ahaziah was slow and confused, Jehu was quick and decisive. He swiftly strung an arrow in his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders with such force that it came through Joram's chest, coming to a halt in the grass a few feet in front of the chariot. The carriage came slowly to a stop as Joram slumped down, obviously dead.
Ahaziah continued to stare as his shaking became more pronounced.
Jehu turned to his attendant, Bidkar, and ordered: “Take him away and throw him into the field that once belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite.” Bidkar turned to jump off the chariot when Jehu grabbed his arm, speaking as a man does to a close friend.
“Remember when you and I were driving our chariots behind his father? There was a prophecy spoken at that time: 'Just as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, I will pay you back in this field.'” Realization formed on Bidkar's face as his eyes locked knowingly into the face of his new king.
At the mention of this prophecy about his grandfather, Ahaziah finally regained his composure, and understanding that these fanatic rebels could seek to fulfill the prophecy with his own death as well, he turned his chariot to the right, in the direction of Beth Haggan, hoping to make his way back to his own kingdom.
Obed and his brother Ginath heard Jehu's words to Bidkar. As Ahaziah sped away, Ginath spoke up. “What about that one, my king? Should we not bring him down as well?”
“Attend to Joram's body, Bidkar.” Jehu said, stepping down into the field and toward the two brothers. “Walk with me, my friends, for I have need of your counsel.”
Obed stepped off his chariot with legs like wet leather, ready to collapse into the ground. He hid his face for a moment as he struggled to contain the tears that welled up. Joram was dead and his old friend, Jehu, was now king! But beyond all that, he found himself a counselor to the new king!
In a few paces, they had walked off the path into rows of grape vines. Although the vineyard had fallen short of it's former glory, Jehu picked his way carefully through the vines, making every attempt to preserve the life and health of each plant. It reminded Obed of how Joram's father walked through this same field shortly after Naboth's execution. Smiling, laughing and jumping, the former king crushed many a vine, broke even more branches, as he happily claimed the object of his desire. As Obed watched the spectacle, he stood stoically by the king's chariot, inwardly recoiling at the abuse of another man's life's effort. At that moment, with the display of utter disregard for Naboth's work, Obed knew the vineyard would fall into disrepair. The queen encouraged her husband: “Explore my gift to you, my husband! It is all yours and for your pleasure! I, however, will wait here and enjoy the scenery as you examine your new prize.”
Obed remembered the way the witch-queen moved toward him, with her spider-smile. Although he continued to look forward, through her and past her gaze, he knew that she was trying to make eye contact with him. He remembered the wisdom of an earlier king, who wrote: “Do not desire her beauty in your heart. Do not let her catch you with her eyes.”
“Hmmph!” said the queen with an exaggerated pout. “Why do you not look at me, Obed? I am told by others that I am still a very desirable woman.” She moved closer to him, as the king ran further away into the field. “So strong you are, and yet so unable to enjoy yourself...” she purred as she moved within a hand's width of his body. “I can help you with that...” Obed felt her hand on the back of his upper thigh.
Maintaining control of his body and senses, Obed calmly and firmly replied: “As you are from Phoenicia, my queen, you are probably not familiar with our customs. I am simply following the wisdom of one of our country's fathers, written when the two kingdoms were one: 'Let your eyes look straight ahead and your sight be focused in front of you.'”
“Dearrr Ooobed...“ she almost whispered in his ear, her hand softly moving as she spoke, “you are so knowledgeable about your people's customs. Perhaps you could teach me things that my husband has not. I promise to give you my full attention.”
With the same impartial tone, Obed answered her. “My queen, I would be glad to do so. May I start with a lesson handed down from our people's law-giver. He taught that a man should not desire another man's wife, nor should he lay down with her as with his own.”
“Arghh!” cried the queen as took two brisk steps away from Obed. “You are a misguided, unimaginative fool!” and then regaining her composure: “Have you not noticed how certain guards can advance further than others? I can help, or hinder, your career like no other. My husband knows of my appetite for variety just as I encourage his own explorations. Your study of wisdom would be best applied to more modern techniques, rather than out-dated ways!”
“I understand your 'wisdom', my queen. But if I may further explain the culture of my people, it is written: 'There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death.'” Obed continued to stand guard, immovable and vigilant.
“It seems we may have a found a point of agreement, my young, devoted soldier. This way that seems so 'right' in your eyes is certainly leading to the death of your career. You will not advance if you cannot learn to think in new ways. I can promise you that.” The smile had disappeared from the queens face. Her eyebrows were slightly raised as she stood awaiting a response.
“My devotion to the royal family is founded on a devotion to the old ways, my queen. Perhaps you can learn to appreciate that. Or maybe you would prefer to transfer this simple soldier back to the regular army?” Obed hoped she would!
“No.” said the queen. “You are challenge. And unlike my husband, I enjoy a good challenge. You will come over to my ways, Obed. And I will make you beg for the pleasures that only I can bring you.” And with that said, her spider-smile returned. Her head turned quickly in the direction of her frolicking king and she ran toward him, shouting: “So how do you enjoy my gift? Does it not please you, my husband?”
***
Jehu stopped walking, and the two brothers looked toward him. “What do you think on this matter. Obed, you know him better than either of us. Will he run and hide or will this result in a war with the Southern Kingdom? And more importantly, I ask the both of you, what do you believe the right thing to do is?”
Both pairs of eyes drilled into Obed. His counsel and wisdom had been spurned for over a decade, excepting those inside his own house. It was now awkward to find himself as an advisor to the king. Yes, for years, he had observed the royal family of both kingdoms. He had watched this young king from the south grow up. The dolt was not worthy of the nation's fathers or the loyalty of his people. He embraced the 'new ways' of his grandmother. He was haughty, impetuous, and selfish like his grandmother with the weak character of his grandfather. Yet, did he deserve to die?
“I believe the young king will run and hide for a while. But his mother will spur him on in some way. Athalia has always been crafty and unpredictable. While her mother has always been content to rule through another, she is not her mother. I have a sense that she will play into our future somehow.”
“You have not answered my questions, Obed.” replied Jehu. The new king had always been direct and expected the same from others.
“My king, I give you information for your decision.” Obed replied. “But to answer directly, Ahaziah will not decide to wage war, his mother will make that decision based on how it will advance her own power. Her son has always been simply an instrument for her purposes.”
“Ginath, since your brother avoids an answer, can you give me your counsel?” The words hurt Obed tremendously. The right thing to do was to provide background information to his new king! But it was true, his king wanted a direct answer, and he did not give it. Obed would learn from this.
“Pursue and destroy Ahaziah, my king. It is a step toward fulfilling the prophecy you had stated yourself, regarding Naboth.”
“It is as you've said, Ginath. This is your assignment: to accompany me in this pursuit. Take as many men as you need for this purpose but no more. Upon my return, I will take our army to Jezreel to cleanse it of the filth that has occupied it for generations.
As they walked back, Jehu placed his arm on Obed's shoulder and spoke gently: “You are wise and knowledgeable, my friend, and I apologize for speaking so harshly. Now that I have an answer, I can see that I will value your words on this matter even more in the upcoming months. Teach me to understand you wisdom, but understand my need for a direct conclusion.”
His feelings restored, Obed simply nodded to his friend and king.
Removing his hand and walking more briskly through the vineyard, Jehu assumed his new mantle and commanded: “Obed, you will take charge of this army as its general and prepare it for our excursion into Jezreel. We have ridden quickly from the war to this new battle. There must be no ambivalence in the hearts of the men, nor unnecessary weariness in the horses.”
(Continued...)
