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Battle of the Kingless – Ch. 2 | KT OLLA

XARXUS surveyed the plains from the hill where he stood. And that king of battle was shaken down to his roots.

For all the while that the Gileadites fled the battlefield and the Ammonites gave them a shooting chase, one of Gilead’s warriors had stood the ground at the foot of the hill.

And that warlord, with his four captains, kept slaying the stoutest of Xarxus’s men in their scores.

It was a gory massacre.

So that moment when fear struck Xarxus’s chest, he beat himself for chickening out at the sight of that warlord.

Then he informed his deputy beside him, Manoh, that he’d go down and face the fighter alone.

Right there Xarxus’s deputy begged him not to. He cautioned him with many pleas so much the warrior became more curious.

The Ammonite king enquired: ‘Who’s that fearless fighter? And who are those men with him?’

Manoh looked up at him and chose to answer his second question first. His voice was a little shaky when he replied.

‘My lord…! Those four fighting with that brave warrior are the fiercest of Israel’s captains! Their names are a dread to all enemies they call aliens.

‘Those men, they call them Baddok, Simone, Gilkar and Sham…

‘They are to be avoided, my lord!’

Xarxus became a little anxious. And furious, too.

He intercepted his deputy right there. ‘I asked who’s that daredevil leading them! That is what I’m asking you!’

Manoh bowed and raised his head again.

‘I’m sorry, my lord,’ he said. ‘But he is Jephthah the son of Gilead himself. Second in command to the leader of Gilead’s army. His acclaim goes before him, my lord!’

And that moment, at the foot of that hill below, Jephthah raised his gaze. Then the man saw two huge generals of Ammon charge towards him in a crushing advance.

So he sheathed his hefty sword onto his left thigh; then reached his hand backwards and yanked off a javelin from one of his men with his right arm.

At that self-same time Jephthah drew out a battle axe from his right hip. Then he thrust each weapon forward with both hands, yelling out a maddening cry.

So, off flew the axe and the spear in their calculated tumbles and flight. And the warrior’s spear flew past the first man’s left shoulder as he dodged.

Then as the man ducked, the rolling axe cut him down right on his nape behind. And out poured clots of blood from the mouth as he fell and died.

In that instant the man behind him tripped over the falling soldier; but this second didn’t die by mere stumbling.

For right about then Jephthah’s brazen spear found its way through that man’s throat. And its thrusting force hauled him down backwards.

Now those fallen two. They were the last of Xarxus’s standing men… right there.

Thus done with slaughtering all, Jephthah raised his head to the hilltop and looked at the king of Ammon.

Xarxus staggered back in his chariot at that instant. Then he asked his deputy something more, without turning his gaze from Jephthah downhill.

He enquired: ‘What do talkers say about this man? You said his acclaim goes before him.’

Manoh had the answer ready. ‘They said he was born to slaughter giants!’

Then he sighed. ‘But I fear we’ve got that proof in front of us now… my lord!’

Xarxus’s legs trembled beneath him that moment. And then he picked himself up and backed off by another way down.

Thus, down the slope and all the way down to his camp, the king of Ammon kept chanting the dreadful names he heard today.

‘Jephthah Slayer of Giants…

‘Baddok, Simone, Gilkar and Sham…

‘Jephthah Slayer of Giants…’

Copyright © April 2022 by Kayode & Tola Olla

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