Skip to main content

Battle of the Kingless – Ch. 21 | KT OLLA

 JEPHTHAH’S goal with his reply to Xarxus was to stir up fury in that volatile warlord. He was simply set to raze down the beast with the flames of his own wrath.

So he penned that affront down and sent the letter to his adversary.

To Xarxus King of Ammon,

It is a great surprise to me that you claim that Israel took your land. But I am not surprised since you only ascended your father’s throne only a few years ago – so you will not know matters that are greater than you.

But still, do not worry too much. For I will tell you all that still confuses your mind.

Israel never took any of those lands from you, neither was it from your fathers. When our nation came out from Egypt, we went through the wilderness to the Gulf of Aqaba and came to Kadesh.

There in Kadesh we sent message asking permission to the king of Edom to give us passage through his land. But Edom refused us passage.

We also sent message to the king of Moab, but he refused us as well. So our people remained at Kadesh for a while.

Then we went through the desert and rounded the land of Edom and Moab, until we came to the east side of Moab on the other side of River Arnon. We made camp there, but we didn’t cross the river because it is the boundary of Moab.

Then again, we sent message to Sihon the Amorite king of Heshbon, and asked permission for passage through his country to our own land. But Sihon refused us, too. He brought his whole army together and camped at Jahaz, and there he attacked our nation.

But the Lord God of our fathers gave Israel victory over Sihon and his army. And so Israel took possession of all the territories of the Amorites…

From River Arnon in the south to River Jabbok in the north; and from the deserts on the east of River Jordan on to its west side.

So, it the Lord our God who drove out the Amorites for his people, Israel.

Now you have clearly seen that the land which you claim to own was never yours to start with – nor will it ever be! So it is not a question of taking it back.

You can keep whatever your god Chemosh gave you. But we are going to keep everything that our God has given us.

Or do you think you are anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, the king of Moab? He never challenged Israel. He never strove against us.

For 300 years, our nation has occupied Heshbon and Aroer, and the towns around them – together with those cities on the bank of River Arnon. Why didn’t your nation fight for these lands and recover them in those years? Why are you fighting us now?   

Your quest is baseless and your invasion is wrong. Today the Lord God who is just and mighty will judge between us and you.

Today the Lord will judge between Israel and Ammon.

Jephthah,

Lord over Gilead.

◙ ◙ ◙

Xarxus read the words of the letter and he just couldn’t hold back the rage.

Every word in Jephthah’s letter was like swords slashing through his flesh and skin. He boiled with a pained anger.

The king of Ammon didn’t expect anyone to address him the way the new commander of Israel’s army had just done. He found everything about the young man unbearably insulting. 

Now Xarxus began to see that warrior he’d once seen as a challenge before to be but as a rude little fly. One which he’d got to crush by every means. 

So the battle lord of Ammon began to prepare an advance. He changed his tactics also.

Truly, when the Ammon king set out at first, his goal was to fight and defeat Israel’s army, and take those lands he claimed to be his.

But now trashing the army appears so little to quell that burning hell in his chest. So he decided he’d erase every living being in Israel.

He swore that no man nor beast in Israel would escape his deathly sword.

But destroying Israel’s thousands of thousands wasn’t a thing to bluff about in one moment of anger. So that Tamer of Dragons knew he would need more hands – more men in his standing army.

Therefore, Xarxus withdrew his old force from Gilead to prepare for a new cause. It was the cause he’d found greater than everything he’d previously known.

The destruction of Israel.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sons of the Flaming Throne 2 – Ch. 9 | KT OLLA

ABISHUM wasn’t done speaking. So she picked up on the matter as things were bound to change. She spoke: ‘See, it was a bedroom cry for Aleph. But not until the day things were shoved in her face… ‘And that day she gave up on hoping! ‘Well, what Aleph thought was the reason why Beth couldn’t marry, was different from what it was with people. ‘She used to think it was because there was no man in her house to ask the daughter from. As is our customary practice in Israel.  ‘But when a drunken man shoved it in her face one night, it hurt her too much what people say. ‘“No one will marry your daughter, woman! Why will anyone do? When death hides in her bosom like it hid in yours. Or why did your husband die? ‘“Look, if you don’t know it – your family is cursed! You only have one child in a nation of plenty. ‘“God has prospered Israel with many children like the sea sand. But what do your family bear? Only one! ‘“So, who will want your cursed daughter for his son to love? You really don’t...
Post a Comment
Read more

MUSTARD I – Ch. 7 | KT OLLA

NOW it had rained all morning this day. And the sun was finally tearing through clouds to take the day’s glory. It was a brief break for the villages of Ede’s farmlands. As they rested from taking turns in harvesting yams. The town’s harvest season of yam and cassava tubers were in the rains... So they worked double to get them stored in barns and sold in markets – to avoid early rot in the wet weather. Yes, the crops were sources of flours and flakes for main foods. And several kinds of yam – like the ewùrà, ebòlò and the white yam, were also prepared as meals. So, everyone was out going about their own business those rest days... The farmers would go for a routine check on their farm every morning. And return earlier than the time to gather for talks by evening. Every evening, the men would sit under the shade of trees, and play board games amid talk and drinks. They’d talk about everything. From the ruler to their people. And to their wives and children. The young Moro chose to go a...
Post a Comment
Read more

MUSTARD II – Ch. 8 | KT OLLA

NOW Oji and Daleka went in to meet their brother as his wife hurried out of the house. ‘You meet me well, brothers,’ Morrow smiled as he dished his food. ‘Care to join for breakfast?’ ‘Oh we just had ours, big bro,’ Oji answered for them. ‘Thanks for the offer.’ ‘In that case, will you—?’ ‘Oh never mind,’ their youngest smiled, ‘we can sit and talk while you go on eating. We also have things to share with you.’ He looked to his partner for agreement and Oji nodded back. Yes, it was the culture there for someone to invite their guest to table when the latter meets them dining. Then, it was the right ethic for the guest to decline with thanks. Morrow glanced at them. ‘Oh really? Have your seat then. ‘And meanwhile, you did a lot helping last night – I appreciate it. Please tell your wives, too, we’re grateful.’ ‘Well, that is nothing,’ Oji waved a hand. ‘We are grateful that you returned! That you came home alive!’ Morrow looked at them and smiled. He had just finished dishing, so he smi...
Post a Comment
Read more