Battle of the Godless – Ch. 19 | KT OLLA

THUS, like the pace of an excited panther, the spies from Dan rushed back to their people, carrying good news in their arms.

The five men returned home. To Zorah and Eshtaol farther down in the south. And there, they delivered reports on that quiet land they found in the farthest north.

That porous, open city called Laish.

Yes, their elders caught the excitement, too, on hearing the prospect in Laish. They applauded Ajar and his companions for a mission well accomplished.

So now, the council felt Dan mightn’t have to labour or sweat to wipe out the land and inherit their place.

Therefore, those elders decided to send 600 men from their militia force. So that with one swing of their swords, they would end all that was called Laish.

After a day or two, the Danite people gathered her soldiers and made Ajar captain over the army.

Ajar took with him his companions on their previous spy mission. And so, that band of former spies led the army to battle that city called Laish.

Now, the 600 soldiers matched out from the region of Zorah and Eshtaol after training for some days.

Then they travelled for a few more days without stopping to rest or sleep. They matched on relentlessly, till they came to Kiriath Jearim in the region of Judah.

But Kiriath Jearim was only a rest point for the Danite lions. The Judean town was never a final stop; so they simply camped west of Kiriath.

Then after a day’s rest in the fields of that town, the soldiers picked up again and matched onwards. Further north, till they reached the mountains of Ephraim in the middle-belt.

So there, they passed in front of Micah’s estate on the countryside.

But Micah’s house wasn’t meant to be an option of another rest. After all, the gritty combatants weren’t tired out as yet.

So, the men were just passing through. Like there was nothing in that estate that meant something to them.

But then, in that large house there was something that mattered to someone on the team.

For just as the soldiers passed on, Ajar’s heart yearned to enter the house to pick up something. And steal someone.

Truly, Ajar had coveted the silver layered idol in Micah’s house. So now, he wanted that idol for his tribe at all cost.

He wanted to steal Micah’s priest. And own his idol with him.

But still, the Danite leader knew his craving for some wooden carving might come as a distraction. He wouldn’t want to confuse the soldiers by bringing up another quest now.

Even so, Ajar’s heart had been locked up inside Micah’s shrine. It had been imprisoned within the idol. He just couldn’t let go of that craving.

Now, the astute leader resolved to render his greed a national one. He decided to make his longing the desire of everyone.

He halted the army around Micah’s estate. Then he spoke up.

‘Men or war, listen and consider!

‘After we have crossed these mountains – these daunting mountains of Ephraim, then we’ll only travel a little farther and finally come to Laish.

‘Now as you have learned, your enemy is without a wall or defense. She has no king or army; no friend or ally.

‘And above all, she knows no God.

‘Now men of war, consider this. It wouldn’t be difficult taking down the people of Laish. We won’t even pant or break a sweat. They are completely defenseless.

‘Nevertheless, fighters of our tribe! It is the very reason why we ourselves need to stand. And, indeed, stand really strong!

‘Lest our small tribe should someday end up like Laish!’

At that point, the soldiers responded with a coordinated growl. They simply registered with their roar that they were fit and ready.

Ajar charged on, doggedly.

‘Yes sons of Dan, we’ve got so much for a small tribe that we are! But now that we’re conquering our biggest dream, we still lack one thing.

‘Well, that is owning God, Defender of the defenseless! Owning Him and having Him with us, is that giant thing we lack!’

The soldiers listened with a solid attention.

‘Therefore, brave sons of Dan! I stand before you to announce that we have found that treasure anyone would love to claim!

‘We have found a priest of the stock of Levi, Aaron and Moses. Yes, we have found a Levite to claim as ours. And a god to own for ourselves!’

He stretched a finger to Micah’s estate, sitting widespread and securely walled in the distance.

‘There in that wealthy house lodge the priest and his god!

‘I and my four shall now go and fetch them here!’