Battle of the Godless – Ch. 6 | KT OLLA

THE words of Gomer and Hur had birthed a fire in the hearts of the people of Dan. It was that fiery desire to see their dream for a home happen.

It was the second day of their conference, pitched on the lengthy shores of the Dead Sea. Far away from their rented towns of Zorah and Eshtaol.

Yet those words of yesterday still burned like flaming logs in the people’s chests.

And they talked some more about it. From the time of sunrise till the sun came setting.

In that conversation of today, the people advanced the matters of yesterday. A man proposed that they chose five men to spy out whatever land they were claiming.

‘Let those five’, he said, ‘go first and bring reports about our enemy’s weakness. Before our militia forces would storm that land to dispose them for us!’

The suggestion pleased the conference. And the onus was on the council of elders to choose the five.

The elders didn’t have trouble choosing. They chose one man each from the five clans that made up that small tribe.

But four among those five seemed to be unknown to many. After all, they were simply picked to serve as military messengers here.

But drafted with the nameless four was a man of unrivalled might.

And they called his name Ajar.

Ajar was a wild hunter with a heroic standing. Across the Danite towns, his name always came alive on every talker’s tongue. And on every singer’s lips.

It was from the fields to the streets. From the caves to the camps.

Now, the four here felt great that they were selected to serve the big cause. They felt honoured and promised their allegiance before the people.

To them they weren’t just going on some adventure or escapade. It wasn’t even yet about the glory of an oncoming battle.

Instead they saw honour, a great honour. In finding their tribe a home.

And for this, they were profusely excited.

But this wasn’t the case with Ajar the Brave—as his appellation was.

He’d earned the glory for his tribe in Israel with just his name. Than to be sent as a common spy on some heathen grounds.

No, it was like a mess smeared on his name and status.

It was like pure insult.

These were the thoughts that boiled within Ajar’s skull – as he grumbled his Promise of Allegiance, standing before the assembly.

But right now, he thought of backing out. He thought to tell the elders’ council that he wasn’t ready for this.

But then again, the middle-aged legend considered what his people might think of him in that honourable assembly.

He didn’t want to go down as some proud, old fool.

And so he kept the thoughts locked inside.

‘What are names for? What are records meant to say?’ he went on grumbling as he returned to sit with the nameless four.

‘No, why do I have to travel with these nobodies, and crouch like some cowards behind heathen walls?

‘Why? When just I can storm into a city and raze down everything!’

He followed the last one with a hiss, a suppressed hiss.

Ajar complained endlessly. He beat himself for showing up in that conference, in fact.

Yet no one knew what went on his mind.

No one smelled the stench of his arrogance.

But just while the famed hunter was immersed in his protests, the elders announced the heathen land to claim as home within the land of Israel.

‘People of Dan!’ called a speaker. ‘Hear and take it to heart:

‘Our home to conquer and possess is the land of the Philistines, neighbouring close to us in our rented spaces.’

Ajar jolted up in his seat when his ears caught that. He sat upright and burst in a big laugh.

‘Ha-ha, Philistia! Philistia! Come on, that’s something!’ He just stood up and jammed his hands in a wild applause.

The elders saw him and were animated by his spark of energy. They jumped to their feet, too; and clapped an excited hand.

Everyone in the audience saw the excitement on stage. So they caught the spreading passions also.

It was so much the Dead Sea came alive with roars of enthusiasm from everywhere.

‘Ha-ha! Philistia it is! That land of many Ajars!’ the legend hunter kept laughing.

But no one knew that Ajar was suddenly excited by the fact that he’d be facing his own equals.

For in those days there were giants in the land of the Philistines. So the big huntsman felt honoured to face up with those mighty goliaths.

For the next day, they’d set out for the valleys of Philistia down south.

In search of a final home.