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Sons Of The Flaming Throne – Ch. 15 | KT OLLA

ISRAEL’S war chief was on his toes from the day he saw the prince’s manner at the city gate.

And since he hadn’t found a solid evidence against the young man, he decided to plant a spy among his entourage.

Joab did this by buying over one of Absalom’s aides with a doubled sum of what his master had paid him. So, without the prince suspecting, he made the needy man his eyes at the gate.

But still, there was nothing cogent that Joab could hold against the prince. There at the gates of Jerusalem, the Third Prince sorted out from among the travellers, just those who were going to see the king to judge their case.

Absalom would stop such a person, ask them where they hailed from, and listen to them as a prince of David. Then in spite of whatever their case was, he’d simply justify them.

‘The law is on your side,’ he’d say. ‘But one thing stands between you and justice.

‘Listen, my friend, as much as your case is good, there’s no representative of the king to hear it.

‘Why, Israel is as the sand of the sea for multitude. How then can the king attend to someone like you, and that fellow... plus that fellow over there, too.

‘Well, with that old man you see over there as well!’

And then he’d warm up a bit more, and talk more casually.

‘You see, you all are from humble settlements in Israel. And from humble roots too, if you’d permit me. Well, that is how it’ll appear to our busy king this time!

‘So you understand there’ll be an endless lineup of people waiting to see the king, before it ever comes to your turn at all!

‘Look, it’s just so unfortunate and my heart cries for you. How I wish there were younger leaders in Israel! Justice should really arrive like the lightning bolt!

‘How I wish I have the power already! Oh, nobody would have to beg to be heard because they’re nobody! I promise that on my life!’

Hearing these soothing words, the travellers always went closer to the prince and bowed to him. They opened up to him, cried at times and pledged their support.

Then Absalom would move closer, pat them on the hand and plant a gentle kiss on it.

Thus, with this act going on day after day, the Third soon stole the hearts of all the people.

Absalom was gentle but thorough. He was well-spoken and had a commanding feel all about him. And if there were anything else to die for, the Third Prince was young and smart, tough and really clever.

Plus the fact that he was so wickedly blinding that it was too dangerous for a girl to gaze or stare.

And in no time at all, his fame had spread all over Israel.

But when those things came to the ears of David’s general, he was furious and became quite livid. Yet there was nothing he could hold to bring the boy to book.

He couldn’t exactly accuse Absalom of any crime even with all of those. The prince was supposed to be on David’s cabinet as a minister, after all.

 So it proved just too difficult to catch the cunny being.

Again, Joab knew that David loved his son aplenty. So he knew a serious indictment like treason would have to be backed up with concrete evidence.

And so, the fifty-year-old held his peace. He continued to watch the young prince for proof.

Indeed, King David also heard everything about his son. But he excused the boy on the count that he’d always been one to crave attention.

So the present situation had felt like the everyday norm. Particularly as Absalom hadn’t been handed back his ministerial position.

Now, no one in David’s rule saw through the boy yet. No one except a clever old counsel who had never lost a duel.

Yet the Third was that chamber lamp at night. That burning lamp which every man belittles.


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