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Sons Of The Flaming Throne – Ch. 5 | KT OLLA

THAT time three years after Absalom’s banishment, it seemed the prince had someone in his homeland.

Seemed he had a man who heard him cry.

But that man who was for the Third Prince wouldn’t even dare to bring the boy’s case before the king. Even when he was the king’s general.

His name was Joab.

Truly, not a man dared plead this matter with King David, and ask the father to bring back his son.

No, not this closest aide in fact.

Actually, the king had ceased mourning Amnon; and now he badly missed his third son.

Even so, to ask the monarch to reconsider and pardon the offender, was to recklessly walk on thin ice.

David was a man of order and principle; but his clemency defied explanations. His discipline was on a whole new level; yet when he was gracious, it was to degrees that amazed everyone.

Yes, the king’s justice was the frightening sort; but the way he waved unpardonable deeds, men couldn’t help but cry.

And no sane man would fight Absalom’s matter with David. But then someone did.

The setting sun glowed against the cedar planks that walled the royal courts of Israel. And the king’s strength waned along with the dusking day.

King David was just done attending to official matters within the courts, when a report came to him from outside.

He was told there was a widow covered in rags and ashes, who lingered at the palace gates. The woman had asked to see the king.

Well, if a mother would not ignore her baby’s cry, the king of Israel was the mother of her people: he could not bear to leave the needy unattended.

So, David asked a courtier to bring in the woman. He was prepared to end all her troubles.

But he had no idea that the woman came for him instead.

In a moment, the poor widow was in. And as soon as she was placed in front of the king, she threw herself down and began to cry.

‘Your Majesty, please save me from my enemy! Save me, please save my son!’

King David leaned forward and touched the ground beside her with his sceptre.

‘Raise yourself, woman. Talk to me clearly; what is the matter?’

The woman raised her gaze a little.

‘Your Majesty, I am a poor widow from the distant plains of Tekoa.

‘My husband is dead and left me with two sons; two joys to brighten my sad night.

‘But then it happened one day, Your Majesty, that my sons had an argument in the field and it led to a fight.

‘There was no one around to part them; so, the fighting went on till one killed the other.

‘Now it happened that my husband’s relatives insist that I provide them with the living one. They insist they’ll kill the poor boy to avenge the death of his brother.

‘And now, my only son is on the run and hiding away from the avengers of his brother’s blood.

‘And if they get him, they’ll put off my last ember from burning on, my lord. Then my husband will have no man to carry on his name!’

Now she bowed her face to the ground and cried really hard.

‘Please help your maidservant, Your Royal Majesty! Please save me from the avenger of blood!’

The king was deeply moved. So he asked his men to raise the woman up.

As the retainers matched down to her, the king answered:

‘Go in peace, woman; your son lives. I will give order after you that no man lays his hand on him.’

But those words weren’t enough to get the woman up. So as the king’s servants came to her side, she begged to be left alone.

She looked up to the ruler now.

‘Your Majesty! Ah, what shall your maidservant say to the avengers when they come to ask the life of my son?

‘What can I possibly do, Your Majesty? Oh what can I do?’

Now the king passed a verdict and sealed his words with an instant decree.

‘Whoever troubles you over your son’s life, let him come to me and I shall return his trouble to him.

‘As for you, woman, go in peace: no man shall touch your son.’

The woman bowed immediately and profusely thanked the king. But the next moment, she raised her head and made a dare.

‘Your Majesty,’ she called, ‘may your maidservant speak one more thing?’

Just then the servants standing beside her bowed to pick her up and throw her out. It appeared she was overstaying her welcome.

But King David was lenient today. So as the men bent down to grip the subject, the monarch signalled to them to let her be.

 Then he answered her. ‘Go on, woman.’

So, the widow spoke, but her case was the daring one. The matter no one was bold enough to tell David.

And now, she aimed to tell the king.

And tame him, too.

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