LIFE on earth seems to be a road of surprises. For in the same town where David was hated, there lived a kind, simple woman. And she cared so little for party or bloc.
All she lived and cared for was people. She loved to aid the weak.
So this woman heard the soldiers comb the street nearby. She was busy sieving off dirt from her grains. And she sat over the cover of an empty well at the back of her house.
From there she saw the two boys searching desperately for where to hide. She calculated the situation and sensed they were being hounded.
So within a moment she called the kids to her side and asked about their story.
When the boys told her they were carrying news to David; and that they were being tracked down by the new king, the woman forgot everything called reason, let alone treason.
She just decided to be a mother.
In one flash of a moment, the mother found what to do. She swung to action with such swiftness as that of a sword fighter. And the next instant the way was cleared.
That brave woman let the two boys down into the well, the dry and empty one. Then she closed the lid over them, took a bowl of her grains, and spread them on top of it. For the sun to do its part.
Then she took a stool and sat a distance away from the well. She simply sat and returned to fanning the rest of her grains.
It was a bold woman’s part in the grand scheme of everything. It was a wise woman’s bit. So the record of heroes etched her fame.
Yes, the soldiers of Absalom arrived there at last. And when they asked the clever one about their target, she threw them lots of questions instead.
‘How will I know who goes and comes? Can’t you see I’m doing something intricate?
‘Or, why will you be interrupting my work and asking me if I see a boy? Or was it two you said? Look, I don’t know!’
She followed this with a hiss. Then bowed her head and buried herself in her work again.
The chasers looked at themselves and knew they were wasting their time. One of them spoke. It was the deputy of that team.
‘What’s the use of asking everybody, uh? Let’s just see a few more streets and move on. Or what d’ you say?’
‘Well, that’s right,’ sounded their leader. ‘But this time we’re spreading across everywhere.
‘Then we converge here after a while. Before we move on if we can’t find them.’
So after the men had dispersed, the woman waited a little so as not to draw attention. Then after a time, she got up and quickly drew the boys out.
‘You escaped, boys! Now go, before the men head back here. They definitely promised to return in a while.’
The boys were grateful. It was a mother who sheltered them, like they were hers. Now they wouldn’t forget her act for the rest of their lives.
They called her, The Mother of Bahurim.
Nevertheless, with the new situation the boys became more anxious to leave there. So they picked up and ran as though they were the ones chasing something.
And they ran with the pace of a hunter. But something eventually caught up with them.
It was some news that just broke. It was one that travelled far.
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