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Sons Of The Flaming Throne – Ch.44 | KT OLLA

IT was night at the Jordan River, where David and his company had camped. The waterside lay in the valley that belonged to the Israelite region of Ephraim.

Then the further side of the river crossing was equally occupied by Israel’s people. As the land overlooking the Jordan were Israel’s territory belonging to a tribe of hers called Manasseh.

Now David sat the bank of the river, a little away from where the travellers had pitched their tents. He sat at the riverside and pondered a huge load of worries.

When it was almost midnight, Joab walked up to the monarch with a report.

‘Your Majesty, there is a message for you. The sons of the priests have come. They say they carry a message for my lord.’

David stood up and hastened back to the camp. He was curious about the new report, what exactly it could be. So when Ahi and Jona were brought to him, he hoped it was good news they brought.

It was Jona who spoke. He was the older boy.

‘Sire, our fathers ask us to bring Father Hushai’s words. They told us to say these words to you:

‘“The Lord your God has turned Ahithophel’s wisdom to foolishness. His advice has been rejected in the palace. As he advised that he himself leads the army to fight you.”’

He paused, then picked up the next moment.

‘Also, we are asked to tell you that Father Hushai has countered Sir Ahithophel with this counsel: that the ruling king should attack River Jordan to fight you there.

‘Then he sends this message that Your Majesty should quickly leave the Jordan River, together with the people.

‘He said to leave immediately before your enemy arrives, sire.’

David let out a sigh. It was a restful one. And Joab wondered what his peace was about.

Yes, the man had things to say already. But the kids weren’t done with their reports yet.

So he simply stepped back for them to have their space. He’d got a whole load of thoughts going, after all.

Just then, the younger of the two boys hastened to speak. He wanted to share the rumour they caught on their way.

The boy burned with high spirits when he broke the news. As he was the bouncy sort of kid, young and frisky. His name was Ahi.

So Ahi did that news breaking straight up. And the king was caught off-guard.

‘Sire, on our way here we heard a thing. In fact, it is everywhere!

‘You know that old sage, The Voice of God and Reason? Sire, he has died! He hung himself in his country house. He is dead!’

David was knocked off. He just stared at the boy, his mind spinning round.

He knew Ahithophel had boasted of his uncommon intellect. But he never expected him to kill himself just because his counsel was snubbed.

Yet he knew that moment that it was judgement. It was God’s way of dealing with the proud and crafty.

So, with the crafty old man out of their way, everybody with David felt a huge load off their neck. But David was sober on the matter.

Now David’s general couldn’t help the wonder and anger. For Joab wondered how Hushai’s advice was more like one from an enemy.

Why did he have to raise Absalom’s army against us, and still call himself the friend of the King? Or a spy for his cause?

If Ahithophel’s counsel was rejected and Hushai’s own accepted. Then if Hushai’s counsel is to raise Israel’s army to fight David, then what is right about this thing?

Or how bad can Ahithophel’s guidance be to us, that this unsettling new one will be some better news for us all?

These many questions troubled the man’s mind.

But while the general pondered them, he realized the monarch was rather good with the development. And this confused him even more.

Indeed, David knew Hushai was loyal. He knew what he said was the best option they had. So he ordered his men to get moving already.

But then while everyone went about packing and getting ready to move, Joab walked about in a daze thinking so hard on the things on his mind.

After a while, David found his army captain. But the soldier’s mind was burdened down. And anyone could tell that he was lost in thought on the new order of things.

So when David saw his trouble, he decided to explain the matter.

‘Joab! You wonder if Hushai is a friend or foe, right? You wonder why my loyal friend has to raise the whole nation to fight us, and then tell us to run?

‘Listen, when we are the ones calling the shot, then we have an upper hand. We can drive the fight with our goal in mind.

‘But if it is Ahithophel who stakes the game, whatever it is he says we are already disadvantaged. Because we can only win in our own game – not the other way round.

‘So Joab! So far it us who call the shot, we stand a clear chance of victory—mark my words!’

With that, Joab was ready to go. And all together, David’s camp fled the Jordan.

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