Daughter of Deliverance (24 page)

“So? Only Hebrews can find forgiveness?”

“I didn't say that.”

“It's what you meant, though. Ardon, you need to broaden your mind. Now, get out of here and leave me alone, and don't come to me with any more of your foolishness.”

“Women are all alike,” Ardon cried and left the tent abruptly.

As soon as he was gone, Ariel shook her head fiercely. “Brother, you are such a wonderful man in so many ways, but at times you're as blind as a rock.”

She turned to her work but could not concentrate. The story that Ardon had told her was troubling. She could not get out of her mind what she had seen in Rahab. During her brief time in the Hebrew camp, from all Ariel could observe, it appeared she was a good woman, meek and cheerful.

“I don't believe it,” she said. Being a straightforward young woman, she left her tent and made her way to the tent Ardon had put up for Rahab and her family. She found Rahab outside cleaning the carcass of a sheep. Her hands were bloody and Ariel smiled. “That's a messy business, isn't it?”

“It's the only way there is to fix meat, though,” Rahab answered with a smile. She had developed a great respect for Ariel. As the daughter of Caleb, Ariel enjoyed a high position in the camp, but besides that, she had shown a courtesy and kindness toward Rahab and her family that her brother obviously lacked.

“I need to talk to you, Rahab,” Ariel said directly.

“Of course. What is it?”

“You may think this is none of my business, but my brother told me about Jehu and what happened.”

Rahab waited for Ariel to say more, but when she saw that Ariel was finished, she said, “Perhaps I shouldn't have told Ardon, but I was so disturbed by it, I had to tell someone.”

“You can tell me about it.”

Rahab briefly repeated the details of the incident and then said, “I wish it hadn't happened.”

“What are you going to do about him?”

“I'm going to try to stay away from him.”

Ariel hesitated. “That's a good idea,” she said, “but it may be impossible. Don't go anywhere alone.”

“That will be difficult too.”

Rahab could see that Ariel had something on her mind. “What is it, Ariel? Is there something else?”

“I don't want to insult you, but everyone knows that you had a…a bad life in Jericho.”

“Yes I did. I worked in a brothel.”

The words seemed harsh to Ariel, and she winced. “That must have been a terrible life.”

“It was death,” Rahab said flatly, and her face grew still as memories flooded through her. “I would have killed myself, except I had to help my family.”

“How did you get into such a life?”

“There was a man who got power over my father and led him into gambling. My father gambled us away, the whole family, into slavery. The man agreed to let my family remain free if I would do what he asked.”

“It must have been terrible.”

“As I say, it was worse than death.” Tears glittered in Rahab's eyes. “I was as innocent as you are, Ariel, before that man trapped us.”

“I don't think I could have done it.”

“Not even if it meant saving your family? What if it were a choice between prostitution or having your whole family made into slaves to be beaten and tortured?” Rahab's voice grew low. “I cried out to our gods, but they didn't help me. So I chose to save my family in the only way I could.”

Ariel melted with compassion for this young woman. They were approximately the same age, and she said finally, “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pried.”

“I'm glad I told you. Maybe it'll help you understand me a little bit better.”

Ariel moved forward and embraced Rahab. “You're a courageous woman. May Jehovah bless you in all your ways.” She turned and walked away, and as she left, she was thinking,
That woman has more courage than I have
.

****

The abortive encounter with Rahab had left Jehu filled with venomous anger. He became impossible to live with, and his family and servants fled from him whenever they could safely do so. For three days he was sullen or shouting with anger at nothing. Finally he could stand it no longer. “That woman thinks she can get the best of me, but she won't.”

Jehu had studied Rahab's habits, and he had to wait another two days before he finally found her going down toward the stream where many of the Hebrews got their fresh water. Usually one of her family members came with her, but this time she was alone.

Jehu had concealed himself behind a towering group of shrubs by the path, and as Rahab came bearing her water pitcher, he fell on her and dragged her to the ground. He began tearing at her clothes and laughed as she cried out with anger.

“You might as well be quiet. No one's going to hear you. Nothing's going to happen to you that hasn't happened before.”

Jehu was not an especially strong man, and Rahab had been an active young woman. She threw him to one side, and before he could move, he felt a cold blade at his throat.

“Wait—don't kill me!” he pleaded.

Rahab got to her knees, keeping the blade on Jehu's throat. “You're a beast! I ought to slit your throat right now.”

Jehu begged her not to, and Rahab knew at that moment she could not kill him. “You lie still or I will kill you.” She moved the blade down the side of his face. It was razor sharp, and his thick beard fell away.

“What are you doing?” Jehu asked and reached out to grab her wrist. Rahab turned the blade so that he grabbed it. He let out a yell of pain. “You cut my hand!”

“I'll cut your throat if you move again.” She began to rake the side of his face again, and the keen blade cut through half of his beard. With one side of his face scraped raw, she got to her feet, scooped up the fallen hair, and held it in one hand. “If you don't leave me alone,” she said, still holding the blade, “I'll show them what I've taken from you. That'll show all of Israel what a feeble man you are, that a woman has taken your pride and joy.”

Jehu sat up and felt his face, which was now half bearded and half bare. She had nicked him several times and his cheek was bleeding. He felt naked and defenseless. Getting to his feet, he knew he could not appear like this before Israel. He made his way back to the camp, cursing Rahab under his breath, and when he finally got into his tent, he called for his servant Jehaza.

Jehaza appeared at once. He was a thickset, burly man with blunt features and dull eyes. “What happened to your face, master?” he cried out.

“Shut your mouth! Get a razor and shave the rest of my beard off.”

Jehaza had little imagination, but he knew something unusual had taken place.

Jehu told his servant nothing, but as he suffered the rest of his beard being removed, he made a vow.
That woman has defiled a master of Israel,
he thought grimly.
I'll have my revenge if it's the last thing I ever do
.

Aloud he said, “I have a job for you, Jehaza. It'll pay you well.”

“What is it, Master?” Jehaza asked and grinned. “I always need money.”

“Here's what I want you to do….”

The sunlight glittered on the water, the tiny waves making flecks of brilliant light. Oman was watching his line carefully when the slender sapling that composed his fishing pole was drawn almost double. He let out a shrill cry. “Rahab—I've got one!”

Rahab had been sitting beside Oman for some time, enjoying the sibilant murmur of the water at her feet and the warmth of the sun. She turned quickly and laughed as Oman tugged at the pole. “Hold on to him, Oman. Don't let him get away.”

“It's big!” Oman cried, his eyes wide with excitement. “It's the biggest one I ever caught.”

“You want me to help you?”

“No, I can do it myself.”

Oman struggled with the fish until the fish tired. Rahab reached out over the water and grabbed the line and pulled it in. “Oh, that's a nice one!” she cried. With a tug she threw the fish back on the bank, where it flopped around wildly.

“He'll be good for supper, won't he, Rahab?”

“Yes, he will. With what we've got, we can feed the whole family. You're a good fisherman, Oman.”

“Let's catch another one.”

“No, it's time to go back. Come along.”

The two gathered up all the fish they had caught, mostly small ones, into a sack. Oman insisted on carrying the largest one himself, and as they passed through the village of tents, he would hold it up and cry out, “Look at what I caught!” Several admiring young people came to comment on it, and Oman was happy.

Rahab was happy also, for it had been a good day. She was pleased with Oman's health. He had improved greatly, and though she could not be certain of the reason, she privately thought it was the doing of Jehovah, for she had prayed often for her nephew. Whatever it was, she felt content with his progress.

“Look! There are some men in our tent!” Oman said.

Quickly Rahab glanced up and saw that, indeed, there were a collection of serious-looking men with beards. For some reason a stab of fear touched her, and as she drew closer, one of the men stepped forward. She had seen him before but did not know his name. His face was stern as he said, “You are Rahab?”

“Yes, master. That's my name.”

“You must come with us.”

“Come where, sir?” Rahab said. She saw the other men forming a semicircle, their faces all very stern. Quickly she looked between them to see her family watching with fearful eyes. “What is it?” she said. “What's happened?”

“You have been accused of breaking the Law of Moses,” the leader said. “You must come with us to appear before the council of elders.”

“Which law have I broken?” Rahab asked, looking from face to face. She knew she had seen several of them but could not think of any of their names.

“A man has confessed that you have sold your body to him.”

“It's a lie!” she cried.

“You must come with us.”

Rahab had no choice. The elders formed a group around her, and she cast one look at her family and saw that Zayna's eyes were pale. Romar had put her hands to her lips in a gesture of despair. Makon had gone back into the tent, trying to avoid trouble wherever possible.

They passed through the camp, and Rahab heard the whispers and saw the curious glances on the faces of her neighbors. One voice called out, “Harlot! Stone her!” and her heart seemed to grow cold.

****

“It is going to be a hard task to conquer this land,” Ardon said. He was eating a bit of mutton with Ariel, and the two had been speaking of the future. Ardon was thinking mostly of the battles, and he started talking about the various difficulties that lay ahead of the army. They both looked up when Caleb came in with an odd look on his face.

Ariel got up at once. “What is it, Father?”

“Something's happened to Rahab.”

Ardon got to his feet quickly. “What's the matter?”

“She's been accused of selling herself to a Hebrew.”

Both Ardon and Ariel were shocked by the news. Ariel demanded at once, “What will happen to her?”

“If she is found guilty, she will be stoned.”

Ariel stared at her father. “Who was the man?” she demanded.

“That hasn't been revealed yet.”

Her father's answer infuriated Ariel. “What do you mean it hasn't been revealed? Someone had to accuse her.”

“She has been accused, but the name has been kept secret.”

“What kind of justice is that?” Ariel demanded, her face flush and her eyes glinting. She was not a woman who concealed her emotions particularly well, and both Caleb and Ardon saw that she was fiercely angered.

“It's the way things are,” Caleb said.

“Well, it's wrong! Can any woman be killed if a man goes to the council and accuses her?”

“You have to understand how important it is that a man be protected.”

“Well, what about a woman being protected?”

Ardon and Caleb glanced at each other helplessly as Ariel's voice rose. While Ariel accused the council of being a group of unjust men, Caleb finally said, “You mustn't talk like that, daughter. They're the Council of Israel.”

“They're men, aren't they? Well, I'm going with you to this council meeting!”

“A woman can't do that!” Ardon exclaimed. “Women aren't permitted at the council meetings.”

Ariel threw her head back and stared directly into Ardon's eyes. “Well, one woman is going this time!” she declared. “Come on if you intend to go with me.”

****

Rahab had been put in a tent, and she knew that there were guards outside. She was pacing back and forth now, fighting the fear of what was to happen next. She had been left alone, and the councilmen who had brought her had refused to answer her questions. Finally she sat down, bowed her head, and began to pray. Strangely enough, despite her fears, she found herself drifting off into a strange dreamlike state. She was not asleep, yet she was not awake either. She had been simply praying for God to deliver her, and now she had the strange experience of feeling herself out of her own body. It was as if she could look down and see herself kneeling with her head bowed and her face to the earth. She had never experienced anything like this in her life, and she waited in a silence that was almost palpable.

A voice came to her—and yet it was not a voice. It was more like one of those faint memories that come brushing against the mind when one is asleep at night. She knew she was dreaming, and yet the voice, though soft, was clear. Suddenly Rahab knew she was in the presence of the Lord. “What is it, Master?” she whispered, her lips barely moving.

The voice came again, this time soft and gentle, yet somehow strong and powerful as well.
“Do not be afraid, my daughter. You must have faith in me.”