Feats of Courage: Lesser-Known Heroes of the Bible

2016 Alain Normand. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/09/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-0748-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-0747-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016907306

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

This book is a work of fiction. With the exception of people, places and events that are taken directly from the Bible, all other characters are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, or other historical events, is purely coincidental. All Bible verses are taken from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise specified.

Contents

Introduction

Part 1 -Men

Ehud, the left-handed

Memucan, the advisor

Naaman, the leper general

Part 2 -Women

Miriam, leader of women

Jephthah’s daughter, the sacrifice

Ruth, the meaning of loyalty

Part 3 -Small Groups

Counsellors to Hezekiah, the good advice

Four great friends, faith in action

Midwives, rebels for justice

Part 4 -Large Groups

Sons of Barzillai, the wrong genealogy

Daughters of Zelophehad, the female heirs

Nineveh, the doom of a city

Conclusion

Feats of Courage

A collection of

short stories

This book is dedicated to my brother Lionel.

May he remember that the Lord is with him always, in happiness or in pain.

Introduction

In this second instalment of short stories based on biblical events, we look into some of the lesser known heroes of the Bible. People who are mentioned in passing, who take up only a page or two in the scriptures, but nevertheless play a role in teaching us lessons, need to be acknowledged. Their contribution may pale in comparison to some of the better-known heroes like David and Moses, but it’s all of those people who shaped whom and what we are today. In particular, this book aims at demonstrating the courage it took to go against the flow during these times.

Again using the context of biblical time, this is a follow-up to the first book Facing the Elements, which made the reader see the scriptures not only as stories but as real events. This book is separated into four themes: men, women, small groups and large groups or clans.

In the author’s usual habit, the twelve stories are followed by a bonus which makes for the baker’s dozen. This time a song attributable to Nehemiah is the subject.

Part 1

Men

Hebrews 2: 7-8

⁷"You have made him for a little while lower than the angels;

You have crowned him with glory and honor,

and have appointed him over the works of your hands;

⁸ You have put all things in subjection under his feet."

Ehud, the left-handed

Ehud had been shunned all his life. What would someone who couldn’t use his right hand ever accomplish? He was pushed aside from all of the greater positions. Some said he was cursed by God. They implied someone in his family had sinned and he was being punished for it. They said his inability to use his right hand was similar to the mark of Cain.

His redeeming quality in the eyes of the people was his strength. If someone’s ox was stuck in a ravine, or a huge rock needed to be removed from a field, Ehud was the first to come to mind because of his legendary power. In return, Ehud always agreed to assist and use his might as it helped to get some of the respect he longed so much from his peers.

As a youth he had often fought other children, many of them much older. As he grew and gained strength even more, they all gave up on trying to beat him. He had to find other ways to keep his stamina, so he became a hunter. He felt the rush when running and slaying wild beasts.

He heard the stories of how the heroes of Israel had conquered so many enemies and he dreamed of those days. He often imagined sparring with enemies, turning after them, roaring his anger at them, pursuing them in their flight, creating much fear to all around him.

The reality was much different. The people of Israel had surrendered and swords were no longer drawn. Spears were replaced with spades and shields were melted into scythes. It was as if none of them had any more of the pride that had brought them to conquer the land in the first place. Nobody seemed to remember that they were part of the chosen people of God. Everyone was too busy cultivating the land, while the senate and tribe elders were bent on becoming rich from the trade with the Canaanites.

Sure there was peace in the land. The Moabites would grant tributes to Israel in exchange for their complacency. The Benjaminites sent tributes to King Eglon so he would maintain laws that would help them prosper. Ehud himself went a number of times with his father to the palace of the king in Jericho, the famous city of Palm Trees. The opulence and extravagance he had encountered there revolted him. While so many of his people lived in meagre conditions, tilling the land from sunrise to sunset, taking shelter in dirt houses with bare necessities, here the king was throwing racks of lamb to the dogs.

The first time he had laid eyes on Eglon, he had been overwhelmed. Never in his life had he seen such a large man. It had taken eight very strong male servants to lift him and his bed. His name meant circle, representing how everything in the kingdom turned around him, but Ehud understood the meaning to indicate the rotundness of the sovereign, not his aura. The heavy coating of fat surrounding all parts of his body was difficult to hide under the layers of clothing and in particular, during the hot season, he had little to cover himself, making the bulges even more pronounced.

Ehud had, over time, seen his aversion for the ruler turn into a bit of an obsession. Yet, the king, oblivious to his feelings, seemed to take a liking to Ehud. From the age of twelve, Ehud had gone at least once a year to accompany the team of servants bringing the tributes to Eglon. The king knew him by name, invited him to sit near his couch, even offered him to partake of his food. He never dared to refuse, fearing both the retribution that could come from turning down an offer from the ruler, and the admonition of his father from such an attitude. Each time, immediately after he left the palace, he would force himself to throw up the food he had just taken. It was easily done when just thinking of the disgust he had in the king and reminding himself that this abject man had touched the same food.

Once home, he constantly wondered why his people accepted the king’s rule. He prayed to God to understand why this was happening to Benjamin and what was in the future for Israel. He had little education in the scriptures but one day, he was moved to go to the local Levite. Something had stirred him in his sleep to question the scholar as to the will of God. The Levite had indicated that it could be difficult to understand for God had given many prescriptions which were not easy for the common man to ponder upon.

Ehud wasn’t a common man. So he decided to study with the Levite and understand more about the word of God. Then one day it came to him. God had given Israel an order but the people had not followed. God had told them to eliminate Canaan completely from the land but they had only pushed them back a bit, never completing the task. Over time, they had exchanged the sword for the plough and now they had no desire to rid the land of the enemy.

Convinced that something had to be done to wake the people of Israel, and stirred in his soul that he was selected to be the one to sound the trumpet for the troops to rise, he prayed again for the wisdom of God. One night, during his sleep, the plan came to him clearly. He knew why he had been allowed to get close to Eglon, why the king had befriended him, why the guards and escorts in the palace knew him by name and let him go about the palace without worry. He understood why he had nurtured this revulsion for the ruler, yet had continued to come into his presence.

The next tribute was to be delivered in two weeks. By then it would be the hottest time of the season. Eglon would be in his summerhouse where there was more shade, on the second floor of the palace where the wind would blow a slight breeze, thus providing sporadic relief from the heat. The guards and servants were also more uncomfortable, less attentive, more lascivious because of the extreme temperature.

Ehud had always hidden his predominance to use his left hand while in the palace for fear of being judged by servants and attendants there. He forced himself to use is right hand, keeping his handicap as a secret. This would be his opportunity.

He went to the local smithy and asked him to give him a bit of iron to make a dagger. He fashioned it for the next two weeks. He made sure it was light, no longer than a forearm’s length, with both edges as sharp as possible. The handle was fashioned to fit his palm perfectly and to give him a steady grip. With the help of the smithy he worked until the short sword was ready, then put it into a sheath of leather that he could easily hide under his clothing. For a couple of days he practiced retrieving the blade from his right side into his left hand. He came to the point where the blade would appear from its hiding place and disappear again into a target bale of hay at such a speed that the light hardly had time to shine upon it.

The day came.

He dressed in his best clothes. He carefully placed the dagger tied securely on his right thigh. He also tied a longer sword on his left side, well in view of everyone. He prayed for God to provide him with the right words to lure his enemy and to guide his hand steadily until his task was complete. He bade farewell to his father, who, because of his advanced age no longer came to deliver the tribute to the king. Ehud knew he might never return but he couldn’t tell his father. He didn’t want anyone to try to convince him to go back on his plans.

He joined the twelve servants assigned to carry the tribute. They paired up, each team carrying a large basket filled with lavish cloth, bountiful vines, exotic fruits, or expensive jewellery. Behind them another group led a large herd of mixed animals, goats and sheep, oxen and horses, all of those as part of the regular gift to Eglon. Ehud led the convoy toward Jericho. They left early in the morning and arrived just after the midpoint of the day. The herds were thirsty, so as they entered the city they were directed to the wells where their animals were allowed to drink.

Most of the guards were gone for the afternoon nap, leaving a skeleton crew for the palace and the walls. Ehud and the twelve porters went up to the summerhouse. The guard at the door knew Ehud well and greeted him in a friendly manner. Ehud surrendered his main sword, the one he had tied to his left side. This was the usual practice, no one went in to see the king with a sword and since all soldiers and sword carriers wore their weapon on that side, the guard did not even look for a