Chapter O N E

Blood was about to be spilt. The two armies could now see each other. Excited and intimidating cries came from both sides. The armies flashed their weapons in the bright sunlight. Then the commanders yelled the orders and the charge began. In little time the armies would meet.

Gareb didn’t doubt that he would survive this one. Both sides were almost identical in numbers and skill but he was definitely one of the best warriors present in this battle. He was confident that his exceptional speed and blocking skills would bring him through in one piece yet again.

As the gap between the armies closed, Gareb focused on the eyes of his approaching opponent. He calmly lowered his sword and paid attention to every move the enemy soldier made.

Then the armies met. They clashed violently like two tidal waves in the ocean. The noise grew as weapons started swinging and bodies started falling.

Gareb predicted his opponent’s actions perfectly. He easily dodged his enemy’s wild slash. The momentum took the enemy past Gareb and allowed Gareb to make a quick swipe into his enemies back. Spinning around, he slashed into the next unprepared enemy soldier. Then Gareb had to block a couple swings from another soldier. But on the second block Gareb forced the enemy’s weapon down ward and then brought his own sword up and into his chest. Gareb then noticed that one of his fellow soldiers was struggling with a strong enemy soldier. He ran up behind them jabbed his weapon into the soldier’s back. Gareb turned around just in time to find a blade flying for his head. He ducked just before he dispatched his attacker.

Finally, there was only one enemy soldier left. Gareb’s army surrounded the lonely soldier and went at him from all sides. Victory was near. But to Gareb’s horror, his fellow soldiers began to fall. One after another they fell victim to the blade of the enemy until they began to back off, too afraid to oppose this skill. Gareb stepped forward knowing that if anyone could defeat this soldier, it was him. To Gareb’s surprise, he recognized the soldier; it was his cousin, Jonathan! Never the less, Gareb raised his sword and went forth.

The two soldiers exchanged slashes and blocks, each of them looking out for a single weakness in the other. Although they knew each other fairly well, they had never fought before and now they were beginning to realize that they were both fairly gifted with the sword. They fought for a few minutes, each of them wondering if the other would make a mistake. Gareb tried to confuse Jonathan by swinging his sword toward Jonathan’s feet, allowing it to be blocked, and then spinning around to come at his head from the other side. But Jonathan had seen that movement before and he blocked both slashes, knocking Gareb’s sword out of his hand. Then Jonathan’s sword came hard into Gareb’s chest. It was over. Gareb had been defeated for the first time in months.

"Jonathan, I've heard that you are a great fighter,” Gareb said. “But you must have cheated some how.”

Jonathan shrugged and helped Gareb up off the ground. “I hit you kind of hard. Is your chest alright?”

Gareb nodded but rubbed his apex. “I'm gonna tell your dad! But, yeah, I’ve been hit harder before. You’ve got to be willing to take hits to play games like this.”

All of the kids that had been killed in the game started getting up and started talking excitedly about how the round went. They started to split up into armies again but the two cousins opted out of this one.

As they started walking away, Jonathan said, “Gareb, you are very gifted with the sword.”

Gareb laughed out loud. “Sword? Last I checked these things were still called sticks. I’d say I’m skilled with the stick. Or better yet, an imaginary sword. Yes, that is what I will be known for! Give me a Philistine that’s willing to fight with pretend swords and I’ve got him beat!”

Jonathan smiled and shook his head, “Stick, sword—same basic concept. Seriously, I think that if you were given a real sword and if you gained just a little more strength, you’d easily become a very skilled fighter.”

Gareb blushed and he shoved his older cousin in the shoulder. “I can’t believe my mature cousin, Jonathan, is saying this to me. You truly have an amazing ability as a fighter--but apparently you're not skilled enough to realize that I am not.” Gareb changed the subject. “I kind of lost track of time. Have they cast the lots yet?”

Jonathan nodded. “You naughty boy missed it some time ago, actually. In fact, this is the reason I came to find you. My father was chosen.”

Gareb’s eyes widened and he threw an arm around Jonathan’s shoulders. “Hallelujah! My very own cousin’s father is the king of Israel! Are you excited?”

“A bit,” he said sarcastically. “And do you know what this means?”

Gareb answered, “You and your father will be leading us to drive out these infidel Philistines from our lands! We will be free again! I can’t wait!”

Jonathan nodded. “Even though I’m a little young to be in the Hebrew army, my father is most likely going to allow me to take part in it. …And every member in the royal family needs an armor bearer. I was wondering if you would be willing to be my armor bearer.”

Gareb stopped in his tracks. “Me? You don’t know how much that would mean to me! But I’m so young. And so are you. Do you really think that your father would give us a place in the military?”

“I’m certain. We’re only a couple years short of the fighting age. But by the time we finish training and it is time to drive the Philistines out, we’ll be a whole year closer.”

Gareb was overflowing with excitement. “Real training? I can’t wait! I was never too interested in working in my father’s crops. My brothers are going to be jealous!”

As they neared the town square, Gareb noticed that there was a lot of hubbub and noise coming from the crowd. “What’s going on?” he asked.

Jonathan answered, “They’re looking for my father to tell him that he’s been chosen. For some reason he’s been missing all day.”

~~~
Down in one of the alleys next to the town fortress was where all the travelers had left their baggage. Families from all over the tribe of Benjamin had traveled here to Mizpah for the momentous event that would determine who would become the first king of Israel. It had been a long process, but the Hebrew people were finally getting what they were asking for: a king just like all the other nations. Saul was chosen. And as the people cheered and sang and danced, their new king was among the baggage--hiding.

A few weeks earlier, the prophet Samuel had already told Saul that the Lord was going to choose him. As Saul entered the town earlier that morning, he became extremely scared and nervous. The tall farmer hid in the shadow of the alley and processed the same thoughts over and over in his mind all day long: “Can I do this? Can I be king? Do I have that ability? Will I mess it up? Will it be hard for me? Will it be worth it for me? What will I have to sacrifice? What do I have to gain? Why me? Can I do this? Can I?”

TO BE CONTINUED…

Don’t miss the next chapter on November 6!