Covenant of War Read Online Free PDF

Eleazar said.
    “You trust Abner to keep his word?” Joab asked.
    “Tell me the real reason you don’t want us in there, Joab,” Josheb said calmly. Their troops were watching this conversation. Things were tense enough as they were, with multiple tribes of Hebrews, foreigners, and mercenaries patched together in their ranks.
    Joab said, “Trust me.”
    Eleazar studied Joab. But his face betrayed nothing.
    “Fine, Joab,” Josheb said. “Use your men. But don’t change the arrangement again without telling me.”
    Joab left.
    Eleazar walked to his pack, exasperated. He pulled out a lump of hard bread and ate it, then began to rub handfuls of dust onto the handle of his pike. It had been wrapped tight with strips of wool to prevent slippage from perspiration, but like other warriors, he frequently powdered his weapons with dust, an extra precaution.
    Shammah, watching him quietly, said, “You don’t expect this to go as planned.”
    “No, I don’t.”

FOUR
    Abner held his weapon, a sickle sword with a long, hooked curve, against his chest. He could never watch a battle unfold without something to grip. The iron sword was old and had needed multiple forgings just to remain intact — not ideal for any soldier, especially those of his rank, but necessary in these times of iron scarcity. The sword was the only weapon he had used since the Gilboa battle, and he liked it, wise or not. Now that he was getting older, he was more content to let Yahweh determine if he were to die on the field of battle and less inclined to fret over weapons.
    The warriors he’d chosen for the contest were good men, some of his few remaining battle veterans. Seeing Eleazar among David’s men had caused Abner to conclude that the pool, although it was an important strategic water point, was not worth the risk of a great many more deaths. His troops would not prevail in open battle against David’s men. And he did not want to risk a debilitating decline in morale if his men should lose confidence in him as their leader.
    A circle had been carved into the dirt by the edge of the pool bank. The troops who would be fighting were gathered inside its perimeter, stretching arms and torsos. Each man from either side had stripped off his tunic and wrapped it around his waist, muscles gleaming with sweat in the hot midday sun. They spat nervously. Flies swarmed their exposed flesh.
    Crowding the outside of the circle were the designated twenty troops from each army who would serve as encouragers and sparring guides. A foul move from any warrior would be shouted aloud by a sparring guide for the benefit of his side, warning of treachery and giving a warning of any group mass maneuvers that might be coming. Farther out from the circle were the hundreds of Benjamite soldiers from Abner’s force.
    Abner had seen many such displays. Kingdoms had been won and lost in many lands on the outcomes of these competitions. Traders from Greece told stories of games played by warriors that also included hurling rocks for distance or the two fastest warriors sprinting head-to-head for a predetermined distance. Such contests seemed odd to Abner — the fate of nations decided through athletics? Better to fight as men and let Yahweh determine it.
    But watching his countrymen prepare for their match, Hebrew tribesman against Hebrew tribesman, he wondered if athletics would not have spared the grief of countless mothers the past few years. Well — he shook his head. There was no way to know what would unite them all against the Philistine threat. Until then, he would lead as best he could.
    He noticed, to his surprise, that the sun had slipped in the sky. He had not realized how much time had passed since they’d all arrived at the pool.
    Each man in the circle lined up directly across from a warrior from the opposing army. They glared at one another, each of them veterans of many desperate fights, issuing taunts and yellingcurses. The Benjamites shouted how