The Philistine Warrior Read Online Free PDF

affairs of state, and didn’t comprehend yet all of the unspoken, subtle issues at stake behind what seemed to be such a small matter of appropriations for a mere troop of charioteers.
    As I made my entry into my notes, I could sense that Pai was savoring his little moment of triumph. He was a commoner, and it was not an easy thing for him to take on my Uncle Zaggi; on the other hand, he was also a man of great wealth, with a strong following among the merchants and the commercially-minded nobility. A thin, almost skinny man, Pai resembled Uncle Zaggi a little—what with his thin face and prominent nose—but he was a good deal shorter than Zaggi. Like the Chancellor, Pai was hard-working, highly intelligent, and very serious; but that was as far as the comparison went. Unlike
    Zaggi, Pai was entirely devoid of arrogance and (or so I thought at the time) of guile. In those days, he was open and above board in his affairs, and in his behavior at Council meetings. He was there, he freely acknowledged, to look after the interests of the business community. Zaggi used to look down on him for that, but I felt that it was simply Pai’s duty to take that approach.
    I don’t mean that Pai lacked patriotism. True, he believed that whatever was good for business was bound to be good for the city as a whole; but he was also prepared to subordinate commercial interests to the general good when necessary. He merely contended that we shouldn’t rush into unnecessary wars, because wars damage commerce, bringing crushing taxes down upon the business community; and a damaged economy hurts everyone in the long run, and weakens our armed forces as well. But to Zaggi, any and all wars are necessary—because he, unlike the Master of the Port, saw our salvation in land, not commerce.
    My own view lay somewhere in between those of Pai and Zaggi, but I was sufficiently in sympathy with Pai to make my Uncle Zaggi very displeased with me. That’s why I cheerfully seconded the Chancellor’s next proposal—the appointment of Warati to command the garrison at Ziklag, and to run the city as well, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. All that remained was the formality of Gath ’s consent, since Gath and Askelon shared responsibility for the border
     
    district around Beer-Sheba, in which Ziklag was the Philistine strong point.
    Warati beamed with pleasure—although it meant that he’d likely be fighting Judaeans rather than Danites. Inwardly, I felt that he was a man of altogether too much ambition, especially for a commoner; yet, as I say, I supported his appointment in hopes that I could mollify Uncle Zaggi. But the Cancellor still appeared to be upset because of his argument with Pai—or at least that was what I supposed to be the cause of his dark and nervous expression.
     

     
    Maoch then brought up the next item of business. “Chancellor, shall we proceed to the Melek’s letter?” The Sheren had already read the document, of course, and so had I—as a member of the family—
    but it was all news to Amphimachus and Pai, not to mention Warati; and so Zaggi would have to acquaint them with Nasuy’s proposal.
    “Yes, m’Lord,” Zaggi began. “As you know, this letter is the main reason I asked for a meeting today. The Melek writes to say that he is enjoying good health, that Gath is prosperous, and her borders quiet—”
    “That’s good news,” Pai broke in. “Then Gath can lead the way in paying for the expedition out of Ekron….”
    Zaggi’s temper began to rise—and even Maoch looked cross; he certainly didn’t want that issue revived! After an icy stare at Pai, the Chancellor continued: “But the Melek is concerned about his brother, Prince Ekosh. The Prince is well, and high in the esteem of Pharaoh and the government of Egypt . The Egyptian army under Prince Ekosh has won its campaign against the Nubians. Yet Prince Ekosh has expressed his loneliness to Melek Nasuy. He’s been a widower these eleven years, and is