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HIVIM MESSENGERS ARRIVED at Stone Circle late in the afternoon with word that a coalition of five armies had invaded their kingdom, like masses of ants swarming over a day-old carcass. Giveon was besieged and they begged Y'hoshua to remember their treaty.
Y'hoshua knew many of the men in his army were resentful about the treaty. He also knew that the five-kingdom coalition had chariots, cavalry, and outnumbered Yacov's lightly-armed militia by overwhelming proportions. Yet he saw the opportunity in it, as well: He could quickly defeat the strongest kingdoms in southern Kenaan in one decisive battle, rather than a piecemeal campaign which would drag on for many years. It would still take time to pacify all the towns and villages; then there was northern Kenaan, with all its Gibborim kingdoms... But here was a chance to shorten the timetable significantly. He might even be able to pacify the South before winter.
What mattered more than any strategic plans on either side, though, was that El Elyon was more than a match for all the gods of Yacov's enemies.
Y'hoshua issued orders to the tribal generals to form up their troops. They would march at sundown, to arrive at Giveon by dawn.
SALMON MUSTERED HIS men, inspected them quickly, then left them briefly to find Rachav near her family's tent.
When she recognized him, her eyes widened in surprise. "Hello."
"Hello," he said, quietly.
"I thought I wouldn't be seeing you again," she said, with a guarded expression. "What brings you here?"
Salmon hesitated, glanced back toward his fifty, then faced her again. "We're moving out," he said. "I don't have much time. But it's been revealed to me that..."
She searched his face with her intense, dark eyes, obviously confused. Even through her veil, and mostly obscured by the dim of dusk, she was beautiful. It must have been the most natural idea to her heathen mother that Rachav's beauty could be monetized for the family's benefit. It was a savvy business decision in their alien culture, with no social stigma or moral objection to even occur. It was also a cruel decision. Yet Rachav did as she believed her family required, and the lifestyle hadn't erased the decency at the core of her character.
"First of all, Rachav, I thank you on behalf of all my countrymen that you informed us of the Hivim deception."
She shook her head slightly. "Your countrymen are my people now. I consider it to be my duty to look out for the interests of Yacov."
They were silent for a moment. Salmon glanced at her repeatedly, but she looked down, like a dog he might kick any moment.
"I judged you in ignorance," Salmon finally said. "I dealt with you harshly, in words and actions. I regret that."
Another long period of silence ensued, and Salmon worried she might never respond.
"I forgive you," she said, voice cracking.
He was glad she did respond, but still surprised she said nothing more."So easily?"
She nodded with a sad smile. "I'm learning much about your history, and your god. At first, it was tempting to see him as some merciless despot with a volume of rules no person could hope to follow faithfully. But I'm learning about his love...how patient he is...how he seems to seek excuses to show mercy to even the worst transgressors."
She sighed, and a tear trickled out of one eye. "I've examined myself: a whore and a liar, who has been bowing down to statues since I was a young girl... But, simply because of one little act of faith, he spared me and my family. As if my past doesn't matter. As if he were my father–who loves me like his own child."
She wiped her eyes and looked away. Instinctively, Salmon grasped her hand in his.
"It wasn't a 'little' act of faith, Rachav. It was huge, and took great courage."
She stared at their hands. Realizing that the contact was inappropriate, he let go of her hand and took a half-step back.
"I should have been more sympathetic," he admitted. "It must be very difficult for you with no friends or confidants. When we return...assuming I'm still alive...I'll have a talk with some women I know–women who I don't think will shun you."
Her gaze bounced between both of his eyes for a long moment before she said, "You don't owe me any favors, but thank-you just the same."
Jaw stiffening, he said, "I said I'll do it, and I will."
"Friendship can't be arranged, Salmon."
"Maybe not," he said, "but barriers against it can be taken down."
The bugles sounded. The voices of generals, marshals, captains and lieutenants shouted commands as the troops fell in and formed up according to standard order of march. Salmon's attention was drawn to his tribe. He turned back to her and forced a smile. "I have to go. But I want you to know...I'm glad you were spared. I'm glad you're one of us, now."
Rachav stared at the ground as if afraid to meet his gaze. In a voice barely above a whisper, she said, "May our god bring you back safely, Salmon. And should you decide to visit me again...I would be pleased."
Her eyes flickered up to meet his gaze for a passing instant, before lowering once again.
Not knowing what else to say, Salmon turned and trotted away toward his formation.
THE FORCED MARCH LASTED all through the night, and the mountainous trek was much longer than the journey to Ahyee. Normally, the army would need at least a few hours rest before engaging in battle, after such a march. But El Elyon compelled Y'hoshua to hit the Coalition Forces with the element of surprise fully intact.
The mountains rumbled ominously under their feet. Ma'adim rose that night as large as a chariot wheel. Everyone who looked up at the enormous planet noticed something they'd never seen before: two tiny black moons orbiting the red wanderer in opposite directions. Both were dark–one nearly black.
Priests of other nations speculated that the god Nergal had brought his planet this close in order to hurl the moons at Yacov and destroy their enemy with two mighty blows. The Yacovim avoided such speculation. They knew El Elyon had created both Ma'adim and it's moons, and must have his own purposes for displaying this great wonder. Those who paid careful attention to what Moshe had taught them remembered that visible objects were placed in the heavens to mark seasons, days, years...and for signs to the people who could see them from Kadur Ha'aretz. Ma'adim had been brought this close to commemorate something–possibly the looming battle.
Though the moons of Ma'adim were small, they were still larger than the asteroid chunks that had streaked into the red planet's gravity; so humans could not see the meteor storm curving toward Kadur Ha'aretz.
THE HIVIM CAPITAL OF Giveon was fully encircled by the armies of the five kings, but just as the messenger had told Y'hoshua. The largest concentration of coalition forces was in the saddle between two hilltops, a short distance from the besieged city. Y'hoshua passed behind them on a southerly course, then hooked east to cut off any retreat back to Urshalayim.
While Y'hoshua watched the tribes of Yacov deploy on the reverse slope of the eastern hilltop in the ghostly pre-dawn glow, General Paltiel crept up and squatted beside him.
"We've found the main chariot force," Paltiel whispered. "They have tents pitched behind the lines, just like the Hivim reported. Nobody is stirring yet, besides the sentries."
"It's doubtful they expect any challenge to a force of their size," Y'hoshua replied. "But if they even imagined opposition, they'd assume the relief column would march from the direction of Ahyee."
In fact, Y'hoshua mused, he had intended to transfer the bulk of his army to Ahyee and Bet-El, and conduct operations from there. He would be doing so right then, had the coalition not attacked Giveon first. He sent runners to fetch Shemuel and Hanniel.
When the two generals reported, he pointed up to the peak of the hilltop and told them, "I want your archers on that high ground there, ready to support our shock troops."
They acknowledged his orders and were soon off to oversee the deployment. Meanwhile, runners brought the remaining tribal commanders to Y'hoshua. Kalev and Elizaphan knelt on each side of him, at his beckoning.
"Attack at sunrise," he told Kalev. "Right into the charioteers' bivouac." He craned his neck the other way, to address Elizaphan. "Your primary task is to take the horses when the attack starts. Secondarily, I need you to harass those being pressed by Y'huda. Don't give them opportunity to regroup for a counterattack, or even organize for an orderly retreat."
"Take the horses?" Elizaphan asked.
"And hamstring them, like normal," Y'hoshua said. "We trust in El Elyon, our god. Not in cavalry or chariots."
Elizaphan sighed, disappointed. "Of course, Sir."
"Be strong and bold," Y'hoshua said.
These two generals nodded, and were dismissed to make it happen. Y'hoshua waved to the remaining generals, so they would gather in close.
"Benyamin's slingers will support Naftali and Ruven to attack the ridge line. There's a smaller chariot force there–take them out first. When they break and run, Ruven pursues. Herd them toward Gad's ambush."
"You're assuming they'll break at first contact," Bukki observed, skeptically.
"They'll break," General Pedahel said. "You worry about your own assignment."
Bukki looked about to retort, but bit his lip.
"Split Dan into two forces," Y'hoshua told Bukki. "While Y'huda hits the charioteers, you close in on this concentration of enemy infantry from both flanks. That drives them into Yissakhar's ambush."
"Sir," Bukki said, licking his lips nervously, and glancing toward the massive city of tents which sprawled out from between the hilltops far enough for them to see part of it from their current vantage point, "even if all this goes according to plan, there's just too many of them. A million or more will be able to escape and come back to crush us sooner or later."
"We still win the day," Paltiel said. "The battle is ours and they won't recover quickly."
"Hashem is delivering all of them into our hands," Y'hoshua said. "We can't let any get away."
"We haven't forgotten the plan, Sir," General Ahihud told Y'hoshua, with an annoyed glance toward Bukki.
"Good," Y'hoshua said, with an air of finality. "I suggest you get back to your tribes to make sure everyone is in position before I pass the signal."
"Yes Sir," his generals chorused, and scurried back to their respective commands.
Soldiers maneuvered quietly, in hordes, all across the slopes facing Giveon from the east, and crept into attack positions.
Dark clouds hovered over the land but an opening in the overcast sky was expanding, so that Ma'adim hung threateningly over the main chariot force's camp through that aperture. Light from the moon and the red planet shone down on the sea of tents, where sentries dozed and multitudes of Coalition soldiers slept soundly.
The tremors had stopped hours ago, and now it was unusually still and quiet.
The edge of the sun began to crest the horizon.
"May Hashem show himself mighty through us," Y'hoshua said, rising to his feet.
He waved his javelin and the buglers blew the attack. Guidon bearers signaled with their banners, and the spear men rose and surged forward.
