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The First Temple
Jerusalem, Kingdom of Israel
10th Century BC

 

Saul strode with purpose, accompanied by his son and a dozen of the young man’s most trusted friends, all about to be sent on Solomon’s fool’s errand. Above them, in the temple, the leaders of the kingdom were in prayer for the safe return of their firstborn sons.

But he had no time for that.

Though if anyone were to ask tomorrow if Saul had been in attendance, in his usual position of honor at the front of those gathered, the answer would be a resounding yes. For his trusted servant, of similar build and features, was wearing his clothes, and was surrounded by the fathers of the young men that accompanied them on their mission.

As he strode down the long hall toward the ornate doors at the end, the guards snapped to attention as they recognized him. It was unfortunate that it didn’t matter, for there was only one solution to the problem of them knowing he was here instead of at worship overhead.

“Sir, I must ask what you are doing here?”

Saul came to a stop directly in front of the guards, clearly nervous, but not enough to defend themselves against the swift attack executed by his son and his friends, daggers plunged then twisted into the stomachs of the souls unfortunate enough to have the honor of guarding the Ark in these dark hours.

Saul opened the unlocked door, there no need for security beyond the ceremonial guard, for who would dare steal something that wasn’t theirs to take?

For this was the property of God.

And it would remain so, for it would be used for God’s work. If his son was to be sent to a faraway land to spread to the heathens of the unknown continent the word of God and the wisdom He had given the Jewish people, then this was indeed God’s work, and he prayed he, and the few involved, would be forgiven for what they were about to do.

He stepped inside, the others dragging the bodies after him, then dropped to his knees as a rapturous sense of awe swept through him at the sight of the Ark, an object so beautiful, he gasped for breath as he finally realized it had been held.

“Father, we must act quickly.”

Saul ignored his son for a moment, taking in what he had only dreamed of for so long, this manmade creation, built to the specifications provided by God, far more inspiring than he could possibly have imagined.

A tear rolled down his cheek, a moment of self-doubt entering his mind.

By what right do you do this?

“Father!”

Saul finally reacted to the hand shaking his shoulder, and stared up into the eyes of his beloved son.

He’s why.

He nodded, pushing to his feet, flicking his wrist at the Ark. “Cover it, but be careful to touch nothing but the poles. You must never touch it. Remember that.”

“Yes, Father.”

A large cloth was cast over the gold plated creation, then his son and the others positioned themselves, lifting the Ark. Saul stared at the bodies of the innocent guards, saying a silent prayer, then led them out of the chamber, his heart hammering, the sudden sound of the doors closing behind him enough to make him flinch as he tried to steady his nerves.

He closed his eyes for a moment, begging God for forgiveness for what he had done.

Please stop us now, should you not approve.

He opened his eyes, finding their way still clear, and breathed a sigh of relief as they reached the top of the stairs, no one in sight, the prayer services continuing on the other side of the wall.

Thank you.

And within minutes, the Ark was loaded into the back of a waiting cart, covered in plain cloths, the horses led out by one of his servants, ignorant as to the cargo, with instructions to head out of town.

Where tomorrow, his son and his friends would collect it, and join the large caravan of Jerusalem’s finest as it departed the only home most had ever known.

And entered the wilds of an untamed continent, without the armies of their brothers to protect them.

But with the power of God instead.