14 |

Royal Palace of King Solomon
Jerusalem, Kingdom of Israel
10th Century BC

 

Saul’s heart hammered as he joined the others gathered in the court, King Solomon’s throne unoccupied despite the order to gather having been issued by him. The room was packed with both nobility and religious authorities, the guard far heavier than usual, as if Solomon expected trouble.

And it could mean only one thing.

His treachery had been discovered.

The fact he stood here among the others, however, told him Solomon had no idea he was involved. For if he did, Saul was certain he’d already be staked and crucified, his family slaughtered before his eyes while he suffered for his betrayal, an example for all to behold lest they think of crossing Solomon in the future.

The room fell silent as Solomon entered, taking his seat. The head of his guard, Abinadab, stood to their king’s right.

“Abinadab, tell them what you told me earlier.”

Abinadab bowed. “Yes, sir.” He squared his shoulders, facing the crowd. “Earlier today, at the changing of the guard for the Ark of the Covenant, the previous shift was discovered missing. I was notified, and upon investigation, discovered blood on the floor. As it is forbidden to enter the chamber containing the holy relic, a rabbi was sent for, and he entered. The bodies of the guards were found inside, stabbed to death, and the Ark of the Covenant was gone.”

Gasps erupted, shocked glances exchanged, Saul ignoring the terrified stares of those few fully aware of what had transpired the night before.

“Who would dare take it?” demanded someone from the crowd.

“And why hasn’t God stricken them down?”

Solomon raised a hand, silencing them, then indicated to Abinadab to continue. “Search teams were immediately dispatched, and every dwelling and building will be searched. The city has been sealed, and no one may enter or leave without being searched. If it is here, we will find it.”

“Surely they would have known that you’d search,” said Michal, a young nobleman who had sacrificed nothing to Solomon’s folly, his own firstborn a mere child. “It can only be an enemy of our people who would do such a thing, and if so, they would have taken it out of the city before we even discovered their blasphemous actions.”

Nods of assent filled the room, Saul’s head bobbing along with them, for Michal was right. His son and the others had taken it from the city immediately upon stealing it, and it was now part of the caravan returning to Menelik’s kingdom, a full day’s journey ahead, the sun now already setting on the city.

Solomon rose, silencing any speculation. “An enemy of our people is certainly responsible, however it is not an enemy from outside the walls of our great city, but from within.”

“Surely not!” cried several, the howls of protest lost on Saul as beads of sweat clustered on his forehead and upper lip, his feet slowly carrying him backward, deeper into the crowd as Solomon’s eyes scanned those gathered for him, he was certain.

“We have been betrayed, my friends, all of us.” His voice cracked and lowered as he dropped back onto his throne. “But mostly I.”

Saul halted his retreat, his eyes narrowing. Solomon’s words were unexpected, and not those the man would have uttered if he knew who was truly involved.

“Who has betrayed us?” asked someone, the crowd hushed.

Solomon’s shoulders sagged and his head drooped. “It can only be my son, Menelik.”

Outrage tore through the room, and Saul sucked in a deep breath as his shaking body found the relief it so desperately needed. He could imagine no better outcome than this. No one in this room had liked Menelik. It wasn’t because of who he was, but because of what his father had wanted for him. And now that Solomon believed his own son had betrayed him, had stolen their most precious possession, any chance of Menelik becoming Solomon’s heir was gone.

And his own family’s involvement would never be discovered.

Solomon wallowed in self-pity for several moments as the anger of those gathered continued to grow, demands for Menelik’s head nearly unanimous. Saul caught the eye of the other fathers involved, all relieved, and they slowly gathered in a cluster of their own, saying nothing lest this glorious stroke of luck turn.

God is smiling on us today.

And He had to be. Clearly, they had done the right thing in liberating His gift to the Jewish people, and sending it with the best and brightest His chosen people had to offer. He was granting them His protection from any who might harm His children, with the knowledge that in time, when His children had fulfilled their task in this foreign land, they would return, with the Ark, to Jerusalem, so it could once again protect all His children from their enemies.

It filled his heart with joy to know he had done the right thing in God’s eyes, and he faced Solomon with renewed vigor, confident in the decision he had made only a day ago.

Solomon raised a hand, his head still low, his eyes staring at his feet. The crowd grew silent, and the man spoke, his voice weak with grief. “I have dispatched riders to find the caravan, and inform the firstborn of Jerusalem of Menelik’s treachery. It will be them who correct this injustice, and return not only the Ark to its rightful place, but the traitor as well.” Solomon lifted his head, his bloodshot eyes staring out at his court. “I will kill him by my own hand.”

Saul smiled as he inhaled deeply, this turning out even better than he could have imagined. All that was needed was for Solomon’s messengers to reach the caravan, and his son would act. If all went well, they might be home before the sun set tomorrow.

God willing.