Greetings, all!

As I said last week, I’m continuing with Giant Killer through the end of January. Given the limited time frame, I’m going to jump forward a bit.

This week we rejoin David, who has obeyed Jesse‘s command to go to Saul, as he enters the hall at Gibeah:

Ziba stopped in front of a platform on which sat a stern looking, older man—Saul, David assumed. But David’s attention was diverted from the king by the handsome, rangy soldier standing behind the raised chair—long, sun-lightened hair framed an olive face of pleasing planes and angles, although David could tell that the man’s nose had been broken; an imperfection that played counterpoint to the soulful eyes to either side. But the warrior’s slight smirk seemed at odds with those eyes—yet David could have spent much time gazing into their hazel depths.

The royal retainer introduced him to the king, and all the words he’d intended to say to Saul fled from David’s mind. He dropped his gaze to the floor; his face felt hot and his palms were cold. This is all so different than I had imagined.

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‘Til next time!

Greetings and Happy New Year, all!

I’ve decided to stay with Giant Killer through the official end of Six Sentence Sunday on the 27^th. Today we rejoin Jonathan and Evram—after last week they had temporarily run out of Philistines to fight:

Jonathan examined the pass. His eyes fell upon a pile of rocks held in place by wooden staves—a defensive installation meant to crush attacking Israelites—looking further, he found a stack of wood intended for the watch fire. And the LORD shall provide. “Quickly, Evram, help me to reinforce this side.”

The young man realized what Jonathan meant to do: by redirecting the landslide to the opposite side of the pass, they were able to reduce the width of the narrow path even further, thus the Philistines would be able to approach only by one or two at a time.

A great war cry rose from out of the valley.

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‘Til next time!

Greetings, all!

I hope that everyone had a festive and happy Christmas! Ours was quiet—which was a nice change of pace!

I apologize for last Sunday’s non-posting snafu—had everything all set to go and never got out of draft mode!

This week is again from Giant Killer. Following last week’s six, we rejoin Jonathan and Evram in battle with the Philistines:

Evram loosed a large stone he had picked up from the slope’s scree—the rock caught a second Philistine in the face, blinding him. Recovered from his surprise at the attack, a third soldier managed to free his sword and made for the young armor bearer. Jonathan turned, following through, and put him to death with a well-placed slash to his throat.

Evram turned to Jonathan after dispatching the blinded soldier. “My lord, where has the fourth gotten to?”

“I imagine we are to have additional company shortly.”

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Happy New Year!

‘Til next time!

Greetings, all!

This week we continue Giant Killer with Jonathan and Evram. Last week they came face to face with the arrogance of the Philistine invaders.

Jonathan climbed the remaining distance, scrabbling up with his hands and feet. Evram followed after, his cudgel now serving as a walking staff. Confident in their larger number, the Philistines stood relaxed and loose, watching the two Israelites scale the slope.

The Hebrew prince paused briefly as if to catch his breath. The first of the soldiers, the one who wore no tunic, moved quickly forward, making to grapple with Jonathan. He fell backwards in front of his companions, a startled look in his eyes as Jonathan’s short sword pulled out of his gut, freeing his intestines.

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Merry Christmas everybody! ‘Til next time!

Greetings, all!

We, of course, continue with Giant Killer. This week’s six follow immediately from last week’s snippet, where we left Jonathan and Evram facing the Philistine guards.

Evram whispered, “Lord Jonathan, they mock us!”

“Remain still! It is for the unwashed to decide their own fate.”

The big, dark warrior strode forward shouting, “Come up to us, and we will show you something!” He grabbed his crotch with both hands and bucked his hips, while his companions devolved into more laughter.

“Come on! The LORD has put them into Israel’s power!”

As always, thanks so much for reading! Be sure to check out more of this week’s snippets.

‘Til next time!

Greetings, all! And Chanukah Sameach!

We are continuing with Giant Killer. Last week we left Jonathan and Evram creeping up on the Philistine outpost.

Taking a deep breath, Jonathan moved out of Seneh’s shadow.

One of the guards spotted Jonathan, and the rest followed his pointing hand; a particularly large warrior, his dark-skinned chest crossed by only two leather straps, called out, “A Hebrew has come out of the hole where he’s been hiding.” The Philistines’ laughter carried across the scrubby plain and burned in Jonathan’s gut—it took all of his might to keep from charging at the bulky invader.

As Evram stepped out to join Jonathan, a second soldier, this one wiry and scarred, joined in the harangue yelling at them, “Another dog slinks out too—perhaps we should call for reinforcements!” The group exchanged back slaps, congratulating themselves on their own humor. Jonathan chewed on his cheek, maintaining a tenuous calm.

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‘Til next time!

Greetings, all!

Yes, I’m late to the party this week! Just don’t know where the time goes…

Well, we are continuing with Giant Killer. Last week we met Jonathan and will journey along with him some more today:

The plain before Michmash was criss-crossed with wadis. Hunkering low, Jonathan crept along the ravine until he crouched on the south side of the pass beneath a steep rock, known to the locals as Seneh—The Thorny; its counterpart stood north of Michmash and was called Bozez—The Shining.

Jonathan waved Evram forward and whispered, “Perhaps Jehovah will act for us, for there is nothing that can keep Jehovah from delivering his people either by many or by few.”

“We are certainly few, my lord.”

“We will cross over to the men and show ourselves to them. If they say to us, ‘Stand still until we can reach you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up to them; but if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up—for this shall be the proof that Jehovah has given them into our power.”

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‘Til next time!

Greetings, all!

We are continuing this week with Giant Killer. However, as our first hero, David, is perched on the horns of an impending dilemma, we are going to step away and let him stew for a bit. This week we meet our second hero:

Jonathan shielded his eyes from the glaring light, the better to discern the distant encampment. Earlier that day with the sun barely a hair’s breadth above the horizon, three divisions of the Philistine army had departed Michmash, presumably to steal whatever they could find in the surrounding countryside; one had turned north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual, the second went west toward Beth-horon, while the third headed eastward past the hill that looks down over the valley of Zeboim and the wilderness beyond. Only a small garrison remained to hold the pass of Michmash.

Turning to his armor bearer, the son of Saul said, “Evram, let us go and pay a visit to yonder outpost of the uncircumcised.”

The younger man considered his lord and then looked about, searching for other Israelites—there were none. “Do whatever you wish; I will do my best to help you.”

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‘Til next time!