Elijah by William H. Stephens

Author:William H. Stephens [Stephens, William H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Religion, Old Testament, Biblical Biography, Elijah
ISBN: 9780842340236
Google: PFTIPQAACAAJ
Amazon: 0842340238
Publisher: Tyndale House Pub
Published: 1984-01-02T06:00:00+00:00

“Obadiah is here, my king.”

“Good. Show him in.” Ahab sat on the smaller throne he preferred to use to conduct the business of the day. He watched his tall governor enter, this immaculately-groomed man who tenaciously but silently clung to his belief that Yahweh was the strongest of the gods. The king was glad Obadiah had done well during the crisis, for Jezebel detested the man. He would be one of Yahweh’s martyrs, Ahab knew, were his services not so clearly valuable. “Good day, Obadiah,” the king greeted.

Obadiah knelt on one knee briefly, and spoke as his knee touched the highly polished floor. “I trust all is well with you, my king.”

“I can answer that better when I hear your report.”

“It is not good, King Ahab. That is why I requested an audience.”

“Then let me hear the worst. Come, sit beside me.”

Obadiah stepped up onto the dais and took a lower-backed chair next to the king. He drew a scroll from a fold in his tunic. “I have the records here of the levies from each administrative city since the drought began. Also, I have talked with each district collector of levies. I am prepared to give you as much detail as you wish.”

“The details can wait. What is your assessment?”

“I do not believe we should exact any more produce for the royal table, or any more feed for the royal stock. My lord, the people are impoverished for food. Only the priests eat well.”

“The priests,” Ahab spoke contemptuously. “Asherah protects her own.”

“The people are ripe for rebellion. They are not angry with you, but they are desperate. Another levy may well turn their anger toward the royal house.”

“Yes. My advisors of state have the same opinion.”

“My lord, the stock will die if we do not feed them. Another week and all provisions will be gone. Quite frankly, I do not know what we should do.”

“We shall forage, Obadiah, as the people do.”

“The land is well foraged already, my king.”

“Yes. I have no doubt. But some grain may have grown again in the low places and by the water sources. We can do no other than try. We will organize two parties. I shall command one and forage to the south and in the Jordan Valley. You shall command the other and forage to the north. Go through the Jezreel Valley and then up to Dan. Return by the way of Jezreel and the Great Sea. Be sure to check the springs around Megiddo. Perhaps we can find enough feed for the stock to keep alive until the rains come.”

Ahab caught the look of discouragement in Obadiah’s eyes. “The rains will come, my governor. Yahweh will not let his people perish from the earth.”

Obadiah looked quizzically at the king. “You said Yahweh.”

“Yes,” Ahab answered. “I said Yahweh. I do not know the ways of the gods, but still I am an Israelite.”

Obadiah nodded.

“Now go. Organize the parties. We shall leave in the morning.”

Each party consisted of a chariot—a royal one for Ahab, a smaller one for the governor—and fifty horsemen.

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