Valiant: A King David Novel (The Davidic Chronicles Book 2) by Greg Baker

Author:Greg Baker [Baker, Greg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-08-02T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

2 Samuel 23:9-12 & 2 Chronicles 11:12-14

“Loose!” David shouted, and dozens of javelins shot into the air to rain down upon the charging Philistine chariots. A few horses were struck and went down squealing in pain, but the Philistines had armored their horses, and most of the javelins either missed or were deflected harmlessly away.

Two horses drew each chariot bearing three warriors, a driver and two warriors. Because of the rain, they carried no bows, but spears and javelins, and as the chariots neared the Hebrew lines, enemy spears shot forth and slammed into the hapless Israelites, and then the chariots struck the Hebrews.

The devastating attack literally crushed David’s lines.

Men fell by the score as they jumped out of position to avoid being trampled by the horses. David barely avoided the same fate, dodging to his left just as one of the chariots barreled by. He tried to stab one of the warriors riding in the chariot, but the man blocked with his shield and was gone before David could react further.

Again, David had to dodge by flinging himself aside to avoid another chariot. The young captain rolled across the grass in jarring fashion, the heavy armor preventing him from quickly regaining his feet. When he did pull himself upright, he found himself in the midst of chaos.

David’s men had panicked and broke.[71] Most fled to the east in a wild and fruitless attempt to escape. A few, clearer headed perhaps than the others, tried to escape to the hills north or south where the chariots could not follow, but the Philistine line swept the width of the valley, cutting them off and leaving them dead in the wet summer grass.

“David! Here!” Eleazar ran up to David, a bloody streak smearing his cheek already being washed clean by the heavy rain. He pointed back toward the west. “More coming!”

Looking in that direction, David saw Philistine infantry emerging from the rainy haze, marching in strong lines toward the remnant of David’s men who had survived the chariot attack. Bruised and battered from his heavy fall, David staggered toward his lieutenant. “We need a defensible position,” he yelled, his throat dry despite the rain.

“Where?” Eleazar shouted back.

Most of the chariots had overrun them, moving deeper into the valley and harrying David’s fleeing men. This left a space between the two Philistine forces which the young captain and his lieutenant now occupied. David would need to do something quickly before the chariots turned around and trapped them.

Shammah appeared as if from nowhere. His chest heaved as he grabbed David and spun him to face east. “There!” He pointed to a barley field with half-grown crops. “The plowed earth is too soft for the chariots, especially in this rain. They’ll have to come at us on foot.”

David knew it wasn’t ideal, but it was the best option available to them under the circumstances. “Let’s go!”

The three of them plunged toward the barley field. A few of the Philistine chariots had already tried to

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