By Way of the Wilderness (33 page)

Finally he awoke, knowing that he was lying flat on his back. He could hear the sound of a woman singing and smell the aroma of food cooking. He tried to move and cried out, for the pain was sharp and instant.

“Bezalel!” Shani's face appeared above him. She knelt down, stared into his face. “You're awake!”

“Yes. Where am I?”

“You're back home again. You've been so ill.”

“I feel terrible!”

“You almost died,” Shani said. “You got a fever. We had to keep you cooled down with fresh water to keep you from dying.” Her face was filled with concern, and she put her hand on his cheek. “I'm so glad you're awake. You must eat something. You've lost so much weight.”

“I could eat a little.”

“You lie here and I'll fix it.”

Bezalel lay there and looked down at his body. It was as if it belonged to somebody else! “Why, I'm nothing but skin and bones!” he whispered.

Shani was back then with a bowl. “Sit up and I'll feed you.” She helped him sit up and then began spooning warm, sweet mush into his mouth. He suddenly realized he was ravenous, but she gave him only a little. “You can have all you want but only a little at a time.”

Bezalel whispered because his voice was creaky with disuse. “What about the battle?”

“Joshua and Caleb have won. The war is over. That one, anyway. Here, I must change the bandages.”

Bezalel was shocked at the sight of his wounds.

“I sewed you up as well as I could, but you're going to have some bad scars.”

Bezalel touched the huge scar across his chest. “You're a good seamstress,” he said and managed a smile. “Thank you, Shani.”

Shani hesitated, then brushed his hair back. “I'm going to have to cut your hair. You're getting shaggy as a mountain goat!”

“How long have I been here?”

“Over two weeks.”

“It's a wonder I didn't starve to death.”

“I managed to get a little food and water down you, but it was a struggle.”

“I didn't prove to be much of a soldier.”

“Caleb says you were.”

“Seems all I did was get chopped up.”

“Caleb said you fought bravely until you were wounded. You couldn't help that.” She hesitated, then said, “Do you want me to go get Yona to visit you?”

“Yona? Hasn't she been here?”

“She came once, the third day you were home.”

“I guess that tells me something.”

Shani caught something in his voice. “I'll go get her if you'd like.”

“What good would it do? If she truly loved me, she would have been here taking care of me herself. What about you and Hiram?”

“Oh, he's found a new love. Hannah, the daughter of Jemon. They're going to be married right away.”

“I'm sorry, Shani. It's my fault for making you wait.”

“No, it's not.” She reached for a cup of water and held it to his lips. “You need to drink all the water you can. In a little while I'll give you another few bites of porridge with lots of honey.”

“Well, I think I would have died if you hadn't taken care of me.” He reached out and caught her hand. “That means you have to take care of me for the rest of my life.”

Shani colored. “What are you talking about?”

“I rescued a dog once. He was old and was being attacked by some wild desert dogs. I fought them off and brought him home. He never did amount to much, but I couldn't turn him out after I'd saved him. So”—he smiled faintly—“I guess you've taken me in to raise. I feel about like that old dog looked, not worth much.”

“Don't talk like that,” Shani said quickly. “You're going to be fine.” She touched his cheek and smiled. “I'll get you another bite or two of the mush.”

“I'd like to have something solid—like some mutton.”

Shani laughed. “No, not now. When you're better I'll make you some of that mutton dish you like so well.”

****

Bezalel healed very slowly. He had received terrible wounds and knew that he would carry the scars for the rest of his life. Shani cared for him as if he were a child.

After a time he was able to get up and move around and began to complain.

“You must be getting better,” Shani smiled. “You're well enough to mutter about your bad treatment.”

“Oh, it's not that, Shani. I just don't know what's going on.”

“There's a battle going on against King Balak of Moab. He has brought in a prophet called Balaam to prophesy against Israel. But from what I hear, all he does is prophesy good things of us.”

“Tell me all about it.”

“I don't know much. Caleb will be coming today. He can tell you more than I can.”

Caleb did come and filled Bezalel in about King Balak. “He got more than he bargained for,” Caleb said, laughing. “That Balaam is not much good. He specializes in curses, but the way I hear it, God told him not to say anything bad about Israel. So when he prophesied, it was always a blessing on Israel. I've been told Old Balak was livid.”

Caleb seemed to be withholding something. He was sitting beside Bezalel, and finally Bezalel said, “Is something troubling you, Caleb?”

“I have been a little troubled. Actually, not troubled so much as uncertain.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“As a matter of fact, there is.” Caleb slowly pulled his garment back from his chest and, grasping the leather thong from around his neck, pulled the medallion over his head. To Bezalel's astonishment he leaned forward and put the leather thong over Bezalel's head. “The Lord has told me to give you the Shiloh medallion.”

Bezalel could not move. He stared at Caleb for a long moment, then shook his head. “Surely not me. A better man than I needs this.”

“We never know how good a man we are until we're put in the furnace. You know that from working with metal. It takes heat to make good, strong metal. I don't know what God is going to do to make good, strong metal out of you, my son, but in any case you will carry the Shiloh medallion until God tells you to pass it along.”

Bezalel's fingers trembled as he took the medallion and ran his thumb over the image of the lion. “I wish you hadn't given this to me.”

“Because it means responsibility?” Caleb clamped his hands on Bezalel's thin shoulders. “Responsibility is what makes a man. It's hard times that make men strong, not easy times. Someday we'll be going over to possess the land. Joshua will lead us, I feel sure. But you and I will be in his army. God will use the gift that's in you of making things.” He looked down and said, “Somehow I feel naked without that medallion. I've worn it a long time.” He got up and looked down at Bezalel, who seemed stunned by the news. “Remember that Shiloh—the man who will come to redeem Israel, and some say the world—will be of our tribe. Be sure, my boy, that you marry well, because you and your wife may be in the line that will produce the coming Savior.”

Caleb left abruptly, and Bezalel could not move. He was still sitting there when Shani came in later. “What's wrong?” she asked. “Do you feel bad?”

“No. Look, Caleb gave me this.”

“What an odd medallion! I never saw anything like it.”

Bezalel explained the significance of it to her, then added, “I think he's made a mistake. Caleb doesn't usually make many mistakes, but this time he has.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because I'm not worthy to be the bearer of this.”

“Then you must make yourself worthy, Bezalel.”

“How can I do that?”

“Love the Lord. Obey Him. Love your fellow men. That's all any of us can do.”

The two sat talking for a long time, and finally Bezalel reached out and took her hands. “You're the true one, Shani.” He kissed her hand and saw her face redden. “I didn't mean to embarrass you, but you're such a fine woman. There's none finer.”

Shani was flustered and laughed uncertainly. “If you think that's going to get you more sweet cakes, you're wrong.”

She got up and left, but he called after her, “You're the only true one, Shani!”

****

Receiving the medallion from Caleb seemed to have quieted Bezalel. For several days he said little, and Shani noticed that he was often fingering the medal. She said nothing to him but simply saw to it that he had plenty to eat and that he got his rest.

Five nights after he had received the medallion, she was surprised when he got up and said, “Come take a walk with me.”

“All right, but just a short one. You don't want to tire yourself.”

The two left the tent and walked under the glittering stars. The moon was full and cast its silver beams down on the camp. Many were asleep, but there were still sounds of people stirring.

“We'll be going into the Promised Land someday, but it won't be for a long time,” Bezalel said.

“I can't wait to see it, even though I'll be an old woman.”

“You'll never be old.”

“Don't be foolish. All of us get old.”

They reached the edge of the camp and stood there silently, soaking in the sounds of the night and the cool breeze that the earth gave off. The moon bathed their faces with the silver light, and she finally said, “I think it's wonderful that Caleb has given you the medallion. You'll be a great man in Israel.”

“I don't feel like I'm worth anything.”

“You must never say that, Bezalel, never. God has given you a great gift. You have offered your life in battle, and Caleb has passed the medallion on to you.”

Bezalel suddenly knew what he had to do. He turned to face her and took her arms. “Caleb told me something else about being the bearer of the medallion.”

Shani was very aware of his hands on her arms. “What did he say?”

“He said that the bearer of the medallion had to be careful to find a good wife, because her blood may also be in the line that will produce Shiloh.”

He pulled her forward, and she came willingly. She was smiling now, and there was a sweetness in her that hard times had not destroyed, which gave her a faint fragrance and desirability. Bezalel knew at that moment that no other woman could ever stir him as this one. She had an outward beauty and an inward grace. She was rich in a way a woman should be rich—at times in high spirits and reckless, and at times showing the mysterious glow of a softer mood. She was as beautiful to him as inspiring music or a gentle wind. She had the power to stir him deeply and fulfill his sense of longing. He kissed her and then whispered, “I want you to share your life with me.”

“My dear, I thought you'd never ask! I've loved you all my life—ever since you saved me.” She held on to him and put her head on his chest.

He smelled the fragrance of her hair, and after a time he murmured, “We will have our children in the wilderness, perhaps even grandchildren, but they will enter with us into the Land of Promise, and we'll have each other.”

“Yes,” she said and lifted her face, and he saw tears glistening in her beautiful eyes. “We'll have each other.”

Bezalel looked around at those sitting down to enjoy the meal. “Six sons, three daughters, and four grandchildren,” he said aloud. “That's not nearly enough.” He grabbed at Shani, who was passing by, and said, “I need six more sons and a passel of daughters.”

Shani's auburn hair had gray in it now. She smiled at him and winked at the children. “Somebody has been feeding you raw meat, old man.”

“Old man? I'll show you old man. You just wait until I get you alone,” Bezalel cried.

Shani laughed, accustomed to his teasing. “Everybody eat, because big things are going to happen today.”

Eli, their oldest son, was a taller, bigger man than his father. His eyes were dark and glistening, and his muscles were corded with strength. “It's the day we've been waiting for, Father, isn't it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“That was a long speech Moses made,” Eli said with a shrug, “but it was good to hear the history of our people.”

Moses had stood before Israel and read the entire law to them. He had given the history of the Hebrews, and he had announced that he was leaving to go up onto Mount Nebo to die as Aaron had.

“What will we do?” Micah, the second youngest son, said. He was a smaller man than Eli, but he had his father's clever hands and inventive way. “Who will lead us?”

“You know that, son. Joshua is the man God has chosen to lead us. It was Moses who brought us out of Egypt, but it's Joshua who will lead us into the Land of Promise.”

****

The sun was shining brightly, and Moses was preparing to leave. He put his hands on Joshua and once again made it clear to Israel that Joshua was now their leader. He had bidden farewell to those closest to him—to Caleb first, and then to Bezalel and his family. He stood looking at Bezalel and said, “You are the bearer of the medallion, my son. Keep yourself from sin and love the Lord as He loves you.”

“I will do my best, master.”

Moses turned slowly, and a silence fell over Israel as he climbed up the mountainside. No one moved until his figure grew smaller and smaller and he finally disappeared into the clouds.

Bezalel sighed. “What will we do? What will we do? There will never be another man like Moses.”

Shani was standing beside him. She put her arm around his waist and looked up at him. “The spirit of the Lord is on Joshua, husband. He will lead us to our new home. We will sit under the shade of our own fig tree and drink the fruit of our own vine, and our children will be free.”

“What a woman,” Bezalel whispered. He hugged her; then his free hand went to finger the medallion. “We will have to fight for the land, but the Lord is with us.” He looked at the medallion and asked softly, “I wonder what He will be like, the Messiah who is to come?”