Priest

There were nearly twenty men with Doeg. Eight of them advanced toward the oncoming stranger with swords drawn while the rest surrounded their commander. The cloaked stranger advanced toward the men in complete silence. He ran into the first soldier, knocking the wind out of the man while at the same time retrieving the soldier’s swords. Simultaneously Asahel leapt out of a nearby tent with a sword in each hand as Jehoiada swung his fist into the nearest soldier and unsheathed his own sword. The cloaked warrior continued his momentum toward Doeg, knocking down all who came in his path while Asahel helped clear the way. Three soldiers advanced upon Jehoiada only to find themselves disarmed and upon the ground in pain. Before Doeg knew what had happened he was void of his bodyguard, with a cold blade pressed firmly against his throat. All fighting instantly ceased, and as the cloaked stranger cast aside his covering, Doeg beheld Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada.
“All of you drop your swords,” Benaiah ordered. “Do it now!” The men of Doeg quickly obeyed his orders; those who were still conscious that is, for ten of the twenty were lying still upon the snow, though none of them had been killed.
Doeg’s eyes opened wide. “But they said you were dead,” he spoke with horror.
Benaiah continued to stand before the evil lieutenant of Israel with his arm and blade extended to the madman’s gullet. “They were wrong,” he said plainly. “And you were wrong to think that your words and actions would go unnoticed by the God of heaven.”
Doeg’s lips trembled, for the sudden sight of Benaiah brought a fear to his heart, though he quickly tried to overcome his panic with a threat.
“You foolish little boy! You dare speak to me about words and actions not going unnoticed! It is your actions that you will have to account for, for King Saul will hear that you are alive. And he will hear of your continued treason. And when he does he will hunt you down like the little dog you are! He will kill you and all that belong to you! He will spill your blood upon the ground!”
Benaiah then slightly nudged his blade into Doeg’s throat, and the evil commander flinched with fear. “You go and tell your king all that you have seen here,” Benaiah said firmly. “You go and tell him that the son of Jehoiada lives. You tell him that I am going to serve the true king of Israel—David, son of Jesse. And you tell him that if he wants to hunt me down, so be it, for in doing so he will kindle the single greatest fight of his life.”
The young priest then reached out with his left hand and grabbed Doeg’s collar to bring the man’s face near to his own. “I would advise you to pray to whatever pagan god you pray to that we never meet again. For if on the field of battle our two paths meet, your next meeting will be with Hades itself!”
He then pushed the fearful man to the ground and continued to stand over him. “Asahel,” he called out. “Gather their swords, yet let three of them keep their blade.”
Asahel quickly executed Benaiah’s orders without hesitation.
“Miriam,” Benaiah continued. “Give them half of their horses, one horse for every two men.”
He then looked to his wife. “Get these men each a ration of food.”
Jehoiada then put his own blade to Doeg’s throat. “So, this is the man who put my dearest friend to the sword?” And with his words Doeg began to tremble. “You are lucky that my son is kinder than I am, for I would have no regret in severing your head from your body this very instant.”
Doeg began to open his mouth to speak, but before a sound escaped Benaiah lightly slapped the commander’s face with the flat side of his blade. “If you open your mouth again it will become a sheath for my sword,” he assured him.
Benaiah then noticed Zabad standing alone and unsure of what to do. “You must decide which side you are on Zabad,” Benaiah said plainly. “You are either with us or you are with them.” Zabad hung his head in thought, after which he approached Asahel.
“Return to me my sword,” he gently commanded. Asahel looked to Benaiah for approval. At Benaiah’s nod, he gave Zabad his sword.
Zabad then looked at Doeg. “I submitted to you out of reverence for God, because my king commanded me to. But no longer. I stand with Benaiah, and I will likewise seek out David, the true king of Israel.” The young warrior from Kabzeel then took his place beside Benaiah.
The other soldiers of Doeg were soon mounted upon their horses, two men on each horse.
“Ride to the west,” Benaiah commanded them. “And if your slothful commander advises you to return here and attack us, I would advise a mutiny.”
The soldiers began to ride to the west, and as they disappeared into the distant snowfall Doeg turned and gave Benaiah a look of hatred.
“This isn’t over!” he declared. “And you, Zabad…you will regret this day! I promise you!”
Jerusha fell into her husband’s arms with tears and exhaustion. “I was so afraid,” she exclaimed. “How much distress can fall upon us within one night?”
“Well,” Asahel said with a smile. “I suppose this means that you have chosen to fight.”
Benaiah nodded. “I will fight. Until there is no battle left to fight. I will fight until the true king of Israel is on his throne, without threat, and without enemy.” He then turned to his father.
“Father, will you teach me the sword?”
Jehoiada looked deep within his son’s eyes and his countenance was like that which Benaiah had never before seen. “Yes,” his father replied. “I will teach you the sword.”