July 1, 2025 • 24 mins
# 182 - A Hero is Forged - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David rises to reclaim his people from the Amalekites in a story of rescue, repentance, and restored purpose. Walk with him in 1 Samuel 30 as he learns that true kingship is not vengeance, but covenant faithfulness and mercy that heals what was lost.
Episode 182 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by 2 Samuel 22:40, "You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me."
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Show Notes:
(01:52) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(02:42) A Hero is Forged
(22:56) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the Chosen People. The king of Gath grew
fat on David's victories. Believing his once greatest enemy had
turned into his most loyal warrior. He drank to David's name,
He called him his champion, He trusted him completely.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
The Philistine kings have gathered at Aphek. They march against
Saul and Jonathan.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Does Akish demand more from us?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
We'd be lucky if we made it out of Ziklag.
So David has a choice to make. Does he shed
Jonathan and Saul's blood on the battlefield or doom us
and our families to burn in our own fields.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
David gathered his men, all six hundred of them, and
led them from Ziklag. The kings were already gathered warriors
in their own right, hard men with darker eyes. Lords
of Ekronza, Ashdod, and Ashkalon.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
I say he goes back, Send him back to whatever
dirt hole you gave him.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Go back to Ziklag.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
When we've defeated these Israelite dogs, some will likely run
to our borders.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I'll have your snatched them up. That smoke it's coming
from our village, our homes. And then they saw it.
Ziklag was burned to a crisp charred timber lay scattered
like bones the Amalekites. You made us march away from our families.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
The Amalekites never would have attacked if we had been here.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Shallo, my friends from here in the holy land of Israel.
I'm your l Extein with the International Fellowship of Christians
and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People. Each day
we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible, stories
filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the meaning
of life. Through Israel story, we will find this truth
(02:17):
that we are all chosen for something great. So take
a moment today to follow the podcast. If you're feeling
extra grateful for these stories, we would love it if
you left us a review. I read every single one
of them, and if you're interested in hearing more about
the prophetic, life saving work of the Fellowship, you can
(02:37):
visit IFCJ dot Org. Let's begin.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
David remained motionless. He had not moved in hours, not
since they arrived, not since the fire. Scarred earth had
screamed its accusation with every fallen timber and scorch stone.
His men hated him, his lies had forced them into
(03:05):
an impossible situation. All of these men were forced to
march away from their families to join the Philistine army.
Thankfully they had been spared from fighting, but when they returned,
their village was reduced to rubble. The Amalekites had stolen everything,
including their families. Beniah was the most indignant of them all,
(03:31):
bereaved of his wife and daughters, who were now in
the clutches of an Amalekite horde. Who knows where their
blood is are David's hands. Beniah's voice echoed from the distance.
As David sat apart from the others, they all murmured
in agreement. Even Jasherbine kept his distance. David felt their
(03:53):
eyes stabbing into his chest. It was all his fault.
He thought of their family, especially Abigail.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Oh, Abigail, I'm so sorry.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
He thought of what the Amalekites would do to her
and the others. They'd be made slaves or worse, used, abused, killed,
all because of his recklessness and arrogance. David hated himself,
and that hatred threatened to consume him entirely. David sat there,
(04:31):
the charred village behind him, and the vast planes before him.
The wind bit at his tear streaked face. That's when
Abishi approached from behind. He was the loudest voice of
criticism when they marched to Aphek, but had since been silent.
The boy sat beside David, and for a while he
(04:54):
said nothing. He just remained there, content to soak in
the defeat with David. Then, with strength in his chest,
Habishi broke the silence.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I was too young to be in the ranks of
Saul with Job, but he returned with stories.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
David didn't look at Abshi, but he could tell that
his smile creaked on the edges of his face. By
the way he mused.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
There was this one day he returned to tell me
about a boy who faced a giant Saul wavered. Abner
didn't step forward. Not even Job rose to the occasion.
But this shepherd boy, stupid and filled with righteous resolve,
stood where others trembled. It should have surprised me to
(05:41):
hear it was you, but it didn't. We all knew
you had the heart of a shepherd.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
David said nothing, his eyes tracing the constellations above. Their
quiet order was a cruel contrast to the chaos below.
Habishi looked up with him, straining to find the right words.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I know you, David. I know you more than most
of these men. I've observed you my whole life. That's
why it's so infuriating to see you lead us with
lies and compromise. It wasn't you, you know, wolf, You're
You're a shepherd, good shepherd.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Abish I turned toward him, laying a hand on his shoulder.
His grip was firm, not as a soldier to his king,
but as kin.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
You were a shepherd before you were a giant slayer,
and a shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Abish I stood and walked away, leaving David alone in
the ruin. David watched Abishi vanish into the gloom, and
then turned toward the valley where the sheep once grazed.
The scent of ash had faded, and the wind swept
over him like a breath from the heavens. He lifted
his face to the stars. He stretched out his hands, trembling.
(07:04):
His voice broke the silence, first as a whisper, then
a roar. He cried aloud into the night, not with
the weeping of despair, but the fury of awakening.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
But you, oh Lord, for a shield about me, my
Glorian and the lifer of my head.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
He praised the Lord with clenched fists and heaving breath,
pleading for grace, for strength, for redemption. And the spirit
of the Lord fell upon him like a hammer on iron, blue,
kindling fire from cold steel.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
I am the anointed of the Lord, defended son of Jessie,
nor the fugitive hiding in cans. I am the shepherd
of God's people.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
David fetched Abiathar, the priest. They consulted the e and
inquired of God's will. David knelt in the dirt with
his eyes closed, prayers.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Earnest, Oh God of Abraham, Isaac Jigob, Shall I pursue
the Amlakies? Shall I overtake them?
Speaker 1 (08:19):
The answer came, not as thunder, not as fire, but
clear and unmistakable. Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them
and rescue all. David opened his eyes, and the flame
in them could have kindled torches in the open air.
(08:40):
He donned the armor once given to him by Jonathan.
He fastened Goliath's sword across his back, a blade heavy
with memory from his pack. He retrieved his worn sling,
turning it over in his hands, not as a trophy,
but as a shepherd's tool, as it had always been.
(09:01):
He remembered not the philistine champion, but the lion that
came for the lamb. He stepped out into the camp,
where the fires still smoldered and men still sat in
stunned silence. Beniah looked at him, approaching with a scowl.
Joshabeem and Uriah barely looked his way. David clenched his
(09:22):
jaw and raised his voice for all the men to hear.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
I'm going after them.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Heads turned, eyes blinked up at him, hollow and red.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Alon If I must.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
With that, he turned and strode into the darkness, his
form swallowed by the land. The others didn't move. They
sat in the silence, torn between despair and awe. The
(09:58):
wind had quieted and the crooked song had faded into
the hush that comes just before dawn. The sky hung
dim and colorless, the stars retreating one by one behind
a veil of gray. David pressed on alone. His breath
was steady, his strides long. Two hours he had run,
(10:22):
driven by desperation and fire. The Amalekites were days ahead,
dragging wagons full of spoils and prisoners, and it would
take more than strength to catch them. He stopped upon
a hill and drank from the skin at his side.
His legs ached, and his heart thudded like a war
drum in his chest. He scanned the horizon, gaging the
(10:46):
land and sky. There was no sign of the enemy,
only the sun creeping above the ridge, setting fire to
the morning clouds. Then he heard the sound of marching David.
The light broke fully over the crest of the hill
behind him, and there they were crowned in gold by
(11:07):
the rising sun. Six hundred his men Abhishy led them,
face set like iron jasherbeam was beside him, grim and weathered.
Vanaiah followed close, spear in hand, jaw clenched, and behind
them every last one, the weary, the grieving, the wounded.
(11:33):
Yet not one had stayed behind. David's legs nearly buckled,
his hands scratched, and bleeding trembled at his sides. He
bowed his head, and tears rolled from his eyes into
the dust. They had come not because they were commanded,
(11:53):
but because they were his. He climbed to them. The morning,
wind curling through it. Hair followed. We will follow our
shepherd to the bitter end. The dig back the chase
had begun by dawn, The trail was gone, the winds
(12:23):
of the desert had swallowed the prints and scars of
the Amalekite caravan. The sand lay undisturbed, and the sky
gave no answer. They searched the hills, called to one another,
and walked in widening circles. Still nothing. Even worse, two
hundred of the men couldn't make it across the river.
(12:45):
They were dwindled, weary, and losing all sense of direction.
Beniah climbed a ridge beside David. His face was pale
from thirst, his mouth cracked and bleeding. Should we turned
back and retrace? David did not answer at first. He
stirred at the summit and gazed out over the waist stone,
(13:08):
sun and emptiness. His jaw was tight, and his knuckles
were white on the hilt of his sword.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
No, if we turned back, we surrender time and time
as a bladed our children's throats.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
As David and Beniah stood atop the ridge, debating whether
to retrace their steps or press on into nothingness, a
voice cried out from below. David come quickly. The two
men scrambled down the slope. In the basin below, the
warriors had formed a loose circle around someone. Uriah knelt
(13:47):
at the center, his spear laid flat beside him. David
pushed through the ring and saw a boy sprawled across
the sand. The scarred brands along his neck marked him
for what he was, a slave. David dropped to his
knees and unfastened his water skin. The boy groaned, his
(14:09):
mouth parting just enough to take in slow trembling SIPs.
His eyelids fluttered, then he looked up thank you. At
David's command, one of the men handed over a piece
of bread, a fig cake, and two clusters of raisins.
The boy ate with the desperation of the starving, barely
(14:31):
pausing to breathe.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Where are you from Egypt?
Speaker 2 (14:37):
I was taken from the Nile when I was young,
sald branded given to an Amalekite.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Benaiah reached for his sword, his gaze darkened.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
It could be a trap, David. The Amalekites could be
ready to pass. I'm not so sure. The trail's gone cold.
It seems this boy's been a and for days. Isn't
that right?
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Son?
Speaker 2 (15:04):
I fell ill during the march from Ziklag. My master
had no use for sick cattle. He left me here
to rot.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
David leaned forward, his voice lowering.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Do you know where your master went?
Speaker 1 (15:19):
I do?
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Will you take us to them?
Speaker 1 (15:24):
The boy hesitated long enough for the wind to shift,
long enough for doubt to flicker in David's chest. Perhaps
it was a trap. Then the boy looked up with
tears glistening in his eyes.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Please, sir, I know you don't owe me anything, but
swear to me. Swear by your God. Swear you won't
kill me or send me back.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Please swear it. David reached out and placed a hand
on the boy's shoulder. His eyes softened. You have my word.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Lead me to them. Your life will be your own.
Whether you flee to Egypt, stay in the wilds, or
join us, The choice will be yours.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
The boy nodded. David turned to his men and raised
a hand.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Let's move.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
The men all saluted in response. They moved. Dust billowed
beneath their boots as they followed the boy, weaving through
ravines and rocky passes, over sun scorched flats and between
towering hills, and then, at last, nestled in a valley
between two dark ridges, they saw it the Amalekite camp.
(16:43):
Dozens of tents sprawled across the plain, Fires burned, and
laughter echoed from below. David's hands curled into fists. He
turned to his men, eyes gleaming with fury and faith.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Ready yourself with sprigged twilight, Gamalekites.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Once the Amalekite camp roared with drunken laughter echoing through
the narrow stone canyons. Fires burned high, and wild men
drank from overflowing goblets, banned drums, danced with stolen women,
and shouted tales of plunder and conquest into the dark.
(17:26):
They believed the gods had favored them, but they knew
nothing of the storm rolling quietly in from the east.
David crouched in the shadows with his blade drawn, his
breathing shallow, his eyes fixed on the revelers below. His
men waited behind him in silence, crouched like lions in
(17:50):
tall grass. The thought of their children pulsed in their ears.
The sky had gone dark. The last splashes of ourrorringe
bled from the heavens, swallow'd by a velvet blue night
had come. David rose without a word. They moved like ghosts.
(18:11):
No war cry, no horn, no drum beat, only the
sound of steel drawn from sheaths and the faint crunch
of boots on sand. The first man to die never
saw the blade that opened his throat. His eyes went wide,
and he dropped like a stone, clutching at nothing. David
(18:33):
eased his body down, then pressed forward, Like the angel
of death. They descended. The first wave was a silent slaughter, throats,
slit ribs, pierced skulls cracked open like ripe fruit. But
blood has assent, and screams are hard to hide. One
(18:56):
by one the Amalekites realized what had come for them.
They poured from their tents, half naked, drunk, stumbling for weapons.
They were met by fury. David charged. He cut through
flesh like parchment, his eyes fixed, jaw clenched, body, dancing
(19:16):
between blades. A man launched David's spiled and saw sweeping
through both legs at the knees. Another came from the side.
David turned and drove his blade under the man's jaw
and through his skull. David did not speak. David did
not scream. He killed silently, methodically. Behind him came his
(19:42):
mighty men. They howled as they struck, fury bursting from
them like thunder. Steel made, steel shields shattered, bones cracked,
and men died, screaming like frightened children. One Amalekite, taller
than the red, charged David with twin axes. David carried
(20:04):
the first strike and stepped inside the second, driving the
hilt of his sword into the man's tour. As the
Amalekite reeled, David brought the sword down through his collar bone,
splitting into the breastbone. Still they came, David moved with
the rhythm of a musician. He dodged and rolled, strumming
(20:27):
his sword like a lyar. Blood soaked his curls, his
arms ached, but he did not stop. The wolves had
taken his sheep, and now they would pay. All through
the long night the battle raged. The Amalekites fought back,
but their drunken limbs and scattered formation made them weak prey.
(20:50):
By sunrise, only a few managed to flee on camels,
and then silence. The war was over. The lord had
given him victory. David saw the great tent where they
had kept the women and children. No sound came from within.
(21:11):
He approached slowly, each step heavier than the last. His
hands trembled as he pushed open the flap. Light from
the rising sun spilled in behind him, and there, huddled
in the far corner were the women and children, his people,
(21:32):
their faces pale, their eyes wide with fear. Abigail was
among them, arms wrapped around a weeping girl. When she
saw him, she rose and ran to him, tears streaking
down her cheeks. She collapsed into his arms.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Are you are you hurt?
Speaker 1 (21:53):
She shook her head. Only a few bruises around her
wrists where they bound her. But from what David could observe,
they couldn't have arrived a moment too late. The Amalekites
were planning the worst for them. David held her close,
sobbing into her hair, the weight of the days fell
(22:14):
from him all at once. Abigail whispered to him, her
hands in his hair, her voice like a barm You
did it, David, It's over. We're safe. Abigail cubbed David's
face in her hands and kissed him passionately. Well, how
knew you'd say us? We never did it to you?
(22:37):
And David wept some more, not for the blood he'd spilled,
but for the mercy that had been shown to him.
He had lost all, but the Lord had restored it.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
If your faith has been kindled this podcast and it
has affected your life, we'd love it if you left
her review. We read them, and me personally I cherish
them as you venture forth boldly and faithfully. I leave
you with the biblical blessing from numbers six IV. Hashem
(23:18):
vischmurechra Yeah heir hashempanave eleven ye sa hashempanave lera.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Shaloon.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the
Lord make his face shine upon you. May he be
gracious to you. Made the Lord turn his face towards
you and give you peace.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Amen. You can listen to the Chosen People with You
Isle Exstein add free by downloading and subscribing to the
pray dot Com app today. This prey dog comproduction is
only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents.
Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Shellavaga and Ben Gammon are
(24:00):
the executive producers of the Chosen People with Yile Eckstein.
Edited by Alberto Avilla narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are
voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan,
Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and
(24:20):
the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by
Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and
Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin,
Kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship
of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot
(24:40):
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leave a review.
Previously on the Chosen People. The king of Gath grew
fat on David's victories. Believing his once greatest enemy had
turned into his most loyal warrior. He drank to David's name,
He called him his champion, He trusted him completely.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
The Philistine kings have gathered at Aphek. They march against
Saul and Jonathan.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Does Akish demand more from us?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
We'd be lucky if we made it out of Ziklag.
So David has a choice to make. Does he shed
Jonathan and Saul's blood on the battlefield or doom us
and our families to burn in our own fields.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
David gathered his men, all six hundred of them, and
led them from Ziklag. The kings were already gathered warriors
in their own right, hard men with darker eyes. Lords
of Ekronza, Ashdod, and Ashkalon.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
I say he goes back, Send him back to whatever
dirt hole you gave him.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Go back to Ziklag.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
When we've defeated these Israelite dogs, some will likely run
to our borders.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I'll have your snatched them up. That smoke it's coming
from our village, our homes. And then they saw it.
Ziklag was burned to a crisp charred timber lay scattered
like bones the Amalekites. You made us march away from our families.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
The Amalekites never would have attacked if we had been here.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Shallo, my friends from here in the holy land of Israel.
I'm your l Extein with the International Fellowship of Christians
and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People. Each day
we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible, stories
filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the meaning
of life. Through Israel story, we will find this truth
(02:17):
that we are all chosen for something great. So take
a moment today to follow the podcast. If you're feeling
extra grateful for these stories, we would love it if
you left us a review. I read every single one
of them, and if you're interested in hearing more about
the prophetic, life saving work of the Fellowship, you can
(02:37):
visit IFCJ dot Org. Let's begin.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
David remained motionless. He had not moved in hours, not
since they arrived, not since the fire. Scarred earth had
screamed its accusation with every fallen timber and scorch stone.
His men hated him, his lies had forced them into
(03:05):
an impossible situation. All of these men were forced to
march away from their families to join the Philistine army.
Thankfully they had been spared from fighting, but when they returned,
their village was reduced to rubble. The Amalekites had stolen everything,
including their families. Beniah was the most indignant of them all,
(03:31):
bereaved of his wife and daughters, who were now in
the clutches of an Amalekite horde. Who knows where their
blood is are David's hands. Beniah's voice echoed from the distance.
As David sat apart from the others, they all murmured
in agreement. Even Jasherbine kept his distance. David felt their
(03:53):
eyes stabbing into his chest. It was all his fault.
He thought of their family, especially Abigail.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Oh, Abigail, I'm so sorry.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
He thought of what the Amalekites would do to her
and the others. They'd be made slaves or worse, used, abused, killed,
all because of his recklessness and arrogance. David hated himself,
and that hatred threatened to consume him entirely. David sat there,
(04:31):
the charred village behind him, and the vast planes before him.
The wind bit at his tear streaked face. That's when
Abishi approached from behind. He was the loudest voice of
criticism when they marched to Aphek, but had since been silent.
The boy sat beside David, and for a while he
(04:54):
said nothing. He just remained there, content to soak in
the defeat with David. Then, with strength in his chest,
Habishi broke the silence.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I was too young to be in the ranks of
Saul with Job, but he returned with stories.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
David didn't look at Abshi, but he could tell that
his smile creaked on the edges of his face. By
the way he mused.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
There was this one day he returned to tell me
about a boy who faced a giant Saul wavered. Abner
didn't step forward. Not even Job rose to the occasion.
But this shepherd boy, stupid and filled with righteous resolve,
stood where others trembled. It should have surprised me to
(05:41):
hear it was you, but it didn't. We all knew
you had the heart of a shepherd.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
David said nothing, his eyes tracing the constellations above. Their
quiet order was a cruel contrast to the chaos below.
Habishi looked up with him, straining to find the right words.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I know you, David. I know you more than most
of these men. I've observed you my whole life. That's
why it's so infuriating to see you lead us with
lies and compromise. It wasn't you, you know, wolf, You're
You're a shepherd, good shepherd.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Abish I turned toward him, laying a hand on his shoulder.
His grip was firm, not as a soldier to his king,
but as kin.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
You were a shepherd before you were a giant slayer,
and a shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Abish I stood and walked away, leaving David alone in
the ruin. David watched Abishi vanish into the gloom, and
then turned toward the valley where the sheep once grazed.
The scent of ash had faded, and the wind swept
over him like a breath from the heavens. He lifted
his face to the stars. He stretched out his hands, trembling.
(07:04):
His voice broke the silence, first as a whisper, then
a roar. He cried aloud into the night, not with
the weeping of despair, but the fury of awakening.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
But you, oh Lord, for a shield about me, my
Glorian and the lifer of my head.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
He praised the Lord with clenched fists and heaving breath,
pleading for grace, for strength, for redemption. And the spirit
of the Lord fell upon him like a hammer on iron, blue,
kindling fire from cold steel.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
I am the anointed of the Lord, defended son of Jessie,
nor the fugitive hiding in cans. I am the shepherd
of God's people.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
David fetched Abiathar, the priest. They consulted the e and
inquired of God's will. David knelt in the dirt with
his eyes closed, prayers.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Earnest, Oh God of Abraham, Isaac Jigob, Shall I pursue
the Amlakies? Shall I overtake them?
Speaker 1 (08:19):
The answer came, not as thunder, not as fire, but
clear and unmistakable. Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them
and rescue all. David opened his eyes, and the flame
in them could have kindled torches in the open air.
(08:40):
He donned the armor once given to him by Jonathan.
He fastened Goliath's sword across his back, a blade heavy
with memory from his pack. He retrieved his worn sling,
turning it over in his hands, not as a trophy,
but as a shepherd's tool, as it had always been.
(09:01):
He remembered not the philistine champion, but the lion that
came for the lamb. He stepped out into the camp,
where the fires still smoldered and men still sat in
stunned silence. Beniah looked at him, approaching with a scowl.
Joshabeem and Uriah barely looked his way. David clenched his
(09:22):
jaw and raised his voice for all the men to hear.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
I'm going after them.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Heads turned, eyes blinked up at him, hollow and red.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Alon If I must.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
With that, he turned and strode into the darkness, his
form swallowed by the land. The others didn't move. They
sat in the silence, torn between despair and awe. The
(09:58):
wind had quieted and the crooked song had faded into
the hush that comes just before dawn. The sky hung
dim and colorless, the stars retreating one by one behind
a veil of gray. David pressed on alone. His breath
was steady, his strides long. Two hours he had run,
(10:22):
driven by desperation and fire. The Amalekites were days ahead,
dragging wagons full of spoils and prisoners, and it would
take more than strength to catch them. He stopped upon
a hill and drank from the skin at his side.
His legs ached, and his heart thudded like a war
drum in his chest. He scanned the horizon, gaging the
(10:46):
land and sky. There was no sign of the enemy,
only the sun creeping above the ridge, setting fire to
the morning clouds. Then he heard the sound of marching David.
The light broke fully over the crest of the hill
behind him, and there they were crowned in gold by
(11:07):
the rising sun. Six hundred his men Abhishy led them,
face set like iron jasherbeam was beside him, grim and weathered.
Vanaiah followed close, spear in hand, jaw clenched, and behind
them every last one, the weary, the grieving, the wounded.
(11:33):
Yet not one had stayed behind. David's legs nearly buckled,
his hands scratched, and bleeding trembled at his sides. He
bowed his head, and tears rolled from his eyes into
the dust. They had come not because they were commanded,
(11:53):
but because they were his. He climbed to them. The morning,
wind curling through it. Hair followed. We will follow our
shepherd to the bitter end. The dig back the chase
had begun by dawn, The trail was gone, the winds
(12:23):
of the desert had swallowed the prints and scars of
the Amalekite caravan. The sand lay undisturbed, and the sky
gave no answer. They searched the hills, called to one another,
and walked in widening circles. Still nothing. Even worse, two
hundred of the men couldn't make it across the river.
(12:45):
They were dwindled, weary, and losing all sense of direction.
Beniah climbed a ridge beside David. His face was pale
from thirst, his mouth cracked and bleeding. Should we turned
back and retrace? David did not answer at first. He
stirred at the summit and gazed out over the waist stone,
(13:08):
sun and emptiness. His jaw was tight, and his knuckles
were white on the hilt of his sword.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
No, if we turned back, we surrender time and time
as a bladed our children's throats.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
As David and Beniah stood atop the ridge, debating whether
to retrace their steps or press on into nothingness, a
voice cried out from below. David come quickly. The two
men scrambled down the slope. In the basin below, the
warriors had formed a loose circle around someone. Uriah knelt
(13:47):
at the center, his spear laid flat beside him. David
pushed through the ring and saw a boy sprawled across
the sand. The scarred brands along his neck marked him
for what he was, a slave. David dropped to his
knees and unfastened his water skin. The boy groaned, his
(14:09):
mouth parting just enough to take in slow trembling SIPs.
His eyelids fluttered, then he looked up thank you. At
David's command, one of the men handed over a piece
of bread, a fig cake, and two clusters of raisins.
The boy ate with the desperation of the starving, barely
(14:31):
pausing to breathe.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Where are you from Egypt?
Speaker 2 (14:37):
I was taken from the Nile when I was young,
sald branded given to an Amalekite.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Benaiah reached for his sword, his gaze darkened.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
It could be a trap, David. The Amalekites could be
ready to pass. I'm not so sure. The trail's gone cold.
It seems this boy's been a and for days. Isn't
that right?
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Son?
Speaker 2 (15:04):
I fell ill during the march from Ziklag. My master
had no use for sick cattle. He left me here
to rot.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
David leaned forward, his voice lowering.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Do you know where your master went?
Speaker 1 (15:19):
I do?
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Will you take us to them?
Speaker 1 (15:24):
The boy hesitated long enough for the wind to shift,
long enough for doubt to flicker in David's chest. Perhaps
it was a trap. Then the boy looked up with
tears glistening in his eyes.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Please, sir, I know you don't owe me anything, but
swear to me. Swear by your God. Swear you won't
kill me or send me back.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Please swear it. David reached out and placed a hand
on the boy's shoulder. His eyes softened. You have my word.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Lead me to them. Your life will be your own.
Whether you flee to Egypt, stay in the wilds, or
join us, The choice will be yours.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
The boy nodded. David turned to his men and raised
a hand.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Let's move.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
The men all saluted in response. They moved. Dust billowed
beneath their boots as they followed the boy, weaving through
ravines and rocky passes, over sun scorched flats and between
towering hills, and then, at last, nestled in a valley
between two dark ridges, they saw it the Amalekite camp.
(16:43):
Dozens of tents sprawled across the plain, Fires burned, and
laughter echoed from below. David's hands curled into fists. He
turned to his men, eyes gleaming with fury and faith.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Ready yourself with sprigged twilight, Gamalekites.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Once the Amalekite camp roared with drunken laughter echoing through
the narrow stone canyons. Fires burned high, and wild men
drank from overflowing goblets, banned drums, danced with stolen women,
and shouted tales of plunder and conquest into the dark.
(17:26):
They believed the gods had favored them, but they knew
nothing of the storm rolling quietly in from the east.
David crouched in the shadows with his blade drawn, his
breathing shallow, his eyes fixed on the revelers below. His
men waited behind him in silence, crouched like lions in
(17:50):
tall grass. The thought of their children pulsed in their ears.
The sky had gone dark. The last splashes of ourrorringe
bled from the heavens, swallow'd by a velvet blue night
had come. David rose without a word. They moved like ghosts.
(18:11):
No war cry, no horn, no drum beat, only the
sound of steel drawn from sheaths and the faint crunch
of boots on sand. The first man to die never
saw the blade that opened his throat. His eyes went wide,
and he dropped like a stone, clutching at nothing. David
(18:33):
eased his body down, then pressed forward, Like the angel
of death. They descended. The first wave was a silent slaughter, throats,
slit ribs, pierced skulls cracked open like ripe fruit. But
blood has assent, and screams are hard to hide. One
(18:56):
by one the Amalekites realized what had come for them.
They poured from their tents, half naked, drunk, stumbling for weapons.
They were met by fury. David charged. He cut through
flesh like parchment, his eyes fixed, jaw clenched, body, dancing
(19:16):
between blades. A man launched David's spiled and saw sweeping
through both legs at the knees. Another came from the side.
David turned and drove his blade under the man's jaw
and through his skull. David did not speak. David did
not scream. He killed silently, methodically. Behind him came his
(19:42):
mighty men. They howled as they struck, fury bursting from
them like thunder. Steel made, steel shields shattered, bones cracked,
and men died, screaming like frightened children. One Amalekite, taller
than the red, charged David with twin axes. David carried
(20:04):
the first strike and stepped inside the second, driving the
hilt of his sword into the man's tour. As the
Amalekite reeled, David brought the sword down through his collar bone,
splitting into the breastbone. Still they came, David moved with
the rhythm of a musician. He dodged and rolled, strumming
(20:27):
his sword like a lyar. Blood soaked his curls, his
arms ached, but he did not stop. The wolves had
taken his sheep, and now they would pay. All through
the long night the battle raged. The Amalekites fought back,
but their drunken limbs and scattered formation made them weak prey.
(20:50):
By sunrise, only a few managed to flee on camels,
and then silence. The war was over. The lord had
given him victory. David saw the great tent where they
had kept the women and children. No sound came from within.
(21:11):
He approached slowly, each step heavier than the last. His
hands trembled as he pushed open the flap. Light from
the rising sun spilled in behind him, and there, huddled
in the far corner were the women and children, his people,
(21:32):
their faces pale, their eyes wide with fear. Abigail was
among them, arms wrapped around a weeping girl. When she
saw him, she rose and ran to him, tears streaking
down her cheeks. She collapsed into his arms.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Are you are you hurt?
Speaker 1 (21:53):
She shook her head. Only a few bruises around her
wrists where they bound her. But from what David could observe,
they couldn't have arrived a moment too late. The Amalekites
were planning the worst for them. David held her close,
sobbing into her hair, the weight of the days fell
(22:14):
from him all at once. Abigail whispered to him, her
hands in his hair, her voice like a barm You
did it, David, It's over. We're safe. Abigail cubbed David's
face in her hands and kissed him passionately. Well, how
knew you'd say us? We never did it to you?
(22:37):
And David wept some more, not for the blood he'd spilled,
but for the mercy that had been shown to him.
He had lost all, but the Lord had restored it.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
If your faith has been kindled this podcast and it
has affected your life, we'd love it if you left
her review. We read them, and me personally I cherish
them as you venture forth boldly and faithfully. I leave
you with the biblical blessing from numbers six IV. Hashem
(23:18):
vischmurechra Yeah heir hashempanave eleven ye sa hashempanave lera.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Shaloon.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the
Lord make his face shine upon you. May he be
gracious to you. Made the Lord turn his face towards
you and give you peace.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Amen. You can listen to the Chosen People with You
Isle Exstein add free by downloading and subscribing to the
pray dot Com app today. This prey dog comproduction is
only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents.
Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Shellavaga and Ben Gammon are
(24:00):
the executive producers of the Chosen People with Yile Eckstein.
Edited by Alberto Avilla narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are
voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan,
Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and
(24:20):
the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by
Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and
Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin,
Kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship
of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot
(24:40):
com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on
the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you
enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and
leave a review.
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