Daughter of Deliverance by Gilbert Morris Page B

know how it is. Listen to me, Achan. The next time he starts to do something like this, you let me know right away. I won’t have my nephew acting like he does.”
    â€œBut I can’t be a talebearer.”
    â€œWould you prefer to have your back scratched with a whip?”
    â€œNo, I wouldn’t.”
    â€œThen you mind what I say. He’s my nephew, and he’s not going to bring dishonor to my family. If his father were alive, he wouldn’t be acting like this. Now he stays with you most of the time, so you’re responsible for him.”
    â€œI can’t do anything with him, Caleb. He’s strong-willed. He laughed at me when I tried to correct him.”
    â€œHe won’t laugh at me,” Caleb said shortly, then turned and walked away.
    Achan swallowed hard and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. He was deathly afraid of Caleb, for he knew the old man had a temper like a wildfire. He considered trying to beat Caleb to the woman’s tent to warn Othniel but decided against it, knowing that he couldn’t cross this man.
    â€œOthniel, you’re in trouble this time,” he muttered, then went back, sat down, and took a long swig from his jug of wine.
    ****
    The Levites were kept apart from the other twelve tribes because they were different. God had commanded Moses to separate the tribe of Levi to be His special servants. They were to be the keepers of the Law, to furnish the priests to minister in the tabernacle, to make sacrifices, and to serve God alone.
    Caleb spotted his son Ardon talking with his good friend Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the high priest. “Ardon,” he said, “come over here.”
    Ardon turned. “Just a minute, Father. We’re not quite finished here.”
    â€œYes, you are. Phinehas, you’re going to ruin my son’s mind, filling it full of religious things.”
    Phinehas was a tall man, lean and strong. He had a trim beard and a pair of steady dark eyes. He smiled at Caleb, who was one of his favorites. “Why, I’m surprised to hear you say that. Most men want their sons to be men of God.”
    â€œHe’s already that.” Caleb was always mystified by the work the Levites did. “What do you do with this book that Moses has been writing all these years?”
    â€œWe’re preserving it, Caleb,” Phinehas said. “We’re making sure that it’s kept absolutely accurate. Every letter is gone over by at least half a dozen Levites. Our scribes work night and day to preserve the integrity of the Law.”
    Caleb listened and, after a pause, said, “Well, Moses approves it, so it has to be all right. Ardon, come with me. You can do your study with Phinehas later.”
    â€œYes, Father.” Ardon walked away with his father. Physically, he was much like Caleb—tall, strongly built, with black hair and the same hazel eyes, a wedge-shaped face, and a wide mouth. “What is it?”
    Caleb’s mind, however, was on Phinehas. “You know, that man is unusual.”
    â€œHe has a great mind, Father.”
    â€œWasn’t talking about his mind. He’s got a strong arm. Has he ever talked about how he killed Zimri and Cozbi?”
    â€œNo, he’s never mentioned it. What happened?”
    â€œI suppose you were too young to remember, but that devil Balaam polluted our people back when we were wandering in the desert. He sent a harlot named Cozbi to tempt one of our princes, a man named Zimri. Zimri brought her into the camp, right in the sight of everyone, and began to commit fornication with her. God was ready to kill us all for permitting such a thing, but your friend Phinehas grabbed up a spear, ran into the tent, and thrust them both through.” Caleb’s face was grim. “Twenty-four thousand people died in a plague because of that sin, but God said that Phinehas would never be forgotten among our people. I remember clearly what God