The following morning, as could be expected, there was quite the clamor around the caravan.
But not for the obvious reason of Benaiah defeating a giant.
That was part of it, but also there was some new news.
A contingent of priests had arrived in the night to fetch Benaiah with his small flock of sheep and shepherds home.
As when there is a flash of lightning then the thunder, grandfathers community rumblings had pealed loud and clear.
Jehoiada with the thirty seven hundred were to move north to do their part in proclaiming the new king.
Benaiah’s grandfather was very well along in years but due to the urgency of the matter he had traveled with the small contingent to fetch Benaiah home. They arrived after the fight had taken place the night before. Benaiah’s grandfather was getting the full story from none other than The Hittite.
Benaiah came in from gathering the flock, shepherds and supplies and made his way over to his grandfather. From a distance he saw him talking to The Hittite. Benaiah was almost to them when The Hittite swung up onto his horse, yanked the horses head north and started to move out with his camp of men who had the horse herd already on the move.
After a generous embrace from his grandfather Benaiah was filled in on the important matter of moving north to support the new king.
“The Hittite told me the story of the fight last night, is it true?”
Benaiah didn’t say anything. He turned, reached into a pile of supplies and pulled out a spear the size of a weavers rod.
Benaiah’s grandfather said a silent prayer of thanks and acknowledged his families living God.
“Grandfather,”
“yes, Benaiah.”
“do you know The Hittite?”
“I know him well.”
“Grandfather… what is his name?”
“His name is… Uriah.”
As Benaiah looked after The Hittite with his moving band of men, he had a quiet thought land gently on his mind.
It was the meaning of that name, a Hebrew name.
Benaiah got lost for a moment in thought and said quietly to himself,
“A Hittite with a Hebrew name meaning… ‘God is my light’.”
Benaiah had a habit of getting deep into thought, it would serve him well…
for it is written.
“All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said,
“We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”
3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the Lord had promised through Samuel.” ~ 1 Chronicles 11:1-3
20 Benaiah, was the son of Jehoiada, (Jehoiada) the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds.
(Benaiah) He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab.
He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.
21 And he killed a huge Egyptian, 5 cubits tall, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so (Benaiah) he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
22 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men.
23 He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David appointed him over his bodyguard (the Kerethites and Pelethites.) ~ 2 Samuel 23:20-23
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