(Biblical figure) Caleb - The Warrior: Caleb

Run!

No one heard, so Kelubai put his fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill whistle. His relatives raised their heads. He pointed at the darkening sky. They looked up and stared. Find cover!

Men, women, and children dropped their hoes and scattered. Kelubai followed. Farthest out in Pharaohs field, he had the longest distance to run. The black swirling clouds moved with frightening speed, casting a cold shadow over the land. Was it the great lion of God that let out such a rumbling roar from that blackness? Screaming, hands over their heads, people ran faster.

A shaft of jagged light flashed and struck the middle of the barley field. Flames shot up from the ground and the stalks of ripened grain caught fire. Something hard struck Kelubai in the head. Then another and another, like small pebbles hurled at him from an open hand. And the air grew cold, so cold his breath came like puffs of smoke as he panted. His lungs burned. Could he make it to cover before one of those bolts of fire struck him down? He reached his mud-brick house, swung the door shut, and leaned against it.

Gasping for breath, he saw his wife, Azubah, crouched in the corner, their two older sons cowering beside her as she held their third son squalling at her breast. His older boys, Mesha and Mareshah, stood wide-eyed but silent. Their mother, Kelubais first wife, would not have been as quick to give in to hysteria. She had faced deathgiving Mareshah lifewith more fortitude than Azubah now showed in the face of this storm.

Tears streaked her frightened face. What is that noise, Kelubai? Whats happening? Her voice kept rising until she was screaming even louder than the babe. Whats happening?

He grasped her shoulders and gave her a hard shake. Hush! He let go of her and ran his hands over his sons heads. Be quiet. He kissed each of them. Shhhh. Sit still. He gathered them all close, shielding them with his body. His own heart was flailing, threatening to burst its bonds of bone and flesh. Never had he felt such terror, but he needed to be calm for their sake. He fixed his mind upon his family, soothing, encouraging. Shhhh...

Abba. His oldest son, Mesha, pressed closer, his fingers grasping Kelubais robe. Abba...

Hard pounding came against the house, like a thousand fists hitting at once. Azubah ducked her head, seeking the shelter of his shoulder. Mesha pressed close. Hard white stones flew in through the window. Curious, Kelubai rose. When his wife and sons protested, he set Mesha beside Azubah. Stay calm. See to Mareshah. Kelubai could not depend on Azubah to comfort them. They were not her sons, and she would always hold her own flesh and blood more dear.

Where are you going?

I just want to see.

Kelubai!

He held up his hand, commanding her to silence. Edging across the room, he reached out to take up one of the stones. It was hard and cold. Turning it in his hand, he examined it. It became slippery. Frowning, perplexed, he put it to his mouth. He glanced back at his wife and sons. Water! He picked up several more and brought them to Azubah and his sons. Taste it. Only Mesha was willing. Its water. Water hard as a stone!