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Hi All, this is the prologue to my novel. I am writing about King David, but it is going to be in the first person. (Not that I could aspire to be David!) but anyways, comments would be appreciated. the following is the prologue.
The elders of Bethlehem shuffled their feet nervously as Samuel stood quietly, waiting. Although it appeared that he was paying no attention to them, Samuel was fully aware of their state of mind. Apparently the assurances that he came in peace did nothing to assuage their fears. Samuel almost snorted in derision. To think that they had asked him if he came in peace! As if the High Priest of God came in anything but peace! Perhaps though, with the rumors spreading about King Saul, he could understand their nervousness. It seemed word got around quickly that all was not well with the first Monarch of Israel.
Samuel dismissed the thought from his mind, and turned to the calf he had brought for the sacrifice. Rubbing his hand between the beasts ears, he ruminated on the instructions he had received from the Lord. The instructions were a bit on the confusing side, even a bit frightening. But he obeyed. Now he stood waiting for the sons of Jesse to finish consecrating themselves for the sacrifice. The message from the Lord had been implicit. Invite Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice. One was to be chosen as the next king of Israel. That a king would come from such a humble town as Bethlehem did not shock Samuel in the slightest. He knew that often the Lord would use the most unlikely things, or people to accomplish his will. He himself had come from a couple previously childless, and was raised by a priest. His was a simple beginning as well.
Samuel turned to see Jesse coming with his sons. All were freshly washed, and were ceremonially clean. Samuel smiled briefly, and tapped his staff on the ground. Here, he thought to himself, comes Israels next King. Now which one?
Jesse greeted Samuel in the proper fashion, and Samuel returned his embrace warmly. He then indicated his sons, and Samuel motioned for the eldest to pass before him. What is his name? Asked Samuel, as a tall and striking man walked before him.
Eliab is his name. replied Jesse. Samuel could not help notice the pride that Jesse exuded for his eldest son. And why not? Eliab was tall, strong, and handsome. The type of person the average Israelite could look up to as King! Samuel fidgeted with the horn of Olive oil at his side. Surely this was the one!
Jesse also seemed to think that Eliab was to be chosen. He wasnt sure for what yet, as Samuel had not spoken of his purpose, but he saw the look on Samuels face. But then, Samuel cocked his head to the side as if listening to an inner voice. A slight frown creased his aged brow, as if he were concentrating on something hard to hear. A look of first astonishment, and then understanding passed over his visage.
This is not the one the Lord has chosen. Samuel said. Jesse shook his head in disbelief, but was stopped from commenting by another question from Samuel. Who is the next of your sons? Jesse hesitated for a brief moment, and then waved Eliab away to stand with his brothers again.
Abinadab is my next eldest son. May he please you!
Another tall and handsome man stepped from the group, and stood in front of Samuel. Samuel had him walk by him once, before shaking his head again.
Neither does the Lord choose this man. Samuel said. Before he could ask, Jesse indicated another of his children.
My third is Shammah. Surely the Lord will choose him! Shammah stepped up to Samuel boldly, but before he had even finished striding towards him, Samuel waved his hand dismissively.
No, the Lord does not choose this one. Samuel said again. Jesse had each of his remaining sons standing there pass by Samuel, but when they were finished; Samuel turned to Jesse and said The Lord has not chosen any of these. Jesse looked crestfallen. He could not understand how none of his sons could be chosen! Surely one of my sons is to be chosen for your purpose? He wheedled. At this, Samuel raised his eyebrows.
Are these all the sons you have? he asked.
Well, there is one more. My youngest son. Jesse shuffled his feet before continuing. He is tending the flocks.
Send for him. Samuel commanded. We will not sit down to eat until he arrives. Jesse hesitated for a moment, but then turned to his servant, and dispatched him on the errand that Samuel had dictated. The sons of Jesse stood in a cluster, whispering amongst themselves. What could Samuel want with David? If they were not chosen, how could David be?
Samuel stood apart from them all, with his head bowed slightly, forehead touching his staff. They didnt have to long to wait however, as only a few more moments passed before a boy, not quite a man yet, arrived. Samuel looked him over carefully. He was tanned from his work in the fields, and he wore the trappings of a shepherd. A crook was in his hand, and a pouch and sling were tied to his simple belt.
What is your name, boy? Samuel asked gently.
My name is David. I am at your service The young man replied. He stood easily, as if ready to depart on any errand or task that was given him, without the slightest of hesitation. There did not appear to be any nervousness in him at all.
A broad smile creased Samuels face. This is the one the Lord chooses! he shouted. While he exalted, everyone around him turned and looked at each other quizzically. David is chosen?
Please, what am I chosen for? asked David. In reply, Samuel took the stopper out from his horn of oil, and had David kneel before him. As he poured the oil over Davids head, he spoke once more.
The Lord has chosen you, David, as the next king of Israel.
The elders of Bethlehem shuffled their feet nervously as Samuel stood quietly, waiting. Although it appeared that he was paying no attention to them, Samuel was fully aware of their state of mind. Apparently the assurances that he came in peace did nothing to assuage their fears. Samuel almost snorted in derision. To think that they had asked him if he came in peace! As if the High Priest of God came in anything but peace! Perhaps though, with the rumors spreading about King Saul, he could understand their nervousness. It seemed word got around quickly that all was not well with the first Monarch of Israel.
Samuel dismissed the thought from his mind, and turned to the calf he had brought for the sacrifice. Rubbing his hand between the beasts ears, he ruminated on the instructions he had received from the Lord. The instructions were a bit on the confusing side, even a bit frightening. But he obeyed. Now he stood waiting for the sons of Jesse to finish consecrating themselves for the sacrifice. The message from the Lord had been implicit. Invite Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice. One was to be chosen as the next king of Israel. That a king would come from such a humble town as Bethlehem did not shock Samuel in the slightest. He knew that often the Lord would use the most unlikely things, or people to accomplish his will. He himself had come from a couple previously childless, and was raised by a priest. His was a simple beginning as well.
Samuel turned to see Jesse coming with his sons. All were freshly washed, and were ceremonially clean. Samuel smiled briefly, and tapped his staff on the ground. Here, he thought to himself, comes Israels next King. Now which one?
Jesse greeted Samuel in the proper fashion, and Samuel returned his embrace warmly. He then indicated his sons, and Samuel motioned for the eldest to pass before him. What is his name? Asked Samuel, as a tall and striking man walked before him.
Eliab is his name. replied Jesse. Samuel could not help notice the pride that Jesse exuded for his eldest son. And why not? Eliab was tall, strong, and handsome. The type of person the average Israelite could look up to as King! Samuel fidgeted with the horn of Olive oil at his side. Surely this was the one!
Jesse also seemed to think that Eliab was to be chosen. He wasnt sure for what yet, as Samuel had not spoken of his purpose, but he saw the look on Samuels face. But then, Samuel cocked his head to the side as if listening to an inner voice. A slight frown creased his aged brow, as if he were concentrating on something hard to hear. A look of first astonishment, and then understanding passed over his visage.
This is not the one the Lord has chosen. Samuel said. Jesse shook his head in disbelief, but was stopped from commenting by another question from Samuel. Who is the next of your sons? Jesse hesitated for a brief moment, and then waved Eliab away to stand with his brothers again.
Abinadab is my next eldest son. May he please you!
Another tall and handsome man stepped from the group, and stood in front of Samuel. Samuel had him walk by him once, before shaking his head again.
Neither does the Lord choose this man. Samuel said. Before he could ask, Jesse indicated another of his children.
My third is Shammah. Surely the Lord will choose him! Shammah stepped up to Samuel boldly, but before he had even finished striding towards him, Samuel waved his hand dismissively.
No, the Lord does not choose this one. Samuel said again. Jesse had each of his remaining sons standing there pass by Samuel, but when they were finished; Samuel turned to Jesse and said The Lord has not chosen any of these. Jesse looked crestfallen. He could not understand how none of his sons could be chosen! Surely one of my sons is to be chosen for your purpose? He wheedled. At this, Samuel raised his eyebrows.
Are these all the sons you have? he asked.
Well, there is one more. My youngest son. Jesse shuffled his feet before continuing. He is tending the flocks.
Send for him. Samuel commanded. We will not sit down to eat until he arrives. Jesse hesitated for a moment, but then turned to his servant, and dispatched him on the errand that Samuel had dictated. The sons of Jesse stood in a cluster, whispering amongst themselves. What could Samuel want with David? If they were not chosen, how could David be?
Samuel stood apart from them all, with his head bowed slightly, forehead touching his staff. They didnt have to long to wait however, as only a few more moments passed before a boy, not quite a man yet, arrived. Samuel looked him over carefully. He was tanned from his work in the fields, and he wore the trappings of a shepherd. A crook was in his hand, and a pouch and sling were tied to his simple belt.
What is your name, boy? Samuel asked gently.
My name is David. I am at your service The young man replied. He stood easily, as if ready to depart on any errand or task that was given him, without the slightest of hesitation. There did not appear to be any nervousness in him at all.
A broad smile creased Samuels face. This is the one the Lord chooses! he shouted. While he exalted, everyone around him turned and looked at each other quizzically. David is chosen?
Please, what am I chosen for? asked David. In reply, Samuel took the stopper out from his horn of oil, and had David kneel before him. As he poured the oil over Davids head, he spoke once more.
The Lord has chosen you, David, as the next king of Israel.
