Free Daughter of Deliverance by Gilbert Morris

have more sense.”
    â€œWhat have you been into, Othniel?” Ariel demanded.
    His face flamed and she stared at him hard. “It must be bad if you can’t talk about it.”
    â€œGo on in. My father’s waiting to talk to you,” Ardon commanded.
    The pair watched as Othniel slunk inside the tent, and soon they heard Caleb’s voice, angry and harsh.
    â€œWhat’d he do, Ardon?” Ariel asked.
    â€œWhat he always does. Only this time it was even worse. He was in Carphina’s tent.”
    â€œWhy, she’s nothing but a harlot!”
    â€œPretty much so. I’m surprised her husband hasn’t beaten her to death before this.”
    â€œFather is so hurt by this,” Ariel said. “He always loved Othniel’s father, and he’s poured himself out on Othniel. Why can’t that idiot act like a human being?”
    â€œHe’s got a bad strain in him from somewhere. Maybe from his mother. I don’t know. In any case, we had to wrestle with some fighting men to get out of there, and Othniel didn’t last ten seconds. He’s not going to make much of a soldier. I’m leaving. I don’t want to have to look at him anymore.”
    Ariel watched her brother go, then returned to the pot. She listened to Caleb’s angry words to Othniel. When the young man finally stumbled out of the tent, she said, “Well, I hear you had a romance, cousin.”
    â€œDon’t you start on me, Ariel,” Othniel said. His face was pale, and he turned to leave.
    But Ariel jumped up and blocked his path, saying, “Tell me about it. I’ll bet it was a romantic affair. Did you sing love songs to her? I hear she’s a real beauty, that woman is. A woman of virtue.”
    Othniel didn’t move but just ground his teeth while Ariel mocked him. When he could stand it no longer, he turned and ran away. Ariel called after him, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Here he is—the great lover, the seducer of married women.”
    Laughter followed Othniel, and he heard catcalls and jeers from the women who had stopped their work to watch him.
    As soon as Othniel disappeared, Ariel went inside the tent. She found her father seated on a rug, staring at the sword that was before him. He had evidently been sharpening it, and she went and stood over him. “I heard what you said to Othniel. You were pretty hard on him.”
    â€œNot as hard as I should have been. We’re going into bat- tle very soon. What kind of a soldier will he make? He’s a weakling.”
    Ariel knelt down and put her hand on her father’s shoulder. “I know you have a great affection for him.”
    â€œI used to, but I’m fast losing it. What a terrible mess he’s made of his life.” He shook his head sadly. “Why are some men strong and others weak?”
    â€œNo one knows the answer to that except God. You’re not going to give up on him, are you?”
    â€œI can’t do that. Israel needs every soldier she can get. Besides, at times I see some of my brother Kenaz in him. He was a good man, and there’s got to be some of that goodness in his son. But I may have to half kill him to bring it out.”
    ****
    Achan saw with one glance that his young friend Othniel was miserable. “You look like you just fell into a well full of scorpions. What’s the matter?”
    â€œNothing.”
    Achan was eating from a bunch of dried grapes. He stuffed his mouth full and studied Othniel. He had become very fond of this young man, feeling almost like an older brother to him. The two of them liked their pleasure, and though Achan had a family, he still enjoyed the company of the younger man.
    Achan’s four children swarmed around him. They were very fond of Othniel too and pestered him all at the same time to take them to the river. Another wanted him to play a game with them. Achan watched and said, “You know how to win