The army small Headquarters camp included a wooden hut and five wide tents, made of cotton cloths and sheepskins. At their bottoms they were tied by thick ropes to strong wooden pegs fixed into the ground. A few horses and donkeys had been parking near the camp’s gate, tied to trees trunks. Low grass was growing on the ground, but the ‘original noble’ Egyptian horses did not taste it. They had rafia sacks connected to their throats, their openings directed to the big mouth of each of the long headed animal. This enabled the horses to stand and eat the barley from inside the ‘store sack’, and each one was chewing it in any time that his hunger was growing. . .
When Athaliah came into the ornamented and flagged tent, while her bodyguards remained standing at the tent’s entry. The commanders rose from their seats at the middle of a long table. They were bowing to her with, and she bowed back - while looking at their nice, quite young bearded faces.
“Sit down, please, honorable commanders,” She told the officers facing her and they obeyed. She was taking her seat opposite to Abner and the other Commanders. One of them was Halely, Abner’s deputy, who had joined Abner while they brought to her the horrible message about the her son’s death.
On the simple table there were jugs of wine and plates full of seasonal washed out fruits. Athaliah was tasting the grapes, and praised their ‘juicy flesh.’
“Very good fruits - this year,” she said to Abner. “I see that you don’t dare to taste them?” she asked him, and discerned that he was holding his stomach by his left hand.
“Not yet. I have some health problem…dear Lady Athaliah...”
“Say: Queen Athaliah. Your Queen, General...What had you eaten, that would cause you a stomach problem? I’ve just looked at the way that your horses had been perpetually fed. I liked it. Good food is a must for a soldier, as well as for a fighting horse.”
The commanders had not understood if she had tried to mock or laugh, just to enlighten the tension. No one of them joined her, while she uttered a ‘Ha Ha’ artificial laughter.
“I’ve eaten bad figs,” explained Abner, “we had only these- on our way back here from the bloody Israeli battlefield.”
“But perhaps your stomach pain,” she said bluntly, “derives also from…fearing your new ruler? You are not fully satisfied that a queen is at the head of Judea. Don’t you trust my ruling?”
“I trust,” said Abner, “But I think, that you could have waited with wearing the crown - till… the Priests and the Army Commanders gather to consult... and decide. Not that I have something personal against your …Excellancy.”
“I’m sure that it’s the contrary, sir. I have matched you to my dear maidservant, just a year ago. I swear I would have wanted such a bride to my son, had I another one. ..” she looked at the men, just to see the impression of her sharp style on her faces, “But Let’s move on! We have arranged this meeting for recognizing each other, commanders. And for consultation what has to be done regarding Jehu…”
The officers were quite astonished by this monologue, but still stayed silent.
Athaliah’s right palm stroke vehemently the wooden table’s board. She was speaking excitedly to them, touching her crown by her left hand.
“If any of you, men,” she said, “oppose my crown - you can resign.”
She was looking at the Generals one by one.
“No, no.” said Abner, “Dear Athaliah, we have arrived to the conclusion, that most of the simple people would become soon to like you. . . As well as many army captains and frontier commanders. We know also, that any other crown claimant, if there had remained one… can’t be compared to you in knowing the royal affairs. You have contacts with other countries through your Tsydon family connections, so…”
“Many of us also appreciate your strong character,” said General Simon Halely.
“Thank you for your sincerity,” said Athaliah.
Abner rose, and bent to her. She saw his body was weak, while he asked her permission to leave, due to his health problem.
“Please stay!” she commanded him, “Or walk to the ‘public hole in the ground’ outside, if your need that urgently. But come back as soon as possible.”
He moved his head and was re-seated, wiping his perspiring forehead.
“Knowing that you all hate flattery - I appreciate your short comments about… my crown. I expect nobody to think, that I’ve usurped it, Ha?!” She rose on her feet. “I hope that tomorrow you’ll be more healthy,” she said to Abner and turned also to the other officers, “I have originally planned to go out with you today to the Wall of Jerusalem…I want to check the strength of our ramparts. But let’s do it tomorrow, when Abner will feel better.”
Abner nodded, but remarked:
“Dear Queen: You’ve certainly heard about mysterious killings. Eight of Judea’s noblemen, of king David’s dynasty, have been murdered.”
“What has this to do with me?” asked Athaliah, pretending the insultd one, “I’m still in a mourn, and my bereavement is so deep!” She wiped a tear.
“However, there are obstinate rumors.” said another commander.
“What rumors?”
“That somebody has targeted,” said Abner, “all the Royal family. All the dead ones had been your relatives, though indirect… Please- take care of yourself, too.”
“Gentlemen,” said Athaliah, “I vow before you: Justice will be made, and shown to the public very soon. I have no fear to bring to justice any suspect in killing…”
“Thank you, her majesty,” said the Generals. Abner held his stomach again. Athaliah moved her head, to indicate him he’s free to leave. He saluted weakly and quit. Athaliah remained with the other Generals.
“By the way,” she said, “I recognize three of you from past years. I know that you are faithful to God, like Abner. He had nominated you, has he? I see here no Baal’s Worshipper. Is it so?”
The four commanders nodded.
“But I know that many simple soldiers, as well as captains - who serve in my army,” she added, “are pagans. So, from now on – half of my Army Officers will remain God’s believers, but the rest should be replaced by pagans. This will be my first order to the Commander in Chief. I will send it to Abner’s home in writing.”
“But how should we choose those God believers commanders,” asked officer Halely, “who will be thrown out, or be degraded?”
“Therefore you, High commanders, exist as a general staff. And it should be an iron staff, not a broken cane!” The commanders looked at each other, and nodded. Then they smiled at her, understanding her parable.
“Well, Generals,” she added, , “I expect your prompt activity. You should choose the best Baal Worshippers who are fit for a higher rank, and bring the list to me. You, general Halely - will report me about that a week from now!” –she pointed on the officer, known to her before.
“Well, though we know that this change would cause personal problems,” he said, “we must obey the Queen’s orders.”
She was hiding her delight. “Thank you,” she said, and began a long speech that she had prepared before. A suspicion came now to her mind, that Abner had pretended a diplomatic illness, to avoid listening to it:
“From now on- any Pagan soldier, who would like to sing what you think as dirty abominable hymens to Baal - let him do it. Let him pray to his Idol – at the same manner that God Believers pray to the Almighty in the sky. Let Idol worshippers celebrate their holidays – like God Believers celebrate theirs, by visiting the Temple and so on…Well. Remember, that words of prayers do not kill! My father was used to say that, though God’s Prophets were claiming the opposite. We are dealing here with the real daily life of the soldiers, don’t we? Not with the virtual future and the end of the days, with which the prophets brainwash their belivers!…. See you tomorrow, Officers!…You will meet me at Jerusalem’s Wall, near the northern gate, at eight ” she told General Halely, who nodded.
The Generals saluted and wer
e bowing - while Athaliah was leaving the tent with her guards. They had not talked with each other about her order, but followed her outside, each with his heavy thoughts.
All walked through the camp’s gate to the woods which had been the horses parking place. Some called it ‘the stable’ – because in winter soldiers would put straw and woods over some of the trees’ high branches, so sheltering the animals if the’s clouds would bring a flood.
In that day Athaliah used her carriage, but the day after she came riding her horse to the northern gate of Jerusalem. She was thinking it would be more likable to be seen as an equal to the commanders, who were gathered there. That northern gate of Jerusalem was the inspection point for outgoing and incoming of most of the passengers. From it – the famous ‘Royal Route’ or ‘Highway’ was leading to Beth-El, as well as to Samaria, Jezerel and Carmel.
Athaliah looked at the four gatekeepers, who were holding bows and arrows; other two guards were carrying swords. While they discerned her arrival with her headguards from inside the town, they applauded her noisily.
“Long live our Queen!” they called unilaterally. She wondered if Halely or sombody else had already guided them how to accept her face and how to behave in her presence. Four High Commanders, including Abner, began riding after her, by ten infantry soldiers. One of those was carrying a wooden ladder.
Arriving a few steps farther from the gate, all the horseriders dismounted. The infantries were indicated by Abner to drive the horses aside one by one - and connect their reins to pegs, fixed in the City Wall. Then the Generals began walking with the queen along the Wall, and were gazing aty it up and down, here and there. Abner was at Athaliah side, and told her that his health had improved.
“My wife sends you her greetings, your Excellency,” he added.
“Is she already pregnant?” Athaliah surprised him, asking that in public, with a smile. He nodded.
“She should bear a lot of children, I repeat what I’ve told you in your wedding. Let the kids be also God’s believers like you. I don’t mind. We are too little a nation. We need any living skull, men!” –she turned to all her escorts.
The visitors walked in a solid group about three hundred steps, till they came to a breach in the Wall, and stopped at it. Athaliah was bending, to watch closer the bricks, that had long fallen from it and now were scattered around. She pushed her shoulders into the opening and tried to let her head peep outside, grabbing her crown in her hand. She knocked with her fist on the stones surrounding the breach. Some of them seemed cracked and on the verge of breakage…
Athaliah then intended to push her whole body, and emerge out of the wall. Abner discerned that, jumped to her and grabbed her by the elbows to hold on.
“Please, Queen, “ he said, “let me peep out first. It may be dangerous even to send a hand out, without knowing who would wait on the other side.”
“Oh, don’t frighten me,” she laughed, but retreated. After he had peeped out, he permitted her do that too, and she asked:
“Abner, are there many such breaches in the area?”
“Fifty or more,” he said, “I know wrecks ...which have not been restored nor repaired for years.”
Abner indicated the Captain, who was carrying the wooden ladder, to approach the wall.
“Long peace had existed between my father’s northern kingdom,” said Athaliah, “and Judea’s kingdom. Theerefore the wall was not needed.”
“Now we are really threatened by Jehu,” said general Halely, “and we should soon repair it…Last evening I’ve received a message, that Jehu was strengthening his forces around...”
“Where exactly?” she asked
“Near Beth El. And by who else we’ll be threatened – we can’t even imagine. Any change in a regime in this area - would invite its external enemies to try to shake it …”
“You are right, General,” she said, “So - your queen has taken the right step, to visit here immediately?” All nodded their heads, and her face became shining.
Meanwhile the ladder was set up close to Athaliah. It was leaning on the Wall, and Abner indicated the queen to climb. She was doing it promptly: But already standing above, she felt that the two generals, who were grabbing the ladder’s bottom, had become worried. One of them was Abner, and she movd herself on the ladder and boasted:
“I am a sportive woman, see?” she praised herself, “I feel that I stand solidly.”
She was gazing around from over the wall, and saw its length: Close to her place - it seemed to be erected in a straight line, but farther on it became curvy, and in some places twisted, and then again seemingly curvy, encircling the town.
Athaliah soon got down from the ladder. One of the guards took it away.
“We need a lot of money, “ said Abner to the queen, “in order to mobilize enough menpower to replenish this long Wal. In some parts we’ll have to raise it.”
“We need also a lot of new weapons,” remarked his deputy, general Halely.
“For standing in a long siege,” said another General, “your Excellancy would be able to mobilize more soldiers, best quality warriors.”
“With your help, Generals,” said the queen, “I will get everything needed...I am not desparate at all from the plenty of tasks that we have to undertake…Well, let’s move further on.”
After a long walk, and staying at other crucial points of cracks in the Wall, Athaliah indicated the ‘Horses Officer’ to bring the horses of the whole group to the Eastern Rampart’s gate, “Jericho gate”. She was walking with her escorts toward that gate, and while they all arrived there – the horses officers and his soldiers came with the horses. He approached the queen and handed her a horse. Mounting it, she ordered Abner and his deputy, Halely, to mount their horses, and escort her back to the palace. Her personal footmen guards were hurrying after the riders. Athaliah had not made her horse gallop. She wanted to use the ride for talking.
“What would be the cost of reorganizing the army?” she asked. “I am not afraid from big numbers of gold weight. We will defend our town and kingdom- by hook or by crook… Make your assesment, and bring it to me in full details tomorrow at noontime.”
CHAPTER 13