The Prince: Jonathan (15 page)

“You asked to see me. Why?”

“I should think it’s obvious.” She pressed her lips together. “You should marry, my son, and soon.”

“This is not the time.”

“What better time is there? You are far older than your father was when we married.”

“Mother, my responsibilities leave me no time for—”

“David is married. You pressed for that match, didn’t you? And he’s younger than you are.”

Amused, Jonathan shook his head. “I suppose every mother wants her children settled.” He leaned toward her, wanting her to rest and not worry. “David’s marriage to Michal strengthens the bond between our tribe and Judah, Mother. And besides, what better man could there be for your daughter than Israel’s champion?”

Her eyes darkened. “You are Israel’s champion, my son. You were scarcely older than David when you routed the Philistines at Micmash. Though many years have passed since then, the people have not forgotton. There are equally good reasons for you to marry, Jonathan.”

He felt the tremor in her hand. “Why are you pressing this, Mother?”

Her eyes welled with tears. “Because I don’t know from one battle to the next if my son will be killed.” Her voice broke. “Is it too much to ask that I hold a grandchild in my arms?”

“Michal and David—”

“No!”

He frowned, troubled by her vehemence.

She sat up and leaned toward him. “Marry and have sons of your own, Jonathan. You and your brothers must have sons to build up Saul’s house.”

“Why are you so adamant now?”

“We must increase in numbers.”

“You have more faith in me than I have in myself if you think I can increase the population—”

“It’s not a laughing matter.”

He sighed. “No. But it’s not the right time either.”

“I—”

“No, Mother.”

“If it pleases the king for you to marry . . .”

“If it were on his mind, he would have suggested it himself. And if he does now, I’ll tell him his wife has put him up to it.” Jonathan kissed her cheek and rose. “You and David—”

Her head came up. “What about David?”

“He agrees with you. He told me the Scriptures say it is not good for a man to be alone, that he should have a wife.” He tilted his head at her expression. “Why does that surprise you?”

“If you won’t listen to your mother, perhaps you should listen to your friend.”

“Later, perhaps.”

Jonathan awakened abruptly from a sound sleep and heard Michal’s voice. “I don’t care if he’s asleep! I must see my brother!
Now
!”

Jonathan sat up and rubbed his face. He had slept fitfully, awakened by strange dreams. Violence in the city. Philistines on the rampage. The walls breeched. Twice he had lunged up, grabbed his sword, and gone to the window, only to find Gibeah quiet.

His servant stood in the doorway. “My lord, I’m sorry to awaken you. Your sister—”

“I heard her. Tell her I will be with her in a moment.” He stripped off his tunic, splashed water on his face, and toweled dry. Donning a fresh tunic and robe, he went out to her.

Michal paced, her face splotched from crying, her eyes wild. “Finally!”

She reminded him of their father in one of his moods. “What’s going on?” It was then he noticed the bruise on her cheek.

“Father hit me! You have to speak with him. He was so angry I thought he would kill me!” She sobbed. “He’s out of his mind! You have to help me!”

He felt a sudden fear. “Where’s David?”

“Gone!”

He took her hands and made her sit. “Gone where, Michal?”

“I don’t know where. Running for his life. He’s gone! And I’m left to face the king!” She cried like a frightened child and shrieked at him, “It’s all your fault, Jonathan!”

“How is it my fault?”

“My husband would still be home in bed with me if you’d stayed at the feast! Why did you leave?”

“Mother asked for me.”

She gulped air and used her shawl to wipe her eyes and nose. “She’s dying of a broken heart because Father took that girl Rizpah to his bed. He doesn’t care about her anymore.”

Jonathan hadn’t been pleased when he heard about it. “Mother is still his queen, Michal, and the mother of his children.”

She rose, frustrated. “I didn’t come to talk about her problems. After you left the celebration the evil spirit came upon Father again. You know how he is when that happens.”

All too well.

“He was sitting with his spear in his hand.”

A kingly pose after a great victory.

“One minute he seemed fine, and the next, he was hurling his spear at David! He drove it into the wall! David eluded him and came home. He thought Father’s advisors would calm him down, but when I heard what had happened I knew Father was determined to kill my husband. I told David if he didn’t leave Gibeah, he would be dead before morning. And I was right! He wasn’t gone more than a few minutes when Father’s men came. I told them David was ill. So they went back to the king, but Father sent them again with orders to bring David, sick or not! Aren’t you going to ask how David got away?” She clenched her hands. “I let him down from the window. Then I took one of my idols and laid it in our bed. I covered it with a garment and put some goat’s hair on its head.” She laughed wildly. “Wasn’t that clever of me? Wasn’t it?”

“Yes.” Jonathan was revolted at the thought of his sister’s having idols in the house.

“And then Father’s men came again. When they found David wasn’t there, they brought
me
to the king instead. And Father accused me of deceiving him and sending his enemy away so that he could escape. His
enemy
! Oh, Jonathan, I thought he was going to have me executed for treason!”

Jonathan forced himself to speak calmly. “He would not kill his own daughter, Michal.”

She grew angry. “You didn’t see his face. You didn’t look into his eyes. I told him David threatened to kill me if I didn’t help him get away.”

Jonathan drew back and stared.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“What sort of wife betrays her husband with such a lie? David wouldn’t hurt a hair on your head!”

“Father was ready to lop it off!”

“How you talk! You’re here, Michal. Alive and well. No guards with you. Whatever storm you imagined has probably already passed.”

She flew to her feet, her face contorted with anger. “You’re wrong! Sometimes I wonder if you even know our father. You’re so determined to see the good in everyone.”

“And you’re even quicker to seek faults in everyone.”

Her neck stiffened. “Maybe you’re wrong about David, too. Did that ever occur to you? Your fine friend didn’t stay around to protect his wife, did he? He left without a second thought. Did he stop to think what would happen to me?”

“You took care of yourself, didn’t you?”

“I hate you! I hate you almost as much as I hate—”

Jonathan gave her a hard shake. “Lower your voice!”

Michal sagged, weeping, her head resting against his chest. “What am I going to do without him? I love him! I don’t want to be a widow.”

Jonathan thought of David running for his life. “Where was he going?”

She pushed away. “How would I know? To his family, I suppose. I don’t remember. Bethlehem.” She wilted onto a cushion and covered her face, her shoulders shaking with sobs. “Will you speak to Father for me? Please, Jonathan. I’m afraid of what he’ll do.”

Jonathan wondered if his sister had exaggerated everything, for the king was in a good mood the next day. “You retired early last night, my son. Were you unwell?”

“Mother summoned me. Is everything all right?”

“Yes! Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Michal came to my house last night.”

Saul scowled. “Your sister invents trouble. Speak no more of her.” He waved his hand, as though to slap the subject away. “What of your mother? Why did she call you away from the celebration?”

He leaned close and spoke softly so the advisors would not hear. “She thinks it’s time I marry.”

“Does she?” Saul’s brows rose. He considered the thought and then nodded. “Not a bad idea. We should find you a suitable young woman.”

Jonathan knew what
suitable
would mean to his father: a bride to bring an alliance. “She must be from the tribe of Benjamin, Father. As the Law requires.”

Saul’s expression changed. “It will have to wait.” He put his arm around Jonathan’s shoulder. “The Philistines plundered another village.” They reviewed the reports together.

Jonathan pointed out his strategies. “With your permission, I’ll take David with me.”

The king looked thunderous. “And share the glory?” He shook his head. “Not this time.”

“It is not glory I seek, Father, but an end to this war. We can’t give the Philistines a single village or field. We must drive them out of the land or we will never have peace.”

“Call out your men and go!” Saul turned his back. “I have other plans for David.”

Weeks passed with some minor skirmishes, but Jonathan didn’t find the multitude of Philistines reported. Something was wrong.

He returned to Gibeah and learned that his father had gone to Ramah. “Did Samuel call for him?”

“No, my lord. The king sent men to Naioth in Ramah to summon David, but he was no longer with Samuel.”

David had been with Samuel?

“Twice more, the king sent men, but the Spirit of the Lord came upon them and they prophesied in Samuel’s presence. So the king went himself. And then the Spirit of the Lord came upon him as well and he prophesied.”

Strange happenings indeed, but Jonathan grasped hope. Perhaps his father had repented!

Let it be so, Lord! Let it be so!

Jonathan rose early to read the Law, then went out to practice with his bow. David came out of the rocks and called to him. Jonathan ran to meet him.

“What have I done, Jonathan? What is my crime?”

Jonathan remembered Michal’s visit in the night. Perhaps he had dismissed her too quickly. “What are you talking about?”

“How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?”

“That’s not true!” Jonathan grasped his arms. “You’re not going to die!”

“The king tried to pin me to the wall with his spear. If not for Michal, I’d be dead. I hid at the stone pile. I could think of nothing else to do but go to Samuel and ask his help. The king sent three parties of men after me and then came himself.”