The Family of Chosen

My gaze went back to David as he sprung into action to reinforce this company of men. David sprang from the Chariot and called frantically for his cavalry horse. His face became stern and hard, with a cold seriousness in his voice he said to me, “Mustafa, stay with my chariot, you will be safe here.” He ran and jumped for the stirrups as he saddled his horse in mid gallop racing towards the battle. As he galloped towards the wall he barked commands to the infantry captains he passed along the way pointing to the locations in which he wanted them to attack. His presence seemed to motivate the men and inject them with courage. It even inspired me to peek from the bottom of the chariot at the King moving towards the battle followed by his ever present and fearless guard the “Thirty” dressed in their black capes and gold war helmets. From my hiding place within the chariot I saw the whole battle unfold. David, galloping on horseback, aimed his bow and fired four arrow shots into the chests of four guards firing on his men from the tower directly above. Those who witnessed the four arrow shots from David with their own eyes looked upon the amazing and legendary accuracy of their King first hand. These shots allowed three ladders to be placed. His personal guard climbed to the top and breached the tower. Directly over the gate where earlier the guards had mocked him had been cleared of enemies but not secured and David wanted desperately to secure it. King Herod’s soldiers began a counter attack so David had to act quickly. The first row of archers continued shooting fire arrows into the city creating the chaos David needed to get the time for the “Thirty” to open the gate for Joab’s forces. Once opened David planned to order in Joab’s infantry. Reinforcements and ladders would go up all around the walls of Jerusalem. David mentioned in the war briefing he had hoped this tactic would split King Herod’s defense making him try to defend the outer walls of the city, while at the same time trying to stop the wave coming in from the front gate. The company of archers that had fired on the wall had now moved to the tower above the Gate of Gennal and began their arrow assault onto the enemy soldiers below. The King’s Palace now belonged to David’s forces and was secure. A young Captain of a Thousand named Abishai the brother of Joab and member of the “Thirty” pushed the gates open. Upon Jerusalem’s gates being opened horns blew and the Star of David sat atop the captured tower. When it opened, a contingent of soldiers moved forward to repel David’s forces. The fighting there grew fierce, soldiers had fallen all around David and the ground turned red by the spilled blood, but he kept fighting onward in order to clear the entrance for his Cavalry. Smoke filled the air cutting the view of the battlefield. The enemy seemed to be starting to panic as most of them ran screaming away from the battles as we breached the gates. David’s forces overran many other spots along the perimeter. They did not know from which direction David’s men would be attacking. From within a General of King Herod attempted to advance to the tower above the wall in order to rally Jerusalem and reclose the gates. The enemy started to push back David’s advance. David fought his way towards the captain amongst the battling men and separated his head from his torso with one swing. Upon seeing their commander struck down by the King himself and remembering the legend of King David against the mighty Goliath, Jerusalem’s defenders could not stop David from his destiny this day and the hosts bent before his sword. The tower now belonged to David’s forces. He had cleared the gate entrance with Joab and the “Thirty”. Commander Joab galloped towards the gates now and ordered the cavalry to charge the city, as they blew past David on their black, brown and white battle tested steeds, he reminded his men to only engage enemy combatants. “Civilians must not be harmed, property must not be destroyed, secure the perimeter and douse the fires. The King is to be taken alive under penalty of death to whom ever lays a finger upon him.” After the battle ended the captured said the sight of David’s horsemen pouring through the gates in hordes horrified them. It created such a fear in them they claimed to have surrendered Jerusalem to David instantaneously.