Cecilia stood at the entrance of the tent with her hand to her forehead, shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun. She was on the lookout for her husband. One of the neighbor’s young sons said the soldiers were on their way back home. She repeatedly looked out on the horizon every few minutes, anxious for his arrival.
The outline of his tall build eventually came into view. The sun blurred his features, but she could tell it was him by how he held his head slightly to the right and had a slight limp that favored his right foot.
As he came closer, she could tell something was odd. His uniform was still very clean and only his shoes had dust and mud on them. Normally, when returning from a battle, she was prepared to scrub blood out of his pants and to wipe the unthinkable off of his shield. She would wash his hair while he bathed, massaging his scalp as she prayed over his mind to relinquish the images of destruction that would be undoubtedly seared into his memory.
She ran into the tent to pour him some water. Surely, he would be thirsty after his long journey. She turned around when she felt a gust of wind blow her across her neck. There he stood in the entrance of the tent like a shadow with the sunlight outlining his six-foot-four frame.
“Zebe, my love,” she ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. He gripped her around her waist firmly and breathed in her scent.
“Always a pleasure for these old eyes.” He sat his shield to the right of the entrance and propped his sword up against it. All warriors were required to be battle-ready, so everything was always within an arm’s grab from the entrance.
“So glad you’re home. Earlier than expected. When Mindsha’s son said the soldiers were on the way home, I was pretty surprised.”
He sighed and shook his head.
“What is it, my love?”
His brows furrowed producing deep wrinkles in his forehead. “All we did was walk around the city. In silence. Joshua told us not to say one word.”
“You walked all the way ‘round Jericho?”
“Yes.”
“In silence?”
Zebe’s eyes met hers.
“Oh, I-I guess that kinda makes sense. It’s like you were scoping out the land, getting a feel for the enemy.”
“I wish that were the case. We had to march around the city behind the Ark of the Covenant. Then we just came home.”
“And that’s it?”
He looked at her again. She looked down. He despised it when she asked questions as if she didn’t believe what he was saying.
“That’s it.” She handed him his water. “And it’s a long trek. Part of it is uphill. The walls are thick. Fortified. Some of the Canaanites have homes built right in them. One window had a scarlet scarf hanging out of it. We’re supposed to leave that particular home alone when we fight . . . whenever that is.”
She could tell he was perplexed.
“Perhaps tomorrow will be the day?” She tried to cheer him up. She worried when he was in a sullen mood.
“Perhaps. Let us eat so I can be strengthened for whatever tomorrow brings.”
She became busy preparing their dinner and as he laid down for sleep that night, she put her hand over his heart and prayed God’s protection over him. She spoke strength into his muscles and agility into his movements. He snored lightly as she ran her hands through his hair, kissing each eyelid while praying God would open his eyes to whatever danger he needed to see. She did this every night before he went into battle, certain that he would be home. God had seen them through the wilderness, so she had no doubt He would provide now as well.
She and Zebe had actually grown up as neighbors. Both of their fathers were warriors under Moses. She remembered her Papa coming home and telling her about the great sights they had seen. Her mother would be preparing manna, sometimes adding honey and goat’s milk to make it into sweet cakes. Her parents would share stories about what it was like crossing the Red Sea or how Moses once held his arms up with his staff in hand as a symbol of faith to help them win another fight against their adversaries.
Her brothers and Zebe would train during the slower days and learn how to guard the camp while she and her sisters learned how to manage the home. Some days, she would be allowed to tag along with the boys and Zebe would teach her how to handle a sword. He was tall even back then. Intimidating some but quieter than the rest.
When he wasn’t training, he could be found listening to one of the elders talk about the goodness of God or reading some of the old scrolls. She always admired his quiet strength, but he was still a soldier through and through. He had sworn to protect, conquer and obey the commands of God’s anointed. Even though she knew this bizarre strategy baffled him, his dedication to Joshua meant he would never go against his command.
Zebe arose before dawn the next morning to head out to battle. Before he left, he kissed her cheek and whispered, “my beloved.”
The next three days seemed to be a repeat of day one. Zebe returned home confused and anxious for battle. He said all they did was repeat their walk around Jericho only now, the Canaanites were starting to yell insults at them. Kids were throwing stones and sticks out the windows and the same scarlet scarf blew in the wind. He explained how there were times when they could saw weak spots in the enemy’s defense or abandoned areas where they could possibly attack. Unable to speak during their walk, some of the soldiers strategized on their way back to camp.
“Cecilia, how is Zebe taking all this? Achan comes home in a bad mood each day. I told him he should just gather some of the soldiers together and lead a revolt, take Jericho and be done with it all.”
“Such foolishness!” Cecilia cut her eyes toward her neighbor, Marisol. “And how do you suppose they would lead a revolt through a stone wall when they can’t talk? Instead of filling his head with nonsense, try encouraging him. None of us understand this but as always, Yahweh will provide.”
“Well, why is He taking so long? Why can’t they just go over the wall already?” Marisol rocked her newborn baby in her arms. “I hope there are some good treasures worth finding.”
Cecilia resisted rolling her eyes at Marisol’s ignorance. “I don’t have the answers. We must trust God and His timing. We already tasted the fruit of the land, so we know it’s ours. How He gives it to us is none of our concern.” Cecilia rubbed the top of the baby’s head. She knew Marisol’s words were rooted in fear. It’s never easy to send our men off to battle.
“This is hard for all of us, and I know you want to take your family to the new land. We all do. But I’m sure he would prefer you cover him in prayer instead of filling his head with unhelpful ideas. Joshua has never guided us wrong. We must trust his leadership.”
As she spoke these words, she was talking to herself as well. It hurt her heart to see Zebe’s frustration day after day. He was a dedicated soldier. She had high hopes once they settled into the new land.
When Zebe came home yet another night, he was quieter than normal. Instead of pressing him for details, she brought out a bucket to wash his feet. This was the sixth day that they had marched around Jericho. While each lap was getting easier, he wasn’t sure how much longer the morale would last.
On their way back home, his fellow soldiers would share how they pray to themselves as they walk. Some would fight the urge to yell back at the insults hurled at them while others fought the urge to take it upon themselves to scale the wall. They all knew there was purpose in this strategy but just weren’t confident in what the purpose was. They expected Joshua to tell them more but each day, he retreated to his tent to pray and worship. He would be on his knees with his arms outstretched to God, thanking Him for the victory.
That night, he slept so peacefully and awoke with hope. There was something stirring inside of him and he wasn’t sure what it was. He prayed today would be the day. Cecilia prayed while he got dressed. As Zebe came over to give her a kiss, she hugged him tightly and whispered, “my valiant warrior.” Their eyes met. Today would be different.
Cecilia tried to busy herself all morning but found herself constantly looking for Zebe’s arrival. When the usual time that he arrived home for the previous six days passed, her heart began to beat faster and she found it hard to focus on her daily chores.
A great sound echoed throughout the camp and she felt goosebumps down her arms. She ran outside right as one of Marisol’s sons came sprinting towards the tent.
“It’s happening, it’s happening!” he yelled.
All the women and children gathered around.
“Tell us what you saw boy!”
“What’s happening!”
The young lad was bent over with his hands on his knees as his chest heaved in and out. “They- they walked around the wall seven times and it- it just came tumbling down! The wall just fell flat! The soldiers ran right in!”
Cecilia jumped with joy and started praising God along with the other women and children. Yahweh did it! He did it again! They would have their new land.
That night, the soldiers did not return home. Cecilia smiled to herself, not anxious or worried. It was normal for battle to last multiple days. There was a joyful buzz around the camp. Children were playing and behaving while the women were humming and singing songs of worship. She took extra care to prepare their home and went to wash their linens. As she got closer to her tent, she noticed Zebe’s boots outside the entrance. She quickened her pace, unexpectant of his early arrival.
She hurried through the entrance to find him standing there with a big grin on his face. She dropped her basket and ran into his embrace. They stood holding each other and she sighed a breath of gratefulness at having him home safely, once again.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” he asked, looking deep into her eyes.
“H-how did you know?” she stammered.
“I pay attention to everything concerning you. Just as you cover me, I cover you. God strengthened me as we conquered the city and told me to return home immediately for there was good news awaiting me.”
Cecilia took his hands and moved them to her stomach. “God has blessed us.”
Zebe went to his knees and kissed and held her stomach, “My beloved.”
