04 The Edge of Darkness Page 9

  When he was settled in his seat, and the plane began its ascent, Murphy slowly slipped the ring off his finger and read the inscription on the inside. OUR LOVE IS FOREVER. He closed his eyes and saw Laura’s face.

  The airplane hit some slight turbulence and Murphy opened his eyes. The plane bounced for a few moments and then leveled off.

  That’s what I’ve been doing… bouncing in emotional turbulence for a while. I think Laura would have wanted me to level off.

  He caressed the wedding band between his fingers, and then slipped it into his pocket. His finger bore a band of lighter-colored skin where the ring had been.

  Guess I’m officially in a transition period.

  He laid his head back on the seat and closed his eyes.

  The direct flight from Raleigh to Washington was quick. It just seemed long to Murphy.

  At dinner Murphy could hardly take his eyes off of Isis. Her beautiful long red hair cascaded down the shoulders of the black dress that so perfectly accentuated her petite, well-toned body. Her green eyes sparkled, and as he listened to her soft Scottish accent, he couldn’t help but smile.

  “What?”

  Murphy stared into her eyes. “I think you look beautiful tonight.”

  She smiled shyly and, for the first time, seemed to notice his bare ring finger. “Michael, I’m glad you came. I know we could have talked over the phone, but this is so much better.”

  “I agree,” he replied. “Besides, I’ll use any excuse I can find to see you.”

  Murphy noticed a slight blush in her cheeks. She quickly changed the subject.

  “You asked me about someone named King Yamani. I went to volume two of the Records of Assyria. They were collected and translated by Lukenbill. In paragraph sixty-two it mentions King Yamani.”

  Murphy smiled. It was one of the things he liked about Isis. She was like a bulldog when it came to discovering some detail in an ancient manuscript.

  “In the seventh year of King Sargon’s reign, he was requiring that tribute taxes be paid to Assyria. That same year, a man named Yamani seized power in the town of Ashdod. The name Yamani means ‘the Greek.’ He proclaimed himself king and attempted to start a rebellion against Sargon and his taxes. He approached Pir’u, the king of Musru, for help.”

  “I’m not familiar with his name.”

  “Yamani was Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Yamani also solicited aid from the nation of Judah. Hezekiah was king at the time. It seems that Isaiah the prophet urged him to not get involved and he did not join Yamani.”

  “That all makes sense.”

  “What does, Michael?”

  “There is only one mention of King Sargon in the Bible. I was just reading about this the other day while doing some research. It’s in the book of Isaiah. It suggests that one of Sargon’s supreme commanders was sent to attack Ashdod and captured the city”

  “You’re right. The name for the commander is ‘turtan.’ It is not a personal name, but a title that refers to a high military and administrative official, second in rank to the king.”

  Isis removed a piece of paper from her purse and unfolded it. She began to read. “Listen to what it says in the Records of Assyria. The rebellious king Yamani fled to Ethiopia to seek a safe haven but ran into trouble. ‘The king of Ethiopia, who lives in a distant country, in an inapproachable region … whose fathers never—from remote days until now—had sent messengers to inquire after the health of my royal forefathers, he did hear, even that far away, of the might of Ashu, Nebo, and Marduk. The awe-inspiring glamour of my kingship blinded him and terror overcame him.’ It seems that the Ethiopian king did not want trouble with Sargon. It goes on to say, ‘He threw him [Yamani] in fetters, shackles and iron bands, and they brought him to Assyria, a long journey’”

  Murphy’s face lit up with sudden realization.

  “What is it, Michael?”

  “It’s Methuselah. His note said, ‘In the town of King Yamani a great mystery has been solved—I Kings 8:9.’ It all makes sense now. The reference in I Kings refers to Aaron’s Rod that budded and the Golden Jar of Manna. They were missing from the Ark. The town of King Yamani is the city of Ashdod. Ashdod is where the Philistines first took the Ark of the Covenant after they captured it, the city that was the home of the Temple of Dagon. I think that Methuselah is trying to say that Aaron’s Rod and the Golden Jar of Manna were taken out of the Ark in Ashdod … and that we may still find them there.”

  Murphy sat forward, his eyes wild with excitement. He looked like a little boy in a candy shop trying to decide which piece to eat first.

  “The second note Methuselah left me said, ‘Thirty degrees northeast of the altar … press the king’s head.’ That must refer to some sort of secret passage or hiding place.” He looked at Isis. “What do you know about Ashdod?”

  “Ashdod is the fifth largest city in Israel, founded in 1956 and located between Tel Aviv and Gaza on the coast. It’s becoming a very important seaport for Israel. Over fifteen thousand tons of cargo pass through there each year. Its population is about a quarter of a million people.”

  “It’s coming back to me now. In 200-4, two suicide bombers killed ten people and injured sixteen at the Ashdod port.”

  “I remember that, Michael.”

  “As I recall, two eighteen-year-old Palestinians hid themselves in a container that was delivered by truck. The investigators found food remains and five unexploded grenades in the container. They were from the Jabalya Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip. They detonated their bombs, killing ten people and wounding sixteen. The Hamas and Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack….”

  Murphy trailed off. Something Isis had said troubled him.

  “But, hold on, if the city was founded in 1956, this can’t be the location.”

  “The original site of Ashdod is about three to four miles inland. The city was conquered by the Macedonians under Alexander the Great. At that time it was known as Azotos.”

  “You’re brilliant. I can’t believe you’re giving all this information from memory.”

  Isis blushed again. “In 163 B.C., Judas Maccabaeus came into the city and destroyed the Temple of Dagon. In 1-48 B.C., Jonathan and Simon burned down what was left of the temple. There have been a number of excavations at the site. They have discovered at least twenty-two strata of continuous settlements of the city Maybe Methuselah has discovered something new there.”

  Isis caught Murphy’s grin.

  “What are you smiling at?”

  “I was just thinking how archaeological findings keep pointing to the truth and reality of the Bible. The more we discover, the stronger our faith becomes.”

  Isis seemed to withdraw a little.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “You keep talking about the truth of the Bible. And you get so excited about these new discoveries. I don’t know how to relate to it all. I sort of believe that there is a God. Everything we see couldn’t just pop into being without a Creator. But you seem to talk about God like you know Him personally.”

  Murphy hesitated for a moment. With a heavy heart, he remembered that Isis had not yet made a leap of faith.

  “You can know Him the same way I do, Isis. All you have to do is believe that God revealed Himself through Jesus Christ. Jesus took upon Himself the burden of everyone’s sins. With His death on the cross, He paid the penalty for everything we have ever done wrong. But then Jesus arose from the dead so that we too could have eternal life with him. All anyone has to do is to receive this information… and believe it by faith and ask God to come into his or her life and change it. That’s what it means to be saved.”

  “I don’t know, Michael. All that faith stuff seems to work for you but not for me. Jesus appears to be a nice person, a great teacher, and a wonderful example. But to believe that he is God is a big leap of faith. I don’t know if I am ready to make that type of commitment.”

  Murphy found himself in silent prayer, asking God that he might have the right words
to say.

  “Each person must come to that decision by themselves. No one can take that step for you. I wish I could, Isis. Let me share a verse out of the Bible with you. It is found in the first chapter of the Gospel of John. It says, ‘To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.’ That’s all a person has to do. Believe and receive. Isis, you’re an avid reader. All of this is made wonderfully clear in the Gospel of John in the Bible. I’m sure that you would enjoy searching this out for yourself.”

  Murphy sensed her uncertainty. He didn’t want to put on any pressure, so he changed the subject.

  “I want to thank you for all the hard work and effort you have gone to in finding information about King Yamani. I’m going to ask Levi to get us permission to go to the Ashdod site and do some exploring. If we can find Aaron’s Rod and the Golden Jar of Manna, it will be a terrific discovery. But if they should fall into the wrong hands, people might try to use those artifacts as objects of worship or believe that they have some sort of magical powers.”

  Murphy looked at Isis and smiled.

  “How about some dessert?”

  Murphy talked about the possibility of finding Aaron’s Rod and the Golden Jar of Manna as Isis drove him to the airport. They also spoke of Talon, but she said she’d been careful and so far there’d been no sign of him. Other than that, she said little during the drive.

  When they arrived, Murphy was surprised to see how many people were unloading vehicles and preparing to travel at that late hour. He got out and so did Isis. She came around to the passenger side to say good-bye.

  “You’re so quiet. Is there something wrong?”

  She looked at him for a moment before she spoke.

  “I don’t want you to leave. I feel so lonely when you’re not around.”

  Murphy reached out and pulled her close, drowning in her green eyes. He leaned in and kissed her, and she responded with equal passion. Time seemed to stand still as they held each other tightly.

  Suddenly there was the honking of a car and a man’s voice.

  “Hey, Mack! Why don’t you just go to a motel?”

  Murphy looked up to see a taxi driver leaning out of his window. Murphy looked at Isis, who was laughing. He held her again and kissed her. He didn’t want to let her go. Slowly they parted and Isis got into the car. He watched from the curb as she drove away.

  He turned and walked through the revolving doors and headed for his departure gate, in a daze all the while. He shook his head.

  What’s happening to you, Murphy?

  TWENTY

  The town of Shiloh, 1083 B.C.

  THE POUNDING on the door woke Hophni from a dead sleep. Who could it be at this hour? he wondered. He had just pulled back his blanket and was getting out of bed when he heard his front door being broken down.

  Before his feet touched the floor, soldiers bearing torches rushed into his room. “I am Captain Gaddiel. Get dressed quickly. You must come with us immediately.”

  “Certainly not!” replied Hophni with indignation. “Who do you think you are? I am the son of the high priest. You have no right to break into my home. I want you to leave this instant!”

  Gaddiel’s voice became stronger. “Get dressed now! We need to take you and your brother, Phinehas, and the Ark of the Covenant to the valley between Ebenezer and Aphek. We have suffered the loss of many lives. If we lose many more, our defeat is certain. We need the Ark to ensure our victory in the battle with the Philistines.”

  “You can take the Ark, but I’m not going to any battlefield! I don’t want to be killed!” Hophni protested.

  “You and your brother are priests. Don’t you wish to serve your people? You will go and bless the troops. Half of my men are at your brother’s house right now. They’re getting him ready to leave with us. You will both go, or else.”

  “Or else what?”

  “Or else I will expose you to the people for what you really are. I know that you both are corrupt. I know that you both take the best meat sacrificed to God for your own families’ consumption. You act so religious and pious. You both are nothing but frauds. It makes me sick to even look at you. You and your brother claim to know the Lord but your actions deny it.”

  Hophni hesitated. He did not want his surreptitious activities to come to light, but that still seemed preferable to marching onto a battlefield. But the captain wasn’t finished yet.

  “I also know that you both lay with the women who assemble at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Suppose your wife were to learn of your activities once she returns from visiting relatives? Doesn’t the law require that those who commit adultery should be stoned?”

  Hophni was speechless. He had no idea how Gaddiel had gathered so much information about him and his brother. He did not say a word while he dressed and went with the captain.

  When the Ark of the Covenant arrived at camp early in the morning, the people cheered so loudly that the ground shook. Many danced around the Ark as it moved toward the battlefront.

  The noise from the camp of the Israelites startled the Philistines. “What does this great shout in the camp of the Israelites mean?” asked Commander Jotham. He ordered that spies be sent to determine what was going on. Within a couple of hours the word came back.

  “God has come into the camp of the Israelites. Woe unto us! Nothing like this has ever happened before. They have brought their Ark of the Covenant to help fight their battle with us. It is the home of their God Jehovah, the same God who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.”

  Commander Jotham tried to calm the fears of the soldiers. “Be strong and conduct yourselves like soldiers, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Israelites. You need to act like men and fight for your country and families!”

  He had barely gotten the words out of his mouth when a runner approached.

  “Commander! The Israelites are on the march!”

  Jotham knew he would have to go to battle whether he wanted to or not. He gave the order to assemble and encouraged his warriors to fight with all their heart and soul.

  “Do not fear the God of the Israelites. Is not the great god Dagon more powerful? He will deliver us from these weak and cowardly warriors. We defeated them yesterday and we will do the same today!”

  It was an impressive sight to see the Israelites marching to battle. The golden Ark of the Covenant stood at the front of their ranks. Flags and banners flapped around the Ark, and Hophni and Phinehas cut impressive figures in their formal priestly robes.

  Jotham and his aides were too far away to see the terror in the eyes of Hophni and Phinehas. They had always lived a life of luxury and sensuality. They had never set foot on any battlefield. They would have run away and hidden in a cave if Gaddiel and his elite soldiers had not kept them next to the Ark. But the men in the Israelite army never suspected the extent of the priests’ fear and corruption. They blindly trusted and followed their priests.

  Jotham spoke. “Take one hundred of the bravest warriors and seize the Ark. Be sure to kill the two priests following it. If we can capture their precious religious relic, it will demoralize the entire army.”

  One hundred of the bravest Philistine warriors snuck into the ravine of a riverbed that ran through the valley. They were able to work their way to almost the center of the battlefield undetected by the Israelites. They camouflaged themselves with bushes to conceal their ambush.

  And then they waited.

  As the Israelites reached the middle of the valley, Jotham gave the signal for the trumpets to blast. The Israelite army was focused on the approaching conflict and did not notice the concealed warriors. When the Philistine arrows began to fly, the Israelites put up their shields, and the one hundred warriors in hiding launched a surprise attack on the Ark and the soldiers surrounding it.

  The surprise overwhelmed the Israelites near the Ark. Within a few minutes, the Philistines had captured the Ark. To
the horror of those nearby, they watched as the Philistines beheaded Hophni and Phinehas. One of the Philistine warriors picked up the two heads, held them high in the air and bellowed a victory scream, sending chills down the spines of the Israelite soldiers.

  The capture of the Ark turned the tide of the battle. It was a slow retreat at first… but it didn’t take long before it was an absolute exodus of Israelite warriors. They dropped their weapons and ran for their lives in stark terror.

  The Philistines quickly sensed the fear and took advantage of it. They chased after the Israelites, yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs. They soon began to gain on the ranks in the back and slew them as they attempted to flee. It became an exciting game of hunt, chase, and kill for the Philistines. When the great slaughter at last came to an end, thirty thousand foot soldiers lay dead.

  Jotham and his aids commenced dancing and shouting as they surrounded their trophy. The Ark was now theirs. The general raised his arms and yelled at the top of his voice.

  “The Israelite God is powerless against our great god Dagon!”

  A cheer went up among the Philistines. It was a glorious day.

  TWENTY-ONE

  SHARI DIDN’T HEAR the door to the lab open and then close. The latest CD from her new favorite band blasted from a nearby boom box. In addition, she was deeply engrossed in a papyrus manuscript that Murphy had found in an out-of-the-way curio shop in the seedy part of Cairo some time ago.

  She had just taken some pages out of the humidifier and begun to carefully unroll them. The normally porous white paper had turned brown and was still a little brittle. She bit her lower lip as she carefully unrolled and separated the pages. This was one of the things she liked about her job. She had a curious mind and could hardly wait to discover the hidden mysteries in these ancient pages.