“Well, Judith, and what was the dream?” said Ruth.
“Father saw a mighty angel—one of the cherubim, you know, that father says God sends abroad to do His errands—come flying down, and the angel had in his hand a great sword. And he stood by father’s bed, and showed him a name graven on the blade—it was the name which we may not speak, though it is part of father’s name[8]—and when he had done this he put the hilt in his hand and departed. Then father awoke, and found only his own old sword in his hand; and this, you know, is so hacked that it is not of much use, and is very weak, too, in the handle. Father never sleeps without it, and he must have drawn it out in his sleep, without knowing it, from under the pillow where he keeps it. But he says the dream will certainly come true. And now, Miriam,” she went on, turning to her sister, for the little maiden was of the true housewife temper, “we must be going back to get father’s dinner ready for him.”
When they were left alone Seraiah said to Ruth, “It is as I feared—I am to stay behind.”
Ruth felt a thrill of joy go through her, but was too wise a woman to show it.
“Old Reuben will not hear of my going. He says that I should be more hindrance than help, and perhaps he is right. The Lord’s will be done, [pg 187]though I would fain have struck a blow in the battle that is to decide; for I am sure that as this battle goes, so will the end be. But I am to be in command of the garrison here.”
“And you will not mind taking care of the women and children, dear husband?” said Ruth.
“I should be ungrateful indeed if I did,” said Seraiah, as he kissed her.
Meanwhile the excitement in the camp had risen to fever heat. Scouts had come racing in at headlong speed with tidings that the enemy’s army had started from Jerusalem, and that it numbered not less than twelve thousand regular troops, well-equipped, and furnished with a formidable supply of the engines of war. The patriots were in that state of exaltation in which men make little of the numbers opposed to them, and the disparity of forces roused no apprehensions. If any such were felt they gave way to rage when the messengers added that the hated Apollonius himself was in command of the hostile army.
Azariah and Micah were among a small company of chiefs who were standing outside the tent of Judas, and were discussing the prospects of the war.
“The curse of God light upon him!” cried Azariah. “Surely He will so order it that I may smite him down on the field of battle, and avenge the innocent blood! Surely the blood of my wife and my child cries against him from the earth!”