Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6) QUOTES

21 " then a rumble in the earth stopped him. It stopped all of them. It started low at first, as if only a sound. But it increased to the point of causing wooden structures all around the city to shake. Then it became an enduring quake of large magnitude. The very walls they were standing on began to shake back and forth with such force that the soldiers could barely steady themselves. And then the ground in the center of the city split in half and a massive wave of energy swept over the city. Large portions of the outer walls of Jericho just crumbled to the ground like sandcastles in a desert wind. The inner wall was the second to fall under the wave. A large part of it tumbled over and crushed houses and inhabitants. Alyun, Jebir, and their guards were on part of that tumbling wall. They fell to the ground thirty feet below in a pile of dust and rubble. "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)

22 " The Israelites were as shocked as the inhabitants of the city. They did not anticipate such a spectacular act of their god. Their faith was amazingly weak. But the commanders sallied forth with charges and the forces stormed the fort. They climbed over the rocky rubble and broke into the city fighting the stunned soldiers that had not been crushed in the earthquake. It would be over quickly. Caleb and Salmon swiftly made their way to the north of the city where Rahab’s house was. They had prayed that hers was not a part of the wall that had collapsed. Othniel, who had distinguished himself at the battle of Jahaz by killing King Sihon, had a penchant for taking out leaders, so he led a platoon of men toward the crumbled palace walls to seek out the commander of the fort. "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)

23 " UGARITIC TEXTS ‘Dry him up. O Valiant Baal! Dry him up, O Charioteer [Rider] of the Clouds! For our captive is Prince Yam [Sea], for our captive is Ruler Nahar [River]!’ (KTU 1.2:4.8-9) What manner of enemy has arisen against Baal, of foe against the Charioteer of the Clouds? [then, he judges other deities] Surely I smote…Yam [Sea]? Surely I exterminated Nahar [River], the mighty god? Surely I lifted up the dragon, I overpowered him? I smote the writhing serpent, Encircler-with-seven-heads! (KTU 1.3:3.38-41) OLD TESTAMENT “[Yahweh] bowed the heavens also, and came down With thick darkness under His feet. And He rode on a cherub and flew; And He appeared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness canopies around Him, A mass of waters, thick clouds of the sky. (2 Sam. 22:7-12) [Yahweh] makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind; (Ps. 104:3-4) Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; The idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, (Isa. 19:1) "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)

24 " I am as much deserving of judgment as any other alien to the covenant.” She said, “Do we not all labor under the conflict of flesh and spirit? Is this not what makes us human?” Was she offering him an excuse? Was she trying to tell him something? “It is what makes us human,” he said. “But what makes us holy and separated unto Yahweh, when we have such blackened hearts?” “Faith,” she said. “It is all I have. "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)

25 " Joshua said, “She is not a harlot.” Though they were facing certain death in the hands of the enemy, Rahab’s soul rose with hope at the words of Joshua. To hear that pronouncement from the very leader of Israel’s lips made her believe her identity had been transformed. She was a daughter of Israel, an adopted child of Yahweh, the living god. Her past was dead and gone. "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)

26 " Was it a prophecy?” She stood up and pulled Salmon out of her earshot. “Salmon, think about it. I am a common prostitute. I am a vile and corrupted vessel. Do you really think Yahweh would choose my womb to birth anything noble? I do not want to speak any more of this nonsense.” Salmon stared into her eyes. He was heartbroken. She really did feel that she was worthless. “Rahab,” he said, “marry me.” She kept staring into his bold courageous eyes. Her own filled with tears. She felt weak. Salmon held her. Rahab whispered to him, “I am unclean. You do not want me.” “I will be the judge of what I want, woman. And you can be made clean.” She could not speak. He added, “You carry my child, and according to Yahweh’s law, I am required to marry you, so try to get out of that one.” He gave her a big loving smile. She finally smiled back. They kissed deeply. Donatiya scrunched her face, closed tight her eyes, and muttered, “Ewwwwww. "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)

27 " Many generations ago, your ancestor Abraham and his family infested this land like a plague. He invaded this very city of King Arba, and butchered every one of our ancestors with impunity—save one. Abraham did not know that our queen Naqiya would give birth in her death to the child within her womb. That child was Anak, the father of my people. For over four hundred years we have waited for the opportunity to exact revenge upon our enemies, the Seed of Abraham.” Joshua responded with equal confidence, “The War of the Seed goes back farther in time. In the Garden of Eden Yahweh pronounced a curse upon the Seed of the Serpent at war with the Seed of Eve. He prophesied that Eve would crush the head of the Serpent. King Ahiman, the creator Yahweh has claimed your land and he will possess it for his people. "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)

28 " then the Israelite’s secret weapon was brought to the fore of the lines: The Ark of the Covenant. The gold plated box glittered in the sun. It was carried on its poles by priests and accompanied by the high priest Eleazer. Caleb rose and Eleazer pronounced a benediction on him. “Caleb ben Jephunneh, Yahweh is with you! Yahweh is with Israel! Trust in him with all your heart and lean not on your own strength, but upon the Spirit of Yahweh Elohim! He will fight for you! Be strong and courageous! Do not fear this Seed of the Serpent!” Caleb turned to address the soldiers with Othniel proudly by his side. “Let all of Israel stand in awe and wonder, for our god will deliver us!” The men cheered. They believed him for the moment, as all good soldiers do. “Shout to the Lord and praise his name before the shadow of thine enemies!” The army of Yahweh responded with a shout that rang throughout the valley in such thunderous unison that it was now the Anakim’s turn to have their confidence shaken. It was a predetermined praise of Yahweh that they had been taught. And it almost sounded like the indomitable voices of the Seraphim before the throne of Yahweh, the sound of many voices as one. "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)

29 " Suddenly, the voice of Yahweh broke Joshua out of his weeping. “Get up, Joshua. You sound more like the pathetic Israelites wishing they could go back to Egypt than their leader Moses in pleading for them.” Joshua was terrified. He did not get up. “Joshua, get up, will you.” Joshua got up. “Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant and taken some of the devoted things of herem from Jericho. They have lied and taken them for their own possession. Therefore the people of Israel have become herem, and devoted to destruction. I will be with you no more unless you destroy the devoted things in your midst.” “Who, my lord and god?” said Joshua. “Who is it who has taken these devoted items? "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)

30 " When he had come to Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites, the lot fell to Achan, son of Zabdi. Joshua said, “My son, give glory to Yahweh Elohim and tell me what you have done.” Achan was a simple man, stout with full beard, and mostly kept to himself. His wife, three sons and two daughters stood behind him trembling with fear. Achan fell to his knees and spoke with a shaking voice, “I have sinned against Yahweh, Elohim of Israel. I saw some spoils that I coveted, and I took them and hid them in the earth in my tent.” “What did you take, Achan?” “A cloak. A beautiful cloak of Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold. But that is all. I have nothing else. I will return them.” “There is no need for that,” said Joshua. A group of men were sent to his tent to dig them up. Joshua turned to Caleb and said, “Take them to the Valley of Achor, stone the entire family and burn them with all his possessions and animals.” “But my Commander,” said Achan. “Please have mercy.” “We are to have no mercy on the herem. By disobeying Yahweh’s holy commands, you have made all of Israel herem. You have endangered all of Israel by your selfish action. You are herem. Yahweh has spoken. "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)

31 " settlement in Gerar to control a pentapolis of five coastal cities: Gaza, Ashdod, Gath, Ekron, and Ashkelon. The principal god of the Philistines was Dagon. He was half-fish, half-humanoid, and was a god of storm. His cult center was near the shoreline of Ashkelon where the boats were docked for their journeys of trade, diplomacy, and battle. The four archangels, Mikael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel had disguised themselves as monk priests on a pilgrimage to Mount Sapan. They had boarded a ship to follow the coast up north. They wore long billowy cloaks that hid their armament and weapons beneath. "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)

32 " Caleb was captivated by its beauty. He had never seen anything so colorful and artistic since he left Egypt so many years ago. Desert living was not conducive to the fragility of beauty. And yet, in this somber justice before him, that beauty became hideously ugly. It was like a smooth and graceful serpent that reared its head to bare its fangs and bite. A flood of terror came over him and he understood, like he had never before, the true nature of beauty without holiness. It was the seduction of the gods. It was the lie of the Garden. And it was evil. Monstrous evil. The meaning of the tragedy before him became clear. The judgment Achan received was not an extreme punishment for a minor misdemeanor. It was not the significance of the criminal act that warranted the consequences. It was the significance of the one against whom the act was committed that made it so serious. This puny created man defied the everlasting Creator of the heavens and earth, and threatened the lives of thousands of his countrymen, and the existence of his nation. The final thought that struck Caleb was that humanity does not consist of isolated autonomous individuals unconnected to others. We are all connected to our communities in inextricable consequences. Our choices and actions affect not only ourselves but also all those around us. It was time to get back to camp. Joshua had planned an immediate second attack on Ai. "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)

33 " The Anakim received no mercy as the Seed of the Serpent. The bodies of the brothers Arba—Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai—were impaled upon poles on the city walls. Their rotting carcasses were testimony to their infernal destiny. Joshua stood proudly with Caleb as he offered him the ownership of the city and its area for his inheritance. Caleb renamed the city Hebron for future generations. Of course, he would not be able to settle in until they had completed their conquest of the land. But Rahab, Achsah, and Rahab’s family were more proud of him than anyone could be of a man who obeyed Yahweh and followed him faithfully. Joshua proclaimed, “Warriors of Yahweh, you have been strong and courageous! We have achieved mighty feats of faith in overthrowing the Transjordan! King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan!” The men cheered. “By faith, Yahweh toppled the walls of Jericho! And by faith, we defeated the Anakim of Kiriath-arba, our most difficult enemy in the land of our forefather, Abraham. And we have captured the hill country!” The men cheered again. “But our conquest is not yet complete! I am old and very advanced in years. But there is still much land to possess. Before we can apportion out the territories to the tribes of Israel, we must strike down the Anakim city of Kiriath-sepher just south of here! I need a leader to take a force and capture the city! "

― Brian Godawa , Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6)