Justice Postponed:

            The morning started as every other week in Sanctuary. They circled together and prayed for the followers who would suffer. They prayed for peace, tolerance, and endurance in the face of trials. They knew someone would suffer, but they didn’t know who or how much suffering Stan conceived for their loyalty to Joshua. Kylie knew that the pain that Stan wanted to inflict was to make her see her friends in agony, so she told each person how much their endurance and strength meant to her, how each person’s life was an inspiration to her, and how she respected and loved them. Their struggles in Sanctuary inspired her more than they could understand.

            Stan arrived on the platform with his whip and a long, horse-hair brush. Eventually, Stan’s followers walked to the platform, and the weekly tirade from Stan started. Stan sneered at the followers and announced, “We all know why we’re here, so Jezebel, Abner and Cozbi come to the stage.” He turned around and whispered to them and smirked. “Now that they know the plan, Abigail, Puah, and Rizpah—come for your punishment.”

            All of Joshua’s followers looked confused. Stan had punished two people the week before, and now he was punishing three people. Abigail, Puah, and Rizpah fearlessly walked onto the platform. Stan scoffed, “The punishments will last during the day, and nobody may leave—especially the criminals. I want everyone to see this humiliation. You may beg for mercy or compassion from your tormenters, but I doubt you will get any pardon. There will be no escapes, no releases, and no excuses.” Stan, Jezebel, Abner, and Cozbi laughed like hyenas surrounding a trapped animal.

            Abner and Cozbi grabbed Abigail’s arms and stretched her so she couldn’t move. Jezebel walked towards Abigail and, with a mocking jeer, said, “You have such nice hair, my dear. It’s too bad that your beauty^[1] won’t last long. You better stay still, or this knife might end up somewhere it isn’t meant to be.” Abigail realized what Jezebel had planned and started to weep. Jezebel crept close and slowly shaved her head. Minute by minute, Jezebel took as long as she could to let Stan enjoy Abigail’s humiliation. Near the end, Cozbi pushed Abigail, and Jezebel accidentally sliced Abigail’s ear. Cozbi gathered all of Abigail’s hair and threw it into the river. Released with no hair, Abigail covered her ear and cried. Stan laughed, “Nobody will look at your beauty the same way again. You’re the most hideous creature now. What a repulsive and revolting picture of humanity! But, until everyone else receives their punishment, you must stay in a crumpled heap and cry.”

            Stan leered at Puah. “You’re next. Grab her legs and put her in the stocks.” After what Stan had done to Abigail, Puah was praying for strength. She didn’t know what to expect, but whatever Stan planned, there was no escaping. The thud of the top beam on the stocks fell, and Stan said, “Take off her shoes and socks. I want this to be done so everyone can see.”

            Puah had never felt more frightened. She watched as Abner held Rizpah tightly so she couldn’t help either woman. Stan passed a horsehair brush to Cozbi, who stared intently into Stan’s eyes. As they smiled at each other, Kylie suspected that Stan and Cozbi were more than friends. Stan announced, “Cozbi will strike the soles of Puah’s feet 50 times. But you should be glad because my other brushes are much stiffer.” Cozbi started to softly strike the soles of Puah’s feet with the brush. Each of Joshua’s followers counted the strikes and noticed that it seemed like Puah was being tickled initially. However, as the strikes were more frequent and regular, everyone saw her feet swelling and becoming raw. Eventually, the pain was evident. Puah tried to sit upright but started to collapse from the pain. Jezebel grabbed her shoulders roughly, so Stan could see the pain Puah endured. After the last strike of the brush, Jezebel opened the stocks and dragged Puah near Abigail.

            Stan jeered, “Feeling good, Rizpah? Do you remember Abner? Abner had claimed you as a lover, but you embarrassed him by rejecting him. ^[2] but when you rejected Abner’s advances, you led to David becoming king.

            Abner hissed in Rizpah’s ear, “I’m going to enjoy this!” Grabbing her by the wrists, Abner dragged her to the stocks. Rizpah said, “I’m allowed 35 whips on that soft bottom. I really wanted to get to know you. But you were always too good for me because you belonged to Saul. Now, you are completely alone, and nobody can help you.” He threw her dress up, exposing her undergarments. He hissed, “Are you sure, Stan, that I can’t do more?” Stan whispered to Abner, “Just wait, she’ll be your slave in a very short time. Just not yet. I have someone else to humiliate first.” So, Abner took the whip and started whipping through Rizpah’s under clothes. Jezebel held her head up so Stan and everyone else could see her pain.

            Rizpah had experienced great pain in her dark nights of pain and fear. Rizpah had stood against marauding animals after her two sons were hung on gallows with no justice.^[3] Her sons, from Saul, were killed by King David as an offering to placate enemies instead of paying a penalty.^[4] She stood against the animals, trying to destroy the bodies until they received a proper burial  ^[5]  She withstood the mockery of others, humiliation, and lamentation from her loss.

            Rizpah knew that Stan was deceiving her and trying to make her responsible for King David’s choice. She honored God’s laws and remained faithful to her children’s father.

            Rizpah stole Stan’s precious victory by showing her courage throughout the pain. She winced but never cried out once though the pain and humiliation were intense. Rizpah thought of her lifetime of suffering and refused to allow Stan to see any torment.

            After 35 strikes, she was released from the stocks. Stan and his followers retreated. Joshua, who had come from the mountain, led his followers to the women. The men formed three lines, shoulder to shoulder, and meshed their hands together. Joshua gently carried each woman into the arms of the men who then placed the women on their beds. The other women raced to grab salves and remedies for the pain. During the week, each woman took a specific time to nurse Abigail, Puah, or Rizpah, so they never had any effort to do anything more than rest and recover.

            Joshua visited each woman and spoke of her witness and strength through their suffering. He healed Abigail’s ear. Joshua started to minister to the women, providing an ointment as he gingerly washed Puah’s feet, healed Abigail’s ear, and gave Rizpah words that comforted her heart. He assured them that their suffering was not wasted.

            Later in the week, Dinah came to Abigail with a package. She had woven someone else’s hair and attached it to a tiny net for Abigail to wear. When Abigail asked about the hair, Dinah said, “One of the ladies was so impressed by how much dignity you showed when you suffered that she cut her hair to provide hair for you to wear. But she doesn’t want any recognition for her gift.” By the end of the week, the women started to feel better. 

            During the week’s evenings, the men had created two chairs with wheels and supportive netting for the soft cushions that the women crafted for Puah and Rizpah, and Abigail proudly wore her beautiful new hair.