And then Abram, their master, had spoken.

"It is very hard for me," he began, "to order you to go to war. For years I have taught you peace and kindness to all men, friend or stranger. How can I order you now to go and kill or be killed? "We are a small band, not even kin to each other, though the common aim unites us more strongly than ties of blood. If we should fall, there will be no one left to carry the message of God. And yet, because we are men of peace, because the tyrant has not attacked us ourselves, just because of that, this is our fight. We stand for Peace, for Justice, for Kindness. That is the way we serve the Lord of heaven and Earth. Now this tyrant with his allies has attacked and vanquished not only his former vassals but many tribes who had done him no harm - and he has taken captive my kinsman, who is still one of us, still trying to carry on the way of God, even if he has parted company with us. He was not a citizen of the Confederation of the Five Cities but a stranger, peacefully pasturing his sheep in the open plains, and he is being taken into slavery now; and you know how they treat slaves in the two-river land."

"If we stand by and do nothing, then we shall have betrayed our duty, we shall have nothing left to live for. But if we go out and fight, not for ourselves but for Justice, then whether we live or die, we shall have done the greatest thing a man can do, we shall have offered our lives for God. Whether we live or die, humanity will be better because men have fought for Justice and not for themselves. Therefore, whether you obey me or not, I will go, alone if need be, and sanctify the name of God in the world with my life."

For a moment no one had moved. Then Eliezer of Damascus, the oldest and most trusted of the Master's pupils, had stood up and said: "You will not be alone, my Master, I too shall go." And then more men had called out: "And I!" And I!" in the end everyone who was able in body had joined, three hundred and eighteen men, and the Canaanite neighbors had honored their alliance and called out their men.

And they were still three hundred and eighteen after their long march. Not one had taken advantage of the leader's call for those overcome by fear to go home.

And should he, Paltiel, be the only one? No! He could not hope to survive the battle, but he could not desert the holy cause. There and then he prayed to God, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, for strength and courage, and for willingness and loyalty to the end. When the signal came he went forward joyfully and without fear, shouting "For God and Justice." The cry was taken up all around, and they charged down on the enemy. The enemy's guards made a stand whilst trumpets were blown and torches lit all over the camp.

But Abram's men fought like lions. Paltiel himself struck down two of the guards, and after that he lost count. He was in the mist of the enemy, striking out right and left. He knew now that God was fighting on their side, for it had become a night of miracles. Arrows and spears rained down upon them but they were not hurt, the enemy's weapons were as harmless as straw or dust. Thousands of the enemy were slain but not one of the attackers was killed. At last the enemy fled, pursued by Abram and his men.

Paltiel stayed behind. He and the rest of the boys and old men had been told to take care of the rescued prisoners. These people were in a sorry state. They had been beaten and starved, and made to carry their captors belongings for them. Even now they could not believe that they had been freed but thought they had merely changed masters.

The only one of them who understood what had happened was Abram's nephew, Lot, and he and his family helped them to feed and comfort the others.

Next evening the main party returned. They had pursued the enemy up to Damascus and completely scattered them. They rested the next night. Then they started on their long way back.

They freed the captives, mostly women and children, who were unable to march quickly and maid their progress slow. Behind them came a long train of donkeys and camels laden with the recovered loot, or carrying those who were too weak to walk. At the head of the caravan rode Abram with his rescued nephew.

Paltiel soon left them behind. He had been ordered to ride ahead and bring the news to the survivors of the Confederacy. Their Kings had returned and gathered the remnants of their men. When they heard the news, there was great rejoicing. "How humble they have become," thought Paltiel, "these rich townsmen, who could only think of themselves and their money."

The news spread to all the tribes of Canaan., and delegations arrived from them all. Together they marched to meet Abram and his army. They gave him a triumphal reception and showered honors upon him. The Priest-King of Shalem, where the worship of the true God had survived from the days of Noah, came to greet and praise Abram.

The King of Sodom asked Abram to return only his people to him but to keep the recaptured property. But Abram swore a solemn oath that he would take nothing for himself - "lest you say: I have made Abram rich." Paltiel wondered whether the sodomites understood what his master meant. But he, a pupil, knew exactly what made his master refuse the riches. This deed had been done for God and for Justice. It would be spoilt if they accepted a reward. Now, perhaps the Sodomites would learn that there was such a thing as kindness; perhaps they would learn to feel true gratitude.

However, when they were marching home Paltiel noticed that they had received something after all: many children from strange tribes were coming with them, to learn the way of God in the House of Abram.