In 701 B.C. the Assyrian empire was in its ascendancy. It had already vanquished the kingdom of Israel to the north including the capital at Samaria. It then prepared an assault on Judah and its capital at Jerusalem.
But in one of those significant events that changes the course of world history, Assyria was repelled. Jerusalem was saved until 586 B.C. when the Babylonians sacked the city, forcing its leadership class into exile.
Henry Aubin, in a major feat of scholarship, determines that Jerusalem was aided by a Kushite army from Africa which had marched northeast from the Nile valley. While the Bible attributes the Assyrian retreat to an angel and secular commentators cite pestilence, Aubin, in a meticulously documented work, demonstrates that an alliance with the African nation of Kush bolstered Jerusalem’s defences.
Kush, also known as Nubia, was located in what is now southern Egypt and northern Sudan. A monarchy that existed for more than 1000 years, from 900 B.C. to A.D. 350, Kushites held sway over Egypt from 712 B.C. to about 660 B.C. Of Egypt’s 31 dynasties, this, the 25th Dynasty, is the only one that all scholars agree, was black.
The commander of the Kushite expeditionary force was Taharqa (or as the Bible calls him Tirhakah). This Kushite prince, who had his own interests in halting Assyrian expansion, likely caught the aggressors by surprise as they prepared their siege of Jerusalem.
Aubin offers a thrilling military history and a stirring political analysis of the ancient world. He also sees the event as influential over the centuries.
The Kushite rescue of the Hebrew kingdom of Judah enabled the fragile, war-ravaged state to endure, to nurse itself back to economic and demographic health, and allowed the Hebrew religion, Yahwism, to evolve within the next several centuries into Judaism. Thus emerged the monotheistic trunk supporting Christianity and Islam.
Raincoast Canada 2002
STICKLER AND ME
Benjamin Marshall, age 13, chooses to spend his summer vacation with his cranky grandfather Ira instead of going to camp. It is not an easy time for either of them. Ben’s parents are in the midst of a divorce and his grandfather faces a professional dilemma.
Ira has practised law in the town of Port Sanford for almost 40 years. He is a stickler for the law, for rectitude, for discretion, and for rules. Yet, he now is determined to break the rules.
When his wealthy client Mrs. O’Hearn dies, Ira becomes executor of her will. He must distribute vast sums to her ungrateful niece and nephews. Even worse, he must have her precious dog killed. Mrs. O”Hearn did not want her beloved pet to live without her.
When Ira can’t face killing the dog, he wakes Ben, takes the pet, and the three hit the road. In hot pursuit are the three greedy relatives and the sheriff.
This unconventional road trip proves brief, but the experience and revelations likely will shape Ben’s outlook and his future.
