By Way of the Wilderness by Gilbert Morris

and his eyes sparkled as he smashed his opponent’s defense. They were using wooden swords since the Egyptians did not allow the Hebrew slaves to have any weapons, but now Joshua laughed, his white teeth flashing against his bronzed skin. “That’s it, Eli. You’re a dead man.”
    â€œLet me try again, Joshua,” the young fellow begged.
    â€œNo. That’s enough for now.” Joshua half turned, and he smiled. “Why, Caleb, I didn’t see you.”
    â€œCome with me. We have to talk.”
    Joshua was accustomed to Caleb’s abrupt manner of speech. He moved quickly into step with Caleb, and the two made their way through the camp to a place beside the river where they would not be overheard. “What is it, Caleb?”
    â€œIt’s Bezalel,” Caleb said shortly.
    With a sigh, Joshua shrugged his muscular shoulders. “What’s he done now?”
    Ignoring the question, Caleb turned to face Joshua. “Have you seen him?”
    Joshua hesitated, for he and Bezalel were close friends.
    Caleb noticed this at once. “Don’t try to cover up for him, Joshua,” he warned. “He’s in trouble this time.”
    â€œI haven’t seen him today,” Joshua admitted. “He doesn’t come down here too often.”
    Caleb nodded shortly. “If he does, grab him and hold him. Send for me.”
    â€œWhy? What’s he done?” Joshua demanded. “He’s not a bad fellow, you know.”
    â€œHe’s a spoiled brat! He’d be better off working down in the brickyards,” Caleb stated flatly. His eyes were hard as agates, and he shook his head. “I knew there would be trouble when he went to work in the house of that rich Egyptian.”
    â€œIt’s an easy life.” Joshua shrugged. “I don’t blame him for taking it. With a talent like he’s got, it was inevitable.”
    Bezalel was the son of Uri, who had been married to Miriam’s best friend, Illa. The boy’s parents had both died years ago, and out of devotion to her friends, Miriam had raised young Bezalel. He had been a difficult youngster to raise, always into trouble of some kind. He had good looks, was highly intelligent, and had a talent for art. Early in his life he had revealed an almost miraculous talent for molding clay into statues. He made caricatures of some of the leaders of the tribe of Levi, and Miriam had been forced to stand between him and the angry leaders. The statues had not been flattering!
    Working with clay had been just the beginning, however. As soon as it was discovered that the young fellow had a talent for making almost anything in silver, gold, and bronze, he had been taken out of the brickyards and was trained by some of the Egyptian metal workers. They valued such things, and less than a year ago, Bezalel, at the age of sixteen, became a highly valued apprentice in the hire of a wealthy Egyptian.
    Caleb shook his head. “He would have been better off working down here in the pits.”
    â€œHe’s got it pretty easy. And he makes life easy for Miriam and the family. You know he gives most of his earnings to them.”
    Caleb gnawed on his lower lip. He was a tall man, lean and muscular, given to quick movements. “He’s too clever and it will get him into trouble.”
    â€œHe’ll be all right. He’s just a little wild.”
    â€œYou’ve got to talk to him, Joshua. He’ll listen to you.”
    â€œI doubt that.” Joshua grinned dryly. “What has he done?”
    â€œHe’s chasing around with Adila.”
    â€œYou mean the daughter of old Hezmiah?”
    â€œYes. That’s the one.”
    â€œBut she’s betrothed to Laaman.”
    â€œYou think that makes any difference to Bezalel?” Caleb demanded.
    â€œI’m sure Bezalel doesn’t mean anything by it. He’s just high-spirited, but it’ll make a difference if he has