After the initial reaction of relief, the Israelites - realizing that the immediate threat to their safety had been magically eliminated, that they were now safe and the Egyptian army destroyed - despite a muted joy for the most part, experienced an emotional let-down, a draining of energy.

On the first day, Joshua released his army to be with their families, while Moses, Aaron, Joshua and the tribal leaders gathered together on a hill, apart from the people, to assess and analyze their situation. The assistants to the tribal leaders were busy, seeing to any special problems and needs of the people; the messengers were flitting up and back - the final, desperate climb to safety on the ridge-way path, with Egyptian chariots at their heels - had taken a toll of both the wagons and the elderly. The first two days were therefore spent mostly in rest and recovery.

However, Binay and Lansel, with youthful energy and high spirits, were hand in hand, excitedly exploring this new land they were in. On the second day Chadaric and a tallish, slender, reddish-haired girl from the tribe of Dan, Rachisa, found each other; soon the two young couples became inseparable, laughing, and caring and excitedly planning their futures, as young, free people confident in themselves, in Moses, and a new land of opportunity and promise.

For a third day, Moses let the Hebrews rest, remaining near where they had gathered after the ridge-way crossing. Gradually, an apprehension grew among the Israelites, previously knowing only slavery and the orders of masters - that they were now truly free, on their own, in an unfamiliar, frightening world - and completely dependent on their leader Moses.

Finally, with a proclamation to the people to be brave and trust in the Lord, Moses, with his staff in his hand, began walking east-ward, away from Yam Suf, into the unknown. The Israelites were again arranged by tribal family groups, two families abreast behind Moses, then three, then four, growing to seven or eight families abreast, maintaining that width until the straggling families; Joshua's army, as a loose, protective band, circled about the entire length of the procession of Hebrews. Binay and Chonoch, in their fast chariot, continued to scout ahead and on both sides of the procession of Israelites - composing essentially, the entirety of all the Hebrew peoples in the world: old, young and in-between, and their possessions.

On the third day of travel, the water pouches of the Israelites were nearing empty, bringing new complaints of thirst. They then came upon a flat plain called "Marah", where existing wells could be seen, already dug in the ground. However, the water was bitter - and the people cried out to Moses, "Better we should have died in Egypt."

Binay, with Chonoch - the first to discover the wells and to taste of the bitter water - then saw Moses take a branch from a tree and throw it into the well - then drink of the water - followed by Aaron, then the tribal leaders. Then the Hebrews took branches of that tree and threw them into all the wells - and then they all began drinking, filling their water pouches and watering their cattle. Binay, who before, had found the well-water to be undrinkably bitter, now found it sweet - he whispered to Lansel and Chadaric and Rachisa, "Moses has wrought another miracle."

After the Israelites had all slaked their thirst and stored all the water they could in pouches, Moses led the way onward. They then reached an oasis in the desert called Elim, a place of twelve wells and seventy palm trees, where they encamped. But the people then complained again, crying out to Moses for bread and meat, "Better we should have died in Egypt than to die of hunger here in the wilderness."

It had been six weeks since they had departed Egypt. Binay, having seen how Moses had time and again saved the Hebrew people, felt discouraged, trying in vain for a toning down of the grumbling. Standing with Chonoch and Joshua, he saw Moses' face darken with anger at the torrent of complaints - he saw Moses lift up his staff and proclaim to the tribal leaders, "This night they will have plentiful meat, and also bread." Moses then stormed away to be alone.

As dusk fell, there arose the sounds of birds, drowning out all else; they came, completely darkening the sky. In the morning, the ground was covered with quail, in such quantities that every Hebrew gathered as many as was wanted. The ground was also covered with a dew-like substance, which tasted like a wafer of coriander seed and honey. It was "manna" they were told, a bread-like food, and they would be able to collect it every day, the amount gathered would miraculously become exactly enough to feed one Hebrew for one day - and on Friday, enough for two days, so there would be no need to gather manna on the Sabbath. Manna would become the bread-like mainstay of the Hebrew people for the entire duration of their wanderings in the desert and wilderness.

Adjusting to the dryness of the desert, Binay and his friends had adapted to the constant need for water, rationing their supplies; however for the large multitude of Israelites, especially the young, the elderly and those ill, soon could be heard again the cries unto Moses for water. They had come to a place called Rephidim, near Mount Horeb, the highest mountain in the area, which loomed in the background. On a hill before them was a tall boulder, its top as high as a bowman could wing an arrow - it was bare, not a bush or tree grew upon it - solid stone.

Binay, with Joshua, Chonoch and a select handful of Joshua's warriors, stood guard around Moses as the outcries of the people increased. Binay then saw Moses' face darken with rage and heard him say to Aaron, "The Lord has told me to but speak to the rock to get water, but these people -." Then Moses' voice became a roar, so the Hebrews below could hear, "Ye Israelites are a rebellious people." With that, Moses lifted his staff and struck the huge boulder. Binay could see Aaron gasp in shock, making a gesture as if to withhold Moses's arm. But Moses struck the boulder again.

There was an ear-splitting "cra-ak" as of the shattering of something gigantic- and suddenly the single rock was split - becoming two shafts. Between them was now a space, the width of a man's shoulders, smooth and constant for the complete height of the shafts. Then, at the bottom, from the center of the split, came the sound of gushing water - and water began spouting from the rock - a constant flow, widening to a stream as it cascaded down the hill to the wildly joyous Israelites below. Moses stalked off to be alone, Aaron trailing him, followed by Joshua and his soldiers at a respectful distance.

Using both hands to cup his fill - the water tasting cool and sweet - Binay later filled his pouch and sought out his friends, to tell them of this latest Moses miracle.

His people now sated with meat and slaked of thirst, Moses led the Israelites onward. Although there had been numerous skirmishes between Joshua's army in their defense of straggling Hebrews against Amelekite raider bands, there had not been a clash of major forces or a pitched battle. Now, however, Joshua's scouts told Moses that directly confronting the Israelites, blocking their continued progress, was a formidable Amelekite army.

A large plain was nearby, with a central rocky promontory to which Moses led Joshua, most of his army following - only a small contingent had been assigned to remain with the Hebrew people in a nearby field. "There", cried Moses, pointing to the promontory, "will I be tomorrow, my arms uplifted to heaven, to pray for your success. Defeat these murderers of our weak and helpless."

At dawn, the next day, came the attack. Alongside Moses on the promontory were Joshua and Chur, husband to Moses' sister, Miriam. Joshua's army encircled the promontory, several circles deep of soldiers; Binay and Chadaric were side by side in the outer ring. That outer circle then positioned their shields, edge to edge, in a solid ring of defensive protection, holding spears in their right hands.

With a blast of a ram's horn and shouts of defiance, the large army of Amelekites descended upon the Hebrews, encircling Joshua's forces.

Joshua, as military commander, had taken advantage of the combat training given Bibay by the Pharaoh's guards, schooling in spear, sword and shield - but refining and expanding the practice to suit the needs of an army primarily concerned with protecting a traveling civilian population. Now, however, they were arranged in a solid defensive ring of shields, spears at the ready, surrounding and protecting Moses, Joshua and Chur on the promontory.

The Amelekites attacked self-assuredly, throwing their spears and hacking away at the ring of shields - the Hebrews mostly parrying the thrusts. However, due to over-confidence, when a neck or chest or arm or shoulder was exposed, a quick thrust often drew blood, some-times the wound being mortal. The Amelekites over-aggressiveness was providing openings - the Hebrews, careful, defensive, waited for an opportunity to strike. Fallen soldiers and blood soon covered the ground, two Amelekite for each Hebrew.

As time passed, the arms of the warriors grew weary, their weapons heavy - now three, then four Amelekites fell for each Hebrew. But then, the arms of Moses began drooping.

With a prolonged blast from a ram's horn, the Amelekites charged anew, concentrating on the weakest section of the Hebrew circle - Moses arms were sagging - the Hebrew protective circle gave way - then broke apart, the circle of shields had yielded - it was now mostly individual combat, one or two Hebrews against three to four Amelekites.

Binay and Chadaric had developed and practiced an approach to open combat that had been very effective when confronting a group of Amelekites on an open field - back to back, so they were invulnerable to attack from the rear - Binay with shield and sword, Chadaric with shield and spear. When an adversary facing Binay seemed susceptible to a spear thrust, he called out to Chadaric, and as one, they pivoted a half-turn to the right - Chadaric, poised for the spear-thrust-target; then, when Chadaric would call out, together, they pivoted a half-turn to the left - and a sword-slash-target would be open - from a drooping shield or sword-arm. The vulnerability of a neck slash was almost always mortal, the blood-flow unstoppable; a spear piercing under a raised arm, between the ribs, could find the heart. Binay and Chadaric had slipped into their back-to-back routine, Chadaric with spear, Binay now taking up his sword. A deadly team, they moved as one, the slightest opening of an adversary, and he soon lay bleeding on the ground.

On the promontory, Joshua and Chur now placed a stone under Moses to give him support, then each raised and propped up an arm of Moses - and a surge of renewed energy and vigor and confidence spread through the Hebrew army - parrying then slashing - parrying, parrying, then thrusting.

Steadily Binay and Chadaric moved through the Amelekites, leaving behind a trail of crumpled bodies. Joshua, catching sight of their progress, called out their names above the clamor and the shrieks and moans - encouraging them to seek out the King of the Amelekites. "To the right", called out Joshua. Binay sneaked a look, seeing the King on his chariot, surrounded by his elite guard. With a grunt to Chadaric, the two wheeled as one, leaving their adversaries and moved toward the King. Two of his guards, both a head taller than the Hebrews, were engaged; Binay suddenly dropped and swung his sword below the Amelekite shield, slashing the leg of his foe. The man screamed in pain and crumpled. His comrade, distracted, dropped his shield and Chadaric instantly thrust his spear into his chest. As he now cried out and fell, the Amelekite King, only two spear lengths away and seeing his two giant guards vanquished so quickly, suddenly whipped his horse and chariot and sped away from his guards - leaving the battle-field. A wild cheer broke out from scores of Hebrew throats. First some, then mauy of the Amelekites threw down their weapons, some huddling together, cowering and lifting their arms in surrender. Many also ran off the field of battle. The Hebrews for the most part, let then go. The ground was bloody with the sIain and wounded. The remnants of Joshua's army gathered around Moses, Joshua and Chur on the promontory - jubilant that the day-long battle was finally over - and that they had won.

Tired, bruised and sore, both Binay and Chadaric quickly found Lansel and Rachisa, who couldn't stop kissing them, in their happiness at seeing them alive and whole. Each had suffered only a few shallow cuts, which the girls happily treated with olive oil. Finally, the sun set on a memorable day.