The Warrior's Rune

By: Jared Ellis

Narrated by: Jared Ellis

Imagine a warrior with a notepad full of sonnets in his breast pocket, rock-hard chiseled frame, a stone-cold killer, who suddenly, under seemingly divine compulsion, pulls out quill and parchment to record the most vulnerable choruses and refrains.

His shoulders and arms bear the clawed and teethed scars of many beastly encounters, yet his hands, as calloused as they may be, prove to be as gentle as his heart. His appetites turn from kingly garb and luxury toward the subtle, simple, and sentimental. A cup of cold water from a well back home is preferred to all the spirits of the world's finest distilleries. His sword-gripping muscular hands, seemingly oversized, can transform to pluck and strum tender melodies on a harp, zither, or guitar. His ferocity is as accessible as his tears.

As for his disposition, poet or warrior? Romantic or pragmatist? Reckless or reliant? Who wouldn't want him as a friend? Who wouldn't want him as a brother or a son? Who could ever look into his jovial face and automatic smile and not want to be him? If offended, he grants the benefit of the doubt. If injured, he will twice or thrice forgive. Deep are the roots of a man like this. Many are the complexities of a soul like his, but few are the men who will live as he did. Fathers pledged their daughters to him in marriage just to have him near. Enemies gave him rank and file among their forces so as not to fight against him. His soul was so filled with courage that he inspired the indebted, depressed, and downtrodden. He made warriors of the weak and soldiers of the simple. Because the most menial tasks splashed his imagination with adventure, when he would emerge victorious from a seemingly unwinnable war, it seemed commonplace. Surety and humility, the most unlikely friends, graced his every word.

When asked about his military experience, he once replied, "Fear not, I have been keeping sheep." When his enemy disgraced his God and country, such an insult he took personally. When a vetted champion and warlord, whose spear was notched with the lives of hundreds of men, threatened to feed his carcass to the crows, he saw and raised, upped the ante, and said, "But it will end with me taking your head." Then, when standing before the king, the giant's head in his left hand and the giant's sword in his right, he was asked, "Who are you?" Even then he uttered not his own name. "For I am the son of Jesse from Bethlehem."

Where do I begin? I can't tell you of his success without telling you of his struggles. You can't understand his kingship without understanding the context. His craft was so much more illustrious than his crown, and his person was more splendor-laden than his palace. So where do I begin? His mighty men? No, they were weak until they knew him. His clout? No, that grew from the damp floor of a cave. His victories? Those were simply the follow-through of a heart set on God. His origins? What?

"My dad's name is Jesse?"

You can't know David unless you know Jonathan; his only friend. And you can't understand Jonathan's love for David until you can taste the bitter disappointment of being the son of a cowardly king. And you can't know Saul alone. You must also know the orphan, servant, priest, and prophet who once held him up and eventually tore him down. But who reared the orphan to become this king-maker and king-breaker? That was a High Priest, named Eli, an old man then. And little did he know that a customary blessing said in haste to a barren woman named Hannah would be the redemption piece that they both desperately needed.

Hannah, then. That is the most fitting place to begin. For where is the man if not for the maiden? Where is the warrior, if not for the woman?

©2023 Jared Ellis (P)2023 Jared Ellis, Caleb Paxton

Couldn't put it down.

Incredibly written and delivered! A beautiful rendering of the lives of these men of the Bible.

I was captivated from beginning to end!

I wasn’t sure if I’d like The Warrior’s Rune because it’s not what I would typically choose, but I was captivated from beginning to end! Jared Ellis has a great voice, and tells the story of David and Saul so vividly, that he brought the characters to life and my imagination soared! The music is beautiful and really draws you into the story! I was so moved by this, and left speechless when it was over!

Beautifully written with a musical score playing in the background

Have you ever read or listened to a book and saw the whole movie play out in your head?
I sure I am not alone in this. Listening to the Warrior’s Rune, you will not only see the book play out in your mind, but as you listen you also get to experience the movie score playing in the back ground.
This book will take you into a time of biblical history with all of the accounts according the the Holy Scriptures, but you also get to understand and experience the feelings and emotions of the characters. They were just like us dealing with joy, fear, anxiety, love, anger, and death, but most importantly experiencing the love from our God.
You won’t be disappointed!

Great Concept and Execution

The narrator makes this Biblical story come alive. The score adds depth and theater.

Wonderful book, provides good insight

Love how Jared provides perspective to help fill in some gaps and provide details that are often overlooked when reading. Love the way the book builds the character of King David into an man from early childhood.

The blending of the voice and the music . Made it visually real .

Wow ! Really well done , kept me wanting the next chapter . My thoughts during the audio kept visualizing those moments and how I would have handled them. Loved it !

Amazing story and style!!

I’ve listened to this book and it takes you! I have read 1 Samuel and taught it many times and yet I STILL find myself mesmerized and hanging on every word. The music and different voices opens the “mind’s eye” where you do more than hear it. It truly is an experience. Men, listen to this audiobook and then buy the book. We need warriors of the faith again and this audiobook works as a war cry.

Adding this to my top 5 books for men!

Absolutely phenomenal narration of David’s journey. This book captivates with the beautiful musical rendition in the background and draws you in. Much to learn and gain value from the book along with tremendous entertainment value. Awesome!

Remarkable storytelling and compliment to the scriptures!

What a gift this book has been!! An incredibly easy listen, pointing me back to the holy scriptures and encouraging me to read through part of the Old Testament I haven’t been in before. The glances into the masculine soul not only give me a better understanding into my husband’s heart but into mine as well. HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone!! 🙌💘

Chapter three

Great story telling but the end of chapter three set the hook deep to finish listening moved me in ways that I haven’t felt in along time. Music was perfectly timed and built and built throughout the book! Can’t wait to read listen and pass to my son!!