He Who Returned. Martin FieberЧитать онлайн книгу.
had so much work to do there, he would probably soon find himself being put to use as a scribe. And that was Joshua’s greatest wish.
“Joshua, I will need to use you as a helping hand in the future. While I have made you work hard, it was only in your own best interest. You know that. You will help me with writing tasks. Hence I expect you to do your writing exercises regularly while I am gone. Your mother is going to be checking up on you.”
Joshua was astonished that Samuel had seemingly picked up on his thoughts.
“And let me remind you: you are to stay away from that Jesus kid. Have you understood? I would find out about it anyway. And if I hear anything of the sort, then you are in for it. And you know exactly what I mean.”
“Yes.”
“Good. When the messenger arrives I will be departing in short order. This might happen in a week, or maybe in two weeks. Tomorrow I will head to Sepphoris and speak with the rabbi there, Abija.”
“Why are you going to speak with Abija?”
“Perhaps he knows of someone who might qualify as successor for me.”
“Wasn’t Bealja able to name a possible successor?”
“No. Bealja said that the high priest did not want to be bothered with it. He said it was my job.”
“Well, some of the men in the village would not be happy if someone from outside were to take over your duties here.” Sarah seemed worried.
“Let me be the one to figure that out. I will find someone for sure. And that someone certainly will not be from Nazareth. The people here are too stupid somehow anyway.”
“Samuel, that is not very nice to say.”
“Whatever, I think you know what I mean. Anyway, I think I am going to take a walk now, probe my conscience and consult with God.” Samuel stood up and went out into the night.
Samuel walked across the large meadow below the village, alone, deep in thought. He turned and cast his gaze toward Nazareth. Light shone from a few houses into the night. It was a pretty village. He would miss this place and the natural landscape here. And some of the people like Jeroham, the shepard and Jacob, the potter. He caught himself feeling glad that he would never have to see that Jesus kid again. That lout, that swollen-headed half-Greek, really annoyed him. But he was concerned about one thing. Joshua would be without fatherly supervision soon. And the way he knew his son, he would probably meet up with Jesus. He had pondered taking him along on his journey, but the way was arduous and dangerous. And what was he to do with Joshua when he had to meet with the high priest and the other emissaries? No, Joshua had to stay here. He would drum it into him one more time that he was to stay away from Jesus. And besides he would give him so much to write that Joshua would have plenty to do, yes, so much that he would not even have time for anything else. After all there were only about two months between now and when Joshua would be leaving the village. Jesus would not be able to do any more damage in this short time period and Joshua would most certainly forget all about him after a short period of time. Then he would begin to truly focus on his work instead.
So the best thing he could do was to stop thinking about Jesus. His heart warmed to that thought and he began to hum a happy melody. Samuel had to smile. He looked around for a moment, but no one was to be seen. No one could see him. Only God. And now he was going to thank God with a small sacrifice for the fact that he would soon be rid of Jesus.
∞
Then the day dawned on which a man arrived shortly before sunset, who had orders to escort the rabbi to Jerusalem. The messenger of the high priest was very tired. After a brief meal with the family of the rabbi he was shown to his sleeping quarters. There was a spacious room next to the synagogue in which travellers passing through Nazareth could stay.
The next morning, shortly before sunrise, Samuel and the messenger set out. There wasn’t much of a farewell since Samuel was averse to any such ceremonial show of feelings.
“Woman, watch out for the kids! Keep an eye on Joshua, as I told you to! God bless you.” Samuel put the supplies on the donkey which was to bear the load for him on this journey.
“May the lord protect you, Samuel. May you always be surrounded by the blessing of our God and may the winds of truth open a clear path for you.” Sarah nodded briefly at the other man and watched the two of them as they disappeared into the darkness before dawn.
Sarah went back into the house, sat down and enjoyed the mint tea she had prepared herself earlier. She loved mint leaves. They smelled so wonderful and the hot tea warmed her heart. Samuel was gone. And that for at least three weeks! Nothing like this had ever happened in the entire seven years that they had been married. She was looking forward to this time, for now she could relax some and regain a sense of joy in her life.
She let her thoughts go into the past, where they stumbled upon memories. Eight years ago Tamar, Samuel’s first wife, had passed away while giving birth to her second child, which also did not make it into this world. Samuel had been desperate, for Tamar had been his true love. Esther was two years old at the time and loved her mother more than anything else in the world. Samuel wanted a new woman by his side, if only for the child, for he himself was not capable of feeling the strong kind of love he had felt for Tamar anymore. Sarah was aware of that. One day Samuel entered the house of Sarah’s parents, who at the time still lived in Nain. Samuel said that he had asked the rabbi regarding a good woman for himself, and that the rabbi had sent him to their home. Sarah’s parents were deeply rooted in the Jewish faith and felt honored to have a rabbi ask for their daughters hand in marriage. After all she was already seventeen and thus of prime marrying age.
Sarah smiled when she thought about the moment when she first laid eyes on Samuel. He could have been her father, but the sadness which surrounded him caused her to develop some feelings for him. He was a handsome man with penetrating eyes and a pretty smile which alas she had not seen much of lately.
Yes, she felt sympathy for Samuel, she respected him, and yes, she felt physically attracted to him, for he had a muscular body, but she never had truly loved him, nor he her. People in Nazareth told her about Tamar, and up to this day she had not been able to rise above the shadow of his former wife. She had always remained second choice for Samuel, a compromise, but not a true love. And yet she was satisfied with her life, because she had wonderful children. Joshua and Judith loved her very much, and she also got along well with Esther. That was not to be taken for granted, she thought to herself and smiled. Also, she did not have to suffer privations and always had enough to eat. She was popular in the village, but what she lacked was the warmth of a man, the warming power of true love.
She sipped some more of her mint tea and laid down again on her lair, even though she had work waiting for her. Suddenly tears gushed from her eyes. She found herself crying harder and harder from one moment to the next. She cried and cried without noticing her children had become aware of it and then returned to their rooms. She cried the tears she had suppressed for seven years. After a while she fell asleep soaked in her own tears. She did not notice that another woman was sitting by her side and watching over her. Esther had fetched Miriam because she had been afraid of what was happening with Sarah.
∞
“Go to Jesus, he will be happy if you visit him.” Joshua was sent out of the house by Miriam. He needn’t worry about anything. She would watch over his mother.
Joshua immediately complied, but Jesus was not at home. So he proceeded to the olive tree up on the hill. He sought comfort from this mighty being. He sat down next to it and let his gaze wander across the valley, until it came to rest on Mt. Tabor again. He would miss this view when he was living in that other country. The tree as well and the whole little area up on the hill. And the beautiful melodies which caused him to slip away into dreams he would miss dearly. It was then that Joshua noticed that he was hearing the Jesus play the flute again.
“God bless you Joshua. I greet thee. How are you?”
“My father left for Jerusalem today and my mother