The Messiah's Path

By Bynum Westmoreland

The Messiah’s Path (1st book of series) promises to enrage Christian dogma. For many centuries of Biblical history, the Old Testament has told of those who prophesy the coming of the revered Messiah. Finally, a man arises who deems it his destiny to breathe life into these prophecies. This historic epic features a rabbinical graduate, Nico (known as Nicodemus in the New Testament). The story begins six years before Jesus’ birth and ends just prior to Nico triggering his Immaculate Conception scheme for producing the Jews’ promised Messiah.
Wisely, Nico recruits his future father-in-law, Simeon (see Luke 2:25-35). Together they review the Old Testament and devise a basic plan to invoke the key prophecies during the advent and training of their Messiah Child. From this, they develop a multi-year agenda for birthing and evolving the preordained Messiah. They pull it off, though not exactly as envisioned.
Simeon travels to Bagdad, with Nico as his personal Rabbi. Several Magi of Bagdad (aka: Wise Men) predict three planetary conjunctions, which foretell a king’s birth. Excitedly, Nico envisions birthing the Messiah child as King of the Jews under one of these events, naming them ‘Stars of Bethlehem.’ With the timing resolved, he undertakes to locate a gullible virgin and, through her, spawn the future Messiah.
Needing unique powers to implement this plan, he attends a school of hypnosis in Babylon, and then journeys to the Reed Country, where a witchcraft priestess teaches him exorcism. Finally, he travels to Bactra in Persia, and studies for a year under two teachers: a Hindu guru and a Buddhist monk.
While sitting for endless hours atop a lumbering camel, he resolves that he is charting the path for the Chosen One to follow while preparing to emerge as the promised King of the Jews. He envisions the neophyte messiah also traveling this path to acquire the enlightened awareness needed to deliver the Jewish people from prolonged oppression.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Mar 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483564500

Book preview

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Chapter #1

This story begins in late summer,

four weeks before the autumn solace in the Jewish year 3749 or in modern terms,

late August – 12 years the Before Current Era begins (i.e.: 12 b.c.e.)

* * * * *

Simeon’s rural villa in the Kidron Hills near Jerusalem, Judea

The rugged wooden door slammed inward against the mud-brick wall, followed by a tiny whirl of dust kicked up by the bare feet of a dark-eyed girl of six. Called Baby Child, she was dressed for bed, her long gown flowing behind. Twice she gasped for air, her tiny arms waving wildly to propel the words that struggled to escape, as she ran excitedly toward her grandfather Simeon who was asleep on the earthen floor

Gran Abba, Gran Abba! Baby Child cried. The Messiah is coming! Come see! Come see! The excited little girl shook his shoulder until he stirred, then pulled at the hand that had dropped off his lap. The hand held a ceramic mug of red wine. It was aged red wine, sweet and heavy, that he had been savoring after his evening meal of fresh dates, vine-ripened olives and unleavened bread spread with goat cheese that had cured in virgin olive oil. With the girl’s shaking his arm, the remnants of the wine spilled onto the dirt floor. Having a dirt floor was ironic because his home was really a small plantation about a mile from Jerusalem’s east gate. It nestled on a west-facing hillside, overlooking the Kidron Valley. Simeon called it our humble villa, though many of his neighbors argued that it was much more for it reflected his prosperity.

Rocks fitted closely together formed the floor of the main house. Woven mats and fine Persian carpets covered the rocks. Only the floor in the small room where Simeon now slept had a dirt floor. Before her passing, his wife had called this rustic room the Men’s Club.

Now, following an unusually late dinner, Simeon sat on the packed earth as he did each evening, except on the Sabbath. The earthen floor reminded him of his boyhood home in the slums of Baghdad and of his rise to wealth and power. Here in the Men’s Club he would doze despite the background noises of a busy household. He liked the buzz; it told him that people were working. Simeon loved it when people worked and especially when it was for him.

Leave your Gran Abba alone, child, Simeon’s oldest daughter demanded. Don’t you see that your Gran Abba is resting after a tiring day of dealing with caravan tramps? She was Simeon’s oldest daughter; he called her First Daughter.

No doubt, she had learned this analogy from Simeon’s theory of life, ‘trust your family completely; expect them to be fair in their dealings. But for all others, distrust them totally; expect them to cheat you whenever they can for all business is done on the basis of mutual suspicion.’ Simeon had applied this doctrine to his life and from it had gained love and wealth.

But Mamma, the Messiah is coming. Come outside where you can see it in the sky! See the bright chariot he rides.

That’s the same comet you showed me last night. There is no Messiah coming.

But Mamma, Uncle Nico says…

Simeon growled a string of garbled words. Now awake, he had painfully pulled himself to a sitting position. Though he was a stately man in his early forties, his health was failing and his teeth ached constantly. During many of his awaken hours; Simeon chewed myrrh mixed with honey and wine to ease the pain. This narcotic was most addictive. Though his legs were strong and though he could walk for miles unassisted, he used a cane, made from a cooked limb of an olive tree. His weak knees made it difficult for him to rise from the floor or to climb stairs.

Simeon looked at his granddaughter. What did you say, Baby Child? He then looked at First Daughter who had moved into his home after her husband left on a sea journey three years ago and never returned. His heart went out to her and her sorrow, though he cherished her company and her talent for controlling the servants.

Gran Abba, the Messiah is coming! I saw him in the sky. He is riding on the dragon’s tail. He is still a long ways off, but he is coming to visit us. I know he is. The promise is older than I have lived. Uncle Nico said so and he knows almost everything. Simeon struggled to his knees, stood and waddled toward the outer door, the child pulling at his hand.

Well Baby Child, lets you and I go see this wonders that your Uncle Nico has described to you, Simeon said as he rose, gathered his cloak around him, and grasped Baby Child’s hand.

Your Uncle Nico knows everything! The girl’s mother said who had heard her father and daughter talking. If you don’t believe that, just ask him. She laughed at her little joke for she was fond of Nico. Most women were.

Gran Abba, hurry! Please hurry! Baby Child pleaded.

All right, child! Show me once more this wondrous arrival. The little girl gripped his hand in both of hers and pulled. Simeon flinched from a twinge of arthritic pain but hurried to follow. They went through the open door and looked up into the evening sky. The stars twinkled back at them.

No rain had fallen for months. The rainy season began in late autumn, followed by several months of blustery weather; occasionally, snow squalls replaced the rain. Now in mid-summer, the sun’s rays had vaporized the moisture; the heavens were free of clouds. Tonight, the evening air was cool, a welcome change from the stifling afternoon heat.

She pointed toward the heavens. Look Gran Abba, there is the Messiah! See! He is flying. He is carrying a giant torch to guide him through the darkness. It will help him find his way to our house. Simeon imagined he saw the excited smile on the child but the darkness hid it. So he smiled to himself and felt the pride of a wily granddad. And listened to her words.

She danced first on one foot and then the other. The comet shone brightly against the night sky as it had for over a week. It was the same comet that had reappeared every seventy-five years or so for as long as the storytellers had handed down their tales. Records of the Magi had recorded sightings of this comet’s appearance, not only in their homeland of Babylonian but also in Rome, China, Greece, and Egypt. Astrologers of these distant lands sent confirmation of the sightings by caravan couriers; some traveled thousands of miles to deliver their news. The girl continued to point excitedly. Stiffly, Simeon knelt beside her so their heads would be even and squinted northward at the large blur, doing his best to bring it into focus. He held her close, trying to give her the fatherly assurance this child craved.

That is a comet, my dear Baby Child. Just a comet. Nothing more than a comet. He then stood painfully and started to turn toward the house but stopped himself and said, Comets are wandering stars for which the blackness has been reserved forever, he said. Some people call this one ‘The angel of Yahweh.’ It travels between earth and heaven with its sword drawn and its hand stretched out over Jerusalem. It is the book of Genesis or of Jeremiah or Joel that says this. He scratched his head, trying to remember which. Listen closely to our beloved Rabbi’s readings from the great scrolls, and you will learn about comets.

No, Gran Abba! This is the true Messiah. Keep looking. You will see him.

Baby Child, did Nico fill you with this fanciful dream?

A voice spoke from the darkness. Then as if on cue from a stage director, Nicodemus stepped from the shadows. Most knew him as Nico. He wore the tunic of a neophyte student, studying to become a rabbi or priest or scribe. Slaves had stitched the linen garment by hand. It was seamless and ankle-length. Nico wore it bound at the waist by a long girdle. On his head was a dull gray linen hat, standard attire for students at Hillel’s House of Study in Jerusalem.

Nico broke into Simeon’s view like an actor stepping thought a backdrop curtain onto the glimmering stage. A single streak of quivering lamp light pierced the darkness from a narrow stone-framed window. Purposefully illuminating his own face, Nico smiled with youthful satisfaction and blurted, And yes, most esteemed Sir Simeon, those inspiring words came directly from me, your - wise beyond his years - kinsman! Nico spoke with a cultured accent and used the verbiage of an educated speaker of Aramaic. He had studied Hebrew and could read most passages. To those of Palestine, Hebrew was an ancient language. Only inhabitants of a few remote villages still spoke this out-of-date language. The masses spoke Aramaic, which was a deviation from Hebrew. I come, bringing light to the dim world. Especially to yours! Nico beamed the newly gained pride of a senior student. Are you not overjoyed in seeing me?

Simeon’s head jerked sideways, a scowl crossing his face as he spoke abruptly to Nico. Overjoyed! As I am each evening after you’ve traveling the streets of Jerusalem and stop by to pay your respects. And to flirt with my daughter child. If you went straight to your quarters at the rear of this villa just once, I would…I would! What’s on your mind tonight?

Before speaking further, he looked around. Nico held a mug of wine; ‘where had he gotten it?’ Simeon asked himself. The answer came abruptly; Rachael had poured it from an earthen jug then stole away quickly. He wondered how long Rachael and Nico had talked in the garden prior to Nico’s grandiose entrance. The mug was large and mostly empty.

Rachael was the family’s youngest daughter of three and therefore called Simeon called her Daughter Child. She was perhaps here father’s favorite, though he strived to conceal it from the other two. Rachael had held to acting immature, for this shielded her from the womanly jobs around the house and yard. Within a year, she flashed into puberty and had gone from skinny to shapely with a striking smile and an excited outlook on life. She was - not so secretly - vastly in love with Nico. Against her father’s specific orders, she met often Nico in secrecy and often.

At last, recalling Nico’s words, ‘I bring light to the dim world,’ Simeon answered, A fortified city that is built on a high mountain cannot fall. Neither can it remain hidden, therefore exposed to repeated attacks. As obviously am I. Therefore, with your distraught consent, I shall now vacate this virtual summit and retreat to the privacy and peace of my simple abode. You may keep your ‘light’ out here with the other children.

Alas, before you go, pause and be no longer a drinker of water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your other infirmities. This was a well-known saying, spoken often, sometimes seriously, more often in jest. Nico felt the pride of having the lead role in the school play and recited phrases learned for this show in real life situations as any occasion offered.

I need no one to drink with! Simeon startled and then regained his composure, turned and walked slowly toward the open door. Looking back over his shoulder, he said, Do not think for a moment that because I treat you as a member of my family that I consider you as kin. He seemed to huff, Because my youngest daughter Rachael is but a foolish child and lusts for a husband, I indulge her. Again, he huffed, So now I retreat into my solitude where noise of the unwashed rabble is at least muffled.

You speak of retreating, Nico said. But before you do, hear me out, kind sir. He cleared his throat and lowered his voice. It is I, my most revered uncle, who is preordained to serve our chosen people. And because of my vast admiration of you sir, I bring myself here each evening. Rachael glowered at him with daggers, ‘why was she not the reason?’ Nico caught the expression on her face, bowed slightly toward her, smiled as if for her alone to see and said, It is I who describe the mysteries and wonders of the heavens to your beautiful daughter.

Nico swelled his chest and grinned from ear to ear. His outward nature always showed a demeanor of confidence and competence; perhaps this was the reason that women adored him. Yet beneath this veneer lay the fears, uncertainties and vulnerabilities of an adolescent. Perhaps this was another reason that women adored him. Though he was not yet handsome - the acne of youth marked his face - Rachael proclaimed Nico’s future grandeur to all who would listen.

Abba, Nico was explaining the mysteries of the comet to Baby Child. Rachael said. He knows more about the heavens than most men twice his age. Nico was but seventeen. And he beautifully explains these wonders with clarity so that a child can understand.

Simeon’s eyes rolled even farther back until they vanished beneath his upper lids. Pray tell, what falsehoods about the heavens have you been forcing upon this innocent child?

Do you pray, Uncle Nico? Baby Child asked in amazement. She had listened to the adults so quietly that they had overlooked her presence.

As long as there are final exams at Hillel’s School, prayers will be uttered, Nico said. And thank you, beautiful Baby Child for asking. He reached out with both hands, lifter her into the air at arm’s length and proclaimed, Now Baby Child you are closer to the comet.

Simeon stopped. Don’t be telling her falsehoods, he said.

Falsehoods, sir? No falsehoods at all, sir. I was only telling her about the Messiah!

What Messiah? Simeon barked so loudly that First Daughter, who was cleaning the spilt wine from the dirt floor, ran to the door. Realizing that her father and Nico were talking, she called Baby Child to her. Receiving no response, she walked outside into the early evening twilight, without speaking, grasped her child by the hand, and tugged her inside.

Nico and Simeon stood shoulder to shoulder, experiencing the night’s quiet and feeling the chill of darkness. In their solitude, they stared at the comet’s wonder.

Well, Uncle Simeon, it seems that…

Do not call me ‘Uncle.’ How many times must I tell you? We are not blood kin.

So, sir, what am I to call you? Your servants and slaves call you ‘Sir Simeon.’ Perhaps I should call you Most Exalted Simeon. Or perhaps Gran Abba Simeon.

I believe that ‘Simeon’ will do quite nicely.

Nico had lived in an abandoned storage shed on the outer edge of Simeon’s property for several years. Simeon’s family accepted Nico as a family member but not as a relative. This was a fine line, especially for a devout Jew. However, in Simeon’s way of reasoning, there was a great difference. Years of business dealings with his Jewish brethren taught him that they were more cunning but less ruthless than the disdainful gentiles.

Before coming to the Jerusalem area, Nico had lived with Zachar and Elish for five years in the Judean wilderness about four miles west of Jerusalem near the small town of Ain Karem. The couple had formally adopted him as their son after the death of Nico’s parents when he was eight years old. Elish was a woman, righteous before God and in her mid-thirties; Zachar was much older but was a solid citizen and Abijah Priest at the Temple.

Nico had attended the local synagogue’s middle school, called the House of Learning. There he received top grades in all subjects except conduct and discipline. The Teaching Rabbi reported to Zachar that Nico talked too much and played hooky too often. At thirteen, following his graduation from the House of Learning, he attended his Bar Mitzvah. When the ceremony was over, he had told to Zachar and Elish that he was leaving to seek his fortune in distant lands.

Following this statement, he had left and walked the four miles to Jerusalem.

There he wandered the streets for several weeks, begging food and sleeping in desolate sheds when the merchants’ patrol failed to drive him away. When mid-winter arrived, he sought shelter from the impending storm in the shed at the rear of Simeon’s villa. A slave discovered Nico and beat him with a willow cane, driving the freezing boy to the back door of the main house. There the slave forced him to kneel on the cold rock of the back porch until Simeon finished his afternoon nap. After an hour, Simeon arrived and began grilling Nico.

Shivering wildly, Nico told his story to Simeon, often modifying the facts when reading Simeon’s facial expressions. Nico told that he had come to Jerusalem to further his education. Needing money to buy food and shelter, he sought work in town. Failing this, he worked in the orchards, hauling the pruned limbs to nearby houses for fuel. Simeon’s villa was nearby so he camped in the tool shed. Simeon rejected the story as a blatant lie and said so. Nico countered these condemning accusations persuasively. Soon, Simeon found himself admiring the youth’s tenacity. After hearing Nico’s story several times, Simeon ordered the boy to strip to the skin under threat of the slave’s cane. Nico stood naked in the winter’s wrath, watching his clothes burn in the refuse pile. The slave brought under-wrappings and a robe that was old but clean. After Nico dressed, the slave gave him a bowl of lentil and barley porridge, which Nico gulped.

Simeon assigned Nico duties of lugging firewood cut from the prunings of the orchard, carrying food and supplies from his warehouse to his villa, and running errands throughout Jerusalem and the adjoining towns at any time of day or night. He let Nico live in the tool shed, giving him blankets, a reed-sleeping mat, a small brazier for burning dried camel dung and an oil lamp. At first, Nico ate with the servants, slaves and field hands. After several months, Simeon learned that Nico was the officially adopted son of the Abijah Priest Zachar. Wanting always to stay in good graces with the clergy, Simeon invited Nico to join the family for the evening meals and often asked Nico to talk with him after dinner. At these sessions, he taught Nico much about his mercantile business, which involved buying, selling, trading and shipping everything from grapes to dried fish to hammered brass to silk throughout the Judea area.

A year later, when he was fourteen, Nico applied for a scholarship at the Temple’s House of Study in Jerusalem. The Temple’s school was for boys in their mid-teens that were sons of priests and wished to become scribes. Graduation qualified them for entering the priestly order once they had reached thirty years of age and had proven that they were of acceptable mental, physical and moral character.

The Temple’s Admissions Priest rejected Nico’s petition because his biological father had been a merchant and not of any priestly order. Nico was disappointed but accepted the decision. Hearing of the rejection, Simeon stormed to the Temple, confronted the Admissions Priest and his two assistants. There is formally sited Nico’s adoptive parents, ‘pious’ Elish and Abijah Priest Zachar, as ideal sponsors of the boy. The Admissions Priest still rejected Nico.

Simeon then demanded that Elish and Zachar appear before Rabboni Hillel and explain Nico’s spiritual upbringing to him. Hillel listened to the story several times, grew impatient and gave up. and conditionally admitted Nico into his school’s House of Study level.

Hillel drew his teaching staff from graduates returning from missions in the remote areas of Galilee and Judea. Thus, his current students received a more liberal and worldly education. He exposed them to a range of situations and problems: social, political, religious, economic, domestic and foreign. Temple teachers came from the Temple priesthood, confined to the Temple life; hence, the priestly teachings and writings distorted the students’ outlook and evaluation of the outside world.

At Hillel’s School, Nico excelled in several areas. His ability to learn a foreign language was legendary for in addition to his native Aramaic, he now spoke Greek and Latin fluently; read Greek and ancient Hebrew rapidly; struggled with Egyptian, being able to talk with the traveling merchants but unable to decipher their hieroglyphics. With only a half year before graduation, Nico hoped to attain a position as a junior rabbi at a synagogue in a foreign land. He focused on Egypt, Greece or Syria. Hillel required that his students outperform the Temple students on the exams given by the Temple staff. Nico continually maintain the ‘top-of-the class’ status.

At the beginning of his last year at Hillel’s school, the student body had overwhelmingly elected Nico as ‘Senior Student.’ With this came the responsibility of being the principle judge of the Student Court, charged with hearing and deciding on issues of student conduct, discipline and social interface. About the middle of his last year, the other students selected Nico as the ‘Student Most Likely.’ Loosely defined, this title usually meant that the recipient was the most popular or the most social and/or the most rogues. The faculty awarded him the coveted, ‘Most Academic Student’ award. He received top appraisals for the several fund raising events that he had hosted as a part of his informal education. The Jerusalem ‘active women’ organization had asked Hillel to send Nico to speak at their monthly meeting, wanting to hear the scriptures from a learned viewpoint. The senior women chide that they merely sought a husband for their daughter.

Very well, Nico said. I believe that the appearance of a comet announces the death of a great leader, does it not? Nico continued without awaiting an answer. Therefore, if one great leader dies, it is only logical that another appears to take his place. Don’t you agree?

I hear a hint of logic in your argument but before I agree, you’ll need to do better.

This comet announces the coming of the Messiah. Nico said. For centuries, the prophets have been predicting our future, as you know. Nico scratched his beardless chin; he was proud of the covering of fuzz that suggested prominence. In school, Rabboni Hillel warned us about reaching loosely formed conclusions. He said that any rumor repeated often enough and long enough, could become a prophecy. The real value of the prophets is that they represent God and speak for Him to the people. Rather than seeking God, as so many do through prayer, the true prophet waits patiently until God calls him to deliver the stipulated message. The prophet then becomes God’s servant and reveals what will one day be accepted as truth.

And you know this to be fact?

Certainly! Nico gazed at the comet, rubbed his chin and said, Prophets are learned men. And women. You might be surprised to hear this but a significant number of prophets have been women. Prior to a prophet acclaimed as such, God makes him aware of pertinent historic events and of the needs of the people. This prepares the prophet to understand God’s words, told as a message to be relayed to his people.

Nico paused and sipped from the cup he carefully held, trying not to spill the fine wine. Rachael had once again slyly poured; first smiling politely at her dad, then smiling provocatively at Nico before she spun and scampered into the house.

To appreciate, understand and accept the words of the prophets we must first recognize that God is a Spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. So we should recognize this comet as our sign.

There have been a thousand comets and no Messiah has come. So why now?

Simeon’s expression betrayed his apparent indifference. Baiting Nico was the old man’s way of encouraging him to speak frankly.

Because of the prophecy of Jeremiah, Nico said. I shall quote it for you. ‘The time is coming,’ It is Yahweh who speaks, ‘I will forge a new covenant with the people.’ So as not to bore you, I will skip ahead to the ending. ‘Happy is he who receives forgiveness for his wrong-doings, and whose sin is covered.’ Does that not tell us what will happen? Now you and I have the opportunity to make it happen.

You conveniently left out, ‘Happy is the man in whom the Lord sees no evil and in whose spirit there is no deceit when I keep my mouth shut.’ That tells me what should happen. If you are trying to impress me with your knowledge of the Psalms, you will need to do better.

There are other prophecies, too numerous to mention. But this one is different. He will be great and called the son of the most high. He will rule over the land of Israel forever. And his kingdom will have no end.

When did you get that one?

Schooling Uncle Sir brings out the best in a man.

Are you finished with the prophecy lecture?

There is one other. Someday, people will say about you, Oh Great Uncle Simeon, ‘It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord`s Christ.’ If you wish, I shall write it down for you. And for future generations.

Simeon again rolled his eyes. The zest and foolishness of the young. He muttered under his breath and then added aloud, I’ll tell you the greatest prophecy of all. It is written everywhere in the minds of wise men. It tells us that the family is everything. Even Jews outside of the family are only slightly better than the gentiles are. And so now you, my near-Rabbi neophyte, are balanced on the fence precariously.

And the winds of fate blow at me from all directions. But I am man enough to…

Simeon interrupted, laughed, and then slapped Nico approvingly on his cloaked shoulder. Admiration showed on both of their faces.

Nico became serious, nodded concurrence. I’ll tell you what I will do, he said. For a mere seven Roman coins per week, I will develop a plan and make it happen. Gold coins would be nice, but I might settle for a dozen silver.

Simeon looked perplexed by Nico’s sudden change of tactics. With Nico having manipulated the discussion to talk of monetary gain, Simeon thought the young upstart might one day become a credible member of the Jewish community after all, perhaps an heir to his mercantile business.

Because the Romans ruled Palestine, their currency predominated. The base coin was made of copper. The bronze coin was worth four copper coins. The silver coin was worth four bronze coins. The gold was worth twenty-five silver. One silver coin was equivalent to a day’s wages for a laborer. Two might buy a night’s stay at a comfortable inn.

Although there were Jewish, Greek, Egyptian, and other coinages in existence, the primary media of exchange in Palestine were Roman coins for they had become the international currency. The ever-present moneychangers became involved when people converted monies of one origin for another. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling body, had ruled that moneychangers stationed at the Temple were legal. The High Priest supported this activity and the business community sanctioned their presence as critical to a fair and equitable swapping of currencies. Experience had shown that those in the street or worse in the alley who exchanged coins for travelers notoriously cheated their clients, lying about the worth of the money’s value. The Temple system assured a fair exchange rate.

The standard exchange rate of ten percent was enforceable. Moneychangers also functioned as bankers, lending money and investing excess wealth for a profit. Eventually, the table used for exchanging monies received the name bank. Over time, this service helped propel Judea from being a backward agrarian culture into a prosperous nation.

Simeon considered Nico’s words, looked longingly at the younger man, shook his head, and said, Perhaps we can talk about this next week. At my office. Not at my home where I attempt to rest and forget the problems of the world that are layered on my aging back

He motioned Nico away, then turned, and shouted for a slave to bring his night garments.

- - -

Simeon dressed for the night, cleansed his mouth with a slurry of grape wine diluted with vinegar, lay on the grass mat topped with several layers of woven blankets, covered himself with a sheet and sighed relief that the day’s traumas were past. Hearing the shuffling of feet, he opened his eyes to see Rachael seating herself in the corner of the room and glaring directly at him. He groaned and then smiled broadly, Come to wish your old Abba a good night? His words were warm and loving. Intentionally appearing gruff during the day while dealing with business matters, he became gentle at home with his family.

Without replying to his kind words, she asked, Why are you always so mean to Nico?

Rachael! Rachael, I don’t try to be mean to Nico. But he is so impetuous that if I didn’t press discipline on him, he would go out of control and get himself into real trouble. He smiled at her solemn expression barely visible in the dim light. For your ears and not to be broadcast, I will tell you what I think of our Nico. Ok!?"

I shall listen.

Nico is one of the most genuine people that I have ever known. Granted, he can be an obnoxious adolescent. That is now and to be expected. In a few years, he will mature and become a solid citizen. No doubt, one day he will be accepted first a Junior Priest and then as an Adorned Priest. No doubt he will go even further and be managing priest or head of personnel or an ambassador for the High Priest, traveling to far away territories, applying his awesome persuasive ability to bring word of the Temple’s events and policies to the masses.

I know my Nico will become famous. First, she beamed then frowned, I’m talking about you and how you treat Nico. You treat him like a slave in training to work in your shop.

Simeon looked longingly at her, Rachael, from the first day I met Nico, I knew he had real potential. He stopped and laughed, Getting word from a slave boy, Old Rhodes had walked home to deal with ‘the vagrant at the back of the house.’ Earlier, he had forced Nico to strip, bathe in tepid water and dress in a knee-length gown. He called me to have a look. I walked to the backdoor and saw the pitiful sight. Nico stood nearly naked at our backdoor. I laughed, then ordered a woolen cloak and sandals be brought. I watched the shivering boy dress and then waved him to follow me to the table. You three girls were already seated and upon seeing Nico began chattering incessantly.

I remember! When I first laid my eyes on Nico, I laughed and couldn’t stop. He looked so sad, so skinny. His long wet hair clung to his face. I tossed him my napkin to dry his head.

As we ate, I asked him where he came from. At first, he only muttered something about the Judean hills. That’s a big area. Simeon paused, struggled to sit erect and continued, After eating as much as the other four of us had eaten and gulped down more wine than was prudent, he told of his parents’ death when he was a small boy. He then talked at length about Elish and Zachar who adopted him. Finally, shyly and remorsefully, he told about running away just after his Bar Mitzvah. He was barely thirteen.

I was just nine! But I remember you leaving the next morning at daybreak with poor Nico in tow. Rachael smiled sweetly. Not until near dark did you return with poor Nico still in tow. He seemed frightened. She clapped her hands loudly. Simeon frowned. When I saw him with you, I clapped my tiny hands and danced around like a chicken.

They are such nice people. Simeon said. I still stop by their home whenever I travel in that direction, even if I have to go out of my way. Zachar and I have lunch up town whenever he has Abijah priest duty at the Temple.

That night at dinner you told us three daughters that Elish’s and Zachar’s approval of you housing and feeding Nico. In exchange, he would work. You also agreed to see that he got a proper education. And he is about to graduate for Rabboni Hillel’s esteem school for boys.

Rachael, it has been good having a son around the house. The flickering lamp showed Simeon suddenly looking startled. Don’t misunderstand me. You and your two sisters are dear to my heart. I love you all more than life itself. You are my family. He huffed and spoke, But an old man like me needs a son. And this is Nico. He now seemed calm. As it often happens, a father is more demanding of his son than he is with anyone else. Why?

Rachael leaped to answer Simeon’s question, Because you love him. And want him to marry the right woman. And raise a family. And be a good provider. She smiled broadly, the flickering flame illuminating and casting shadows on her young and excited face.

Yes! A man does want his son to succeed. He wants the boy to develop into a devout man. And for this to occur, the father must demand respect and expect success from his son. And he may often need to be strict."

Abba, I love you. And I know you mean well. But can’t you be a little sweet to Nico when he comes to visit me after a trying day in Hillel’s school?

Visiting you? He lives here in the old tool shed out back. He has his meals here. Every night he tells me of his day’s doings. Simeon looked with surprise at Rachael. What do you mean visit you? He is like a son! Simeon glared, What do you mean visit you?

Abba, Nico and I like each other a lot. And some day we may… She smiled shyly, ducked her head and muttered, You know what I mean. We may bring you a boy grandchild!

Rachael, you don’t get close to that boy. He may be a near Junior Rabbi but still you must be proper. He may act like a near gentleman in my presence but he is a brash boy. I know all too well about men in boy’s clothing and how…

Abba, he is seventeen and I am long past my Bat Mitzvah and almost fourteen. I am too mature to shame our family. She purged her lips; looked severe and said, Really Abba!

- - -

Babylon, Babylonian - late August of the year 12 b.c.e.

Observers around the world noted the same comet seen in Jerusalem. Scribes recorded the sighting on tablets or scrolls in Rome, China, Babylon and elsewhere.

But in Sippar, Babylonian, a sister city to ancient Babylon, the comet was treated as just another heavenly object, one to be observed and plotted by a group of astrologists, learned scholars called Magi by the outside world.

These scientists tracked the movements of heavenly bodies. They used these astrological charts to compile written almanacs, showing the positions of the sun by season, the phases of the moon during the year and the position of the planets. Their calculations and forecasts proved very accurate, and valuable to those who paid dearly for them.

As society advanced and agriculture increased in importance, so did the need to predict the correct time for planting the crops. Thus, the study of the heavens began.