To think it all happened at ...

The Inn of Kimhamby Karen Lough

The Inn of Kimhamby Karen Lough

The Inn of Kimham

Notes from the author:

I hope you are drawn into this fictional tale of Christ’s birth, as I was in the writing of it. Hearing the story of Christ’s birth as a child, I accepted it with child-like faith, never questioning what I did not know. I had never before imagined what it would have been like for Joseph or Mary, the shepherds or wise men. I had never traced the journeys or the geography, thought much about what they ate, how it would be to travel, or what the joys and fears, sorrows and motivations would be for those drawn by God into these momentous events. Years ago, I wrote a simple Christmas play for young children, which included the traditional scriptures. I never wondered past them.

When I became aware of the 2 Samuel 19 passage about Barzillai befriending David and the king taking Kimham in his father’s stead and when that was connected with the Jeremiah 41:17 passage about the Inn of Kimham located near Bethlehem which lay on the route to Egypt, I could see Joseph and Mary joining a caravan to flee to Egypt. This was the beginning of my imaginings and as I searched the scriptures and tied them together with facts of culture and period, I felt God leading me on a wondrous adventure that became ever more colorful and real. Each scripture became a light of illumination that was joined to another until a constellation of lights was formed and a larger picture was revealed. To God be the Glory!

Karen Lough

The Journeys of Joseph & Mary

The Inn of Kimham

“Joseph, tell me again, how it is that you came from the line of King David?” Mary asked, as the donkey carried her along.

The babe within was growing big and with every jostle and shift Mary felt the pressure bare down inside her. She felt bruised within and without but she was young and the excitement of the journey increased her strength and endurance. Mary and Joseph traveled with the others of family and friends but they were estranged. Close in neither flesh nor spirit. The inner circle had closed to them with the babe to be born, obviously too soon.

Mary’s mother had been hurt and her father had been furious when, upon her return from Elizabeth’s, Mary had dared to be so bold as to announce the coming birth. Elizabeth had more than understood. She had known! They had spoken of it openly and boldly to one another! The old priest, Zechariah, was unable to speak and so he had sat, listening to all they said with eyes wide, a look of disbelief on his face.

The messenger Gabriel had told Mary of Elizabeth’s news and Mary had packed her belongings and traveled at the first opportunity to the hill country of Judea, staying almost three months. The babe within Elizabeth had given a sign at Mary’s arrival, of God’s certain grace. But no heavenly messenger had appeared to Mary’s par-ents and they were filled with bewilderment and doubt and at times anger, for the position she had put them in. Mary had shamed them. They could not hold their head up, for her thickening waist. At first, Joseph had withdrawn to his own small house. Mary had been inconsolable after he had fled from her presence. Mary had seen the utter hurt and disappointment in Joseph’s eyes when he knew of the babe within her. Mary had sobbed and sought the Lord’s help, but it was not until later, after night was her garment, that the Lord had consoled her. Mary looked up into the stars--the beauty and peace of it. The wonder of it took her back to “the overshadowing” of the Most High. The pure love she had felt in the presence of the Lord, was un-forgettable. Joy consumed her. Peace flooded her soul. Returning to this remembered Presence of God within her, was Mary’s solace. It always brought her peace. God had given Mary what she needed to sustain her. He had given her a part of Himself.

Only with the help of YAHWEH, had Mary and Joseph born the shame. God Himself had sent the glorious messenger, Gabriel, to each of them or they would have lost one another in the shame of it. Many of Mary’s moments since, had been lost to her own mingling thoughts from the enormity of the appearing, the conception, and all that it meant. The great mystery of “God intimate among men” had left her quite without any way of expressing her feelings, for Mary was no longer sure of them.

Mary was often transported far beyond the boundaries of earth. How do you tell another of such God-wrought experiences? Even if you could convey them to another, how would they understand something you yourself did not understand? --And you yourself, having the benefit of knowing them to be true! So Mary had grown quiet and introspective. It had been four hundred years since Jehovah had spoken to anyone! But Hallel Yah, God had shown Himself to Joseph and made known the truth to him, otherwise Mary would not have been able to bear it alone. God be praised! Mary’s gratitude rose within her as she thanked God Most High for His many mercies.

Into her sorting of thoughts, broke Joseph’s kind and labored voice, “After Judah there was Perez, one of the twins born to Tamar after she played the harlot, and then Hezron, the father of Ram.”

Here Mary interrupted, “I also am from Ram after Judah.”

“Yes Mary, we are both of the tribe of Judah,” Joseph agreed.

“And after Ram, Joseph?” Mary wanted to hear.

“After Ram was Amminadab the father of Nashon. It was Nashon who went out before the tribe of Judah, com-mander of the army who led as they left the mount called Sinai. The standard of Judah was before them and the cloud of the Lord was over them!” Mary watched as Joseph flung his arms toward the expanse of the sky and began to bellow with great zeal, “As the mercy seat was carried by the priests, Moses would say, ‘Rise O Jehovah and Your enemies shall be scattered and those hating You shall flee from Your presence!’ And when it rested, Moses would say, ‘Return O Jehovah, to the myriads, the thousands of Israel!’”

Mary laughed at Joseph’s antics and thought of her babe to be born. Hope, joy and anticipation filled her. Her face shone. Surely the babe was part of a great mystery to be revealed! “And after Nashon, Joseph?” Mary prod-ded with mirth in her voice. Mary saw Joseph look back at her. She noted the glint of affection in his eye and the look of approval on his pleasant face before he began again, “After Nashon came Salmon. Salmon was there at the crossing of the Jordon and the taking of Jericho. Joshua sent two spies in the town where they were saved on the roof of Rahab. Because of Rahab’s kindness, Salmon soon cared for her. Salmon was the father of Boaz. Rahab, who was saved by the scarlet cord, was Boaz’s mother.”

“Rahab was not a Jew,” Mary stated with a bit of mystery in her voice.

“No, Rahab was not, but the Lord grafted her in. She had risk much to help the Lord‘s anointed and Jehovah is faithful to repay those who help His own and, in so doing, put their trust in Him,” Joseph replied, looking far ahead and up into the heavens.

“We will stop here for the night, Mary. With fair weather and the Lord’s blessing, we will easily be in Bethle-hem tomorrow,” Joseph said as Mary slid off the donkey and he helped her down. They went from the road far enough to be separate under a pine but close enough to have protection from the numbers along the road.

Joseph thought of Nazareth which was far to the north, far from Judah. At the time of the exile, King Josiah’s son Jeconiah, was carried off into captivity. When his descendants returned to Jerusalem, they were part of the rebuilding and then with the passing of generations, Joseph’s ancestors eventually went north toward Nazareth. Joseph had never felt at home there, though wood was plentiful and that was good for the carpentry trade, which he had been taught by his father.

The couple had been traveling for five days and Joseph would be relieved to come to the small town of Beth-lehem before the Sabbath began. Mary was very near her time and Joseph watched her closely. They spread their cloaks under the pine and ate their raisins, nuts and the flat bread Joseph had purchased in the Jerusalem market. It was nice to have flat bread with their meal again. Early in their trip they had fresh bread Mary had baked before leaving Nazareth, along with salted fish from the Sea of Galilee, but the bread was fresh for little more than a day, and the fish, they had eaten by the third day of their journey. Joseph had insisted on travel-ing light. No pottery bowl, flour or bread starter for the baking of bread over an open fire. He said they would not need a fire if they ate nuts, fig cakes, cheese, raisins, fruit, pickled olives and roasted grain on the way. He wanted Mary to rest when they stopped, and so they had packed light, not even taking a real tent. It was the beginning of the dry season and no tent would be needed, Joseph had said. He had tied a length of woven wool from the low branch of a tree and weighted it with rocks for a covering at night. It had not rained and Mary had not eaten much. Joseph could see that the babe was growing large. He could see how uncomfortable Mary was.

Earlier in the day, as Joseph and Mary neared the gates of Jerusalem, they had stopped to rest within sight of a small pool, the Towers Pool. From here they could see the three watch towers on the wall in the northwest corner of the city gate. They could also see the Antonia Fortress, called the “castle” to the northeast and the hill where the Romans did their crucifying directly to the north. The small mount was called Golgotha-place of the skull, by the Jews. Rabbis had said for generations that this mount was the place where David had buried the skull of Goliath after taking it to Jerusalem to display in triumph before the people. Now, more than a thou-sand years had passed and Israel had no king of its own on the throne. They had but a tyrant called “Herod the Great“--one handed to them by Rome.

The pool by the city gate had been a place where Joseph and Mary could rest and spread out their midday meal in pleasant surroundings. Date Palms grew around the pond waters with soft green grass near the ponds edge. Here they stopped and ate their fig cakes, cheese, pistachios and water. When they were rested, they had entered the upper city of Jerusalem through the northern gate.

Jerusalem had been crowded. A caravan on the Incense Route had arrived from Arabia carrying spices and perfumes to be taken north to Damascus and beyond. Herod the Great gathered taxes as these merchants passed through but he also provided a certain amount of protection from bandits through the hills. These merchants encountered a bustling trade in Jerusalem and many of their resins and spices were sold for use in worship at the Temple. What they sold, they replaced with olive oil and high grade linen and sometimes wool or grain. The caravans replaced their own food stores with fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, cheese, honey, wine, goat or cow’s milk and fresh flat bread. Sometimes, if they were feeling wealthy, they would purchase meat to throw in the boiling pot for the evening meal.

Joseph and Mary did not often enter this gate in the upper city. Here, in Herod’s part of the city, were the mar-ble houses of the wealthy. The wide straight streets were filled with the well dressed in the Roman style. The women had painted eyes, styled hair and golden adornments. The men had fine togas and rings of gold set with precious stones. Because the Antonia Fortress was not far, the couple encountered many Roman soldiers on the street. The pompous soldiers walked with authority and expected everyday citizens to get out of their way. They were loud and brash and Mary did not like to look them in their eyes so she drew one side of her head covering across her face and averted her gaze.

Joseph and Mary were out of place and they felt it but Joseph was a fine craftsman of wood and he had made contact with one of the vendors at this market who had offered to sell his finely carved boxes of olive to caravan merchants and the rich of Jerusalem. Joseph had gone quickly to the bazaar directly across from Herod’s Palace, sold his beautiful boxes and now had coins in his belt. The afternoon was now turning to evening and they were not far down the Bethlehem road.

Now that it was twilight and they were outside the confusion of the city, Mary ate her pistachios. As she rested, all the sights and sounds of Jerusalem came back to her and she relived it all. Mary had seen nard in sealed alabaster jars and cotton from India, silks from China, glass from Tyre and Sidon. Of course she could never dream of such luxury, but it was exciting to see these dazzling things from other lands: the colors of opulent silks, embroidered threads on white cottons, colored glass glinting in the sun, large well formed amphorae and other beautifully shaped pottery. She also remembered the stink of camel, the spices that made you breathe deep for the pure pleasure of the scent in your nostrils and determined voices haggling over a price, baskets from the grass of the Nile--and slaves.

A small shudder came over Mary at the remembrance of human flesh taken as trophies of war or as payment for debt and being sold as if they were goat or ox. She thought of the fear and devastation they must surely feel. How could it be born, she wondered. “God Most High, have mercy!” She prayed as she pressed her swollen belly where the babe was pressing hard, as if restless.

Joseph finished his meal, washing it down with a swallow of wine from the wine skin. “Here Mary, it will help you sleep,” he offered, handing the skin to her.

After watching Mary drink, Joseph inquired with eyes of sympathy upon her, “Mary, are you much sore and tired?”

“No Joseph, I am fine. Do not fret yourself on my account. I am strong.”

“And young,” he added looking tired and worn.

Mary reached toward Joseph and put her hand on his cheek, a smile on her young face. “You are my husband and I am fine.”

His eyes lit up and love was in them, embracing her with them. He held her then and they rested together as the stars began to pierce the deep blue robe of the night sky. Others could be heard along the road stopping for the night. They heard children at play, mothers shouting to them, fathers’ deep voices as they cared for livestock and sat before the fire. Some voices they recognized and some they did not. They were a comfort and a curse together.

Mary wondered if she would ever be a part of family again. She remembered her mother’s voice as she left her father’s house with Joseph, “You have a family of your own now, daughter. Go with God. Jehovah be praised!” But her mother had turned her back as she said it. Her father had remained silent.

*****

The next morning, sun poured through the open window of the morning sky and the chatter of the birds frol-icked in the trees above and woke them. The day promised to be warm, if the start bore a promise true. The time of the wheat harvest was coming to an end with only a field now and then still with workers in it. Joseph heard the voice of his Uncle yelling to him, “These are family lands, Joseph! Go into that field and glean! Mary will be fine. Martha will watch over her until you return!” Joseph kissed Mary on the forehead and girded the ends of his tunic into his woolen belt as he waved to his Uncle in thanks, then headed toward the field with a tightly woven pouch.

There were fertile fields around Bethlehem, Joseph realized as he surveyed the countryside. Bethlehem, the “house of bread,” he reminded himself as he stepped across the piled-rock boundary that separated the fields and began gleaning unharvested kernels of grain along the edge and corner of the field. Good soil when it was flat enough to sow, he thought. The steeper slopes were forested, the gently rounded tops, good for grazing. The local shepherds had a thriving business taking sacrificial lambs into Jerusalem for sale. Joseph looked into the glare of the rising sun and then down at his pouch. He had enough wheat for Mary to grind into flour for bread to last two or three days. It was time to get back to Mary and continue the journey to Bethlehem.

Returning from the field, Joseph saw that Mary had laid out some raisins and the last of the flat bread for him under the pine. She turned to him in the shade of the make-shift tent. “I thought you should eat a little before we go. Your uncle brought us water from a cistern for morning washing,” Mary said quietly. “Your Uncle is being quite kind, Joseph. May the Lord reward him!”

“He’s been like a father to me,” Joseph said, sitting under the pine and eating quickly. “I think he approves of you Mary, and I think he has forgiven us. He’s not bothered by what others think and he knows I’m ready to do this.”

“Did you tell him of the heavenly messenger?” Mary said a little startled.

“I told him the babe was not mine but I had heard from the Lord and you were innocent. That God wanted me to take you and the babe for my own.”

“What did your Uncle Eli say then?” Mary asked with hesitation in her voice.

“He laughed and said that if God Most High had taken the time to speak to me, out of all Israel, about a woman, I should take His advice!”

The amused look on Joseph’s face faded as his thoughts turned toward his own father. Joseph’s father had been dead for more than three years now. Joseph, in his twenties, was considered well overdue for the taking of a wife. The rabbis thought it best to wed a young man by the age of eighteen. But with his father’s passing, Jo-seph had put off the marriage arranged by his parents from his youth, for an additional time to be sure he could provide for Mary from his father’s small shop. When Joseph was younger, he had yearned to study in the syn-agogue for a longer time so that he could read the ancient Hebrew scrolls for himself. His father’s illness and death had put an end to much of that. Taking a wife would have stopped it completely. Funny, how one plans out one’s life when you are young only to have it amended irrevocably by time and circumstance--or perhaps by YAHWEH Himself!

“Yes, by Jehovah Himself!” Joseph spoke under his breath as he took the donkey’s lead and looked up the dusty road. As Joseph started out from their overnight camp, his thoughts were immediately full of the dream and how it had irrevocably changed his plans for the future. “The dream” had changed Joseph’s heart and mind. But in reality, it was no dream, it was the hand of God propelling him forward. Joseph could not resist the pow-erful messenger who spoke with urgency directing him to take Mary now and provide for her; to protect her from the shame that had fallen upon her. And Joseph was not sorry. Mary had been sweet company for him. Joseph was no longer lonely. He treasured Mary’s laughing eyes, her gentle spirit, her attentiveness--and her cooking! A smile again washed over Joseph’s face. He threw back his head and enjoyed his joke privately, not sharing it with his wife.

As Joseph led the donkey, he looked out over the countryside. Along the high and winding road, could be seen terraces of olive trees and vine of grape and newly harvested fields of grain. The fields were small and scattered amongst stands of trees that covered the steeper hills and valleys, but It was beautiful country and Joseph pre-ferred it to busy dusty Nazareth. They would soon be coming within sight of fields that had belonged to Boaz, not just lands of Judah but direct family lands.

Mary’s voice broke into his revelry. “Joseph, who comes after Salmon and Rahab? Who was their son?” Jo-seph’s smile widened, yet he said nothing. “Joseph, please continue the story!” Mary pleaded, sounding much like a child.

Joseph turned to look at her. Too thick in the middle to sound so young, he thought. “Hush, woman! Do not bother me!” He said with mock gruffness. There was silence behind him. He turned again and revealed a grin to her. “Just practicing my husband voice!” He explained to her. She smiled shyly back at him, still pleading with her eyes.

“The son of Salmon, whose mother was Rahab,” Joseph said with exaggerated exasperation, “was Boaz! It is said that Israel could not stand before her enemy until they had saved Rahab and all that were with her because she had helped the spies and they had promised to save her and all her family. God rewards a kindness when trust is placed in Him in order to perform it! When the tribes crossed over the Jordan, the Lord gave Judah fertile land

around Ephrath Bethlehem and the Lord blessed them with abundance. Look to the west and to the east, Mary, family lands of Judah!” Joseph was so proud at that moment to be among his tribe--Judah! After this came a pause and Joseph was silent.

Mary looked up into the clear blue of the morning sky and saw an eagle circling high overhead. He was riding the drafts with wings spread wide! She looked to the harvested fields and saw little brown sparrows flying from tree to stubble not far from the road. Mary waited as long as she could, watching Joseph’s long strides and that extra bounce in his step. Then she said, “And after Boaz, Joseph?”

“Yes, wife! From Boaz came Obed! Obed was the son of Ruth, a Moabitess who came from her native land with Naomi. They were two alone and Ruth loved Naomi and because she loved her, she cared for her. ‘Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay,’ Ruth told Naomi. ‘Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. Where you die I will die and there I will be buried. May Jehovah do to me and more so if anything but death part you and me,’ was Ruth’s pledge. After this, the two women came to Naomi’s own town--Bethle-hem! Look Mary! Through the trees, that is surely Bethlehem on the far hill!”

Joseph turned to see that Mary had seen the glimpse of small houses roasting in the sun, then he continued, “Ruth gleaned in the fields of a certain son of Salmon named Boaz, who was a near kinsman to Naomi. Hand-some he was, strong as his name implies--and wealthy!” Joseph teased his wife by looking at her in a laughing manner and touching the hardness of the coins still in his belt. “Much like your own husband, wife!” He said with a sparkle in his eye. Mary turned her face up to the sky and laughed at the ridiculousness of it. Joseph continued, “God was pleased with this match. God was pleased with Ruth and he rewarded her faithfulness to Naomi with this fine man, Boaz, to care for her and Naomi! Boaz said to Ruth, ‘I’ve been told how you have cared for Naomi. May the Lord repay you for what you have done! May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel under whose wings you have come to take refuge.’ Yes, Jehovah rewards those who take refuge in him! And from the loins of Boaz, came Obed, the father of Jesse and Jesse became the father of David. David, the shepherd boy who became king!”

Up ahead Joseph glimpsed the landmark he had been watching for. Rachel’s tomb was in sight not far from the road, and they would stop there among the trees and rest before journeying on to Bethlehem.

“Oh, Joseph, look, this is where Jacob buried Rachel, isn‘t it? Mary asked.

Joseph turned to Mary, seeing strain on her face. “Yes, let’s rest here. It is the heat of the day,” Joseph said as he peered into the sun’s glare. Joseph helped Mary down from the donkey. Joseph watched as she bowed her back, bracing it with her hands. Her face looked tight with tension. “Are you alright, Mary?”

She looked at Joseph a moment before saying, “I’m fine. My back just aches that’s all.”

As they ate the last of their fig cakes and almonds, Mary was quiet. She ate little but rested under one of the wild olives near the pillar Jacob had put over Rachel’s tomb to mark the spot. Tradition said that the sons of Jacob each put a stone to the pile and Jacob put on the last before moving his tent beyond Migdal Eder, which is, “tower of the flocks.” Tower of the flocks, Mary pondered, where the shepherd ascends high into the tower and looking down, watches over the welfare of his flock! Then a remembered proverb of wise King Solomon came to mind: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” A strong tower...YAHWEH. . .A shepherd watching over his sheep. I will run to Him. He will keep me safe...Mary began to drowse as she felt the singular sensation of her head resting in the lap of a kind and caring Jehovah--one who shepherded his flock.

Mary soon dozed in the breeze that stirred on the ridge the road followed. As Joseph watched her sleep, other

travelers passed them by, his uncle among them. While Mary slept, Joseph thought of Jacob’s Rachel and how she had died in childbirth. Surely the same would not happen to Mary. Surely Gabriel would not have been sent by the Lord if Mary was to die. Joseph shook his dark thoughts from him and looked out over the hills. No, Mary would not die. They would have a son--God’s son. And Joseph would be his father, or so everyone would think. He looked down at the dozing Mary and inquired of the Lord, “You will have a son, Lord. This I be-lieve, but will I? Will Mary and I have a son together?” Then words Joseph had spoken to Mary on this very road, came back to him, “Jehovah is faithful to repay those who help his own and in so doing, put their trust in Him.” Joseph rose and lifted his hands in prayer to YAHWEH. Strong emotion flooded his soul and God Almighty comforted him there on the road to Bethlehem beside Rachel’s tomb.

Mary awakened to Joseph’s eyes upon her. Eyes full of amusement and love. She awoke with a start as she re-alized the sun was now casting a shadow and her back still ached horribly. “Joseph, what is so amusing to you?” She said as she shifted to sit up.

Joseph held out his hands to help her rise and replied, “I was remembering my Uncle, how he teased me when he knew the child was on the way. He asked if you were my Rachel, my pretty ewe lamb?(For Rachel means ewe) Had I rushed to have you before knowing the full bargain, as had Jacob? If so, he said I would pay for you later, the same as had Jacob.”

“Oh Joseph!” Mary looked at her husband with question in her face. “Am I your Rachel, truly, Joseph? Do you love me as Jacob loved Rachel?”

“Yes Mary, you are my pretty ewe lamb. I love you as Jacob loved Rachel and you have been as steady on the journey as is a little ewe. Come, we must be in Bethlehem before the Sabbath begins!

The afternoon had grown long and with the lengthening of the shadows, Mary’s awareness of the ache in her back grew until she knew the babe would soon be born. When they could see the limestone bluffs of Bethlehem and the turnoff to climb to the town was ahead, she told Joseph they must turn into the roadside inn where the caravans halted. She could not complete the journey up to Bethlehem without a place to birth the babe.

With regret Joseph realized it was later in the day than he had planned. He had let Mary sleep as long as she needed and not wakened her, so their trip had been long delayed. He had noticed for some time her travail and he struck for the square stone structure immediately upon her word.

The keeper of the inn was out front in the large open courtyard, giving orders for a newly arrived string, maybe as many as fifty camels in length. Joseph broke in with his urgent plea for a place for his babe to be born. The Innkeeper took one look at Mary, left orders for his men and started around to the back of the busy inn.

“There is a cave,” the hurried Innkeeper explained, “It is where my forefather, Kimham, once lived. I am sorry to tell you that I have no better place for you, but this will be private and cool and afford more room than the inn. We are so busy just now! The caravans that come up from the Negev just keep getting longer and longer! Some are twice as long as this last one!” The Innkeeper complained. “That, and all the extra coming in for the census--I am full up! Ah, here we are! This is tucked behind, and no longer used, but rarely. It is the best I have to offer. I am sorry. I will send my wife to help with the birth. She will be a great help! We have been blessed with seven of our own!” The Innkeeper said, slapping Joseph on the back with manly pride. “Go! Get your wife settled as comfortably as you can. My wife will come!” With this the Innkeeper pointed to the stone entrance of the cave, and as he started back to the noisy courtyard, yelled, “I’ll send someone with water and straw! I will return!”

The damp coolness in the small cave was as the Innkeeper had said--quiet too. Soon a girl appeared with a

pitcher of fresh water and bedding. Then a boy came with straw and an oil lamp. Finally the woman came with clean cloths, a pottery bowl and knife. She also had swaddling cloths and a jar of oil. The Innkeeper’s wife told the boy to build a small fire inside the cave and another, larger one, outside the cave entrance and to go get more oil lamps. Joseph took straw and put it in the stone manger hewn from the cave’s limestone wall. He laid a cloth of linen over the straw and after looking toward Mary, Joseph left her with the woman to go help the boy with the fire outside.

Then Joseph cared for his donkey, getting water from the well. The boy brought feed for Joseph’s animal and left. Joseph tied his donkey to a small tree near the cave entrance and peered inside the stone entry. Beyond the raised sleeping platform he could see a small fire and in the light of it he saw the Inn Keeper’s wife and Mary preparing for the baby’s birth. Joseph stepped into the cool interior and out again, not daring to go in so far as the women. Mary’s groaning could be heard at the stone entrance and he beseeched the Lord for her safe keep-ing. Joseph’s hands were cold with sweat and his mouth was dry. He took the gourd filled with water to his lips, but dryness remained.

Joseph raised his hands and face to the heavens. “Thank you, Great Jehovah, for your provision.” After the words had been spoken, gratitude truly flowed from Joseph’s heart and he was thankful. Emotion came as he felt the release of a great burden. It was as if YAHWEH Himself comforted him.

The stars came out as darkness settled over the land. The Innkeeper came to the cave and sat by the fire with Joseph. “Your journey has been hard; my oldest daughter sends this for you.” The Innkeeper handed Joseph some warm bean and lentil soup with meat, flat bread and butter for his supper. With it was some wine. Joseph thanked the man and rubbed his hand across the back of his neck to ease the tenseness there.

“Are you here for the census?” The Innkeeper inquired.

“Yes,” Joseph responded between bites.

“Of the house of David then,” the man said looking at Joseph for confirmation.

“Yes, of David, and Solomon whose mother was Bathsheba,” Joseph replied.

“These are the family lands of David, here at this inn,” the Innkeeper said with pride in his voice. “When David was running from Absalom he crossed the Jordan into Gilead. My ancient forefather Barzillai, was a wealthy man and he befriended David, bringing to his camp, ‘bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat.’ Later, after the son Absalom was dead and David crossed over the river Jordan to again be king, my forefather Barzillai refused the king’s offer to be a part of his house so that David might repay him for his kindness. Barzillai was far advanced in years, eighty it is said, and wanted to be buried with his fathers east of the Jordan. But as a sign of friendship, his son Kimham was offered to go with the king so that King David could do for him as he wished in place of the father. David agreed and Kim-ham crossed the Jordan with the king. After King David again had control of his kingdom, he sent Kimham and his sons to the family lands here at Bethlehem, as a reward for what his father Barzillai had done.”

The Innkeeper turned and in the fire light Joseph saw friendship in the old man’s eyes. They were still sharp and quick though his face was weathered from the sun and wind. His hands were the hands of a man whose servants do his bidding. His middle was thick but he still possessed a passion for living.

The man continued, “Then, when David was old and dying and Solomon was made king, David told his son, the new king, to ‘be merciful to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, they shall always eat at your table, because

they drew near to me when I fled from the face of your brother Absalom.’ May God Most High do so to me and more so, if I do not befriend one of the king’s own as my forefathers have done! You are welcome to stay with us as long as you have need. Take feed for your donkey, meat from the boiling pot, bread from the oven and fruit from my table for you and your wife. You are welcome to sit at my table, son of David!”

Joseph heard the pinched cry of a newborn as the old man finished. He stood and bowed to the Innkeeper, thanking him for his kindness, and went in to see Mary and the babe.

The Innkeeper rose from the fire and soon salt was brought which the Innkeeper’s wife used to clean the infant as it squalled mightily. She then rubbed the newborn with oil and used the swaddling cloths to wrap the infant tightly and the babe calmed. After suckling from his mother, the newborn slept in the manger while his mother also slept, a sleep of exhaustion. The new father watched over them from the cave entrance, next to the glowing embers of a fire about to go out. Joseph added some sticks to the fire and looked up to the starry night sky, too excited to sleep. He marveled at all that the Lord had done and wondered at what the Lord would yet do.

*****

That very hour, on the outskirts of the far side of Bethlehem, near the tower of the flocks, sheep for the sacrifice at Jerusalem were gathered for the night. Long ago, Jacob, after burying Rachel, had pitched his tent beyond a similar tower in this same field. This night, the stars shone on the lambs of the old covenant and on the shep-herds watching them. They shone on Bethlehem, on the fields where David had once watched the flocks of his father Jesse, and on the family lands surrounding the small hill town. They shone on the Inn of Kimham in which the lamb of the new covenant slept, who had planned and created it all. The earth felt no tremble. The night air was still. Mary and the babe were in deep sleep and Joseph was lost in thoughts filled with wonder: God had a son and Joseph would be his Abba, his Daddy, on earth.

The shepherds watching over the flocks from the tower’s height, were talking of ending their watch and waiting for their relief to come. Nahum was ready to end more than just this watch. He was ready to move on to some-thing new. He had been tending herds long enough. Nothing was happening around Bethlehem. Now days, you were either a keeper of the flocks or a keeper of the fields if you lived in tiny Bethlehem. It hadn’t been a garrison for a long time, not since Solomon‘s son Rehboam had fortified Bethlehem along with the other towns of Judah and Benjamin, in an effort to secure his half of the kingdom. The annals of the king had said, “He strengthened their defenses and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, olive oil, and wine. He put shields and spears in all of them.” That had been so long ago, Bethlehem’s walls had long since crumbled. Now it was only a sleepy hill town of shepherds and farmers. Herod the Great had a palace south of town with some soldiers garrisoned there but Nahum wasn’t--and didn’t want to be a part of that Gentile crowd! Yea, it was pretty dead and dull around here and Nahum was ready for some excitement! He would take a wife soon, and perhaps he would like to be more than a watcher of sheep! He was, after all, from the tribe of Judah; from the house of David, no less. Of course, it wasn’t the kingly part of the line but so what? God as his witness, Nahum just believed he would go with the next flock of lambs to Jerusalem and see what he could find! ‘Course he would have to deal with those bossy Romans. Give ‘em a suit of armor and they thought they controlled the whole world!

Nahum looked up into the star-studded sky. It would be hard to replace this view of the night sky, he thought with a pause. There was such peace out here at night! You could forget about Caesar and Herod, death and tax-es. You could forget about the cares of tomorrow out here under the night sky where light pierced the darkness. Nice bit of moon tonight, he thought, as his resolve for a change began to wane. These contemplations of Na-hum were cut short--as brilliance blazed darkness from the night! In a moment it was as bright as...? ...DAY! An angel of the Lord appeared. . . in front of--no . . . over, ah. . . ! The glory of the Lord shone around them and

they--all of them--were filled with. . . TERROR!

Then a resplendent light-filled being said to them, with a voice that gurgled like a fountain, “Do not fear, for behold, I give good news to you, a great joy, which will be to all the people. Because this day, has been born to you in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord! And this is the sign to you: the babe is wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Another moment and the resplendent angel was surrounded by other beings of the same magnificence in a num-ber too great to count. Praise uttered forth from the heavens and the shepherds heard the voice that sounded of many waters say, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” It was then that the resplendent beings departed into heaven. So swift, and yet, so in-imaginably glorious!

The men on the tower with Nahum and the shepherds down in the field were at first, stunned. They didn’t seem to know what to do next. When their wits began to return, they left their sheep and of one accord headed into the town, talking excitedly as they went. When in the dark and empty streets of Bethlehem, they disturbed no one but kept walking. Where they were going, they seemed not to know or care but their feet were fueled by the excitement of the sight of heaven come down to earth, and on they walked.

Toward the west, down by the road, they saw fires still burning. Camels and mules could be seen in the moon-light. At the front of the inn men could be seen milling around in the torch light. Muffled voices could be heard in the still night air. As the shepherds approached, they saw burning embers from a fire in front of the old cave of Kimham, used as a birthing stable for the sacrificial lambs--but only during the spring lambing. The small cave with the stone entrance was too small to use for the growing needs of the inn and so the Innkeep-er had allowed the shepherds to bring their ewes there, to use as a stable, during the birthing season.

As they approached they could make out a lone man sleeping by the fire. They stopped in the firelight and their excited voices woke the man. “Have you a babe wrapped in swaddling here?” Nahum said to the man by the fire.

“What? O. . . !“ Joseph roused and tried to sit up.

The leader of the men knelt on one knee beside him and asked again, “Do you have a newborn in swaddling here--in a manger?”

Joseph was instantly wide awake. “Why yes, my wife gave birth this night. She is inside--she and the babe!”

“May we see?” The man asked.

Joseph looked at them in confusion. “What watch of the night is it?”

“It is the last,” one of the other men said. “We are shepherds from the watchtower--of the flocks. We have seen this night, angels proclaiming from the heavens a babe, the Savior, which has been born and is lying, swaddled in a manger”

Joseph had risen and was looking from one man to another. In the eyes of the shepherds, Joseph saw shock and awe. In Joseph’s own mind, he saw the babe laying in the stone trough he himself had prepared for the new born--a manger.

“We wish to see the child, if we may. The angels wanted us to see the Savior!” Nahum pleaded softly.

Without further thought, Joseph plucked a brand from the fire, lighting the oil lamp beside him. Taking the

lamp, he turned without a word and led them to where Mary and the babe, wrapped in swaddling and lying in the manger, were. The babe was sleeping. His moist lids looked almost translucent, his long dark lashes lay long against his soft cheeks, his well-formed lips were moving as if suckling. The babe looked so innocent and unaware--so filled with peace. They all stood silent and watching for a time before Joseph heard Nahum’s ex-cited voice behind his shoulder say, “The angels said they announced good news. . .of great joy. They called him Christ the Lord!”

Another shepherd from the back said, “Will he be the promised king from the line of David who will rule forev-er on David‘s throne?”

Nahum looked to Joseph, “Are you here for the census?”

Joseph nodded yes. “Are you from the kingly line of David, a direct descendant?” Nahum asked further.

Joseph answered, “Yes, from David through Solomon whose mother had been Uriah’s wife. Through all his sons who sat on the throne to Jeconiah at the time of the exile. David’s seed returned from exile with Zerubbabel, governor and re-builder of the Temple who was the father of Abiud, and his sons down to this day.”

From the back, a man with a torch made his way to the front, turned and faced the men. “Let me understand,” the Innkeeper said, “You men are from the tower of the flocks and an angel--”

“Not one, but a multitude, so many you could not count them!” one of the shepherds interrupted with a voice of urgency. “I been countin’ sheep a long time but there was too many angels fur me to number!”

The Innkeeper looked at the sleeping infant, then to the shepherds. “Go on,” he prodded, looking at Nahum with recognition.

Nahum began to pick up the tale now, “We were just minding our own business and changing the watch when the sky filled with. . . well, with angels, sure ’nough. They told us about the child and how to find him. They said he was the Savior!”

From the back another man added, “They told us not to be afraid, and I don’t mind saying I was plenty scared! It was no small thing--all that. . .bright light, the noise. . . it filled the sky I’m telling you and my ears are still ringing! Can you hear?” he asked the man next to him.

“I know what you’re talking about!” the man agreed in an overly loud voice, holding his ears, with several other men joining in to say the same.

“Anyway, we came to pay our respects and worship the newborn king,” Nahum said and with this last statement he knelt and the others followed suit, prostrating themselves before the babe, some weeping, some calling out praise as they would to any king.

Then one of the shepherds began to cry out in a deep and melodic voice:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,and by your will they were created

And have their being.”

Nahum heard himself singing in a strong voice which was filled with much emotion:

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty,

Who was, and is, and is to come.”

This was soon taken up by another :

“Worthy is the Lamb,to receive power and wealth and wisdom and

strength and honor and glory and praise!”

The last to be uttered was:

“To him who sits on the throneand to the lamb

Be praise and honor and glory and power,for ever and ever! Amen”

Much emotion passed between the men for some time and they all talked amongst themselves, marveling and reciting the events of the evening. A sense of awe pervaded all that was said and expressed.

Mary had awakened and listened quietly in the shadows to it all. She treasured all that she heard the shepherds say, pondering all of it within her heart. As the shepherds returned to their flocks, Nahum was lost in his own wonder until one of the other shepherds slapped him on the back and said in his ear, “Still leaving here and going to Jerusalem to find a little excite-ment, Nahum?”

Nahum turned to grin at his friend and said with amusement in his voice, “Think I’ll stay here for a while and see what happens! --Can you believe tonight?”

His friend tightened his grip on Nahum’s shoulder and shook his head in disbelief. “I don’t think anybody will believe it but I’m gonna tell ‘em anyway!”

After all had gone and the dawning of day was yet to be seen in the eastern sky, Joseph knew he had heard this night, the praise of heaven offered to the son of God--the babe who lay in the manger. His last thought of won-der was, what more would God Most High do to announce His son come to earth?

*****

To the east, in a region once known as Persia, there were men who sought knowledge and who studied the stars. These men who some called wise, loved to delve into the mysteries of the universe and to do this they watched the night sky to glean mystical secrets from the heavens. They had been aware for some time of three stars whose lights were drawing ever nearer and increasing in brilliance. They watched them, amazed by this unexplained occurrence. They began to search the books of the ancients to see if they could gain understanding of this new thing. In a book by one of the most exulted of the exiles, a high-born Jew named Daniel, who had been carried off, first by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and then by Cyrus of Persia, they found a startling thing. An ancient text had been quoted in one of Daniel’s notations concerning the heavens. This quote was from an ancient prophet of the great river Euphrates. It read:

“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly, the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. Now this Daniel was no ordinary man. He had interpreted dreams, prophesied, read strange and unknown writ-ings, cheated intrigues and death. He had been proclaimed to be the wisest of two kingdoms and his tomb was still known and venerated in the region surrounding Susa. Daniel was a man who spoke to his God three times a day and whose God, spoke back--revealing things no man knew! The learned men who sought to see into this new mystery found an old one, and were awed by them both.

It was soon after this time that the three lights in the heavens became one and so the men who sought the mys-tery, applied to their lord, that they might set out and welcome the new king’s reign on the earth, thus, bringing favor for their lord when this new king rose to power. To find the one for whom the bright morning star rose in the east-what an exploit that would be!

*****

After the events of the night, the Innkeeper took a stroll in the increasing light of morning and pondered many things. He knew his wife would need him but there were some things he needed to settle in his own mind before entering a day of business. He thought of old Barzillai and his friendship with King David. He thought of Kimham and of the king’s generosity and unswerving favor, not only to Kimham but also to his sons after him.

The Inn Keeper thought of last night. . .and the words of Isaiah the prophet burned within his heart:

”For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His govern-ment and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

The many fathomless events that had taken place in the watches of the night would not leave the Innkeeper un-til these final words of Isaiah had seared his brain: “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” The Inn Keeper knelt in the heavy morning dew, caring not about it’s wetness, and prostrating himself before God Most High, and offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the faithfulness of Yahweh, who rewards those who show kindness to His anointed and who trust in God Almighty.

The Innkeeper’s eyes had been opened to see the child as Messiah--the great deliverer of Israel! He knew it had been the pleasure of God for the promised one from the house of David to be born in his own stable, even the old house of Kimham. Jehovah had remembered the kindness of Barzillai to David, and for his sake, the Lord had chosen the Inn of Kimham for the birthing of the newborn--David’s own descendant who would sit on his throne! Even though the Innkeeper believed that the new babe was to be king, as had been David, his mind grappled with the thought of more. Last night had been. . .last night the babe had been more than a king of earth, He had been. . .Immanuel--God with us!

Later that day when the sun was high, and the Innkeeper could get away, he stole around to the cave and put his proposition before Joseph. “I have a little house up on the hill,” he pointed, drawing Joseph’s attention, “there in the olive grove. Do you see the trees?”

Joseph could indeed see the silver-gray leaves of the olive trees and he saw also date palm, towering around them, along with oak and pine just below. “When Kimham was old, he loved the ancient trees and he went there

in his last days. It is off the road. The dust does not stir as it does down by the inn and it seems to always have a fresh breeze. It is a place easily filled with quiet and rest. At present there is a ‘lord of the desert’ there--a Nabatean, who has used my khan for many years--but he will soon be on his way. I will be honored if you and your family will dwell there when it has been made ready. Perhaps by the time the child is circumcised, you will be settled. There is water there which flows from the spring that fills the pools of Solomon. All of Bethle-hem and my inn also, are fed by them. It is good spring water and clean, the same for which David longed and for which three of his mighty men risked their lives to bring to him. Will you honor me by doing this thing?”

The Innkeeper left with excitement in his heart. If Yahweh was with this child, if God Most High had es-tablished his days on the earth, who could come against him and stand? “Blessing and honor will follow this chosen one and also be heaped upon all those who help him! Jehovah be praised!” the man blurted out loud as his heart leapt with the thought of all the blessings the Lord would bestow upon him and his sons after him! He eagerly hurried back to the overseeing of his business.

The Inn of Kimham was a large main building of stone. This was the inn proper in which the men were fed, stores were kept and food prepared. The kitchen was along one end. There was an oven for the baking of bread and a table for the cutting and slicing of vegetables and fruit. During the rainy periods, they put the pots over round holes above a fire box in the kitchen to cook. This is also where they poached eggs in half round metal pans. In dry weather, the evening meal for the caravans was usually from the boiling pot which was cooked over the open fire in a small courtyard out the back door. Also in this main structure was a large sleeping platform in the oriental style which served those who supplied their own bedding and slept side by side.

From the main building two spans of stables below and rooms above, fanned out and embraced the courtyard on both sides. The stables were entered from the yard. The sleeping rooms were terrace rooms accessed by stairs on each end with narrow terrace spaces before each room. The small sleeping rooms were more costly but afford-ed security and privacy. Some were furnished, some were bare to accommodate pallets for several. The walled courtyard was open to the road through a gate, only wide enough for a loaded camel. The merchant travelers were welcomed with a view of the large well in the center with troughs of stone surrounding it. The Innkeeper employed hired servants who were needed, as well as family, to make the inn run smoothly, which at times was a minute-by-minute process.

Because the Inn of Kimham was within six miles of Jerusalem, they had built up a considerable number of reg-ular customers who stopped, wishing to avoid the higher fees in the city. Here they could stable their animals overnight; inside the walls of Jerusalem they could not. This way they could complete their business in the city and be out the Damascus Gate before night fall. Caravans large, meaning a hundred laden beasts or more to as few as under a dozen, could and did arrive unannounced. The animals must be tended--watered and fed--as well as the “masters of the desert” who led the beasts and the men with them on the routes. Their arrival was fol-lowed with lots of activity and many orders to the servants. The Innkeeper oversaw all the heavy tasks his sons and man servants performed and the Innkeeper’s wife saw to her daughters and servant girls and all they were expected to do.

Meals were given on a wide schedule. Breakfast, if you had it, was eaten as you headed out: raisins, almond or pistachio nuts, leftover flat bread, cheese, roasted grain--anything handy or left from the night before that could be taken with you. The midday meal was fresh baked flat bread, cheese, olives, seasonal fruit such as dates, melons, pomegranates, figs, plums, fresh vegetables, curds and honey and usually, goat’s milk. The inn’s chick-ens ran in the yard, so eggs were usually available. They were poached in olive oil and added to any meal, as was parched corn(popped on the ear over a hot fire). The evening meal was whatever was in the boiling pot: leeks, onions, garlic, dry beans, lentils and peas or other seasonal vegetables such as cucumbers. Sometimes quail, pigeon or other birds of the field, or goat was in the stew and served with bread and seasonal fruit and new wine. This meal lasted as long as there were men to feed and food in the pot. If an especially frequent and desirable

merchant--a “lord of the desert” arrived, lamb or a fattened calf or poultry might be put on the spit and roasted in celebration of his friendship. And so, the days at the Inn of Kimham were either filled with activity or dull and dry as the desert they offered respite from.

Joseph was soon helping with the camels, mules and fine Arabian horses in the caravans. The work was hard but it made a man feel pride in providing a service to others that was needed. As Joseph tended the animals, he saw the leather bags of oily myrrh resin and the baskets full of frankincense. He watched the unloading of the camels, how the frankincense was handled carefully so as to not separate the resin balls from the branches.

The men who came in were spent from months on the trail in the heat and sun, dust and wind. Their eyes had constantly kept watch for danger from thieves who would murder all the men and steal the entire cargo, selling it as their own. The precious resins and spices came from Ethiopia, from along the coast of Arabia and from cities like Petra. The men were the sons of Shem and Ham and a mix of many.

A bath was always offered to the men in the evening at the small bath house in the corner, which was patterned much like a Roman bath but on a very small scale, with one small tepid pool and olive oil for soothing the skin after--but a bath and oil were extra. Servant girls were available to wash clothes but that was extra too. After the flat rate for the meals, a space to sleep and the camaraderie that comes with rest, everything was extra. As far as Joseph could see, the Inn of Kimham had a bustling business and Yahweh had provided for his own fam-ily well by giving them favor with this man in the midst of commerce. Joseph cared for his wife and worked as unto the LORD at the Inn of Kimham. As soon as the “lord of the desert” had departed on his fine Arabian horse, with his camels, his precious car-go and his men, Mary was soon settled into the final residence of Kimham. It was a nice little stone and mud house in a very pleasant spot surrounded by huge oaks, date palms and olive just outside the door. An outside stairway provided access to the rooftop terrace. Here, Mary was sure she could smell the sea! The breeze that came across the increasingly higher ridges as it moved ever east of the Mediterranean, never picked up the dust from the lower elevations. It was cool and fresh. In the evenings, the terrace became Mary and Joseph’s favor-ite place. The couple lay with the babe and slept under the stars in the cool moisture-laden air that blew in on the upper drafts from the west and from Mount Herman to the north.

*****

On the eighth day after the birth, Joseph took the babe up to the roof and took off the swaddling and the inner linen cloth and circumcised the infant, all the while, grappling with the thought that God had in some myste-rious way fathered this child. Joseph could see the babe was strong. His cry was loud when the foreskin was severed but he was easily comforted when oil had been applied and his mother again held him close.

The babe’s blood looked the same bright red as any other Joseph had seen but surely it was not the same. Joseph had seen the eggs of the hens that ran in the yard. When the rooster was around, there was a streak of blood in the yolks. When the rooster was absent, the egg centers were pure yellow. The father supplied the blood. Blood brought life. Joseph could not explain it but when he considered fathering and all that it meant, suddenly he knew it to be true. Joseph looked up into the heavens and knew he had been given understanding from beyond earth. “Thank you, Adoniah!” he said, only to Yahweh Himself.

That evening, a feast was given by the Innkeeper and his family to honor the newborn. Nahum the shepherd had been invited along with several of the other herdsmen. They had sent over a lamb the day before--one they could not take to the temple, and offered it for roasting over the fire. They also ate fresh cucumbers, curds and honey, flat bread and the first new melons of the season. It was truly a feast, with all who attended in a celebra-tory mood.

Nahum had with him the young woman who had long been promised to him. They would soon be husband and wife and Joseph and Mary were asked to come to the celebration and share their joy. Mary smiled at the shy young maiden. It had not been that long ago that she had been the same: embarrassed but happy, eager and yet reluctant. She took the young woman’s hands and wished her every happiness, knowing her joy would be mixed with sorrow; pleasure would be mixed with pain. Still, if one was to live, one must experience each in order to properly value them both. The sorrow and pain making the joy and pleasure more intense.

Joseph and Mary looked at one another and Mary proclaimed quietly to Joseph, “Joseph, we have been so bless-ed! The Lord has turned our wailing into dancing, our sorrow He has turned into joy! In Nazareth, we would have been alone. The babe would have been born in shame, but here we have been given celebration and feasting among a joyful people at His birth.“ Joseph gently nodded his head confirming the truth Mary had spoken. “Yes Mary, that is true. Now it is time to announce the babe’s name.”

Raising his hands and giving Jehovah praise, Joseph thanked the Lord for the gift of this new life and for His provision. He thanked the Innkeeper for his kindness and generosity and the shepherds he thanked for the gift of the lamb. Then he declared the babe’s name to be Jesus as the angel had instructed in that most vivid of dreams. The vibrancy of the dream’s light--and the colors, the ethereal appearance of the angel--he still remem-bered it all. Yes, his name would be Jesus!

“The same as Joshua of old!” the Innkeeper exclaimed. “The same as the one who led God’s people into the prom-ised land! This land in which we now dwell! Well chosen my son! Forever shall Jehovah be praised!”

The Innkeeper was a man full of life, with a deep booming voice who loved to have a hearty celebration. “What good is it to have abundance if you cannot share it with your brother and make merry together?” he asked more than once during the evening. His wife was soft spoken and quite kind, always with a smile to light her eyes. She was quietly efficient in all that she did and held the baby when he fussed, letting Mary be free between nursings.

However, the babe “who would be king” spent most of the night suspended in his cradle sling from the branch of a nearby olive, swinging in the breath of a fresh breeze that always seemed to move through the ancient trees.

Later, as Joseph and Mary settled down for the night, Joseph looked up into the dark heavens. He marveled at the lights in the night sky, how had God Almighty fixed them there and yet given them a course to follow? The babe fidgeted beside him. Looking down at the sleeping babe, he asked, “And you, little one, how has He brought you here and yet prescribed your course to be king?” Joseph spoke quietly so he did not wake mother or child.

Joseph thought again of his unbelievable dream in the night, of Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel, of the night of the announcement to the shepherds. He thought of the incredible story that began in the time of Da-vid--a thousand years before--so that Jesus would be welcome to lay his head here, in the old house of Kimham, this very night under these very stars. Joseph looked heavenward to the points of light that pierced the night, “What more will You do to provide for Your son, God Most High?”

*****

The magus fussed over everything and nothing. This little stout man with white and gray streaks in his beard knew his time had come. This was the fulfillment of a lifetime of searching for something significant! If this opportunity was lost, the rest of his time on earth would be for naught! “I was born for this!” he shouted into the dusty air of his stone-walled observation room on the citadel wall. After this outburst, he fell silent, but the pacing continued--back and forth, back and forth. Already too much time had passed and they had not left

Susa! He could see the ancient Daniel of the Jews rolling over in his grave for the delays that had occurred! The star was ever rising earlier and more to the west with each passing day. They could not begin too soon!

***** Joseph made himself useful at the Inn of Kimham. He offered to make some furniture on the days he was not needed at the inn. Whatever was needed, he could make it: beds, stools, tables, even couches, or chairs. The Innkeeper said, “Fine, fine, make whatever my wife tells you. The inn is fine, save maybe a stool or two and a couple of small tables, but my wife would like some finer pieces for our home. Can you do this?” So Joseph went to work using woods of pine, olive and oak. He smoothed the wood with his iron plane. He carved on the fine-grained olive, wonderful carvings of palm and vine, flower and pomegranate. The Innkeeper’s wife was delight-ed and the two families endeared themselves to one another through their kindnesses.

Every day Mary cared for her husband and her child in the little house where Kimham had spent his last days. It was a one room affair of part stone and part earthen brick overlaid with clay mud. The room was of generous size and Mary was able to leave the door open to the pleasant outside surroundings which increased the feeling of space and light. Two small openings, high in the wall, let in light and breeze. Near these openings grew ev-ergreen bushes of myrtle with fragrant leaves and sweet-scented white flowers. Their position scented the house morning and night. Mary ground to powder the fragrant myrtle leaves and used them for her son. Several times a day she would rinse him and change his linen inner cloth and swaddling to keep him dry and clean. After the washing Mary would rub his soft skin with olive oil and dust him with powdered myrtle leaves, before re-wrap-ping him.

As Mary cared for her babe they played. She smelled Jesus’ fresh skin and rubbed the softness of it. She told him what a pretty boy he was and what a good boy too! Mary took pleasure in his bright eyes as he followed her face while she spoke to him. She thought how long his dark lashes and she watched each and every movement he made. He began to coo and then laugh as she teased and cajoled him. “He is a fine son,” Mary proclaimed to herself, “such a fine son!” Then she swaddled him once again and returned him to his woolen cradle under the branches and shade of the olive that grew by the door. It had become the babe’s favorite place to nap the day away while his mother sang to him and did her chores.

*****

“There Mary, that should do it don’t you think?” Joseph asked with tenderness in his voice while his strong hand still tugged on the cross beam he had just hung.

“O Joseph, thank you so much! It’s wonderful! You are such a handy husband to have underfoot!” Mary looked teasingly at her husband. Joseph moved toward her with a gleam in his eye and his mouth in mischievous deter-mination. Mary ignored him and looked at the vertical loom Joseph had attached overhead between two posts in the small side shed they used to stable the donkey. “Now donkey, you and I can all work together the live long day!” Mary declared, turning her smile up to Joseph.

Joseph was closer than Mary realized and soon she was surrounded by his manly arms and softly in her ear she heard, “Mary, you are a good and virtuous woman. Soon the time of your purification will come to an end. I have followed Gabriel’s instructions concerning you but after your time of purification, Mary, you will be mine in every way. Do you understand me, Mary?” Joseph asked, earnest and yet tender.

“Yes, Joseph. I understand and I will be ready.” With this declaration, Mary looked into Joseph’s eyes as tears crept into her own. “I am willing. You are a fine man, Joseph. I will trust myself to you, gladly.” She then withdrew to again look at the fine loom Joseph had made for her. Joseph did not see the pleasure on Mary’s face

because he stood behind her with his strong hands upon her shoulders and they, together, admired the fine loom he had crafted.

Mary loved being a mother. She loved her son. At times, especially when her babe was napping and she was weaving on her loom, Mary found herself thinking of the days ahead and how, and what would occur. Some-times she asked YAHWEH what all of this meant. But God was silent. Gabriel did not return to tell her more. Mary began to cherish her son as any good mother cherishes her firstborn.

*****

When the forty days for purification from childbirth were completed, Joseph and Mary prepared to take Jesus to Jerusalem for his consecration to the Lord and to offer the appropriate sacrifice for Mary’s purification.

On the day of their departure, Joseph helped Mary to fit the babe snuggly in the sling so she could nurse on the way and care for his needs as they traveled. It was the season of heat and no rain, so they left in the pre-dawn coolness and made the journey to Jerusalem before the heat became unbearable. They went north up the road, passing by the pillar over Rachel’s tomb. Mary thought of how it was here, Joseph had told her she was his Ra-chel, that he loved her as Jacob had loved Rachel. He had called her his little ewe lamb! Now they had a little lamb of their own. She looked down at baby Jesus in the dim morning light. My, how he had grown fat and dimpled in the forty days since his birth! She felt him as he stretched himself inside the swaddling, never open-ing his eyes, then snuggled into his mother’s care and slept once again. Mary smiled at her son as she heard the birds of the field call to one another while the light began to illuminate the eastern sky.

Mary thought of the night of her son’s birth, how the shepherds knew he was a little lamb. He had been born in the cave where they brought the ewes for the birthing of their own little lambs. She thought of how the shep-herds wrapped the little lambs in swaddling much as she had her own son, keeping them safe and unspoiled from the world. After a year, if no defect had been found, and they had not been scarred in any way, the lambs were taken to Jerusalem and offered as sacrifice. The shepherd Nahum had come to Joseph and offered one of his unspotted lambs for the purification sacrifice. He said it would only be fitting that the “king to be” have a lamb to offer at the time of his consecration to the LORD. Joseph thanked the shepherd but refused. He told Nahum he would not offer a sacrifice to the LORD which cost him nothing. He deeply appreciated Nahum’s kindness but he felt strongly that he must do as King David had done before him. A sacrifice given to the LORD must cost the giver. As Joseph spoke his conviction to Nahum, he felt the hardness of the coins in his belt. It would be all that he had but it would be enough. Two young doves or pigeons would be purchased at the temple and offered for Mary’s purification.

And so Joseph and Mary had set out before dawn. As they passed the crest of the hills to the south, the temple on Mount Zion could be seen--the jewel of Jerusalem! The rabbis said this was the very mount that God had shown Moses for the offering of Isaac--the holy test of Abraham! And then in the days of David, it was unde-niably the sight of the old threshing floor of Or’nan the Jebusite, where David had said, “I will not take what is yours for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.” The LORD had sent down fire to consume David’s offering, an atonement for the unholy census David had taken. The angel of the LORD had sheathed his sword and the plague had stopped. The LORD had instructed David to erect an altar on the threshing floor. In obedience David had gone up and purchased it, for the full price of six hundred shekels of gold by weight and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, calling on the name of the LORD. When David saw that God had answered him on the threshing floor, he said this was to be the site of the house of YAHWEH Elohiym and this will be where we sacrifice to YAHWEH. And so, it was David who purchased the land of the temple mount and it was God who had chosen it from time immemorial.

Joseph and Mary made good time and before midday they had looked down into the Valley of Hinnom where all the rubbish of Jerusalem was burned and where there were many tombs of the dead. This ravine outside the southern-most wall of Jerusalem, had before the days of King Josiah, been the sight of a pagan hearth used for child sacrifice. Mary shuddered. The thought of her sweet Jesus as sacrifice, it was a dreadful thought! She refused it! She held her son more closely and promised that such a thing would never happen to him!

When they came to the Water Gate, they followed the narrow crooked streets of the old city of David, north and east toward the Temple. Along the way they stopped at a street vendor and bought poached eggs and fresh goat’s milk to go with their midday meal of flat-bread and cucumber. They arranged to have the vendor’s young son care for their donkey until their return.

Mary was hot and dusty. The ceremonial washings she had performed at the cleansing pools before climbing the temple steps were all for naught. Mary became woefully aware of her inadequacy before the LORD but it pro-duced no guilt in her. She knew God understood her humanness. She had felt His Presence so strongly as she cared for sweet Jesus. God always seemed watching over him and blessing her. What a wonderful Father You are, her heart proclaimed to the LORD. She was filled with a rush of joy. It seemed that she was always filled with some secret joy these days! She woke happy, she went to bed content. What was this thing God was doing? She had never known anything to equal it. “Praise Jehovah! Great is His Name in all the earth! God truly does inhabit the praise of His people!” her heart sang.

The Temple Mount loomed high above them as they climbed the Temple steps. The hewn stone was white-gold-en in the sun under the dry air of a clear blue sky. They ascended with others on the right through the arched Huldah Gate. Immediately they felt the coolness under the long stone arch and heard the slapping echo of their sandals against the stone steps. They emerged under the colonnade of the Royal Portico, looking into the large sun-filled and noisy Court of the Gentiles. Joseph and Mary dodged and jostled around others as they made their way across the pattern of stones.

Together, they picked out two beautiful turtle doves. Mary looked at the sweet soft birds as they were put into a small carrying cage. The cooing sound they made tugged at her heart--so gentle, so unknowing, so easily fright-ened. She didn’t really understand why sacrifice had to be the sweetest and most lovely of what YAHWEH had created. It saddened her some to think of killing the beautiful birds. Mary was secretly glad she did not have to watch the wringing of their necks and draining of their blood. She could already smell burnt flesh, mingled with the aromas of frankincense and Myrrh, cassia and cinnamon. Smoke rose continuously from the temple. They had seen it as they entered the city gate.

The couple crossed the stone courtyard to the east, passing around the balustrade which warned any Gentile passing into the temple area of certain death. They passed through the Beautiful Gate into the Court of Women. Mary looked directly in front of her to the Steps of Ascent where she would wait for the offering of her sacrifice for purification. While she waited for the priest to confirm the offering and pronounce a blessing, she would sing the psalms of ascent on each step and she would remember each step of the journey that had brought her here to this holy place on this day.

As Mary and Joseph mounted the semicircular stairs they were met by an old man who looked directly at them with a piercing gaze. He was tall and thin, with an untidy head of thin snow-white hair. His long tunic hung on him and emphasized his height. His eyes, though piercing, were quite kind and full of great excitement. Jo-seph and Mary immediately knew there was something about this man and they were drawn to him like two bees drawn to honey.

Simeon was a man of faith. He had lived a life that was righteous and devout. He was now, in his old age, wait-ing for the consolation of Israel. That morning, he had been especially aware of the power of the Holy Spirit as

it enthused him. YAHWEH had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Christ, and so he waited, believing the Lord‘s promise. Moved by the Spirit, he had come into the temple courts overwhelmed with an urgent hope and great joy in his soul.

While in the Court of Men and looking down into the Court of Women toward the Beautiful Gate, Simeon saw a couple weave through the crowd and approach the stairs with a small infant and he knew it to be the Promised One for whom he waited. Simeon stood before Joseph and Mary possessed with a power they could not deny. Oblivious to the commotion around them and without a word, he took baby Jesus in his arms and holding him up to YAHWEH, praised God, saying:

‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,Now dismiss your servant in

Peace.For my eyes have seen your salvation,

Which you have prepared in the sight of all people,A light for revelation to the GentilesAnd for glory to your people Israel.’

Then Simeon returned the infant to his mother and blessed Joseph and Mary. They were filled with awe, aware that the Lord had come to the Temple before them. They were aware of the Glory of God as it hovered over them and they knew that God Most High had sent the Angel of His Presence to announce the coming of His son on this day at this hour, to proclaim that Jesus truly was God’s own. Mary could once again feel the intimate presence of God. Her heart burned within her and she knew once again that her son was also the son of God Most High. Although Mary knew this truth, she did not understand it and her heart fainted within her, for want of understanding. Also coming up to them at that very moment, was a prophetess, Anna. Raising her hands to YAHWEH, Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about Jesus to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. All this commotion over the babe had drawn attention and a crowd. Jesus began to wake and cry out, so the four of them descended the stairs into the court of women and withdrew by the wall to talk quietly. Joseph and Mary told of the angel Gabriel and how he had told them of the coming child and what they should each do. They talked also of the many questions they had about what it all meant.

The old man Simeon was true to his name. He heard all they said and asked. He was full of wisdom but his say-ings were more than Joseph and Mary could comprehend. Anna was full of grace. She was so kind and tender hearted and filled with so much joy that Mary could only comprehend the loving Spirit with which she spoke. Her words seemed a sweet song, but for Mary the meaning was in the ethereal tones, because the words ascended heavenward and Mary could not capture them. Love flowed from Anna, and she acted as if the babe were love itself. Anna encouraged Mary, saying to share with the child all her motherly love, to be tender hearted and kind, reassuring the child as he grew of his Heavenly Father’s love for him. The last thing she said to Mary was that his Heavenly Father would guide the child in all things.

After a thoughtful pause, Simeon spoke once more, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be re-vealed.” The old man focused his eyes on Mary alone and a fierceness in his eye penetrated his bushy white brows as he said to her, “And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” He raised his eyes to heaven and sorrow was in them. Then his old gnarled hands patted Mary’s arm sympathetically and he turned to go, raising his long arms high to the Lord. Worship was on his lips and his heart was overwhelmed with the Spirit of God Most High. These last words were troubling to Mary and she did not soon forget them.

*****Joseph gave Mary a look of concern as they climbed the fifteen semicircular steps to the court of men. When near the top step, the priest was present and Mary gave him the two turtle doves, still alive in their cage. Put-ting her hand on the heads of the pretty little birds with a stroke of longing, Mary spoke to the priest, the reason for the offering. He acknowledged her with a shake of his head and took the sacrifice. Joseph left Mary and followed the priest into the court of men before the entrance of the Court of Priests, where he stood and watched as the priest made the offering.

Mary descended the stairs with her son again napping in his sling and began to sing the prescribed psalms on each of the fifteen steps. As her sandal rested on the first step she began, “In my distress, I cried to Jehovah and he answered me,” Her lips continued to sing but her mind was consumed with the last troubling words she had heard from the old man Simeon. So she placed them before the LORD, (“A sword will pierce your own soul too.”) as she finished the song of the first step.

Mary lifted her sandal to the second step and began the next song, “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills; where shall my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of the heavens and the earth. He will not give your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.” Mary’s own heart began to lift and take hope from these words of comfort from YAHWEH, and she continued, “Behold, He who keeps Israel will not slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; Jehovah is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night; Jehovah shall keep you from all evil; He shall keep your soul. The LORD shall keep your going out, and your coming in; from now on until forever.” Hope once again soared within Mary.

She raised her foot to the next step and the words came with the beautiful melody: “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the house of the LORD. Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built as a city knit together in one piece.” Mary pictured in her mind the gray-earthen houses of the old “city of David” as they had navigated the street to the Temple. The small houses were built one on another, all joined together and scrambling up the hills. “Here the tribes go up,” she sang, “the tribes of Jehovah; to the testimo-ny of Israel; to give thanks to the name of the LORD. For the thrones of judgment were established there, the thrones of the house of David.” Would her young son one day sit on the throne of David as had been said? Mary quizzed within her brain but continued to sing, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; those who love you shall prosper.” Would her son prosper and one day come to this holy city to reign as king? Would she see it? The song continued, “Peace be within your walls; prosperity within your towers.” She thought of the three towers they had admired while eating their lunch in the shade by the Towers Pond, would her son one day take Herod’s place and sit in his walled palace with the beautiful gardens and secluded inner court? Mary’s lips finished the song but her thoughts lingered here, feeling as gray and uncertain as clouds full of rain. She did not want her son, no--now she was certain--God’s son could not be a man as was Herod. A son of the Most High would be a man as was David, after God’s own heart! Her heart lifted.

The song of the fourth step began, “I will lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters; as the eyes of a maiden to her mistress; so our eyes wait on the LORD our God, until He shows grace to us.” Mary, within her own heart now reconfirmed her commitment to look to YAHWEH for all things and finished the song, her thoughts resolved within her.

The next song, a song of David began, “If Jehovah had not been on our side,” And from Mary flowed the melody as she thought about how she would not be in the temple with Joseph today if God had not been on her side and intervened. “Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of the heavens and earth.” Yes, Lord! You are faithful, Mary’s spirit shouted within her as her foot raised to the next step.

“Those who trust in Jehovah are like Mount Zion, which sits unmoved forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, Jehovah surrounds his people now and forever.” In Mary’s mind she could see the mountains as they

surrounded Jerusalem. She and Joseph had looked down on the city as they approached from the higher terrain of the south. Jehovah had surely met them there. The prophetic power of the old man Simeon and the grace Anna bestowed had surrounded them as they entered the Temple. These comforting words rang true in Mary’s soul and she was now able to sing them with great hope as she finished the song and took the next step upward.

On the seventh step Mary began, “When Jehovah restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Our mouths were filled with laughter then, and our tongues with shouts of joy.” Mary thought of Joseph as he told her of the incredible dream when the angel announced to him what the will of God was that he do: Take Mary to wife and raise the Lord’s son! Joseph had described an incredible scene, like the prophets of old who had been caught up into the third heaven and given a vision too wonderful to describe. Mary‘s voice rang out softly and with a slight tremble of emotion, “The Lord has done great things for us!“ As surely as the LORD lives! Mary thought as she continued to sing. “Those who sow in tears shall reap in shouts of joy,” Mary finished the seventh song flushed through with the joy of the Lord.

The song of the next step began with, “Unless the LORD builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain,” Mary wanted YAHWEH to build her house, she thought with resolve. She wanted it to be a good strong house. She thanked Jehovah for the house where they now stayed. It was the most pleasant she had ever had and she was grateful. The next lines of the song Mary heard herself sing were, ”Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth. . .” Mary was filled with hope for her son and she knew Joseph would be a good and kind father. Yes, Mary was filled with hope for this firstborn child of God. Was he not filled with prom-ise? She looked down into his sling. She could feel Jesus’ sweet breath and the weight of his body snuggled soft against her. A very sweet promise, to be sure!

“Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways. For you shall surely eat the labor of your hands; you shall surely be happy, and it will go well with you.” Mary was on the ninth step and filled with hope for a bright future. Had God not promised good things? Would God not bless His own son?

Mary was nearing the top as she sang the next psalm. The melody to this tune was as worrisome as its message, “Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long. But Jehovah is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.” Mary’s heart was troubled and she did not chose to dwell on the struggle this song spoke of. It distressed her and she was glad to rise to the eleventh step.

Mary clung to the words in the middle of the next song, “I wait for the LORD. I wait and put my hope in His word. I wait for Jehovah more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” Re-membering the shepherds the night of Jesus’ birth brought a soft smile to Mary’s face. They had come in the last watch of the night, before the dawn. She sang on, “Israel, put your hope in the LORD. For there is faithful love with Jehovah and with Him is redemption in abundance. And He will redeem Israel from all its sins.” Mary was puzzled. Lord, I know I do not understand many things. Her prayer left her here and she proceeded on.

The next rise of the stair brought this song: “O LORD, my heart is not proud; nor have my eyes been lofty; nor have I walked in great things, nor in things too wondrous for me. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself like a little weaned child with its mother; I am like a little child. Let Israel hope in the LORD from now and till forever.” Mary’s heart began to cry, be with me great Jehovah! Order my steps now and till forever! The thirteenth step awaited her and it was a lengthy song.

It was a psalm of David, and Mary stood on the stair and sang the promises of David to restore a place of wor-ship to Almighty God on earth. “We heard of the mercy seat in Ephrath; we found it in the fields of Jaar (that is, among the trees). Let us go to His dwelling place; let us worship at His footstool. Arise, Jehovah, come to Your resting place, You and the mercy seat that shows Your strength. May Your priests be clothed with righ-teousness, and may Your godly people shout for joy. Because of Your servant David, do not reject Your anoint-

ed one. The LORD swore an oath to David, a promise He will not abandon: ‘I will set one of your descendants on your throne.’” Mary sang on but her thoughts remained with these last promises of God. The Innkeeper and the shepherds saw her son as that child. Wasn’t that the consolation of Israel Simeon had spoken of? Then she heard herself sing, “There I will make a horn grow for David; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one.” Mary felt bewildered by all the promises and fore tellings of prophecy, yet hope rose within her and she chose to believe that God had a plan.

Mary was approaching the top stair and she could see Joseph in the Court of Men. Mary began to sing as she saw Joseph turn and look her way. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers can live in unity! For unity is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Unity is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion; for there Jehovah commanded the blessing: life till everlasting.” Joseph turned and smiled at her across the Court of Men. The fifteenth stair was all that awaited her.

Joseph heard Mary’s clear soprano as she sang, “Come, bless Jehovah, all servants of the LORD; who stand in the house of Jehovah. Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD. May Jehovah bless you from Zion, the one who made heaven and earth.” Mary sang this last song with her whole heart, meaning every word without reservation. When she had finished, the priest was there.

Joseph had watched as the priest first offered one dove for the sin offering. The priest wrung the bird’s neck. He sprinkled some of the blood against the side of the altar and drained the rest of the blood out at the base of the bronze altar. Next the priest offered the other bird as a burnt offering. He wrung the head off and drained the blood out on the side of the altar. He removed the crop with its contents and threw it to the east side of the altar, where the ashes were. He tore the small bird open by the wings but did not sever it completely. After this the priest burnt it on the wood that was on the fire on the altar. After all was done, the priest returned to the stairs to tell Mary the offering was complete and she was purified.

It was now that Joseph took Jesus from the sling and gave him to the priest along with five temple shekels for his consecration to the Lord. The priest stood at the top of the semicircular stairs and proclaimed in the pres-ence of all:

The Lord bless you, and keep you;The Lord make His face shine on you

And be gracious to you;The lord lift up His countenance on you,

And give you peace.

And though the priest held the babe up to the Lord and pronounced the priestly blessing, he did not mention the babe in any special way. He seemed to barely notice him. It was performed as something the priest had done many times before. There was ritual in the voice of the priest, but no love, no joy, no understanding. The priest did not know Messiah when he saw him!

The priest’s lack of recognition of the importance of the child was a real disappointment to Mary but to Joseph it was a fury! Mary saw it in his eyes. As they passed through the Court of Gentiles Joseph seethed inwardly and Mary tried to keep up with his long strides which were fueled by anger. When they were out the Huldah Gate and down onto the street, Joseph turned to Mary, heaving the pent up anger from him in a heavy sigh. He said, “I am sorry Mary; you can’t keep up. I’ll slow down. Here, let me carry the babe for you.” Joseph cradled Jesus in his strong right arm and began to talk to him. “I am sorry young son, that the priest did not see who you are. He does not know that the Lord God Almighty has fathered you and sent you to sit on David’s throne. Forgive him, and I will try to do the same.”

Joseph heaved another great sigh, filled this time with relief and looked down at Mary with a slow smile. Mary returned the warmth on Joseph’s face with an eager smile of her own. They both laughed softly and soon retrieved their donkey from the son of the street vendor. It had taken longer in the Temple than they had planned. They purchased fresh bread to go with the nuts, cheese and wine they had brought with them for an evening meal on the road.

***** As they journeyed on the Bethlehem road and night began to descend, they came upon tents with a bright fire in the midst of them. They looked like families from the Judean hills and so Joseph and Mary stopped to inquire where they were from and where they were going. Someone called, “Mary!” from among the tents. Mary turned to see Elizabeth running toward her, arms outstretched for embrace.

“O Elizabeth! I have so longed to see you!”

“O, and I you, Mary! And now, who is this little one?” Elizabeth asked with obvious knowing.

“This is Jesus. Jesus, this is your Aunt Elizabeth!” Mary said with motherly pride.

“O my, how bright his eyes, Mary!” Elizabeth remarked as Jesus looked up into her admiring face. Elizabeth lingered there with amazement and love in her eyes. She looked at Mary and said, “Who shall this little one be. . .who shall he be?” Mary was so full of emotion, she could not speak. Tears of joy formed in her eyes. Still, Mary could not speak.

Elizabeth looked down to the bundle of glowing newness encased in the swaddling and felt a knowing within her soul that she could not put into words. She never forgot that feeling. It was so warm, a full and inner joy aglow, barely contained!

After the pleasure of God had passed, the two mothers embraced one another and became, once again, aware of their surroundings.

“O how good it is to see you! Where is your babe?” But even as Mary asked, she spied Zechariah with his young son in his arms.

“This is John, Mary,” Zechariah said as he approached. “He is a fine son, a great delight and joy to me. A gift from God to be sure!”

“You spoke! Zechariah--you spoke!” Mary said, incredulous.

“Yes Mary, he speaks,” Elizabeth replied with mirth on her face and in her voice. Zechariah broke in tenderly, “We will speak of it later, Mary. Who is this handsome man by your side?” he asked. Mary turned to Joseph with a smile, “This is my husband; He is Joseph.” Zechariah and Joseph greeted one another and Zechariah motioned for them to sit by the fire. After the others had gone to their tents, the two couples sat before the embers and watched John’s antics until he fell asleep in his mother‘s arms. Baby John was now crawling and even taking a few steps. He was quite precocious, had a strong voice and was determined! Baby Jesus slept quietly in his sling, as though he had not a care in the world. The two couples talked of many things in hushed tones. Joseph told of his dream, and how it had changed his

plans. Mary told of the shepherds, how they watched in the field, and how the hosts had come from heaven. Joseph told of the Innkeeper and how he had taken them into his own household because of Barzillai and Kim-ham and King David. Zechariah told of the angel Gabriel, how the angel had said he stood in the presence of God, and how Gabriel had silenced him because of his unbelief. Joseph and Mary both told of the old man and the old woman on the temple steps, how they “had known” and what they had said. They told also of the Priest--and how he had not known.

Zechariah, after a time of thought, spoke with a tone of regret, “It is sad but true, that we of the tribe of Levi, men of the linen cloth though we be, are often the ones with the dullest ears and the stoniest hearts and there-fore we are the last to hear and understand the voice of God Almighty. At times, when I am serving in the tem-ple, it is as if I sense the displeasure of God. It is as if the sacrifices have only worn Him out. His Presence no longer lingers there.” Zechariah began slowly to shake his head from side to side while he spoke, “The Lord has spoken of us in the scroll of Isaiah:

‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.’

My son John, though he is descended from the priestly division of Aaron through his son Abijah, will not take his place at the temple as I have done. I myself will be Fifty-five soon and as Moses prescribed, my priestly duties will end at that time. My son John will be a prophet of the Most High. He will go before the Lord to prepare the way for him. The angel told me he would be filled with the Holy Spirit--even as an infant--and I have seen the evidence of it. I know Jehovah has a plan for him as Jeremiah the prophet has proclaimed. . . .I also believe the Lord is doing a new thing.” At this statement of faith, Zechariah’s eyes penetrated Joseph’s and declared, “I believe this new thing has begun and both our sons are anointed to be a part of it. I do not under-stand it, but I am ready to trust God to work His perfect will. I know our sons are part of God Almighty’s plan and it will be good because God Himself is good!”

The silence that followed was filled with thoughts so full of astonishment and holy awe that they could not be uttered. Zechariah tenderly patted Elizabeth’s hand and Joseph took the hand of Mary, soon surrounding her shoulders with his whole arm and touching his cheek to her soft dark brown hair. After holding her for a time, he said to the priest, “Will we see you again some time?”

There was a catch in Zechariah‘s breath and then he said, “Let’s plan to meet in Jerusalem during the three feasts each year!” Zechariah looked Joseph in the eye with much purpose and determination. “Yes. . .that would be good,” Joseph replied with conviction. “We will meet on the Stairs of Ascent three times each year when we go to Jerusalem! Then we will make camp together and share our hearts with one another and tell all that the Lord has done.”

Mary was glad to have the hope of seeing Elizabeth at least that often. They had much in common and their sons should know one another. The parents needed the understanding that only they could provide for each oth-er. YAHWEH had made himself known to each of them, as he had Abraham in the days of old, when a cove-nant had been formed between God and the patriarch of the Jews. Once YAHWEH covenanted Himself to you, you were forever changed and of a different heart and mind than those around you. God be with us, was their plea as they parted for the night’s rest.

Before morning was dawn, the families loaded their things and woke the birds with their commotion. Zechari-ah and Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary, said their goodbyes and were thankful they would share much more than bread together--in Jerusalem!

Joseph took to the path before full light shone above the dark hills. He looked into the eastern sky where he noticed a brilliant star which still shone with the morning light. He had never noticed it before today. Af-ter remarking to Mary about its brilliance, Joseph led the donkey toward Bethlehem and the Inn of Kimham. Mary nursed her son as the donkey swayed on the road that followed the rim in the ever growing morning light.

Joseph soon made Mary fully his. Joseph felt all the satisfaction of a bridegroom on his long awaited wedding night. He thought Mary unbelievably sweet and lovely. He could not ask for more. Mary felt warmed with the love and adoration of this kind and gentle man Jehovah had given her. Joseph and Mary began to think of Bethlehem and the old house of Kimham as their new home. Gratitude resided in their hearts and they felt the Lord’s hand of provision everyday.

*****

Once again the magi were crossing the royal court in the hot Susa sun to plead with their lord for provisions, which would make possible the journey to follow the star. First, they had approached the lord of the realm and put the proposition of the journey before him. Then they had to approach him again, when he did not respond with permission, or provision. Their lord did not seem to be sympathetic to the relevance of this sign in the heavens or to the importance of the influence this new king might one day have.

Time passed and the magi had to approach their lord a third time. They flattered him and appealed to his vani-ty by saying they could show how great his realm, by taking the finest his kingdom had to offer, as gifts. Think how great their lord would look when an official and royal envoy was sent in his behalf! It would never be for-gotten in the annals of time! They promised to proclaim his name and declare his magnificence everywhere they passed. Who knew what other lords had already been there, to put their gifts before the promised one and curry favor for their realms! A star had already risen and the hand that would hold the scepter was now living flesh! The time was now--to act and secure favor! Not since Darius the Great had Persia been a kingdom as strong as a lion! Not since Cyrus the Great had the Persian kingdom spread to the east and to the west!

The last ploy was to instill fear for the power contained in the scepter which had been prophesied to be in the hand of Israel. With this last approach, the lord of the reduced realm of Susa, seemed to see a glimpse of the possibility of favor for his sons, if not for himself, and he gave his slaves and servants the command to load cam-els with provisions for the trip to Jerusalem that would mean sixty to perhaps as many as seventy days of travel--if there were no delays and all went extremely well.

Some weeks later, the magi readying for the journey, were full of expectation as they gathered their traveling necessities. The round gray magus who headed the expedition was making sure of every detail. “Is the gold in the center of the lead camel’s burden? Is the Frankincense in the proper leather pouches on the second camel? What about the Myrrh? Have you stowed it securely?”

“Yes, yes,” was his fellow magi’s impatient reply. “We have done all that you instructed--as you instructed!”

“We are ready then, to begin this momentous journey! May the one true God of Daniel go with us!” He looked down the string of camels, gave a nod to the commander of the armed guard of his official escort and the long journey began. They left Susa in the early morning hours and traveled to the west, crossing the great river Tigris which bordered their homeland and turned to follow the river Euphrates to the north. The route they followed was one traveled by the ancients from time remembered. Armies of the East and the captives they led, which had been brought back time after time, from kingdom after kingdom, had taken this same route as had the merchants from time beginning. And now the magi traversed it, a mission full of mystery that was written in the stars!

That first day they set out as the bright morning star still rose in the dawn light. The desert took its toll with sand and wind and heat but they kept it at bay by traveling at night when the moon allowed. When it did not, they traveled from earliest dawn to midmorning, resting in the heat of the day and traveling again from early evening to dark. The Euphrates was always on their left and its waters were always a comfort at days end. Be-fore Palmyra ever came into sight, they crossed the river Euphrates and headed west for many days, stopping at the khans at oases along the way, grateful of their hospitality and what little comfort they offered.

Finally, Palmyra loomed ahead on the horizon! At first it looked small and insignificant in the sand, but as they drew closer, they saw a wonderful metropolis before them. The rotund and bearded magus in the lead felt confidence and hope return as his camel passed through the impressive gateway and traveled the long paved main street. Tall colonnades of Grecian and Roman influence along with the intricate colored patterns of Ara-bia embellished many of the buildings on each side of the wide thoroughfare. All in the party were taken by the beauty of this bustling center of trade. What a city was Palmyra--a mix of Arabia, Greece and Rome! A mix of cultures that had each left their mark on this oasis along the ancient silk road.

Some said it was here that King Solomon was the first to establish a fortress city (then called Tadmor by the He-brew which also carries the meaning of palm trees) for the traders who supplied his kingdom with cotton from India, fine woven goods of Babylonia, spices from Mesopotamia and silk from China. The fortress they now saw was perched on a hill that overlooked the desert, the road and all the activity of Palmyra. The hot, clear blue springs of Afqa that gave life to the oasis, was the liqueur of Palmyra. It watered date, olive, cotton and palm with the lush sound of water flowing in abundance.

Weeks upon weeks had passed since their starting. The star seemed to be lost in the heavens but the men of wis-dom, after several days of rest, restocking of supplies and luxurious soakings in the hot bath pools, pressed on to Damascus.

The desert journey filled with sand and sun and wind began once more as they wound their protective scarves yet again around their face and neck, traveling south and west toward Damascus.

On the ninth day after leaving Palmyra, they stood above the valley of Abana. From here they saw the green palms watered by the seven streams of the river. They entered the eastern gate of Damascus into a city con-trolled by Rome. They went down the main street called Straight, veered south when they saw the citadel in the north west corner and came to a halt at a khan on the route south to Jerusalem. Here the magi refreshed themselves with the Roman comforts this city of trade had to offer, staying over for a day more before beginning the journey to Jerusalem. Damascus was the busiest city yet on their quest. It was the place where routes from south Arabia, Petra, Persia, India and China all converged and the city thrived on the money that could be made from the trade goods pouring through her. Damascus provided for Rome, all the luxury items she craved from the East, and became wealthy herself in the process.

As the traveling party proceeded south to Jerusalem, they once again saw the bright star in the night sky and the magi breathed a collective sigh. The terrain now climbed and turned mountainous. They hugged the shore of the Sea of Galilee for a time and then proceeded south leaving the sight of the snows of Mount Herman behind them.

They were in the land of Daniel! From this land, a young Daniel had been bound and taken captive in time of war. Here, as a boy, Daniel had learned of his One True God who he worshiped and trusted all of his days, even to his death in a foreign land. His God had gone with him across the scorching sands and in the chafing winds of the desert to a strange land and exulted him among many strange peoples.

As the magi had searched the ancient texts to find the meaning of the three stars which became one, they had

come across an ancient edict of King Darius, given to all the people. Because of intrigue and deceit, Daniel had been thrown to the lions even though the kings heart was not in it. After a night of anguish, the king had been overjoyed when Daniel was lifted from the lions den with no wound on him. Daniel had told King Darius of an angel sent by his God who shut the mouths of the lions. Daniel had declared it was because he, Daniel, had trusted in his God, that he was saved. And so the edict had read:

“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Daniel had been given high offices and was a man of great power. Kingly garments of purple and golden neck chains had been given him by the kings he served--even though these kings were truly not his own. This man named Daniel had been given favor by his Most High God. Yes, in the magi’s own land, Daniel was revered even to this day. His tomb was within sight of the palace by the U’lai River which flowed through Susa. The wise man thought of these many mysteries as he rocked to and fro with the moving of his camel beneath him on the road to Jerusalem--the place where the living God of Daniel was worshiped and revered. On the sixth day of their journey from Damascus to Jerusalem, the magi saw the walls of the city in the dis-tance. Before night fall, they passed through the Damascus gate, passed by the Temple of Daniel’s God and turned west, making their way to the palace of Herod. Upon coming to the heavily guarded palace gates, they pressed the letter from the lord of the realm of Susa, into the hand of the guard, presenting them as his offi-cial envoy and announcing their mission on his behalf. The official decree also referred to gifts for the Great King Herod, to be presented to the king in an audience at his convenience. This all took precious time but after all was known of their mission and gold had been pressed into a hand, they were accepted into the large inner courtyard and deemed honored guests of Herod the Great. Their animals were stabled by servants and slaves and the escort and magi were given fine accommodations in large quarters. All was bright and airy and of the finest marble with servants assigned to them to provide their every need. It was night before the plump magus had washed the traveling dirt from his body, filled his ample stomach with a sumptuous meal, quenched his thirst with fine wine and settled his head on a perfumed pillow of embroidered silk.

The morning sun woke him slowly and the wine of the previous evening still made him drowse. Before he drug his aching body from the luxurious couch, he lazed half the morning away, which did not matter because Herod would not see them until the day following. Slaves were sent to fan the growing heat away and the magus en-joyed his pleasures while thinking of how he would approach the present King of the Jews about his quest.

In the evening cool, the magus strolled the grounds, finding that the palace was two main buildings of lavish-ness. It was surrounded by scented gardens, refreshing ponds with fountains of fitted brass, groves of pleasant trees, and cooling canals. The palace was a complex, used for official duties, private living quarters for Herod and as guest quarters for as many as, say, one hundred guests. It was a true palace on a palatial scale. Herod did all right, the magus decided but from here, through the tops of the crenelated walls, he could also see the three towers.

Herod had supposedly built the towers as protection for the affluent Upper city of Jerusalem, but all the magus had talked to had been aware of other motivations. The three towers had been built and named for a brother, a friend and a wife. The wife, Herod had murdered, yet he built her tower more beautiful, though not larg-er, than the other two. This last despairing thought reminded the magus that Herod had killed other family members, including a son or two. His nerves were set on edge realizing the cold blooded nature of such deeds and the guilt that would construct edifices to honor their memory. The magus clearly understood that this was how Herod dealt with any threat to his throne. He would approach Herod with great care and caution. He

would try to play down the “King of the Jews” part of the decree, although it was already in the hands of Herod’s attendants and possibly already before Herod‘s eyes. The magus desperately wished he had known then what he now knew about this present “King of the Jews.” He determined to be on his way as quickly and as quietly as possible.

When the nature of the magi’s visit was made known to Herod, he consulted with Jerusalem’s chief priests and teachers of the law and ask them where the Christ was to be born. Their reply was from the prophet Micah:

“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”

After Herod heard this, his first thought was that it sounded like a revival of the ridiculous tales these Jews told about a King David of a thousand years before! This insufferable people railed about how great this King David was, telling incredible tales of daring and deliverance which they refused to forget! The Jews had nothing to brag about these days so they glorified the past and forced everyone else to endure their insipid prattle!

“Yes,” the men of the temple courts replied. “He is to sit on the throne of David.”

“King of the Jews then, as some have said!” Herod proclaimed with undisguised irritation.

“Yes.” One man before Herod replied with eyes to the ground, desperately trying to manipulate his voice to sound truly regretful.

Herod dismissed them with a growl of anger and a wave of his scepter. As they hurried out of the throne cham-ber, they heard Herod roar, “I am King of the Jews and don’t you forget it!”

As soon as these learned men of the law were out of Herod’s Palace and well on their way back to the temple, they could not contain their excitement. “Did you hear that? Herod was inquiring about a messiah! After all these years, do you think a messiah has really come?”

“I don’t know, but Herod sure looked worried. I wish I knew who he suspected. They need to be warned! You know what he did to the last one who he thought might be a possible threat to his throne!”

“He killed him, that’s what! I sure wouldn‘t want to be in their sandals! What should we do?”

“Do! There is nothing to do! He didn’t tell us a thing!”

“I know, but if it was me he was after, I would want to know!”

“I’m telling my friends that are performing their priestly duties at the temple just now. I think we should spread the news to everyone we know. Maybe the news will get spread to the right people!”

“I think I will too. Yea, that’s a good idea. Maybe it’ll get around to the right person!”

“You guys do as you like. I’m keeping my mouth shut! Herod was sure in a foul mood and I’m not sticking my neck out for anyone! Herod’s capable of anything as far as I’m concerned. I’ve got a wife and children and...well, you guys do as you want. I’m going home and think this thing through.” With this last comment encased in a face of fear, the third man veered down a side street and hurried toward his home. As soon as Herod’s physician had given him an increased dose of strong wine mixed with calming Myrrh for his

agitated passion and continuous pain, he summoned the magi to him in a private audience and learned the exact time the star had appeared in the eastern sky. After he had the information he wanted, he sent them to find the child, telling them, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

But the magi were not fools; they could see the clouded look in Herod’s eyes. They all detected the foul slur in his pretty little speech. Herod could not disguise his evil intent, even with substances to dull his senses. After the private audience with Herod, the magi loaded their gear as calmly as they could and set out the gate in the shadow of the three towers, as soon as possible. They turned west by the Towers Pond and then south onto the Bethlehem road.

The intense heat continued and they departed as the cool of the evening descended with the darkness. The magi were filled with reassurance to see the star’s brilliance in the direction toward which they rode. As they ap-proached the small hill town in the dark of night, the Inn of Kimham was the place they rested and watered their camels, secured their baggage and slept until the strong morning light woke them.

By midday, the magus was engaging in conversation with the affable Innkeeper. The magus told the Innkeeper of the star and how it had stopped in the night as they came to the Inn of Kimham. “Have you any knowledge of a man-child born here or in the surrounds of Bethlehem?” the man in Persian dress inquired.

The Innkeeper, feeling protective of the babe and his parents, proceeded with caution. “Do you have a name for the child? . . .a son of, say for instance. . .?”

The magus had earlier felt the warmth and genuineness of the Innkeeper and now detected his guardedness concerning the child. He immediately knew the wickedness of Herod was the cause and he replied, “We are magi from east of the great rivers Tigris and Euphrates and we are seeking a newborn “King of the Jews.” It is his star we have seen and followed. We have gifts from the lord of our realm and we have come to pay homage to the child that will be king.”

The Innkeeper’s eyes grew wide and his speech did not come forth from his mouth, though it hung open. The magus smiled kindly. “Will you tell me of him then? We will not harm him.”

The Innkeeper shut his mouth, pursed his lips and moved them side to side as he considered what response he should make. Looking at the magus with serious reserve, he said, “Meet me behind the inn as darkness falls, and I will see what can be done.”

During the heat of the afternoon, the magi made use of the small bath house in the corner to try and soak the itch and soreness of the bedbug bites they had picked up all along the way. Traveling was a filthy business for the most part! Innkeepers by and large failed in removing pests from their establishments and the customers both suffered from and spread the miserable things! After a good soaking and soothing oil had been applied, they were able to doze in the afternoon heat.

After the evening meal, they dressed in their most magnificent attire and gathered their gifts. They were then escorted by their armed guard to the rear of the inn. They met the Innkeeper in the back courtyard behind the kitchen. The gifts were ready for the giving, though hidden within their robes. The Innkeeper led them up a small lane that followed the hill. They walked through trees of tall pine and then among quite large and grand oaks. A small house appeared in an ancient olive grove surrounded by palm. On the approaching western side there were younger plantings of olive, though quite well established and close to the house. In one of these, was a woolen cradle sling with no infant inside. The attention of the small party was drawn to the roof. Voices could be heard of a mother cooing to a small child in play. A deeper voice, that of a father perhaps, was also

heard and the voice of an infant gurgling in delight called them all to the outer stair. The Innkeeper hailed from the dusky ground, “Joseph, Mary! The visitors I promised are here. May we come up?”

A man peered over the roof’s parapet and said, “Yes, come, we are up here!”

The armed guard remained below, weapons at the ready. The Innkeeper led the way up the stairs. The old gray magus followed next. The other magi trailed behind, each in his turn. As the magi stepped up to the terrace, the brilliance of the star increased and the night was lit from the heavens. The old magus was the first to kneel before the babe who was in the arms of his mother. The rest of the magi soon paid homage as their magus had. The Innkeeper almost fell back onto a nearby stool but regaining his balance, sat amazed at the sight of these re-gally clothed men of the East bowing before a poor mother and child with a roughly clad father standing beside--on the roof of his own small house!

Placed before the child were gifts exquisitely contained in boxes of ebony, beautifully tooled pouches of leather and purses of finely woven scarlet linen. Three of each were placed before the child. The magi told of the heav-enly signs and explained their gifts. The three ebony boxes each contained gold, one for each of the three lights which became one in the heavens. The same for the three pouches of frankincense and the beautiful bags which obviously contained jars of some kind. Each gift was not a small quantity of each precious substance.

Joseph could not believe it! This was great wealth! More wealth than he had ever dreamed of! Joseph tried to calm himself so he could make sense of what was happening. There before him were three ebony boxes. Each box was carved and in and of its self, a treasure. In one box was a goblet of beautifully formed and ornamented gold. In one was a ring ready for a signet and in the last was a beautifully fashioned gold diadem. The tooled pouches were ornate, each of its own intricate design and each holding quite a quantity of the precious frank-incense. Jars were then withdrawn from the beautifully woven scarlet coverings. They were the most beautiful perfume jars Joseph had ever seen. They were of alabaster and almost transparent, they were so finely crafted. The oil of Myrrh was sealed within the thin container with a clay seal. The containers would be broken and destroyed when the time came for the oil of Myrrh to be poured out.

After Joseph’s eyes had been saturated with the wealth and beauty before him, when his senses had adjusted to the mesmerizing aromas, he calmed some and was able to look at the men who had brought these precious things and think about why they had come.

The rotund magus spoke about the stars and the meaning attached to them. He spoke of Daniel and the prophe-cies, the mysteries that surrounded all that they knew and still did not know.

Mary was left with a profound sense of faith concerning these things within these men. She was forever changed by the events of this night. She had been instilled with a sense of wonder for the workings of an Al-mighty God. His sovereignty and magnificence, the wealth within His hand, His power to draw men from afar to perform His bidding, were incomprehensible to her as she looked from her own small and simple world.

But as she looked at the gifts, the visitation of these regal men from the East gave reality to the idea that God Most High was an extravagant God who could command any resource with a word, or a moving in the heavens, or a beam of light that pierced the darkness. Beyond great was the one who had fathered her son! She could not fully comprehend it. She could only momentarily glimpse it. But that glimpse allowed for so much more! “God Most High, how great You are!” was all she could say or think.

The Innkeeper’s mind was racing to understand what was occurring. He was familiar with the affluence of the Nabateans from Petra. He had heard tales of their rock hewn city, of its hidden location in a labyrinth of vertical stone walls, of its beauty, of its luxury, of its opulence. He had smelled the aromatic scents of the resins

and spices they brought up from Arabia. He had encountered the wealth they displayed, but he had never been witness to the bestowing of anything close to the wealth now before him. “God be praised!” he blurted out un-controllably. All the eyes upon the terrace turned to him. Once the Innkeeper had returned to the moment and realized all eyes were upon him, he sat silent in his own embarrassment.

Mary turned to Joseph. “Joseph, do you think now would be a good time for the honey cakes?”

“Yes, Mary, this is the time,” Joseph replied. Mary rose and served the magi.

As the magi enjoyed the sweetness of the cakes and the vintage Mary served them, talk turned to more common topics. The men of the East talked of spices--of cinnamon, its taste and smell--how wonderful it was. Joseph talked of olive wood and what a fine hardwood it was for beautiful carvings. The Innkeeper offered the roasting of a fatted calf for the evening meal the following day. “A celebration to mark this momentous occasion!” he announced with zest. One of the magi offered a small packet of cinnamon to flavor the sweet bread so all could enjoy the extraordinary flavor of the spice. Soon the whole of the celebratory meal was planned and all began longing for their bed.

*****

After all the guests had gone down the hill to the Inn of Kimham, Mary and Joseph lay on the terrace, looking at the sleeping babe between them. The light from the stars pierced the dark night but the night was still there. Light had not fully come.

The excitement of all that had surrounded the magi’s visit had added to Joseph and Mary’s own private plea-sures. Joseph felt that all his worries had been taken care of. The magi had been so profuse with the gifts, that Joseph could scarcely take it in. Within Mary there was an ecstasy for her highly acclaimed son. It was still a mystery and at times a quandary, but the pride and excitement were undeniable. After Mary had dropped off to sleep encircled in Joseph’s warmth, he rose to walk among the ancient olives and sort out some of his excited thoughts.

Joseph felt he had just been given everything any man could want. Mary loved living in this little house close to Bethlehem and he had developed some local trade in the town for his carpentry skills. The caravans that passed through the Inn of Kimham, paid well for his carved items of olive. To Joseph, the future felt very bright and well secured.

He looked up into the dark night sky. Only the starlight shone for it was the time of a new moon. “Soon there will again be a sliver of moonlight to light our way,” Joseph thought. Finally feeling tired, he went up to bed.

The next morning, the couple rose to the excitement of the celebration promised for the evening. Mary had only time to tie off the fringe of the new cloak she had made for Joseph. Joseph had made her loom wider, as they did in Galilee and so her cloth was wide enough not to need a seam. Mary was very proud of her husband and the life he had given her. This new cloak would help her to express these feelings to him. It had been a work of love. Mary had thought of her husband as she had spun the linen into thread on the distaff and spindle, inter-twining the threads tightly together. And later as Mary had worked on the loom, she thought of him again as she pushed the weft snug against the warp; her love seemed to become more tightly interwoven with his own each time there was another pressing together. Mary would present the cloak to Joseph as he readied for tonight’s feast.

She admired the broad vertical stripes, regretting only that she must use the local earthy dye colors and had not had the means to purchase a richer color. She thought of the magi’s fine robes of the night before, the purples,

bold blues and scarlet. Next to their’s, poor Joseph’s coat looked crude indeed, but if she did not compare his with theirs, her pride in her work remained. Mary put her nose up in the air with a sense of pride and chose not to pity life as she knew it. She would be grateful to Jehovah for all the many gifts He had given. Mary would not let the magi’s affluence spoil her own. There now, she felt better since that was out of the way!

As Mary folded Joseph’s new cloak and took it into the house for him, she thought of her mother and was thankful she had taught her how to be happy with little. It was a valuable skill in this land where they lived of humble means. I wouldn’t know how to live in silk and jewels, anyway, she decided. She was so content just now, she was rather incredulous to the lack of appeal the thought of “more” had on her. She smiled at her own discovery--things didn’t make you happy! The glory of God in ones life--His Presence and the love that flows there--that is what makes one happy! At least it makes me happy, Mary decided. Her heart turned thankful and filled with joy. She stood before YAHWEH and displayed her pleasure before him.

Joseph had left in the morning light with a drink from the well and a couple of dates. He had been anxious to see the Innkeeper. He wanted to reassure himself that the wealth they now possessed was not common knowl-edge to the whole of the region. He needed the reassurance of the Innkeeper on this point. After Joseph was sure of the Innkeeper’s confidence, he asked the man about how to secure this wealth from loss.

“I have never had such valuable possessions,” Joseph stated before the older and well-to-do Innkeeper.

“No, I suppose not.” was the Innkeeper’s reply. “Don’t you want to save them for your son when he takes the throne?”

“Yes! But I don’t know what to do with them until then! Can you advise me?” Joseph asked with a voice filled with concern.

“Well, the next time you go to the Temple, you could leave them in deposit at the treasury there. Of course, you might have to explain how a man such as yourself came about such riches!” The Innkeeper’s face grew thought-ful as he paused. “No, you might not want to do that!” The Innkeeper leaned forward, reducing the distance be-tween them. “Joseph, what are you going to do? I mean, what are your plans for the future? How are you going to raise this boy? The shepherds told everyone what they know of him. As for me, I will keep my knowledge to myself! You know you are welcome to stay here. You are a fine craftsman, Joseph. I am proud to have you as one of my own. You do know you can stay, don’t you?”

The man was so earnest, it gave Joseph cause to consider his questions. After a pause, Joseph replied, “Yes, I do know and I am grateful. Mary is very happy in the little house. I am content as well. My uncle is seeing to my place in Nazareth while I am here and if I do not return he will not mind. I am not sure what to do, now that the magi have come. I worry about Jesus’ safety if anything more happens to spread his renown as a future king. Herod is a fearsome man. There is nothing he has not done to preserve his throne. In my eyes, he is capable of any wickedness. I feel I need to hide what has been foretold about Jesus until he is old enough to fulfill the purpose for which he was created. I guess, I will live a quiet life as if,--I’m not sure!” Joseph rose and began to pace as he spoke. “Many things have happened, some of which you do not know. God Almighty may have to...I!” Joseph bowed to the man sitting before him. “I am thankful for all you have done. I will let you know my plans.” Joseph turned to go.

“Oh, Joseph, hide those gifts! Don’t let anyone see them! Don’t tell anyone. News like that travels fast. You don’t need anyone to know what you possess,” the Innkeeper warned, looking sternly at Joseph.

“I understand. Thank you for your confidence. I value your trust. See you tonight. Bring your family,” Joseph said.

“I have told my wife nothing. What should I say we are celebrating?” the Innkeeper inquired.

“Tell her we are celebrating our good fortune at the acquiring of new friends,“ Joseph replied.

“I need not tell you, but these men are Gentile, Joseph.”

“Yes, but the Lord sent them to us and you feed them at the inn all the time!” Joseph defended himself, well aware of the prohibition against Jews eating with Gentiles.

“Yes, but we do not eat with them.” After a slight pause, the Innkeeper growled and swept his hand across his face. “It is not a matter of conscience with me--by the law, I am unclean all the time! But my wife will not like it! Can we not make a place for them to recline before the fire and we will come, eat before they arrive, and then we will be free to serve them? This is what we would do at the inn.”

“Yes of course. Mary will be more comfortable with that as well.” Joseph shifted nervously, “I am sorry. Per-haps I have been overwhelmed by their generosity.”

“Do not disturb yourself about it. I cannot keep up with the demands of the law! I must rely on the mercy of Jehovah continually!” The Innkeeper looked at Joseph with a great warm smile and slapped his heavy hand on Joseph’s back. “Jehovah is a God of many mercies; slow to anger, ready to pardon and filled with every kind-ness!” the Innkeeper leaned close to Joseph as if sharing a secret, “At least I think I remember something like that from my days as a school boy at the synagogue!”

Joseph laughed--how ridiculous he was! Joseph liked to secretly think of himself as a scholar of sorts! How very quickly he could become foolish! He had gone to school at the synagogue as long as his father would let him. Even after that, he had gone to study with the sage each day after he and his father were finished in the shop. Living by the law was much harder than trying to read it! . . .But somehow, Joseph felt that Jehovah would not mind if these men were not refused a shared meal in celebration of His son. Joseph could not explain it and he certainly did not understand it but he felt it deeply. Although Joseph could not reconcile his thoughts, he knew the Lord would not mind if they shared a meal with these men that God Himself had caused a star to bring from the East! The Innkeeper drew in a long breath that pushed out his chest and said, “My oldest son has presented me with a son of his own! Can we celebrate that as well?” The Innkeeper smiled with the pride of a patriarch.

“How wonderful! We will celebrate them both! I will tell Mary! Bring them! What joy we will have!” Joseph said, suddenly filled with the joy new life brings. He walked over and slapped the Innkeeper’s back, pulling him near and kissing him on each cheek. “Jehovah be praised!” he shouted as he departed.

Joseph and Mary devoted the whole day to preparation for the evening feast. The calf was butchered and sent up by the Innkeeper. By the time it arrived, Joseph had laid the fire and together the hired men hung it on the spit to begin roasting. Two of the Innkeeper’s young sons were sent to take turns turning the spit and gathering more fuel for the fire.

Mary, with Jesus bound on her back, ground the flour for the sweet cakes with the hand mill and sat it aside in a pottery bowl. With the arrival of the magus who provided the cinnamon, Mary began to mix the bread starter, flour, oil, water and salt. The curled cinnamon sticks she broke, grinding them with the pestle in the mortar. When they were reduced to fine particles, she added the powdery cinnamon by sprinkling it on the bread before it rose. This man from the East rolled up his sleeves and showed her how to form a decorative pattern--Susa

style--on the top of the flat bread, which they coated with butter and another sprinkling of cinnamon on the top. Mary loaded the oven, let the cakes bake and then set them to cool. Later they would be soaked in honey before the eating of them. The magus and Mary laughed and admired their work as the morning passed. As the heat of the day arrived, the magus headed back to the inn. Soon everyone retired to the cool interiors and napped until it was time for the final preparation of the evening’s festivities.

When all was ready, as Joseph washed at the well, Mary brought out his new linen cloak. “Joseph, try this on. I made it just for you!” Mary said with pride.

Joseph smiled widely at his wife. “Oh, Mary! What a fine job you have done! Oh, this is wonderful!” He heaved it on his manly shoulders, sticking out his chest to impress her with his fine physic. “Do you like what you see, wife?” He asked with a wry smile on his face.

“Oh, Joseph! Surely you are as handsome as Boaz of old!” Mary said with a teasing tone and sparkling eyes.

Joseph caught her up and twirled her in his arms. “Thank you Mary! This is a fine coat and you are a fine wife! Praise Jehovah, the maker of women!”

Mary giggled, filling the air with her pleasure. “Oh Joseph, I am so happy! I didn’t know I could be so happy! Did you?”

“No, I did not--until the Lord God gave me you. You have made me very happy, Mary,” Joseph said as he clasped his hands around her head and gently stroked her soft brow with his sturdy thumbs.

Mary did not reply, she only made a soft sound of pleasure and drew close to her husband.

***** The Innkeeper arrived first, proudly and loudly presenting his grandson as he entered the olive grove. The infant was admired by all and soon passed from one woman to another. They all smiled as soon as his fair face appeared. “What fine eyes; what a sweet mouth! How big and strong he will be!“ they all exclaimed. After all the proud passing of him was over, he slept in his own woolen cradle not far from Jesus in the olive by the door.

The meal was savored for its many pleasing flavors and the evening was filled with merriment. Mary took up her ten-string lyre and began a merry tune. The oldest Innkeeper’s daughter took up her flute and soon a tim-brel joined in. When the Innkeeper was not leading the dance, he augmented the music with his funnel-shaped cymbals, crashing them loudly together, creating a great clanging volume. Joseph laughed to see how the Inn-keeper loved noise of any kind. Mary’s sweet soprano soon sang this song of hope and celebration: “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.”

As Mary finished her song, Joseph realized that there was music in his home. Mary had brought a joyful song to his heart!

“How about some acrobatics?” One of the Persian guards asked with great bravado. A hail from the men sound-ed eager.

The young guards from the envoy laid their swords aside and took off their grand outer robes and performed acrobatic tricks, flying through the air in their gathered breeches. This caused everyone to applaud and shout with great approval. The young Persians were unapologetically proud of the attention they received. The old magus leaned back on his rug and cushion, enjoyed the entertainment before him and gave his meal time to settle. He reflected with contentment on the journey completed--half of it anyway. Now all that remained was the return to Susa.

The man who followed the stars fixed his gaze on the father of the child who would be king. He gestured to Joseph to come sit beside him and share his cushion. “Joseph, you have been a most generous host. May Dan-iel’s God be with you as you raise your son. We will leave before the morning star rises in the east. I have been warned not to return by the same path but to go south and then east toward Petra, then we will turn north to Damascus. We will go tonight. The men are loading the camels even now. May your God go with you and--be careful my son!” Joseph could see the older man’s eyes fill with concern and glisten in the firelight. The old magus took Joseph’s face in his hands and roughly kissed each cheek. Then with a gruff voice that broke, Jo-seph heard him say, “I wish you well, my son! Now help a fat old man up from his cushion!”

Joseph jumped up and let the ample magus lean heavily on him until he was on his feet. Then Joseph said, "I will never forget your visit. It has been a blessing handed me from God Most High. It will be a treasured mem-ory all of my days. Do you have any wisdom to give me before you go?”

“I have none to give. I follow the stars, that is all,” the magus turned slowly to look at the dwindling fire and the small house in the ancient olive grove. The Magus felt a fresh breeze against his face, then turned to Joseph, keeping close and looking into Joseph’s willing eyes. His hand, heavy with rings of gold and precious stones, rested on Joseph’s shoulder as he spoke. “Rely on your God. He has given you a sacred trust I do not understand yet I know it to be true. This meeting has been one of the most momentous and least comprehended of my life. I do not understand. . .” With a shake of his head he turned to go.

Joseph bowed before the magus, “Sincerely thank the lord of Susa for his generosity. Tell him we have been greatly honored. My son will be told of the honor and generosity that you have shown him. I will tell him of your journey and of your many kindnesses.” The magus’ ornamented turban caught the light of the fire as he shook his head in assent and his dark eyes spoke gratitude to the young father.

With a pat on Joseph’s arm, the magus’ parting words were, “May your God protect you as he did Daniel!” The round man from the East hailed the others to him and they walked toward the Inn of Kimham in the darkness of a nearly new moon with only the light of the stars to light their way.

The torches in the courtyard of the Inn of Kimham had burned through the night as the camels were loaded and the horses saddled. The men of the East had changed from their party attire to their traveling clothes. The magus nodded to his lead guard and the journey began. They went south three short miles before passing the Herodium. This palace fortress of Herod was not to be missed, even in the dark. Every man in the party could not help but look as they passed. The road lay to the west of the shaped fortress that rose like a cone from the earth. In the star light the men could see the palatial gardens and large colonnaded pool with a domed pavilion in its center. A city of opulence surrounded the western base of the man-made hill that dominated the country-side.

The commander of the Persian guard looked to the four rounded towers at the highest point of the sliced off cone. They were positioned at the four points of the compass, the eastern tower being the largest and tallest by far. The commander’s military mind tried to find a weakness against which an assault could be launched. One could not be found.

The magus had hopes of passing unnoticed as they proceeded south in the night. The men had all been instruct-ed to pass quietly but the fortress had wide views of the countryside and road. Surely the sentries could see even to Jerusalem from their perch! The magus looked to the east. In the star light, the outline of the purple-blue hills of old Moab, now called Nabatea could be seen, and from this height, a line of reflective blue with a white rim was also apparent, which must surely be the Dead Sea.

Up in the western watchtower of the Herodium, a Roman soldier on his watch noticed camels and horses passing to the south in the night. He looked toward Bethlehem and took note that he could no longer see torchlight at the Inn of Kimham.

The caravan continued to pass south and when the road forked east, the morning star had passed from view in the eastern sky.

*****

After the Sabbath rest on the first night of a new week, Joseph rose with a start. He was conscious of a cold sweat cooling his skin. He looked at the clear night sky and noticed how the stars seemed to be falling as their lights pierced through the darkness. The vision from his sleep would not leave him. His heart felt like a clenched fist, hard and tight. He rose in an effort to breathe. As soon as he had taken five paces it came to him what he must do. He moved quickly to rouse Mary. “Mary, we must go! Quickly, gather your things! I will ready the donkey!”

Mary moved slowly at first. But Joseph was insistent until she fully woke. “We must leave this place, Mary. The angel has told me to go, take you and Jesus and flee to Egypt! I will load the magi’s gifts. Hurry and gather your things!”

Joseph first loaded the donkey with several joined goat-hair lengths which would form a good tent, then he put their sleeping pallets over the donkey for Mary to ride on. Next he tied the water and wine skins together and flung them over the donkey’s neck. Mary brought straw bags full of food that would not spoil as they traveled and they were flung over the donkey. She next brought out clothing tied into a bundle within Joseph’s old wool-en cloak and a basket with assorted cooking necessities. “Joseph, what is happening?’” she asked, even though she knew she was filled with fear to hear the answer.

”I’ll tell you later--for now you must be quiet,” he whispered back to her as the donkey followed the lane down to the Inn of Kimham. Joseph rapped as hard as he dared on the Innkeeper’s door. Sleepy eyes peered at Joseph from a crack inside. “Joseph! What do you want?” the Innkeeper asked drowsily, opening the door wider.

Joseph whispered with urgency, “Jehovah has sent a messenger to me this night! I must flee with the babe and Mary. All you need to know is that we have gone! You will be able to answer truthfully that all you know is that we have gone in the night! God be with you my friend. I will return if I can! Thank you for all you have done. I will remember it always! May the LORD bless you for what you have done!” As Joseph hurried down the stairs to the courtyard, the Innkeeper opened his door wide and stared after him. He saw in the torchlight, Mary sitting on their poor heavily loaded donkey with Jesus in his sling on his mother’s back. The Innkeeper walked out on the terrace and watched as Joseph caught up with a camel string that had left just minutes before. He yelled down to his son who was standing in the courtyard and asked, “Where are the merchants heading, my son?

“They are going to Egypt, father!” was the son‘s reply.

“May God Most High show you many mercies! May he be a light to your path,” the Innkeeper quietly spoke after them. He stood and watched as long as he could see them by the light of the stars and waxing moon.

A few days later, Roman soldiers riding from the Herodium came to ask after the magi’s caravan. They were told they had left nights before, going south toward Hebron. The soldiers then reined their horses north toward Jerusalem.

*****

Joseph looked to the man beside him. Three days of travel had begun a friendship between Joseph and the man of travel and trade. Malchus wore on him now, several day’s sand and dust. His face was tanned and wrinkled from the wind and sun of the routes he traveled. His eyes crinkled when he smiled, which was often enough to be companionable. Malchus was a Jew from Jericho. He led the caravan and he would sell the finest wool and flax of Israel, high grade olive oil and Judean balm, to customers in Alexandria. He told Joseph they would take the Sea Road, going first to Gaza and then following close by the sea across the Nile delta to Alexandria.

As they traveled, Joseph talked to the shrewd merchant. He tried to find out what to expect; what they would find in the land of Egypt. Malchus told Joseph of a large Jewish community in Alexandria with quite a nice synagogue and Roman conveniences. He was sure Joseph could ply his trade there and make a decent wage for his wife and child.

Malchus was a devout Jew and he did not travel on the Sabbath. After six days of travel, they reached Gaza.Here they rested and observed a special Sabbath for the Feast of Trumpets at a khan on the sea‘s edge. On the first day of the seventh month, when they heard the three sharp blasts of the ram’s horn from the synagogue in Gaza, Joseph and Mary, with Jesus in his sling, met Malchus and walked the short distance, answering the call to prayer. They entered the synagogue by way of a stone columned porch and passed through the center of three large doors. Joseph and Malchus took a seat on the benches which were for the men and Mary sat with the women. The benches were arranged in a “U” facing the dias along the eastern wall--the wall that faced Jeru-salem. When the worshipers seemed to all be in place, the prayer leader pronounced the opening blessing in a voice all could hear:

“To God, the eternal and mighty, who established his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and who will bring a redeemer and grant peace to his people, Israel!”

Joseph, Mary and Malchus, along with the rest, raised their voices in a hearty “Amen!” Joseph looked across the room at Jesus and saw his sweet face and bright eyes. He was always eager like that in worship, not a bit afraid of the noise!

“Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” The worshipers all proclaimed in unison. There was music, worship and praise from David and Solomon, Moses and Korah and Asaph. Joseph could hear Mary’s sweet soprano and took joy in it’s pleasing and strong tone. It occurred to him that Mary’s voice might be one of the things that made Jesus so happy during worship. At least Joseph liked it! He had never thought of this before and it brought him pleasure.

The hazzan who cared for the synagogue, then brought the wooden Ark, in which the scrolls of the Torah were kept, to the dias. The scrolls were removed. The linen covering which protected them was removed along with the decorative silver crowns over the top of the staffs the scrolls were wound around. The parchments were held up for all to see the ancient script and then a portion of the text was recited by one of the Jews of the city in the original Hebrew, followed by a translation in the common tongue of Aramaic. Blessings were recited following

each step of the service. A message was given expounding on the passages of scripture previously read and then the last reading from a book of prophecy, Jeremiah:

“Thus says the LORD: A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.”

Joseph’s thoughts, for the moment, went back to the tomb of Rachel on the road to Bethlehem and then to the Inn of Kimham and the Innkeeper who had given them the pleasant house in the ancient olives where a fresh breeze always seemed to move through the trees. There was a deep sadness that settled upon him, he did not know why it came or why the sorrow was so profound. He struggled to again join his thoughts with the reading but was only partially successful.

After the time of worship they were asked to share a Sabbath feast with one of the families Malchus was ac-quainted with. They walked through the streets of Gaza to the house of the hospitable Jews and after enjoying the meal and much camaraderie, they returned to the khan walking under a blanket of stars and taking in deep breaths of the fresh salt air, while Malchus regaled them with stories of his many travels.

Mary was filled with the colorful memories of the day, of the people she had met. All the newness of the city, the sights and motions of the sea, the people of the synagogue and those they had shared the lovely meal with at the home in Gaza, danced in her head as the journey to the khan grew quiet at the end. She was conscious of the lateness of the hour and the deep sleep of the babe so secure in his sling. God had been good to them this day and she would remember His goodness for many days more. She tucked the sights, smells, noises and feelings in her heart. She would pull them out when the journey became long and hard.

As Joseph settled next to Mary for sleep, he thought of home, Jerusalem and the Temple. He was leaving all that was familiar and journeying into all that was foreign. He had never ever dreamed he would go to the land of Egypt! He had never imagined he would live in a place other than Nazareth, or even go down to the great sea to the west where the great trade ships of Rome, Tyre and Sidon hauled goods from many lands. He had nev-er thought of crossing a great sandy desert as he was about to do! Behind these thoughts, the sounds of the sea rolled over him--immersed him in comfort. O how he loved the sea! He relaxed and took the salt air into his lungs. He laid his head next to Mary’s while listening to the soothing sounds of the sea. Gradually he entered the rest of God while the rhythm of the waves lolled him and the sea breezes caressed his cares.

Joseph rose with the light of dawn. He looked in his treasure sack. One of the alabaster jars was already gone. Before leaving Gaza he would trade another for needed traveling supplies for the next leg of their journey. That should get them to Egypt--he hoped. He had intended to save Jesus’ gifts but this flight to Egypt was not in his plan. Joseph and Mary had planned to stay in Bethlehem in the little house of Kimham. Everything had been so pleasant there. Joseph had felt the Lord’s hand providing for them there but even as he thought of this, he looked down at his own hand and he realized that he now carried the Lord’s provision there. The alabaster jar would provide for the next leg of Jesus’ journey to safety.

But even as realization came, Joseph cried out to YAHWEH in panic, “God Almighty, order my steps! The flesh of my right arm is not mighty enough to do this thing of protecting Your son!” Then. . .the night before, in the synagogue, his mind had wondered but the voice of the prayer leader as he read the scroll of the prophet Jeremiah again filled Joseph’s ears:

“This is what the LORD says: ‘Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,’ declares the LORD. ‘They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your future,’ declares the LORD.”

Joseph knew the word of Jeremiah spoke of the exiles but Joseph now felt exiled himself. He could feel the weight of shackles on his feet as he trudged through the ever shifting sand. The weight of the many grains clung to him, enveloping his sandals, making it hard for him to lift his feet for the next step forward. Soon the grit cut into the soles of his feet and between his toes as his weight bore down on the grains, making his feet raw and bleeding. His arms felt bound and unable to defend against so great a foe. Herod the Great, a king with the power of Rome behind him, was after Jesus and Joseph had only a new linen garment and a carved staff of olive wood to fight with. --But linen was a cloth of the priests! It cooled as the desert breezes blew through it and he did not sweat precious water from his body.

During the heat of the day as Mary and Jesus slept in the cool of the oases halts, Joseph had worked on his olive staff. He had carved the imprint of a hand that fit his own fingers and thumb as he grasped the staff. Above the hand he had written in the mostly forgotten Hebrew script, the unspoken name of YAHWEH. As he grasped the staff with his right arm, in his own mind, he also grasped the strong right arm of God so that he might do what he was unable to do on his own.

Joseph recalled his own proclamation to Mary on the Bethlehem road--how the LORD rewarded those who helped His own and in so doing, put their trust in Him. Well, Jesus certainly was the Lord’s own and God had provided for him so far. Joseph took heart and determined he would trust God Almighty for Jesus’ well being. He would do what he could and depend on God for what he could not. Each time he grasp the staff, it was a reminder that the hand of God was a mighty power well able to rescue and to save.

Had not David run from King Saul? Had Jehovah not kept him safe at every turn and brought him into the kingship for which he had been anointed those many years before--when it was the Lord’s good pleasure? Yes, the LORD was able and faithful to save. Joseph would trust in the LORD!

*****

Time in Egypt passed. Little Jesus was now walking and talking. He could run to his mother and crawl up into her lap. He loved to be lifted by Joseph’s strong arms and tossed in the air. He called Joseph, “Abba.”

It was the heat of the day and Jesus and Mary still slept. Joseph, now fully awake, looked to the babe. He saw a dreamy smile forming slowly with a quivering lip. Three of his chubby fingers were coated with drool and stuck in his mouth. The gentle curl of Jesus’ hair was damp against his soft skin. Joseph raised himself to look out the window where the sea breezes blew in off the water. The sound of the sea was Jesus’ lullaby and the breeze off the sea, his Father’s own cool breath. Joseph listened to the steady breathing; it was much like the sound of the sea. Joseph quietly rose and walked out beyond the city walls to the sea shore where he made his plans for the journey home.

The dream that had awakened Joseph still played in his head. The messenger Gabriel (He must surely be Jesus’ own special messenger set aside for that purpose by God Himself!) had once again come as Joseph slept. Joseph never ceased to marvel after each appearing--the other worldliness of each appearing was so magnificent! It left one with so much to marvel over. Joseph tried to remember every detail but the living of everyday life seemed to, with time, cause it to dim--but Joseph never forgot the messages! They were indelibly imprinted on his brain! And so, the message had been, it was now time to return home.

The donkey was long gone. Joseph had sold the reliable animal soon after they had entered the Canopic Gate and found refuge in the Judean Jewish Quarter just inside the eastern walls of the city of Alexandria. They had entered the northeast section of the city where Malchus had shown them. Joseph was so grateful to the Jew from Jericho. (Malchus also must have been sent from God himself!) He had introduced Joseph and Mary to a family who had welcomed them into the guest quarters of their quite nice residence. Joseph had found work quickly

using his wood crafting skills making fine furniture for the wealthy of Alexandria. First in the Jewish Quarter and then extending to the wealthy of the Royal Quarter.

Joseph had met many, both high and low born. Some were citizens of Rome, some were slaves, some Roman soldiers, some Greek philosophers, others men of the sea, some had been Egyptian engineers and day laborers, some were wealthy Nabateans and the cunning Arabs who traveled the deserts for and with them. He had come in contact with Persian princes born into luxury and now pandering to wealthy widows for their keep, and able merchants whose great wealth increased with each ship load of precious goods--or plummeted with the loss of them. All manner of people were in this very cosmopolitan city.

Joseph looked out across the harbor to see once again Pharus Island where his eyes had grown accustomed to the sight of the ancient lighthouse. He saw now, the three tiered stone tower rising from the eastern edge of the long island that guarded the shore of Alexandria. It was said to be the tallest building on earth--almost four hundred feet high! At night, the fires on the top were always lit and could be seen throughout the city as well as out to sea. During the day the glare of the huge polished mirror reflecting the sun’s rays made a spot so bright at the top, they said it could be seen thirty-one miles out to sea!

Joseph thought of all he had seen in this city along the sea: the docks with many sleek ships coming and going in the harbor, the long sea wall that protected the harbor side from the sea, the huge Roman and Greek styled temples with their columns and ornate pediments and statuary, the obelisks and sphinxes of Cleopatra‘s Egypt, the man made Heptastadium that connected the city with the Island of Pharus. The city was laid out in a grid with all the streets straight from one end to the other!

Here, in this culture, beauty and wealth were valued. Joseph didn’t mind leaving some things. Beauty was all well and good. Joseph loved to carve beautiful things; it fed his soul somehow to create beauty from what God’s own hand had made. But beauty didn’t last long and it seemed to foster a false sense of pride--as did great wealth.

Knowledge was also highly valued in Alexandria. In the Museum, Jewish scholars had translated the Torah from the rarely used Hebrew to the commonly used Greek. The Jewish scrolls, called the Septuagint, were now among thousands of others, collected from many cultures and ages and deposited in the Library portion of the Museum. In the Roman world, if you wanted to communicate to men of many countries and regions, you spoke Greek. Joseph and Mary had both learned to speak it most excellently during their time in Egypt.

Joseph had learned other things too. He wanted to be able to read the scrolls in the synagogue in the original Hebrew like the rabbis and scribes. And although as a boy, he had learned the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet and could recognize many words and phrases from the passages he was able to recite, here in the Jewish Quarter he had found an old scholar who had willingly taught him more than he ever dreamed he would learn in the local synagogue. Joseph would let Jesus study as long as he wanted. He would not, as his own father had done, make his son quit his studies at the age of ten. Jesus, Joseph could already tell, was quite quick of mind and although Joseph would teach him carpentry, he knew that Jesus would not be a carpenter. Jesus would be king! Joseph believed the words in the scrolls had come from God Himself and they were God’s gift to the Jews--God’s chosen people. The one who ruled the nation of Israel needed to know the sacred books of law, wisdom, chroni-cle, and prophecy, if he was to rule justly and well.

He and Mary’s life in Alexandria had been even easier than at the Inn of Kimham but he would be glad to get home. To live in the city had been quite costly even though the work was more exciting and to Joseph‘s liking. Few of the magi’s gifts remained. Joseph regretted the losses with sadness although he had not known how to make things different.

Joseph began a prayer of petition, “Lord God, have mercy and order my steps! Show me the way to go. Make straight my paths-as straight and as long as the street that leads from the Canopic Gate to the Necropolis! Light my way as surely as the light that shines for the ships entering the Portus Magnus and Royal Harbor! Help me to be as knowledgeable as the scholars at the Museum.”

But then, no--no! and Joseph’s mind took a much different turn. “Make me not as knowledgeable as the schol-ars at the Museum, but as wise as the wisdom you gave my forbearer King Solomon! And my path as straight as the rays of the rising sun as it shines in the Eastern Gate of the Temple, and light my way as surely as the star that the magi followed to Bethlehem!” Joseph was suddenly aware of the seducing qualities of this city and the culture that thrived within. He was aware of a pressing need to return to the land of his God!

As Joseph rose and returned to his family, his thoughts journeyed to the Inn of Kimham. Should I go back to Bethlehem, Lord? This question remained with Joseph a long time but he knew that he could decide in Gaza to go on to Bethlehem or turn north and then to. . . . He would decide when they got to Gaza!

“Go before me as You did the children of Israel when they followed Moses out of Egypt!” Joseph muttered to the Lord, letting the breeze off the sea carry it away from the ears of any man.

On the day they followed a merchant caravan out of the city, when they were outside the gates, Joseph took Jesus from Mary, and holding him up toward the sea, he said, “Jesus, look at the lighthouse before we go! It is one of the seven wonders of the world! See, there it is! A marvel to be sure!” But the young father knew in an instant, that what he held in his arms was more of a marvel than a man made stone tower of light could ever be! Jesus was a quiet and thoughtful child. He looked down at Joseph and smiled, saying, “Abba,” with delight in his eyes and putting his chubby hand on the corner of Joseph’s mouth. Jesus then raised his hand and reached toward east and the desert.

On the tenth day of their twenty day journey to Gaza, Joseph approached Mary as they lay down for the night. “Mary, the messenger did not tell me where to go. He told me only that it was safe to return because Herod is dead. The caravan commander tells me that Herod’s son, Archelaus is ruler of Judea in place of his father. Perhaps Jehovah will yet tell me where to dwell, but where would you like to live?”

“O Joseph, I think I would like to return to the Inn of Kimham! If not there, then maybe to Nazareth. Perhaps my family has forgiven us and we can be a part of them again. Your uncle is there and your father’s old shop is there still. Perhaps if it is not occupied, we can live there again. Do you think we can be happy in either place?” Mary asked with an excited eagerness.

Before Joseph formed an opinion, he knew how much he loved Mary’s sweetness of disposition. She had born the travel and turmoil of the last years well. She had cared for her son no matter the circumstance. Jehovah had chosen well for His son when He chose Mary to mother him. She had much love to give and was very kind and caring.

When they reached Gaza, Joseph went to the synagogue in search of news from home. Here he learned of the slaying of the children of Bethlehem. He thought of the Innkeeper’s first grandson--how proud he had been of him that night in the olive grove! A great groan came up from within Joseph and he could not contain it. Sor-row so deep he felt he physically carried it for the Innkeeper, even now, after these many months. He mourned for the Innkeeper as he walked by the sea, back to Mary and back to Jesus, whose Father in heaven had pro-tected him from this evil. Joseph felt the hand of Almighty God steadying him as he grasp his olive staff with the unutterable name of YAHWEH carved above his own hand. He plodded through the moist sand with the sea breeze cooling the salty tears that trickled down his hot cheeks. His soul was in agony for the Innkeeper’s family. What a cruel, vile act! Had they all been there to witness the evil? “Dear God in Heaven, how can this

be?” His heart cried out to a God he knew with certainty, to be Sovereign. He stood looking down the road that branched off to Bethlehem and raised his hands to YAHWEH asking comfort for all of Rachel’s children who were no more.

Could they go back to the pleasant small house of Kimham in the ancient olives where a fresh breeze always seemed to move through the boughs of the trees? Would the Innkeeper welcome them after suffering this wicked deed? He would decide in the morning. They would leave Gaza after the Sabbath had passed.

*****

Joseph rose in the morning light before it was truly dawn. He looked to the east, searching for “the star.” The morning star he had seen on the road to Bethlehem when leaving Zechariah and Elizabeth’s camp was not to be seen. It had not been in the sky since the magi departed. It all seemed ages past! He shook his head to clear it and rubbed the tenseness in the back of his neck.

In the night--another dream! All the stars had fallen from the sky and then the heavenly messenger had been before him. Gabriel whispered close to Joseph’s face. He warned him not to go to Bethlehem. “He will be called a Nazarene as the prophets have said,” Gabriel declared.

With Joseph’s waking, the messenger was gone. Joseph walked out to the sea to calm himself, “Well, that is it. We will go to Nazareth,” he said to himself as he reached behind his neck and rubbed the tense muscles. “Naza-reth will be our home.” Sorrow for the Innkeeper still clung to Joseph. It was as if that place was dead to him. Joseph gave his concerns for the Innkeeper and his family, as best he could, to the Lord God Almighty.

The caravan hugged the sea all the way north to the port city of Caesarea. When they saw the city perched on the very edge of the sea, with its massive stone breakwater, topped with arched colonnades and great towers jutting out into the sea, Joseph and Mary left the caravan. They would travel the remaining miles to Nazareth with the donkey they had traded the last of the gold for in Alexandria.

Joseph turned to look at the last glimpse of sun off the aquamarine surface. He loved the sea and he was sorry to leave it. It had been a constant companion for far more than a year. “Thank you Lord for this time with the sea. It has been a comfort to me when I sorely needed it. It was as if you were always there to comfort me with the soothing sound of its contents flowing to the shore and the invigorating sea breezes that always refreshed my soul.” Joseph turned to Mary, “Take your last look at the sea, Mary. After we cross over this rise, we may never see it again!” Mary looked the full length of the coast, “I think you love the sea more than I, Joseph. I miss family and friends. I am glad to think we will raise our children around those we know and love.”

The coastal cities had all been filled with news of a grand new city under construction by Herod Antipas. It was to be a city of beauty in the Greek style by the name of Sepphoris, within sight of Nazareth. They would need carpenters and stone masons. Joseph could do either. He would work out of his father’s old shop on the street filled with other craftsmen, not far from his uncle’s. Perhaps Mary could repair things with her family and they could raise Jesus away from the eyes of power--until the fullness of time had come for him.

Joseph talked to the Lord with the remembered words of David as he walked away from the sea:

“In the day when I cried out, You answered me. And made me bold with strength in my soul. Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of distress, You will revive me; You will send out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right

hand will deliver me. The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever.”

Joseph felt washed with relief. Every time he had needed YAHWEH, He had been there. Joseph halted there in the road and raised his arms to Jehovah in praise and God inhabited his worship.

“What are you doing Joseph?” Mary asked from atop the donkey.

“I am surrendering to the Lord! Leave me be, woman!” He turned to her to see a smile on her face and love in her eyes.

“I’ll not interfere with that, husband!” Mary teased back. “If you will take Jesus, I will walk with the donkey and you can ride for a time. I can feel every bone of that poor beast’s back every time he takes a step! I will be so ready to be home, Joseph!”

There had been much to adjust to in Egypt for Mary. Egypt had not been to her liking. The women of that culture were so brazen! She did not like Joseph working in the houses of the wealthy. He was a good man but Mary heard the tales of indiscretion and wantonness. She looked at Jesus. Mary was not sure their family could survive such influences. Mary shook the dark thoughts from her, “Thank You Adoniah, for bringing us home!”

Joseph looked from his perch on the donkey at the hills surrounding Nazareth. They were green with trees. “Look Jesus, from here you can see Mount Carmel to the west, Mount Tabor to the east and far to the north, the snows of Mount Herman!” Jesus’ bright eyes followed Joseph’s gaze and he sat up a little straighter in Joseph’s lap and clasped his hands in pleasure. He then turned to look at Joseph’s pleasant face, resting his head against Joseph’s chest, surrounded by Joseph’s strong right arm.

Joseph looked far beyond and admired the view. Below the village to the south lay the fertile valley of Jezreel. In the expanse of the valley bottom Joseph could see the fields of stubble from the harvested wheat. On the upper slopes were the terraced vines of grape. It was grape harvest and he could see the making of new vintage in process. Even at this distance he could see those who were trodding the grapes in the limestone vats. At times, on the breeze, he could hear the joyful tunes being sung by those enjoying their labor. He laughed to himself. When they were in the village, he would be able to tell who had done the pressing of the grapes by the red stains on their feet and ankles!

A feeling of coming home washed over Joseph. They were almost there and it was good! God was Good! God had been faithful through all their journey. He had spoken every time they needed direction; protected every time they were in danger. Every time they needed provision, it had been provided. Joseph jumped down and took the donkey’s lead from Mary and returned her and Jesus to their seat. He was ready to begin daily life in the hills of Galilee!

Mary watched Joseph’s long strides and that extra bounce in his step. She knew he was happy to be going home.

As they entered the streets of the town, people began to recognize and welcome them with genuine joy, “Joseph and Mary, it is so good to see you! Look, mother! It is Joseph and Mary! Where have you been? It has been so long! They have their baby!”

Jesus laughed and wriggled in Mary’s arms, leaning toward and reaching out to the children as they followed, calling, “Come to me! Come to me!“ Jesus was eagerly stretching his little fingers toward the surrounding chil-dren, at times touching them.

Joseph watched, and as he watched, Jesus’ bright eyes found his own and Joseph felt the gentle voice of a pleased

God speak to him, “As you do to the least of these, Joseph, so you do to me.” Joseph felt tears sting into his eyes and he turned abruptly to hide them. He had been called by name! He looked up to the clear blue sky and let the tears course his cheeks. He thought of Rahab, how she had helped the spies. He thought of Barzillai, how he had helped King David. He thought of Ruth and how she had helped Naomi. The LORD had rewarded them all!

He thought of the synagogue in Alexandria, how one of the rabbi’s lessons had been about Hannah, how she had prayed for a son and when YAHWEH had opened her womb, she had given that son back to the LORD leaving him, still at a tender age, at the tabernacle in Shiloh to minister before the priest. Every year when Hannah came to Shiloh with a new linen garment she had made, especially for her son, Eli the priest blessed her. The rabbi had said that Eli had asked YAHWEH to reward Hannah for what she had done. The Lord was faithful and Hannah bore three sons and two daughters more as her reward. And Samuel, “the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with YAHWEH and men.”

Joseph’s tear-wiped eyes returned to Jesus and then he looked upon Mary with a look of tender caress. He thought of how Mary had told him that very morning as they readied for the journey, that she was again with child--his child! He turned his face toward Nazareth and saw through blurry eyes, the simple houses of the town, iridescent in the late afternoon sun.

The LORD had given him a charge--the keeping of His son, and He had not left him to do it alone. YAHWEH had provided all that was needed to accomplish the task. Had not YAHWEH called David to shepherd His people? And YAHWEH had protected and provided all those years when David fled from Saul! As Joseph walked in trust, he saw YAHWEH providing all that was needed to complete the task for which he had been created. YAHWEH WAS GREAT BEYOND MEASURE! Joseph’s understanding tried to comprehend the length and breadth of it but he could not. It was beyond him. Joseph now admitted to himself that he had be-gun to hear a still small voice that spoke so loud it could not be denied. It was the voice of YAHWEH. Joseph further believed that God the Father spoke continually to His son even more than He had been speaking to Joseph himself. The boy, young as he was, knew that YAHWEH was his Father!

To Joseph, YAHWEH spoke instructions; to Mary, words of blessing. And to Jesus--what would YAHWEH speak to His son? His heart, His many purposes, the mind of God would be spoken to His son! Joseph was sud-denly filled with peace and a calm reassurance that YAHWEH was with him and Mary and Jesus continually.

Joseph’s old shop came into view. His uncle was standing by the door, looking down the street into the glare of the setting sun. Village children were jumping all around him; they were laughing and calling out. From behind, Joseph heard the voice of Mary’s mother calling out to her. Joseph turned to Mary; she held Jesus close. There was hope in her eyes and tears coursing down her cheeks. Joseph stilled the donkey and helped Mary and Jesus down. Mary thanked him with that sweet look in her eyes and ran to meet her mother. Joseph raised his arms and strode to his uncle. They greeted one another with much back slapping and hearty embracing.

“Welcome home my son, welcome home! Where have you been all this time, Joseph?”

“I have been called out of Egypt after residing for a time in Bethlehem at the Inn of Kimham.”

Joseph thought of all those who had helped them on their journey, but he thought most of all, of the Innkeeper and the Inn of Kimham. It was at the Inn that the babe had been birthed. It was there that the shepherds had come and worshiped. It was there, at the old house of Kimham that the wise men had revealed a magnificent God and brought provision for their escape. It was there that a great evil was surely done. The Innkeeper had been there to see and experience it all! Later, as Mary and Jesus slept, Joseph sank to his knees and bowed his head to the ground, “Be with the Inn-

keeper, Great Jehovah! As surely as the LORD lives, richly bless the Innkeeper of Kimham, for he did good--being generous from first to last! Hold the Innkeeper of Kimham with Your mighty right arm, O Holy One of Israel! Bless the Innkeeper for all he has done!”

* * *

In the course of time, the Innkeeper slept with his fathers behind the old house of Kimham before Jesus entered his ministry. The Innkeeper never knew what became of the babe who was to be king, but he died with hope in his heart and the LORD rewarded him for all he had done.

The shepherds never forgot the heavenly hosts in the night. It set them apart and filled them with a great joy the rest of their days. They told not only their children but their children’s children and anyone else who would listen, of the incredible events of that night. They slept with their fathers and were gathered to God by His grace.

The journey of the wise men became a tale of renown and they became famous in their own country. There is a memorial to them there, to this day. The old magus died trusting in the one true God of Daniel and he was rewarded for all that he had done for God’s own, because the Lord rewards those who diligently seek him.

The kindness of an old man named Barzillai of more than a thousand years before, was not forgotten but re-warded by God in the fullness of time. And so it was also with Rahab and Ruth. May it give all of us hope in the eternalness of God Almighty. He never forgets a kindness. He cares for and rewards His own. To God be the Glory for great things He has done!

The Journey of the Wisemen

I decided it might be fun to list some of the story references alluded to as the story is told. You might like to check up and see what you think!

1. Kingly line of Joseph Matthew 1:1-17

2. Elizabeth and Zechariah’s Story Luke 1:5-25

3. Joseph and Mary’s Story Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-56 & 2:1-7

4. Nashon Numbers 10:14

5. Moses’ Shout Numbers 10:34

6. Rahab’s Story Joshua 2 & 6:22-25

7. Ruth’s Story Book of Ruth

8. Rachel’s Death Genesis 35:16-21

9. Solomon’s Proverb Proverbs 18:10

10. Jacob and Rachel’s Story Genesis Chapter 29

11. Barzillai and Kimham 2 Samuel Chapter 19

12. David’s Death I Kings 2:7

13. Inn of Kimham Jeremiah 41:17

14. Shepherd’s Story Luke 2:8-20

15. Bethlehem a Garrison 2 Chronicles 11:6

16. Praise of Shepherds Revelation 4:8,11 & 5:13

17. Magi’s Story Matthew 2:1-12

18. Balaam’s oracle Numbers Chaper 24

19. Story of Daniel Book of Daniel

20. “For unto us a child. . .” Isaiah 9:6-7

21. David and Well at Bethlehem 2 Samuel 23:14-17

22. Jesus presented at Temple Luke 2:21-40

23. Joshua of Old Book of Joshua

24. Isaac as sacrifice Genesis 22:1-19

25. Temple on Mount Moriah 2 Chronicles 3:1

26. David and Sacrifice 2 Samuel 24:24, I Chronicles 21 & 22:1

27. Valley of Hinnom Jeremiah 7:30:32

28. Psalms of Ascent Psalms 120-134

29. Purification Sacrifice Leviticus 5:7-10

30. Priestly Blessing Numbers 6:24-26

31. “These people come near. . .” Isaiah 29:13

32. “Jehovah has a plan. . .” Jeremiah 29:11

33. Solomon at Tadmor 1 Kings 9:18, 2 Chronicles 8:4

34. Edict of Darius Daniel 6:26-27(NIV)

35. “Jehovah is God. . .” Nehemiah 9:2

36. “You will go out in joy. . .” Isaiah 55:12-13

37. Escape to Egypt Matthew 2:13-18

38. “Restrain your voice. . .” Jeremiah 31:16,17

39. Return to Nazareth Matthew 2:19-23

40. Words of David Psalms 138:3,6-8

41. Hannah’s Story 1 Samuel 1 & 2:26

42. Jesus’ siblings Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55

To God be the glory! Great things He has done!

It is my earnest desire that you will feel the pleasure of God flow through the pages of this story, mush as the fresh breeze that flowed through the ancient olives of the final residence

of Kimham.