THE TEMPLES CHAPTER ELEVEN - Page 1

ON THE FINAL morning at sea, Saul rose early. Somewhat weary of the company of Shallum and Jephuneh, he took a book from his bag of personal belongings and made his way to a quiet place at the prow of the ship. Nestling down in the shelter of a hatch, he was soon engrossed in reading The History of the Temples.

Suddenly he was conscious of a shadow falling across the page. Glancing up, he saw the ship master Andrius, who had come to adjust a sail. "I see your sails are made of good cilicium."
The ship master turned abruptly. He was surprised to see that his questioner was a boy of about twelve years of age, who had been sitting unnoticed in the shadow of the cargo deck.

"How would a boy your age know anything about sails and cilicium?" the ship master asked, with arched brows. He was a heavy-built man, with a weathered face from many years at sea. His hair blew playfully across his forehead in the rising wind of morning. From beneath the heavy locks and shaggy brows, his eyes, blue as the ocean, seemed to dance with an inner energy of spirit.

"My father is a cilicium merchant from Tarsus," replied Saul, "as his father was before him."
"Then you are from Cilicia. The cilicium fabric made at Tarsus is the best in the empire. My sails are made from it, and so is the tent I use when I go ashore. Even my cloak is of the same material. There's nothing better when the weather is wet and cold." Satisfied with the adjustment he had made on the sail, he moved a little closer to Saul. "You say your grandfather made sails?" he asked.
"Sails and tents," Saul answered.

"Your grandfather," he mused, "made sails in Tarsus? That must have been when the Romans were stationed there."

"Yes," replied Saul. "My grandfather was a teacher, a Jewish rabbi, but when Cassius placed a legion in our city and demanded the Tarsians to make tents, my grandfather accepted the responsibility."

"Because the Romans demanded them?" The ship master broke into a low cynical laugh. "Demanded them? They are always demanding. If I hadn't known how to collect my taxes from the Romans, I wouldn't have this ship."

As Saul studied the ship master more closely, he concluded that he was either Greek or Parthian. What did he mean when he said. collecting the taxes from the Romans?
"I suppose, since you are a Jew, you are with most of the passengers who are on their way to Jerusalem."

"That is true," replied Saul.

"Going to the Passover. With your family?" asked the ship master.
"I am with my father and mother, but we are not going because of Passover alone. I have been accepted into the school of Gamaliel," Saul said proudly.

"Ah, a bright student for the best of teachers. How nice for you. And can your father make tents?" the ship master asked.

"Like my grandfather, he is a merchant but he can make tents or sails when necessary."

"What about you? Oh, that's a foolish question. You are too young."

"No, I could make a tent, or sails like the one you just adjusted," Saul replied. "My father taught me."

"A typical Jew," said the ship master, looking off at the horizon. He thought it was so very typical of a Jew to develop the intellect first, but be fortified with a skill should emergencies arise. Looking directly at Saul, he asked, "What is your name?"

"Saul."

"Saul? Saul of Tarsus," repeated Saul's friend. "My name is Andrius."

Saul acknowledged his introduction by standing and nodding his head respectfully. As he did so, the book he had been reading fell on the deck.

"It is about temples," said Saul, as he picked it up. "I will be visiting the Temple in Jerusalem. This book describes how and when it was built. Of course, the book speaks of other temples also. Have you visited the Temple in Jerusalem?"

"No. I am not so anxious for trouble. It is a turbulent place at this time. And it will be as long as the Romans are there." Lowering his voice, and moving closer, he added, "When they sent their tax collectors even up to the Valley of the Eurotas, and took all my money in the name of taxes, I followed them at a safe distance until nightfall. Then--" he stopped and laughed with a voice that sounded as merry as the waves on the prow, "--then I got my money back. And I confess I got all that they had collected from others also. Well, Rome never lost anything. They would have seen little, if any, of the money that was collected in the name of Rome.'

"I hated to leave the mountains of Arcadia, but after taking all the money from the so-called tax collectors, I kept on through the night and all the next day. When I reached the coast, I boarded a ship bound for Ephesus. Once there, I made my way to the Temple of Diana. Around the Temple there, they have a safe haven for criminals. When it was first provided, it was supposed to extend in all directions as far as a bowman could shoot an arrow. But after time, so many came that the area had to be enlarged. Each person there was seeking to escape the corrupt laws, and criminals could stay in this sanctuary as long as they cared to. After three weeks, I slipped away in the night. I returned to Athens and after several days of examining ships, purchased the one I am now sailing." Once more the shipmaster glanced up at the flag, and said, "I think I had help from them."

Them? Who could he mean by them? Saul noticed how he waved his hand skyward as he spoke. In the shadow of the cargo hold where he sat, he at first failed to see the flag waving merrily against the cloudless sky. When he saw it, he understood. "You believe that Castor and Pollox helped you?"

Andrius shrugged his massive shoulders. "I'll admit I had a bit of a hand in it myself." He drew back his short tunic, showing the dagger on his belt. "But, let me ask you how a Jewish boy would recognize the flag of Castor and Pollox?"

"Our teachers think it very important that we know about these, and other deities. Not all, of course. No one could name the 60,000 so-called gods of Babylon. But at least we learn about the ones the Greeks and Romans have in their Pantheon, and also the most popular gods of Egypt, Crete, and Asia Minor."

"So, what do you know of Castor and Pollox?" asked Andrius, skeptically.

Saul smiled, realizing his friend doubted his knowledge. "Well, let's see, according to Homer, the Dioscuri were sons of Tyndarus and Leda, and brothers of Helen and Clytaemnestra. Castor was famous for his horsemanship, Pollox for his boxing; both died before the siege of Troy, but were permitted to enjoy immortality on alternate days. Later, some called Zeus their father, and according to Homer, Zeus visited Leda in the form of a swan and she brought forth two eggs. From one of the eggs came Castor and Pollox, and from the other, Helen and Clytaemnestra. They were worshipped first in Sparta, then in Greece, and as all religions, they eventually found their way to Italy. They are regarded by your people to be the protectors of sailors."

"Well done!" said Andrius. "You told it better than I could have. But why would you study and retain it, as you apparently have?"

For a moment Saul did not reply. He felt warmly for this sailor, and did not want to offend him.
"Well," said the ship master, "what are you waiting for? I only asked why you, a Jew, would receive teaching about gods like Castor and Pollox."

"I will tell you if you won't be angry at me for my answer," Saul replied.

"Just tell me," Andrius answered. "Why would I be angry?"

"Well," said Saul, choosing his words carefully, "our teachers relate such stories of your gods, confident we are too . . . too intelligent . . . "

Andrius broke into laughter. "You might as well say it, son. 'Too intelligent to believe such.' So, Saul, you doubt my gods Castor and Pollox came from an egg laid by Leda, do you?" Again Andrius laughed convulsively, until tears ran down his tanned cheeks. His whole body shook at the mention of his gods coming from an egg, whose father, a swan, was Zeus. When Andrius finally stopped laughing and was more serious, he said, "And your god is different. Tell me about him."
Happy he had survived the question without offense, Saul said, "Our prophets speak of one God who created the heavens and the earth."

The ship master made no reply. For some moments he leaned on the rail, looking out to sea. "It is beautiful, isn't it? Someone bigger than Castor and Pollox made this sea and land. North of Sparta across the frontier of Laconia, are the mountains of Arcadia. There in those mountains lies the valley of Eurotas where I was raised as a lad. It is a peaceful valley, settled mostly by peasants and shepherds. There, where the Alpheus joins the Cladeus River, it is believed to be the most sacred precinct of Olympian Zeus. The Temple to Zeus and Hera, built there long ago, is believed to be older than any in Greece. Ah, Arcadia! Home of the gods, but she was simply home to me."
Saul studied Andrius, now lost in memories of childhood years in the valley of Eurotas. He tried to imagine it, having read descriptions of its Elysian beauty in many accounts. "Have you been to Delphi?"

"Yes, I was to Delphi as a boy. Once was enough. It was beautiful. I mean the scenery. When the first Temple was destroyed, the rich all over Greece sent funds to rebuild it. But more impressive than the Temple was the Sacred Way. It winds up the slope to the sanctuary. At every step there are statues and porticoes and treasuries."

"What did you think of the oracle?" asked Saul, with a mischievous expression.
"I was too young to understand it," answered Andrius. "I was told as far back as Greek tradition could reach, worshippers had come there, some walking a hundred miles seeking guidance from the priestess. At Delphi, there are gases escaping from a crevice in the rocks, and a rumbling sound heard far below. This, they said, was the voice of deity and could be none other than the terrible serpent in the underworld which had been killed by an arrow from the bow of Phoebus. The priestess there would sniff the fumes from rocks and shake and stutter strange words that only she can understand. But among those who come for advice are kings and rulers."

"The Temple at Delphi was built," said Saul, "a century and a half before the Ephesians built their famous Temple to Diana. I speak of the first Temple which was burned down on the birthday of Alexander the Great. And when he learned of the destruction of the Temple, he asked the Greeks in Ephesus if he could, at his own expense, rebuild it. I like their answer," said Saul, with a smile. "They declined, saying 'it did not seem proper for one god to build a temple to another god or goddess.'" Both Saul and Andrius laughed at that comment.
"Speaking of rebuilding temples, isn't yours in Jerusalem the third to be built on the same area?" asked Andrius.

"True," replied Saul. "This one at present was built by Herod."

"I notice you didn't call him Herod the Great."

"That depends on the definition of greatness," answered Saul. "Is a man great for what he does, or for who he is?"

Again Andrius paused, pondering Saul's remark. "You are a wise young man for your years," he remarked. Glancing up at the sky, the ship master said, "I believe the weather is changing. I must tell my men to adjust the mainsail." As he turned to go, Benjamin approached.
"Why, Saul, there you are. I thought maybe you had decided you had enough of the sea and had abandoned ship."

Andrius suddenly realized whom he had been speaking to. "Ah, ha. No wonder you are such a well learned young man. Your father is the esteemed Rabbi Benjamin. Benjamin, I have just been enjoying the company of your son, Saul."

"I trust that he has been no trouble, Andrius."

"None at all. You have an unusual son," remarked the seaman. "I was about to ask if he would like to remain permanently on my ship. Next year, for example, we could use some new sails."
Rabbi Benjamin smiled proudly. "I promise you, he could make them."

"That is not all. We were talking about temples, and got as far as yours in Jerusalem, built by Herod," Andrius said. "I was interested in Saul's refusal to refer to him as Herod the Great. From what I know, I would say his sentiments are the same as mine." With that, the seaman hurried away.
Saul turned to his father. "I thought you would be giving a lecture on this final morning of our voyage."

"No, Saul. I told them yesterday I had something very important to do today."
"What is it, Father?" asked Saul, curiously.

"It is you, my son." Benjamin's eyes were suddenly moist. "I want to spend this time with you." He had not looked forward to this trip to Jerusalem, knowing when he and Esther returned to Tarsus, they would be leaving Saul behind. His constant energy, his restless questions would be sorely missed. Without him and his sister Miriam about, the house would seem unbearably empty and quiet. Miriam had always been so peaceful and restful in her ways, while Saul was always on the move, always seeking, always planning, dreaming dreams of where he would go and what he would do. Rabbi Benjamin had said to his wife that much of Saul's nature must come from his grandfather Ben-Lemuel, the most tireless man in Tarsus. "I see you have been reading about temples."
"I was interested in the number of temples the builders named after their respective gods. Andrius asked what god we had in our Temple. He left before I could tell him, 'none'."

"You gave him Solomon's answer, son. When he completed building the first Temple, he said, 'Will God dwell with men on earth? Behold heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have built.' He helped us see that God was greater than the building. He recalled words of his father David, who said, 'Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall uphold me.' He said, 'If I ascend into heaven thou art there.'

"It is not God Himself that we seek in the Temple, rather, His presence. Long before the time of David or Solomon, Moses said in his communion with God, 'If thy presence go not with me, carry me not up hence.' God replied, 'My presence shall go with thee, and thou shalt find rest.' Moses left his communion on Sinai with his face aglow. He had seen the divine presence. It is recorded, 'When he came down from the mount, he was not aware that the skin of his face shone.' When Solomon finished his prayer, 'The glory of the Lord filled the house.'

"The furnishings in the Temple are important to us, but not in the sense that idols and graven images are important in pagan temples. Our Temple furnishings all had meaning and significance. The most sacred room in the Temple is the Holy of Holies. There is no image there. The Ark of the Covenant was there. The ark was a chest, 3-3/4 feet long, 2-1/4 feet wide, and 2-1/4 feet high. God instructed Moses, saying, 'The ark will contain the laws of my commandments.' This ark was also called the Mercy Seat. Moses said, 'The Lord is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression.'"

Saul studied his father closely. He was a man of strong faith and deep convictions, unable at times to hide his emotions. But why he spent these final private hours with him, quoting scriptures Saul had heard enough to be able to recite them flawlessly himself, remained a mystery.

Benjamin rose and walked to and fro in deep thought. He sensed his son's agitation. As a father, Benjamin simply wanted to know that as proud of his son as he was, he still feared for his soul as he journeyed away from home. Not all Jews in Jerusalem were faithful. Nor had they been down through the centuries. In fact, if Ben-Lemuel had passed on one conviction to him, it was that the heart of a man was deceitful beyond knowing, and desperately wicked. Given the smallest of chances to forget God, a man would most likely do so. He repeated scriptures often because he knew that his own heart tended to stray from the truth. A constant reminder from an authority higher than man could only do him good. He wished he could help Saul see that.

He stopped in front of Saul. "Our people do not always follow the truth of the Lord. In fact, anyone can go astray--far astray. Manasseh, remember, who reigned 55 years in Jerusalem was one of the most wicked kings ever. He built the Temple of the idols and even sacrificed his own son to Baal. He sought guidance from witches with evil spirits, and led the people to do the same. Many followed. He brought unspeakable tragedy and suffering to our people. But remember this, Saul, if you ever go astray, remember that Manasseh came back to the right way. We read, 'When he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto him, and God heard his supplication, and brought him again from his captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.' God forgave him and restored him, for God is faithful.'

"David makes a beautiful statement when he says, 'Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.' In the Ark there were the laws of God representing absolute truth. To violate God's laws brings judgment. But in returning to God, there is forgiveness and mercy. In the Psalm, David says over twenty times, 'His mercy endureth forever.' Remember, Son, when you fail, God has a mercy seat. What is in the Temple is merely a symbol of His mercy, you can find any time and anywhere. Even David, with all of his greatness, broke God's law. His law said, 'thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. Thou shalt not kill.' David was guilty of breaking both of these commandments. He coveted the wife of Uriah, and he had him placed in battle where he was killed so he could have his wife Bathsheba. No man ever repented more deeply of his sin. We hear David say, 'I acknowledge my sin, my transgression is ever before me. Wash me from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence; take not your Holy Spirit from me.' Though he sinned, David never complained about God being unjust. He never rebelled against His law. He said he considered it more valuable than gold.'

"The Temple you will see in Jerusalem is the third Temple to be built on the site. As you know, the first was built by Solomon. It was destroyed by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar. A second Temple was erected in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, when Zerubbabel was governor of Judea. When this was dedicated, there were those who shouted for joy, and others who wept. Those who wept remembered the splendor of Solomon's Temple. They were sad because it appeared greatly inferior."

"Was it?"

"No doubt it was not as splendorous as that built by King Solomon. God may have viewed it differently. I believe in the sight of God those who built the second Temple deserved much more credit than the builders of the first. While we give credit to Solomon for the Temple he built, we should remember his father David accumulated much of the wealth to finance it. David said to the people, 'My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the work ahead of him is enormous, for the temple he will build is not just another building, it is for the Lord God Himself. Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building it . . . enough gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, great quantities of onyx, other precious stones, costly jewels and marble. And, because of my devotion to the Temple of God, I am giving all my own private treasures to aid in the construction. My personal contributions consist of $85,000,000 worth of gold, $20,000,000 worth of pure silver, to be used for overlaying the walls of the building.'

"When David asked who would follow his example, there was an immediate response. The heads of the tribes, the army officers, and administrative officers of the king pledged $145,000,000 in gold, $30,000,000 in silver, 800 tons of bronze, and 4,600 tons of iron. They contributed great amounts of jewelry which were deposited at the Temple treasury with Jehiel. Everyone was excited and happy. The work on Solomon's Temple commenced in a time when the nation was at the very zenith of power and wealth. They were at peace and prosperous. Solomon's annual income of gold was $20,000,000. In addition to this, he received for his government the sales taxes and income from trade with the nations.'

"Hiram, the king of Tyre was rich and powerful at this time, and Solomon said to him, 'The Lord our God has given peace on every side. I have no foreign enemies or internal rebellions, so I am planning to build a temple for the Lord my God. Now please assist me and send your woodsmen to the mountains of Lebanon to cut cedar timber. Hiram responded, saying, 'Praise God for giving David a wise son to be king. I can supply both cedar and cypress.' So, Hiram produced for Solomon as much cypress and cedar timber as he desired. What a contrast to the conditions under which the second Temple was built."

"What did you say, Father?" Saul asked. His mind had been drifting off to Jerusalem, visualizing the glory of the first Temple.

"I said, Saul, the contrast to the conditions under which Solomon built, compared to the almost impossible circumstances that were faced by those building the second Temple are almost incomprehensible. While it is true the second Temple was less impressive as a building, the events preceding and during its construction were seemingly much more miraculous."

"Oh yes, I see your point."

"But why do our people go astray? How does a young man keep himself from going astray? Long after David and Solomon had gone, Israel turned to idol worship. Their prophets warned if they continued in this, their city, including their temple, would be destroyed. They failed to heed the warning of the prophets, so the Babylonians came, and we read, 'They burnt the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house.' Thousands were carried captive to Babylon as the prophets had said. But the prophets also said they would return. Jeremiah said, 'Thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished in Babylon, I will perform my good word toward you, causing you to return to this place.' What is most amazing is that Isaiah named Cyrus, the Persian king, more than a century before he was even born, and told him what he would do to help bring about the second Temple."
"History written in advance."

"Exactly. Isaiah, speaking as the oracle of God said, 'For my servant Jacob's sake, and Israel, mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name . . . though thou hast not known me.' 'Cyrus shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the Temple, Thy foundations shall be laid.' So it came to pass even as Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied long in advance.'
"The scriptures read: 'During the first year of the reign of king Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled Jeremiah's prophecy by giving king Cyrus the desire to send this proclamation throughout his entire empire (he also put it into the permanent records of the realm). Cyrus, king of Persia, hereby announces that Jehovah the God of heaven who gave me my vast empire, has now given me the responsibility of building him a temple in Jerusalem in the land of Judah. All Jews throughout the kingdom may now return to Jerusalem to rebuild this Temple of Jehovah, who is the God of Israel and of Jerusalem. May his blessings rest upon you. Those Jews who do not go should contribute to the expenses of those who do, and also supply them with clothing, transportation, supplies for the journey, and a free will offering for the Temple.'

"Formerly, when the Babylonians had laid siege to Jerusalem, they had pillaged Solomon's Temple and carried its treasures to Babylon. But Cyrus, who recovered much of this treasure, was willing to send it back with those returning to build their Temple. We read: 'King Cyrus himself donated gold bowls and other valuable items that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple at Jerusalem. He instructed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to present these gifts to Shesh-bazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah. Shesh-bazzar, the prince of Judah, was governor of Judah at this time. Son, do you still remember the list of items Ezra tells us were returned at this time?"
Saul closed his eyes for a moment, visualizing the list in his mind. "The items Cyrus donated included: 1,000 gold trays, 1,000 silver trays, 29 censors, 30 bowls of solid gold, 2,410 silver bowls, 1,000 miscellaneous items. In all there were 5,469 gold and silver items turned over to Shesh-bazzar to take back to Jerusalem."

"Very good, son."

"Father, how far did these treasures have to travel? How far was it from Babylon to Jerusalem?"
"Good questions. About 800 miles," answered his father. "And what is interesting is their journey would follow almost the exact route that Abraham had taken on his journey to Canaan almost 1400 years previously. Do you recall how many people responded to this challenge to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the Temple?"

"There were over 42,000. Actually 42,380 to be exact."

"Very good. And how many beasts of burden were used in this journey, Saul?" "There were 736 horses, 435 camels, 245 mules, 6,720 asses. "

"To perfection. The journey itself would be a tremendous undertaking. But the sight that awaited them would be enough to discourage the most stouthearted. Remember the Babylonian invaders had totally devastated the city and the Temple, and left it in a ruined state. The walls of the city were also broken down. Picture, if you can, Saul, trying to build a temple amidst these ruins. They not only came to build the Temple, they had to build homes to live in, and walls around their city to protect them from enemies ready to attack. We can talk about stones and timber, Saul, but I am sure the Creator is more pleased with the calibre of men committed to building for His glory. The prophet Ezekiel says God looks for men who see the need of building, not just the walls or temples, but walls of righteousness as well. If I recall his words, he said, 'I looked for a man who would build the walls of righteousness who stands in the gap.' How do you see this idea of standing in the gap, son?"

"I see it as a man who will rise up to be righteous when the others are turning their backs on truth."
"Interesting. I see Moses standing in the gap, and perhaps Daniel. When Israel turned to worshipping the golden calf, Moses pled with God not to destroy them, telling God that he was one with the people. And the same was true of Daniel, who confessed his sins and those of the people, saying, O Lord, you are a great and awesome God; you always fulfill your promises of mercy to those who love you.'

"You are speaking much about mercy, father."

Benjamin nodded. "It is the indispensable quality of God. For we are always going astray. But back to the rebuilding of the Temple. Who were the four men most responsible, and what did they do?"

"Nehemiah, Shesh-bazzar, Ezra, Zerubbabel. Shesh-bazzar was a treasurer. Like Xenophon, he had to see to it that the long march through hostile territory was done without the Temple treasures being plundered. Zerubbabel gets credit for taking the first group of Jews from Babylon back to Jerusalem. Then Ezra, the priest, followed with others. His major concern was to see the Temple rebuilt. When I say rebuilt, I am aware that the Temple of Solomon had been completely destroyed. There was nothing left of it but rubble. Nehemiah felt that his first responsibility was to build the walls of Jerusalem. If enemies destroyed the previous temple, they would destroy the one they sought to build, unless there were walls to protect it."

"You have learned your lessons well. Nehemiah, like Daniel, came from a noble family. And the position he held in the court of the King of Persia as his cup bearer was much more important than it would seem. Artaxerxes I, whom he served, was the son of Xerxes whom the Hebrews know as Ahaseurus, whose queen was Esther. As you probably know from your own study of history, his father was the famous Darius. When you think of Darius and Cyrus, you associate them with the empire of the Medes and Persians, the greatest empire to that time, stretching from India to Egypt. You also are dealing not only with culture, you are looking at a period of intense cruelty.'

"When Alexander the Great invaded this territory, it seems with each victory he became less Greek and more barbarian. His actions, or should I say reactions, were to a great extent the result of seeing the cruelty of the Medes and Persians. I mention Alexander because of his confrontation with Darius, whom we mentioned when speaking of Nehemiah serving his successor. When Alexander met a vast army of Darius at Gaugamela, near Arbela, he knew if this army of Darius defeated him, all of his victories would be canceled. When he met them in combat, with his greatly inferior number, he won a stunning victory. The army of Darius could not compete with the dashing Macedonian cavalry. Because Darius deserted his general before their final defeat, his generals assassinated him. '
"Alexander reached Susa, the city where Nehemiah had served the king years earlier. The wealth he found in the vaults of Darius exceeded 50,000 talents. After briefly pausing at Susa, Alexander marched in the dead of winter over the mountains and on to Persepolis. Here he found 800 Greeks who had suffered mutilation at the hands of the Persians. The Persians had cut off their arms, legs and ears. As he moved on to Bokhara, his men captured Bassus, who had slain Darius. After whipping him almost to death, he cut off his nose, and sent him to Ecbatana to be executed. When Alexander reached Susa, he had lost 10,000 of his own men in constant fighting. '

"Speaking of Susa, we'll go back now some years to Nehemiah, who served King Artaxerxes at Susa as his cup bearer. Any failure on Nehemiah's part in those days, when human life seemed so meaningless, could mean banishment, and more likely death. It was not a normal day for Nehemiah. The king suddenly asked, 'Why are you looking so dejected? What is wrong with you?' It is understandable why, in relating the experience, he said he was 'frightened and prayed for guidance in answering the king.'"

"What did he answer?"

"Let us recall the incident as he wrote it. 'In December of the 20th year in the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, I was in the palace at Shushan. When I asked my friend Hananai about conditions in Jerusalem, he said, The enemies have broken down walls our people were trying to build. They have burned the gates.' When Nehemiah heard this, he began to weep, and went for days without eating. I am sure this fasting and sorrow showed on his face. He tells how he prayed, saying, 'O Lord God, look down and see me praying night and day for my people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you; yes, I and my people have committed a horrible sin of not obeying the commandments you gave us. Please help me as I go before the king.' He prayed this prayer in December, he says, and it was not until four months later in the month of April, the king asked him what he could do.'

"It was then Nehemiah asked if he could have permission to go personally to Jerusalem. Asking when he wanted to leave, and when he would return, the king granted him his wish. Nehemiah left with only a small guard who was furnished him by the king. Nehemiah also said, 'I asked the king, If it please the king, let him give me letters to the governors west of the Euphrates River instructing them to let me travel through their countries on my way to Judah; also a letter to Asaph the manager of the king's forest, instructing him to give me timber for the beams and for the gates of the fortress near the Temple, and for the city walls, and for a house for myself.'"
"And was he given everything he asked for?"

"This, Saul, is the only time I find Nehemiah asking anything for himself. Others who held positions in Judah asked for a salary equaling $100.00 daily, and food and wine. Nehemiah, in contrast, made no request, other than a home in which he could live while he served. He never accepted any payment for his personal service during all the years he labored there. At any rate, he crossed the Euphrates with military officers and men, those the king had provided, and presented his letters to the governors in whose territories he entered."
"Not all received him kindly."

"Correct. Those along the way did, but not those in the area of Jerusalem. There were two government officials who were very angry at his coming, and were opposed to the king doing anything to help the Jewish people. One was Sanballat, who apparently held some military post in Samaria. The other was Tobiah. He had served in the Persian court, and had been appointed governor over the Ammonites. You know the Ammonites are the descendants of Lot's youngest daughter. When she seduced him in the cave near Sodom, she bore a child named Banammi, who was the first ancestor of the Ammonites.'

"When Sanballat saw he could not persuade Nehemiah to stop his work to talk with him, he proceeded to mock him, saying, 'Do they think they can build the wall in a day if they offer enough sacrifices? Look at those charred stones they are pulling out of the rubbish and using again!' Tobiah, Sanballat's friend, broke into laughter, and said, 'If even a fox walked along the top of their wall, it would collapse.' Nehemiah and the workmen ignored the sarcastic comments of their enemies, and continued their work. Soon the wall was half its original height, and all around the city. Then their enemies became furious and plotted to bring an army to stop them.'

"Nehemiah learned of their plot and placed half of his men to stand with weapons to defend the workmen. The masons worked with weapons always in reach, or worked with swords buckled on. 'I kept a trumpeter with me all the time,' said Nehemiah, 'ready to sound the alarm should the enemy appear. We worked from sunrise until the stars came out at night. Some days we worked without even changing our clothes. Each one carried his weapons with him all the time. I stayed on the wall with the men. Every day 150 workers were fed at my table. I refused to accept any payment for my service or personal labor. As the walls neared completion, I received another message from my enemies asking me to meet them in the Plain of Ono. I declined, knowing their intention was to kill me. They sent their requests four times, and I always gave them the same answer. I said we are doing a great work, why should I stop to visit you? Finally when all other tactics failed, Sanballat sent a servant to show us a letter he had written to King Artaxerxes. The letter told the king we were fortifying Jerusalem, with full intentions of rebellion against him. I knew he was trying to frighten me, so the work would stop,' Nehemiah said. To add to the opposition, one within our own ranks in Jerusalem named Shemaiah, said he had a message for me from God. He said God informed him that I should be locked in the Temple, for they were coming in the night to kill me. Nehemiah said, 'I knew this, too, was a lie. I learned that Sanballat and Tobiah had bribed him to say this. In spite of all opposition, we finished the wall in September. We had worked only 52 days. Our enemies around us then became fearful, for they realized we had only been able to do this with the help of God.'"

"What a tremendous temple story," said Saul. "Surely there is not a pagan temple with the like of it."

"And every detail is true," replied his father. "Perhaps their temple was not as great as Solomon's. But I am sure if God reviewed their work, and the purity of their hearts, He would find no greater men. As I recall Nehemiah's words, they were even stronger. He said what had been done had been 'wrought by God.' There is a difference, Saul, in having help from God, and watching God perform a work himself.' "When Moses brought Israel to the Red Sea, the people were terrified when they saw the armies of Egypt pursuing them. Moses' word to them was, 'Do not be afraid, stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.' Moses watched God send the strong east wind that caused the waters to divide, and allowed the people to go through the Red Sea on dry land. That, Saul, was the work of God.'

"And when the time came for Ezra and Nehemiah and Zerubbabel to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and then the Temple, it was God who moved the heart of King Cyrus to give the order to rebuild. That was the work of the Lord. Ezra, the scribe, said in the first year of the reign of Cyrus, the prophecy of Jeremiah would be fulfilled, as God stirred the heart of the king to build God's house in Jerusalem. Jeremiah had prophesied almost a century before that God would impress Cyrus to do this. Over a century before Cyrus, the prophet Isaiah said that Cyrus would perform the will of God. And the prophet went so far as to even give the name of the king before he was born or named. Nehemiah and his builders were much aware that they were doing the work that God had ordained. Naturally, they were workers together with Him, But they gave him all the glory for the work. It was His work.'

"And there was yet another reason for giving credit to God. They realized their greatest enemy was not Tobiah the Ammonite, nor Sanballat the Moabite. It was Satan, the enemy of God. The prophet Zechariah had a vision when Nehemiah and his men were building the wall. He said he saw the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan at his right hand to resist him. The angel of the Lord also had some words of great encouragement for Zerubbabel. He told the priest Zechariah, 'The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands shall finish it.' And then the angel concluded his remarks saying, 'It is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.' Zerubbabel did finish it, even as the angel said."

Saul grew puzzled. "Now father, this is the second Temple, the one that Herod enlarged?"
"That is correct, Saul. Herod's first approach to our leaders was very subtle, so typical of his manner. He said he would like to beautify our Temple. Then he spoke of enlarging it. It was never for a moment considered that he planned to completely level the Temple and rebuild a new one on the same ground. Rather than my describing it to you, I would rather wait until we can go together in person. It won't be long now," Saul's father replied.
"Is it as beautiful as the one built by Solomon?"

"Not as beautiful, in some respects. But in its grandeur, shall I say it is awesome in size. But let's pause now and keep the rest for a surprise."

The ship was now approaching Joppa. Saul's mother had returned with her baggage. Saul's father, so typical of him, already had his baggage by his side.

Saul was eager to be rid of Shallum and Jephuneh. The arrangement, when they left Tarsus, was that the boys would accompany Saul and his family only as far as Joppa. Once there, they were to go on land to Jerusalem to join their father.

Now, nearing Joppa, the two boys asked if they could go along to Miriam's wedding in Gischala. Saul suggested that their father, waiting in Jerusalem, might not approve the delay. They echoed, "Approve? Father would approve any plan that would delay our arrival and keep us out of his way a little longer."

Saul spoke to his father about their desire.

Benjamin did exactly as Saul expected. "Let me ask your mother."

Esther was not sure how to answer the boys. She discussed it privately with Benjamin and Saul. "While we are at Miriam's wedding, we are also guests of Hasham. This is a problem. His son Dan is meeting us in Joppa, and will be taking us by carriage after the wedding from Gischala to Jerusalem. But I suppose they could come along with us. It is sad that their father is not so eager to meet them at the first opportunity. How they must feel. Well, they can come, I suppose, if there is room. And once they are out of our care, we will be free of them."

Saul wished otherwise, but he obediently hurried to tell the boys they could go with them to the wedding if room was available in the coach.

Esther whispered to Benjamin, "I sense that these boys are not a good influence on our son."