THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS CHAPTER TWENTY SIX- Page 1

SOUTH OF GALILEE Saul and his men crossed the Jordan and turned north-by-northeast toward their destination, the Syrian city of Damascus. Saul's head swam with new plans as he rode. For months, reports had reached Jerusalem that followers of The Way were multiplying in the Damascene synagogue. For centuries the city of Damascus had been home to a large population of faithful Jews now being converted by the teaching of the followers of Jesus.

The situation had provided Saul with an unexpected opportunity. For once he could show what he could do to wipe out the heresy without the interference of the Sanhedrin and their endless political wranglings with Herod and the Romans. He had obtained papers of authority from the High Priest to arrest all members of The Way and return them in chains to Jerusalem. Secretly, Saul expected to be given the opportunity to do far more than this. Perhaps another stoning or two would impress all in Damascus that their decision to follow the teachings of Jesus could be punishable by death.

Riding just behind Saul was an old veteran guard named Gideoni. Next to him was a younger man, Farnas, who had joined the guard only three days previously. Glancing repeatedly at the younger soldier, the old guard said, "You ride very well, but your style interests me. It is not like ours, nor the Romans."

"My grandfather trained horsemen for Cleopatra's guard at Alexandria," Farnas replied proudly. "My father bought horses in Libya, and he would send me to break the wild ones and bring them trained back to Alexandria. "

"Very good. You are a natural cavalryman."

"Have you noticed how this man Saul rides?" Farnas asked. "I never knew a rabbi to handle a horse as he does."

"He comes from Tarsus, I am told."

"That explains it! Only the Arabian horses can compete with those in Cilicia."

"Tell me, Farnas, why would a young man like yourself leave the beautiful city of Alexandria?"
"Guards are needed at the Temple these days."

"You have to give me a better reason than that."

"I am a Jew, Gideoni, even though my name does not indicate it. If you can explain why there is a mystical drawing in the heart of every Jew, young or old, to return to the land God promised in covenant to Abraham, you will have answered why I am here. As for my seeking enlistment in the Temple Guard, I can also explain. From my boyhood, when I attended the synagogues, I longed to be a priest and officiate in the ceremonies of worship. But when I became a man, I was found unacceptable."
"May I ask why?"

Farnas responded by simply holding up his left hand. Nothing more needed to be said. Two of his fingers were missing. "At sword practice, I was too aggressive, and this is the result. I lost my fingers, but I never lost my love for the Temple, though for a number of years I lived as if it did not exist. But more than the Temple, I love the Torah. I still read the scriptures."
"Well, as a Temple Guard, you won't lack for action, and you will find that Romans are not the only ones who get accustomed to shedding blood. Unfortunately one of the worst scenes of bloodshed in Israel happened right in the Temple. Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus, both Hasmoneans, were struggling for the crown, you may recall. Pompey brought his legions from Damascus to support Hyrcanus. Aristobulus was able to resist from within the walled precincts of the Temple. When the ramparts finally fell, 12,000 were slaughtered."

Farnas shook his head. "I have visions of better action."

"Well, most of that was before my days with the guard. I have been a member for 15 years, and an officer for the past five. But I have seen plenty of action. Too much, to be honest. I am planning to be released from service this year, hoping to settle in Damascus. It is an old and beautiful city. My uncle still owns the old ancestral home on the east bank of the Pharpar. I have such fond memories of boyhood visits there, playing in my uncle's walled garden beside the water wheel. A lot of vineyards and orchards are around there."

Riding in the lead, Saul could hear the sounds of conversation behind him. Somehow it made him uncomfortable. He turned in his saddle to address his veteran guard. "How soon in Sychar?" he shouted over his shoulder.

"Less than an hour," Gideoni replied, pointing ahead. "You see that beautiful valley between the mountains of Gerizem and Ebal. There she lies."