Hold the Faith

Chapter OneJanuary 92 A D It was early afternoon when twenty-four-year-old Benjamin neared Levi ben Nathan’s farm. Reaching the gateway, he gave his name and purpose for being there to the young servant on duty. “Benjamin, son of Samuel the oil-seller, here to change the wicks and fill the oil lamps for tonight’s celebration.” “You are not the one who has been coming on the other days this week,” the lad responded, squinting up at Benjamin while keeping the gate closed. “My father’s assistant came on the other days. Today my father needs his help at the booth in Ephesus.” “I have to check with the master before a stranger is allowed in.” Straightening his back, he added importantly, “I was told.” He paused to let the significance of his responsibility sink in, but Benjamin merely waited patiently. The lad called his young sister who was playing in the soil at the other end of the passage, “Anna, ask the master to come to the gate.” As he waited, Benjamin unhitched his robe from his girdle and smoothed it down. Walking briskly up the passageway between the buildings, Levi ben Nathan’s robe flapped around his ankles. “What’s going on here?” he asked the boy. “Trouble?” Then his brows furrowed as he took in the situation. It was only the oil seller's son. Simon said importantly, “This man says he is here to see to the oil lamps master, but he is not the one who usually comes.” He added in an undertone, “And he is not like us, or any of the guests.” Benjamin pretended not to hear. He was well aware that he was the only follower of the Way at this Jewish wedding, and he felt awkward. His father did business with Levi, but they did not mix beyond business dealings. Turning to Levi, he explained, “My father needs Alexander at the market to help with a delivery of heavy storage jars of oil, so I have come instead.” Levi ruffled the lad’s hair. “Simon, your vigilance does you credit, but this is the son of Samuel the oil-seller. He is not a pagan. Let him in.” Opening the gate and stepping aside, young Simon kept his gaze on Benjamin. Benjamin smiled at him as he passed and said quietly, “Pagan boys don’t wear robes like us; they wear short tunics.” “I apologise for young Simon’s behaviour. Pagan youths have disrupted other celebrations recently. Although we are a long walk from Ephesus, I did not want problems so decided to have a gatekeeper. Simon is on duty because all the men are needed for the heavy work associated with this wedding.” Benjamin chuckled, “He is taking his responsibility seriously,” as he joined Levi, and they walked down the passageway together. They made a strange pair. Levi, not quite as tall as Benjamin, dark hair and beard in the style of the Jews, bronzed from his work outdoors. Beside him was Benjamin, tall, pale skinned, auburn hair and beard, in the style favoured by the ‘followers of the Way,' a group seen as heretics by the Jews. Rubbing his forehead, Levi tried to hide his disappointment that Samuel had sent his son. The colour of his hair accentuated the fact he was not a Jew. The assistant had thick dark hair and beard, so although it was in the same style as Benjamin wore, the difference between him and the guests was not so obvious. He also knew Benjamin had gone to the rabbi’s school with his son, Chanan, who had sometimes protected him and his friends from the bullying of some of the friends of the rabbi’s son. He could not help wondering if Benjamin would want to linger. He needed to go back to his work, but he felt ill at ease and needed some assurance the young man would do his work and leave. Levi cast around in his mind for something to say to keep the encounter business-like and prompt the young man to do the work he came to do. Sighing deeply he turned to Benjamin, “Tell your father I am delighted with the way his system of lamps has worked.” “With sunset being early at this time of year, my father was concerned that the light from the lamps might not last all the time the guests were here,” Benjamin admitted. “Because his assistant came every day to top them up and change the wicks it has worked out very well.” “I will tell my father you are pleased, sir.” “The bronze lamps hung on the buildings around the central courtyard have been much admired. I wouldn’t be surprised if your father gains some more business because of this.” “Thank you sir, I will tell my father,” Benjamin responded, inclining his head. He continued, “I won’t detain you as I know you are busy, but would you be kind enough to point out the storeroom where the supplies that I will need are kept.” Levi pointed to the other side of the large central courtyard. “It’s the one near the festival rooms set up for the guests. Follow the covered walkway around.” With a wry smile, he added, “You will recognise those rooms when you pass. There are some early arrivals in there being entertained by a couple of men with a flute and timbrel... it will probably be noisy. The storeroom you need is beyond them, attached to our family home.” Raising his eyebrows, his broad forehead creased as he issued a smiling warning, “Stay away from the storeroom down this side of the square. That is the kitchen storeroom. If you go there, my wife will chase you.” He chuckled as he added, “Although she is supervising the women in the kitchen and they are all busy cooking for the banquet, she will not miss an intrusion into her storeroom.” “Thank you, sir,” Benjamin said respectfully. “Now I had better do my work and leave before your guests arrive.” Levi sighed with relief. “You should be able to finish before most of our guests arrive for the grand banquet tonight. Your father’s assistant was quickly done.” With that, he smiled and hurried off. Like some other Jews, Levi favoured trading with members of this group because of their honesty in the prices they charged, and in the prompt payment of their accounts. He knew it was not the way all the Jews felt, and hoped the young man meant what he said and would do his work quickly and leave before the majority of the guests arrived. Opening the barn door, he surveyed the rush as his men-servants set up for the grand banquet when Chanan would bring his bride to celebrate the end of their wedding week with friends and family. With unexpected suddenness, he was caught up in the memory of his older son’s death, and sorrow there would never be a wedding feast for him. “Master... Master?” Levi’s wistful eyes slowly focused on the man standing before him. “Sorry Joel. You wanted something?” “The musicians have arrived and want to know where to set up.” Drawn back to the present, Levi realised he must not let the past ruin the joy of his remaining son’s celebration. Directing the musicians and supervising setting up the table for the food, he shook off his sadness. Feeling a mixture of agitation and apprehension, Benjamin watched until Levi entered the barn, then clenching his jaw, he turned to walk the path around the centre court. He had a good idea of what had concerned Levi. The last thing Benjamin wanted was an invitation to the feast. He did not want to be here now. A flicker of unease lined his face, and he fervently hoped he could do his work and leave without meeting any of the people he went to the rabbi’s school with. Distracted by movement to the side of him, he turned hastily drawing in a quick breath. Seeing it was only a group of young girls who had come out to dance in the central courtyard, he released his breath slowly. Momentarily forgetting his uneasiness at being at the farm, his lips curved in amusement, and he paused to watch. He could hear from their laughter that they were enjoying themselves although the music from the flute and timbrel was only just audible out here. One girl, whose black hair tumbled down her back and moved like silk, swinging as she danced, caught his attention. Knowing that some Jews married their daughters off at twelve and a half years old, he wondered how many more times she would enjoy the carefree pleasure of being a child at a wedding. She looked young, and he thought she might have a year or two of freedom yet. A burst of laughter from the room where the early guests were broke his reverie, bringing him back to the present. He was here to work... not watch girls dancing. Embarrassed, he looked around checking the location of the lamps, while secretly scanning the courtyard to see if anyone had seen him watching the girls dancing. Satisfied that no one was around, he hurried along the path. Passing the room where the laughter had come from, the noise level increased, and he hurried past the door. His plan to do his work unnoticed came to an abrupt end when Joseph, the rabbi’s son, noticed him. “Benjamin, son of Samuel! What a surprise!” he exclaimed arrogantly. Already inebriated, when Benjamin did not respond, Joseph called out stridently, “I haven’t seen you in a long time.” As the son of the gentle old rabbi, Joseph had always been aware of two things... his position in the community, and his good looks. Benjamin stopped and turned back, his heart sinking. This was what he had dreaded would happen when his father had told him that he was needed to take Alexander’s place, and see to the lamps at the wedding. Before he had a chance to speak, Joseph thrust his cup of wine toward him, and insisted, “Here, have this, drink up, it is good wine.” There was no friendship in Joseph’s voice, and Benjamin wondered what his motives were. Responding warily, Benjamin explained, “I am here to work, not...” Thrusting the cup at him again, Joseph scowled, “Don’t be foolish Benjamin; it would be an insult to refuse to drink a toast at Chanan’s wedding.” Benjamin was well aware that if he refused and Joseph made a fuss, the rabbi’s son would not be the one blamed. After all Joseph was a guest, whereas he was not. He reluctantly accepted it and decided to make his escape as soon as possible. He had to see to the lamps and walk back to Ephesus before twilight. Raising the pottery cup, he made the traditional toast, “Long life, blessings and many sons to the bridal couple!” He tried to hand the cup back, but Joseph refused to take it. “I need a new one,” he said, looking at Benjamin through narrowed eyes. Noticing that Joseph had now grown the full beard of the Jews, Benjamin raised his eyebrows. When they had all gone to the rabbi’s school, Joseph had insisted it was more ‘holy’ to have a full beard. Adding this to Joseph’s comment, Benjamin caught the meaning and said tersely, “You shouldn’t have given me your cup then.” Guessing that Benjamin would walk away if he voiced what was in his mind, the cup was now unclean, Joseph ignored the remark, instead asking, “What are you doing here?” and then noticed they were blocking the doorway. Using his muscular build, he pushed Benjamin into the room. Leaning forward to hear the reply, and missing it the first time, he asked Benjamin to repeat it. “I am here to see to the lamps,” Benjamin said looking around, then raising his voice to repeat it. Nearby a group of men was in a loud and lively discussion; at the far end of the large room several men were dancing in a circle, singing joyously. “No wonder you can’t hear me, it is so noisy in here,” he shouted. Grabbing his arm and drawing Benjamin past the group and away from the dancers, Joseph headed for the wine vat. Reaching for another cup, he filled it and swallowed the wine thirstily. Looking at Benjamin over the cup, he raised his voice and asked disparagingly, “So you are here to work. No longer working at home with your great-grandfather then?” Without waiting for a reply, he fired more questions at him. “How is the old man anyway? Still believing those heresies about Yeshua ben Joseph? Or do you call him Jesus to please the Gentiles?”