Journey to the Well: A Novel (37 page)

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Authors: Diana Wallis Taylor

BOOK: Journey to the Well: A Novel
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“Over two years ago I was traveling on the way to Jericho when I and my servants were set upon by thieves. They took my servants and my goods, robbing me of all we carried, and beat me, leaving me for dead beside the road. I lay there wounded, fearing that death would soon overcome me. There were those who passed me, but thinking me dead, they did not stop. Then, a man stopped and looked at me. When he saw that I was still alive, he helped me onto his own camel and took me to the nearest inn. There he poured oil on my wounds and dressed them. He watched over me through the night, and when at last he had to go on his way, he gave the innkeeper coins to pay for my care. He told the innkeeper that if more was needed, he would repay him when he came again that way. I was too ill to think to ask his name; only the innkeeper told me that by his garments he was a Samaritan. It is only recently that I learned his name, having described him to another merchant. I wish to leave a gift and my gratitude for the love of God that he showed me in my distress.” Having finished his long speech, he pulled a box from his sash. As he opened it, a great luminous pearl gleamed in the light of the sunshine streaming in the window.
She stared at the beautiful jewel and bowed her head.
“How can I accept such a gift in the absence of my husband?” Then she realized he had spoken of seeing Ahmal. “My husband has been gone a long time. I fear for his life. Do you have any news at all?”
Shamir shook his head slowly. “I regret that I do not know where he is nor do I have news that would comfort you. I can only tell you when he helped me. He was also traveling alone. Let me at least leave my gift and my thanks with you. When you see him, tell him of my gratitude.” He put the small box in her hand and waited.
“I will tell him,” she said softly and pressed the small box to her heart.
The man beamed at her and then bowed and took his leave. She stood looking after him for a long moment. Was this a sign? Hope rose again in her heart. First, Jesus coming to their city, bringing a change in her life, and now this man who spoke of Ahmal. Surely he lived. And if he lived, he would return. She lifted her face toward the heavens. The God who sees her had surely heard her prayers. Then she thought of Tema. In the hidden place where Ahmal had kept his box of coins, she concealed the small box with the pearl. Not even Reuben knew of this hiding place and would never suspect that she had anything of value.
Washing her face quickly, she put on her shawl and hurried to the synagogue. People were already gathering and Jesus was seated on the steps where everyone could see and hear Him. He spoke to them again of the commandment to love one another.
“Upon this commandment hangs all the Law and the Prophets,” He told them. “For love is the fulfillment of the Law.”
Everyone marveled at His words. People who had carried on a quarrel for years with another asked forgiveness and friendships were mended. Merchants who had been known to weigh their scales in their own favor scrupulously weighed their goods in favor of their customers. There was openness in Shechem among the townspeople and visitors alike. Some who came to Shechem and scoffed at the words of Jesus had an unexplained urging to move on to another town. Those who stayed were added to the growing number of believers.
On the third day, Jesus and His disciples bade the people of Shechem goodbye. They had all urged Him to stay longer, but He had other villages to visit and others who needed to hear the words He had spoken to them. Reluctantly they bade Him farewell, and the people watched at the gate of Shechem until He and His band of followers were but specks in the distance. They had sent the group on their way with all the provisions they could carry. Shechem would never be the same again.
49
 
A
man stood in the gateway. He was gaunt and his clothes hung loosely on his sparse frame. At first Marah was tempted to dismiss him as a beggar. Yet compassion stirred her heart. Were they not all beggars in the sight of God? She would give him what she could spare and send him on his way. As she approached to tell him to rest himself while she prepared some food, she gave a cry and the jar of water in her hand crashed to the ground. Her hand flew to her mouth as she stared at him. He reached out his arms and she fell against him, tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks.
“Your tears and glad welcome have made my long journey worth it all, dear wife,” Ahmal said gently.
“Oh Ahmal,” she wept, “My prayers have been answered, for God has brought you home to me. It has been so long. Where have you been for all these years? I had almost given up until . . . oh, I will tell you of that later. Come, refresh yourself.” They entered the house together and Ahmal looked sadly around his once beautiful home.
She hung her head. “There were creditors to pay. I did what I could. Please do not be angry with me.”
He turned and pulled her gently against him. “I am only glad to find you still here. Possessions can be replaced, but you, my wife, are all the treasure my heart has longed for.”
She could not do enough for him. She hovered over him as he ate, waiting until he was rested, and ready to tell her what was on his heart. For a long moment he sat quietly, his eyes looking off into a distance to things she could not see. At last he took her hand and, looking into her face, began to speak.
“What I have to tell you, Marah, is a strange story. You must believe that it indeed happened, or I would not be here at all.”
She nodded, urging him to continue.
“I was only a couple of weeks into my journey. One evening, as I bathed myself, I noticed a strange spot on my arm. I looked over my person, and behold, there were two other areas. I realized when I touched them that the skin appeared to be numb. At first I did not want to think about what it might be, and I concealed my arms with my garments. When we entered the next village for provisions, I quietly went to see the priest. When he examined me, he told me the most terrible news. My worst fears were confirmed, for he told me I had . . . leprosy.”
At the word, Marah instinctively drew back in alarm. He patted her arm. “Do not fear. It is gone now. But let me finish my story.
“For the sake of my men, who have been with me many years, I left the caravan. I only told them that I was gravely ill and must leave and that they were to go on without me. No one was to tell anyone where I had gone. They were puzzled, but obeyed and joined another caravan. They did as I asked, for I could not return to Shechem. I felt it was better that you think I was dead than watch my body begin to rot before your eyes.”
She looked at him wide-eyed. “But you show no symptoms. I see no sign of the disease upon you.”
Ahmal smiled. “That is the most amazing part of my story. Wife, I have met the Messiah, the Christ. But then I am getting ahead of myself. Let me see, where was I? Oh yes, I had turned back toward Samaria, joining a small colony of lepers near the village of En-gannim. There I had resolved to live out the days remaining to me. One day, as some of us begged for food along the side of the road near the entrance to the village, we heard that Jesus of Nazareth was coming with His disciples. We had heard of Him. He worked miracles and those that He touched were instantly healed. We resolved among ourselves to approach Him as He passed by us. He was our only hope. When we saw Jesus and His disciples walking along the road toward the village, we made our way toward Him and cried out, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy upon us.’”
When Marah heard that Ahmal, covered with leprosy, had been reduced to begging for his food by the side of the road, she wept again. Ahmal’s face seemed to shine with an inner light as he continued. The afternoon shadows had begun to form, but she did not even think of getting the lamp, so wrapped up was she in Ahmal’s story.
“Yes, yes. What did he do?” she asked anxiously.
“As I said, we approached Him crying out for God’s mercy. He stopped in the road and looked at us. His gaze was almost tender, as if we were but children. He said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests,’ and then continued on the road. We stood there for a moment, not sure what to do, but my faith was kindled and I resolved at that moment to do as He had asked. I started toward the village and the others followed. As we walked, I heard gasps of amazement from the other lepers. Their lesions were healed. I looked down at my hands. The skin was as if it had never been touched by leprosy. I felt my face and the skin was whole and healthy. My heart leaped within me in gratitude, and as the others rushed on, I turned back and fell on my face at Jesus’s feet. With all my heart I gave God glory and thanked Him for healing my body of the cursed disease. I realized that now, finally, I could return to my home . . . and my family.” He paused, remembering, and wiped the tears that flowed freely down his cheeks.
“Jesus said almost sadly, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Have none returned to give glory to God save this stranger?’ Then He lifted me to my feet, gave me the most radiant smile, and said, ‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you whole.’”
“You are healed? Jesus touched you and took away your leprosy? Oh my husband, this is too wonderful.”
Then, her countenance fell and she felt a prompting within. She must tell Ahmal before he heard from someone else in Shechem. She’d had this moment of glorious reunion, and no matter what happened, she could rejoice that he had returned healed.
“My husband, I too have a story to tell you, and before my courage fails me, I must tell you all of what has befallen since you left.” She took a deep breath and began with the creditors who came to the house and how Eliab had helped her with the money box. She told how they had doled it out carefully until it was gone. She told of Caleb and Demas who had gone to seek word of him. His countenance went from sorrow to surprise.
“Caleb and Demas left to seek me?”
“Yes, my lord. Caleb felt that somehow he could follow your trail and find you.” She shook her head sadly. “I fear the worst has happened to him, for I have had news of him but once from a passing merchant and that was over a year ago.”
Ahmal patted her hand. “Jesus healed me of leprosy. Surely the God who kept you in His care until my return will watch over our son and bring him safely home.”
At the words “our son,” Marah began to weep softly. Ahmal put a comforting arm around her. “And Eliab? There is more you wish to tell me?” he said gently.
She told him of Eliab’s care of her and the last merchant who came and took Eliab away. How he came to see her as often as he could, but it had been several months since the last time. She did not know if Eliab was still in Shechem.
“I will ask at once,” Ahmal vowed. “I will buy him back.” He looked around their home. “We will restore our home, Marah. I give you my word.” Then he looked at her face. He realized she had more to tell.
Slowly she began to tell him of the women of the village charging her again with having the “evil eye.” He clucked his tongue as she told of going to the local well each day for water and facing them.
“It is to my great shame that I must tell you this last part, my lord.” She looked at his dear face and it took all the courage she had.
“I have been fortunate that my friends Simon and Hannah have shared what little they had with me. I have no more sheep to make yarn to sell. When your treasures had been sold by Eliab to pay the creditors, there was little left . . .”
Ahmal looked puzzled. “The men did not return with my caravan?”
“Not to my knowledge, my lord.”
“Shumah! That scoundrel, he was my second in command, but coveted my place as caravan master. No doubt he did well for himself with the merchants’ goods. God is not mocked, my heart, He shall avenge me of that thief.” Ahmal pounded his fist into his palm.
“If the caravan did not return with money from the trade goods, how then did you live, Marah?”
“The small rental from the house of Jesse helped only a little. Then, when at last I was alone in the house, considering what I must do to live, a man came to the house calling himself your half brother . . .”
Ahmal interrupted her with an oath. “Reuben, that son of a camel, he came here to the house? I know he is a relative, but not one you would want near your wife. He has been here once before. I have not seen him in years, yet he has a reputation that precedes him!” At the stricken look on her face, he stopped suddenly. “Marah, did he hurt you?”
“He . . . he . . . oh Ahmal, I am so ashamed. I tried to tell him to go on his way. He could see you another time. He laughed at me. The third evening, he took hold of me and kissed me. When I understood his intention, I ran to my room to bolt the door. He had taken the bar from my door, sometime when I was not in the house. He followed me and came into my room and . . . oh Ahmal . . .” She could not go on for the tears.
“He forced himself upon you?” Ahmal’s face was red with righteous indignation. He pounded his fist into his palm in anger. “I will avenge you, my heart.”
“I fought him. I tried to cry out. There was no one else in the house except his servant, Tema. He would be no witness for me. I should have gone to the elders the next day to accuse him. But I was afraid they would not believe me. I had been alone a long time and Reuben is a handsome man. Why should they believe that I had not shared his bed willingly? After that night, I was at his beck and call. I was ashamed. He wanted to sell this house and what remained and have me go away with him to another town. He . . . he talked of being stoned if you returned. I did not know what to do.”

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