Peloni: As a follow-up to our publication of excerpts from Joseph Shellim’s “Philistine-To-Palestine”, we are happy to be able to present a series of excerpts from his informative “BEN HUR II – EXILE” [aka “HOLY-WAR: ROME AND THE JEWS“. Below is the third installment. Link at bottom for previous installment
A COVENANTAL RITUAL
King Solomon directing his Temple builders. Source: S12
In a troubled night in Megiddo there is urgency in the town. With the news of Rome’s march to Jerusalem, the people are hastening into the hills and the town is being deserted. Hillel and Alexis are alone in a small room in the teacher’s house; there is a large ornamental chair, a water basin, a wine flask and a leather pouch set on a table. Hillel now directs Alexis to be seated in the large ornamental chair in urgency. He hastily serves Alexis a full cup of strong wine, gesturing he finish the drink. Hillel addresses Alexis amidst a din of wailing in the background.
“Three days you will be in pain, highest on the third day. Thereafter, you shall be bound to One God according to the Law of Moses, our teacher. What say you?”
“I say… Let there be light.”
Alexis is reclined in the chair. As a short blade hovers in Hillel’s hand, Alexis shuts his eyes and lets his mind wander. A vision comes to him. Deborah appears from within a misty stream of sparks of light, reaching out to him, hands outstretched; an immense glow comes to his face. Then Simon appears in the mist; the massive man is approaching with a threatening fury. Deborah races to stand before Alexis; her arms bent aback protecting him. Simon hard stares them, then he turns away. Deborah stairs in empathy as he fades away, then she turns to Alexis, taking his hand and leading him into the stream of sparks.
Hillel holds a cup of wine; a short blade in his other hand. He recites a covenantal priestly blessing before administering the circumcision ritual that will transform a Roman into a Jew:
“The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee…”[101]
Behind the hills. Deborah is cautiously returning to Megiddo; she is careful to avoid the Roman tarred highway this time. As she manoeuvres the inner paths toward the Nasserite village, Deborah halts abruptly as she confronts Ari and Saul emerging from behind a shrubbery; their demeanour appears threatening.
Seeing the two dismounted from their horses, Deborah makes a dash, riding past them in a flash. But as she turns the curved gravel track, she is flung off her horse when she hits a thin white ribbon that is not discernible by the eye of a rider; an entrapment prepared by her cunning pursuers. The two Sicarii calmly gaze at their captured prey; she lies fallen on the ground. Saul binds her hands and feet, securing her to a tree; Ari declares the charges against Deborah bat Hur, a Hebrew maiden from Megiddo who once stood before a Roman spear to protect her teacher:
“Betrayer of your people. Murderer of Eleazar’s family. Harlot of Israel’s enemy.”
Saul expresses with uncertainty: “God help us if Simon finds out.”
“The nation’s faith before us marks our actions now…” Ari assures
The two Sicarries descend upon the bound Deborah with daggers held in their jaws.
Excerpt from the book: https://amzn.to/3t2CLH4
Next week’s installment: ROME’S MARCH OF MIGHT
“BEN HUR II – EXILE”: What ‘REALLY’ happened in the First Century?
Previous Installment:
Extract 1: HOLY WAR – APRIL 70 AD/CE – DAWN
Extract 2: HOLY WAR – ROME’S MARCH OF MIGHT
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