by Lynn Austin
“Six years?”
“Yes. And when they finally are set free, they are not to be sent away empty-handed. ‘Supply him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress,’ the Torah says. ‘Give to him as the Lord your God has blessed you.’”
“So no one is breaking the law if these children remain bondservants for the next six years?”
“That’s true. But I believe our compassionate God wants us to show compassion to one another.”
“Yes, I do, too. That’s exactly why I intend to tell all those men who are prospering during this famine and taking advantage of the poor that this has to stop.”
“I would also remind them,” Ezra said, stroking his white beard, “that the exile was caused by abuses such as these—injustice, the oppression of the weak by the strong, and failing to obey the Torah.”
“I’ll do that.” Nehemiah stood, eager to begin. “Thank you for your help, Rebbe. I plan to call a meeting as quickly as I can arrange it and hold the guilty men accountable for these abuses. Will you stand with me and back up what I’m saying with God’s Law?”
“Certainly. You’ll be in my prayers, Nehemiah—as always.”
Chapter
27
JERUSALEM
Nava stood in the rear of the temple courtyard with all the other women, waiting in the place where she’d promised to meet Dan. She had been terrified for him when he walked up to the front of the mob to stand with the other men and confront Governor Nehemiah. Now he was safe. The governor had listened to their pleas. Nava stood on her tiptoes, trying to see above everyone’s heads, watching for Dan. She finally spotted him pushing past the others to hurry back to her, and she laughed out loud with relief and joy.
“Dan, that was amazing! You were wonderful!” She grabbed his hands and squeezed them tightly, her heart aching for the day when they could finally hug each other at moments like this. His tanned face beamed with happiness.
“Did you hear what the governor said, Nava? He’s angry about what rich nobles are doing, and he’s going to find a solution.”
“I hope he helps us.”
“Me too. Maybe this nightmare will finally end. Maybe you can come home, and we can get married.”
“I’m almost afraid to hope that anything will change.”
“Wealthy men like Malkijah probably won’t give up easily. But we’ve all agreed not to go back to work on the wall until we get relief. The governor will have to help us if he wants his wall finished.”
“I’m late, Dan. I have to get back to the house. Walk with me.” They hurried toward the stairs, still holding hands so they wouldn’t become separated. The crowd moved slowly as they filed out, the men not in a rush since they weren’t going back to work. Nava and Dan threaded their way around them.
“Malkijah and most of the other rich noblemen were probably here at the temple today,” Dan said when they reached the bottom of the steps. “If they heard what the governor said, they’re probably conspiring together, scrambling to find a way to keep all their money and servants.”
“I’ll try to hear what my master says when I serve his meals,” Nava said. “And I have more good news to tell you since I saw you last. The other night, my master became engaged to that nice woman named Chana who defended you the night you came to the estate. She’s very kind, so when I go back to Beth Hakkerem, I know I can ask her for help if Master—” Nava stopped, horrified. She had nearly blurted out the truth about Master Aaron.
“If what?” Dan asked.
“If . . . if Master Malkijah is unkind.”
Dan pulled her to a stop in the middle of the street. “That wasn’t what you were going to say, was it?”
“Please . . . I’m already late. I need to hurry.”
“Nava, we’ve never lied to each other. Tell me the truth. What are you hiding?”
“Nothing.” It was the truth because nothing had happened with Master Aaron—yet.
Dan held her shoulders and made her look at him. “We promised that we would always tell each other the truth—remember?”
She nodded. She also remembered that Dan had threatened to kill Malkijah and his sons if they ever laid a hand on her. He would do it, too. She had to ease his fears. “Listen, ever since you told me that my master and his sons had a right to marry me, I’ve been terrified that it would happen, and that I would never be able to marry you.”
“Even the thought of it makes me crazy.”
“Well, my master’s fiancée is very understanding. I told her that I loved you, and I believe she would help protect me from a forced marriage. My master listens to her. He listened the night you broke in, remember? That’s all I was going to say.”
“Then why did you stop in the middle of your sentence?”
Nava thought quickly. “Because I didn’t want to remind you about my master’s sons. I don’t want you to worry. Please, Dan. I really need to get back to work. I haven’t been set free yet, you know.” She smiled, knowing he couldn’t resist her smile, knowing he wanted her to be happy. When they were a dozen yards from Malkijah’s house, she stopped again. “You’d better not come any closer in case someone sees you. I’ll meet with you again tomorrow.” She turned and sprinted the rest of the way to the rear door of her master’s house.
The housekeeper’s forehead was creased with anger as she met Nava at the door. “Where have you been?” She was older than the housekeeper on the estate, and hadn’t approved of Ruth sending a servant as young and inexperienced as Nava to work in the master’s Jerusalem house. Nava tried extra hard to please her, fearing she would send her back to Beth Hakkerem if she made a single mistake. Not only would Nava be unable to see Dan every day, but she would have to cope with Aaron’s advances again. “I was about to send out a search party,” the woman said. “I figured you had run away.”
“I would never run away,” Nava said. “I was late because there was a protest in the temple today and the crowds were so huge that they blocked my way. I had a hard time getting through. I’m so sorry.”
“What kind of a protest?”
Nava hesitated, unsure how much to say. The housekeeper was a hired servant, not a bondservant. Her job of caring for this house and feeding all the laborers would be impossible if Malkijah set all his bondservants free. “Some of the area farmers asked the governor for help because of the drought. They said they’re not going back to work on the wall until he does something about the famine.” Nava picked up a broom as she talked, starting her usual morning chores of sweeping floors and cleaning the kitchen and washing the breakfast dishes. Maybe if she busied herself and worked hard, the housekeeper would forgive her for being late and not ask too many questions. Nava didn’t want her to know that she’d taken part in the protest or that she was secretly meeting Dan. “I’ll just gather the dishes from the dining room now—”
“Just a minute!”
Nava’s heart beat faster, fearing she was in trouble. “Yes, ma’am?”
“You say the men aren’t working on the wall today?”
“That’s what they told the governor, ma’am.”
“So we don’t have to prepare a midday meal for them?”
“I-I don’t know.” Would Dan and all the other men have to go without food? Had they thought of that when they’d decided not to work? Then Nava remembered that the governor had promised to open his storehouses.
“Well, don’t just stand there, get to work!” the housekeeper barked. Nava jumped to obey. But she was aware from snatches of overheard conversation that a servant had been sent to the Dung Gate to speak with Malkijah. And that her master confirmed that work on the wall and at his gate had come to a halt. He’d ordered not to feed any of his men until they returned.
Nava longed to tell her fellow bondservants about the protest at the temple, especially her friend Rachel. None of them had seen how angry the governor had been to hear about their plight or how he’d promised to help them. But as the day progressed, n
othing changed except their workload. With no midday meal to prepare, most of the extra servants like Nava stood around with nothing to do. She and the others had come to Jerusalem in the first place to cook for the workers. Would she be sent back to Beth Hakkerem now that the work had stopped—back to Master Aaron?
The hope that Nava had felt this morning began draining away like water into sand.
Chapter
28
JERUSALEM
Going to his field headquarters would be pointless for Nehemiah. Silence had settled over Jerusalem, replacing the constant background noise of shouts and grunts, sawing and chipping and chiseling. The laborers had carried through with their threat, bringing work on the wall to a standstill. Frustrated on several levels, Nehemiah returned to the governor’s residence after his meeting with Rebbe Ezra and gathered his brothers and his three aides together in his private chambers.
“I’ve been pondering the people’s accusations,” he told them, “and after talking over the matter with Rebbe Ezra from a legal standpoint, I’ve decided on a course of action. The wealthy men who are taking advantage of their fellow Jews during the famine need to be confronted. How long do you think it would take to summon all the nobles and officials and district leaders here for a meeting?”
“Not long,” Ephraim said. “Most of them are already in Jerusalem to supervise one of the sections of the wall or one of the gates.”
“Good. Send out messengers right away,” he told his aides. “Tell them I’m calling for a meeting tomorrow morning at the temple, immediately after the sacrifice.”
“Do you think that’s wise, Governor?” Jehohanan asked. “The wealthiest men are all on your council. Why not meet with them privately in your chambers? If the protesters overhear you at the temple they—”
“I want to be overheard. What I have to say should be said in public. The poor people need to know that I’m not hiding anything or working in secret.”
“But to accuse Judah’s nobles and officials of wrongdoing and shame them in public would—”
“Those who are doing wrong and violating the Torah should be ashamed. And those who have nothing to hide will be able to withstand public scrutiny.” Nehemiah waited to see if anyone else had a comment, then sent his three aides away to relay his message. “Hanani, were our storehouses opened to the poor today?” he asked his brother. “Are they getting enough grain to feed their families?”
“Everything proceeded very smoothly. The people are grateful.”
“You’re a very cunning politician, Nehemiah,” Ephraim said. “By giving to the poor, you’ve earned their undying loyalty and gratitude.”
Nehemiah wanted to be angry with his brother for politicizing his motives, but his words had an element of truth. Nehemiah had wanted to please the masses so they would return to work on the wall. “I’m feeding them because the Torah commands me to,” he replied with a sigh. “I hope the people’s loyalty and gratitude go to God, not to me.”
“Aren’t you afraid that if you alienate the nobles and council members they’ll turn against you?” Hanani asked. “Jehohanan might have a point about shaming them in public.”
“I’m not here to win a popularity contest, I’m here to rebuild the wall,” Nehemiah said. Although deep in his heart, he knew he also wanted to be admired and applauded by the people he served, the noblemen as well as the commoners. “As for shaming the nobles, the reason I’m holding the meeting in the temple is so the Almighty One will have a chance to speak to them. As they stand in front of His sanctuary, they may be reminded that God sees their secret deeds and knows their motives.”
“And what if things don’t go the way you hope they will?” Ephraim asked. “What if a riot breaks out, poor against rich? Tempers are already near the breaking point.”
“If our people are that deeply divided and the class hatred is that strong, then there’s no hope at all for our survival as a people. Rebuilding the wall or anything else we try to do will be a waste of time.”
Nehemiah didn’t sleep well that night. He walked up to the temple early the next morning without waiting for his brothers and chose a place to stand alongside Rebbe Ezra as he worshiped. “I’ve called for a meeting with the leaders and nobles after the sacrifice to deal with the problems we talked about yesterday,” he told him. “Will you say a few words to the men, too?”
“Of course. I’ve been looking into the matter more carefully since we talked.”
More people than usual crowded into the temple courtyard for the morning sacrifice, and Nehemiah was pleased to see his council members there, along with the nobles and district leaders. As the incense ascended to heaven, he prayed that the men would listen to him, that their hearts would be moved with compassion, and that the Almighty One would heal the divisions among His people.
Nehemiah took his place in the outer courtyard when the service ended, in the same place he’d stood to announce his intention to rebuild the wall. He motioned for Rebbe Ezra to join him and waited for his officials to assemble in front of them. He wasted no time in making his accusations. “You are exacting usury from your own countrymen! As far as possible, we have brought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!” His voice echoed off the temple walls as a shocked stillness settled over the courtyard. The men in front of him stood quietly, as if finding nothing to say.
“What you’re doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? My brothers and I are giving the people grain to help them during this famine. You also should be giving charity. The Torah commands it. And it forbids the exacting of usury. It has to stop!”
He nodded to Ezra, letting the older man speak next. “I want to read you the word of warning that the Almighty One spoke to our ancestors before the exile,” Ezra said, unrolling a small scroll. “He spoke through His prophet Ezekiel, saying:
“‘You are a land that has had no rain or showers in the day of wrath. There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows . . . the people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy . . . I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
The silence in the crowd was absolute. Ezra took his time rolling up the scroll, then faced the nobles standing in front of him. “We all know what happened to our fathers when they failed to heed the Almighty One’s warning. When they continued to oppress the poor and needy. Will we now follow in their footsteps and do the same?”
Ezra stepped back, gesturing to Nehemiah to continue. “If you care about our nation and about our covenant with God,” he said, “I challenge you to give back to the people their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses immediately, and also the usury you are charging them—the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine, and oil. As Rebbe Ezra just reminded us, the destruction of Jerusalem and our exile were caused by our ancestors’ refusal to live according to the Holy One’s law. It was only God’s undeserved grace and mercy that made it possible for us to return to our land. Will we now take advantage of that grace? God asks you to show mercy to the poor because He is merciful. Our ancestors owed Him their love and loyalty, their tithes, and their gratitude. Instead, they worshiped idols and forgot His covenant, amassing a huge debt of sin. The Almighty One didn’t have to forgive that debt. He could have let us remain in exile. But He did forgive us—and here we are. If He can forgive our mountain of debt, can’t we also forgive our brothers’ debts?” Nehemiah paused to let his words settle over the silent people.
“Those of you who God raised up as leaders�
�you’re supposed to be shepherds of His people. If they’re suffering, it’s your job to help them. Instead, you weren’t even concerned enough about them to make this city safe. What kind of shepherds are you? You should help your brothers who are in need instead of charging them interest and forcing them to mortgage their land and sell their children as bondservants.
“I’m aware that the long drought led to this situation. But the Torah says the Almighty One will bless us with rain if we live right. Maybe He allowed this drought to show us the greed that’s in our hearts. To change us into His servants. To give us an opportunity to show mercy. And we’re failing the test. Please, I urge you to show compassion to those who are poor and starving and give them food, free of charge, as my brothers and I are doing. If men have borrowed money from you, stop charging interest and give back the usury you’ve illegally charged, or you’ll be held accountable for breaking the law. If they’ve mortgaged their land to you and sold their sons and daughters as bondservants, I beg you to give back their land and their sons and daughters. You may be within the bounds of the law in taking them, but I appeal to you to show mercy—as God has shown us mercy.”
A spontaneous cheer went up from the poor people at the rear of the assembly. But even before the sound died away, the district leader from Tekoa stepped forward to confront Nehemiah. “We have a legal right to expect payment for the loans we made. And we have a right to keep any mortgaged land and bondservants for six years.”
“I know you do. But I’m asking you to show mercy and give up those rights.”
“Why? I worked hard for what I have, and I managed my property well. Why should I bail out people who couldn’t manage theirs? Should we all become poor together? That’s nonsense!”
“Why are you siding with the poor, Governor Nehemiah,” another nobleman asked, “and treating us like criminals when we’re acting lawfully?” Their anger and lack of compassion didn’t really surprise Nehemiah, but it saddened him.