Of Such Is The Kingdom, A Novel of Biblical Times in 3 parts

But, Pilate dear, you know, I was thinking about that insurrection last week.  What could have made them rise up like that all of a sudden?”

“It did seem rather sudden.  They were peaceful one moment and shouting the next.”

“I was wondering whether Herod might not have had something to do with it.”

“Portia, dear, you don’t really think--?”

“It is possible, you know.  He did seem rather upset when he left here the last time.”

“Yes, the more I think about it, the more sense it makes.”

“At least it will be something to add to some of the letters.”

“I thought you were about finished with those letters.”

“I am, almost.”

“Well, do try to hurry.  I’m getting nervous waiting.”

“Don’t worry, dear.  They’ll be done soon.”

************

Meanwhile, Herod was arriving at his summer palace in the southwest corner of Jerusalem.  He came for the Passover season, as was his yearly custom.  This year, he brought a new wife.  Despite his lifestyle, partaking of the Passover was to him a means of assuring God’s blessing upon his life.

Manaheem, well aware of his foster-brother’s habits, had no difficulty in locating him.  The palace was located just south of the Joppa gate, on Mt. Zion.  Parking his carriage and tying the horses to one of the trees that surrounded the palace, he swung open the heavy outer gate, and walked in, pulling the creaking gate closed behind him.  He paid no attention to the guard who stood at attention immediately ahead of him, but marched squarely up the small flight of stairs at the right and headed straight toward the third door on the left which he knew to be that of the royal bedchamber.

The guard, upon seeing the strange looking man heading for the royal bedchamber, tried to stop him. “Where do you think you’re going, sir?”

“Why to see my brother, the king, of course.”

“Sorry, no one is to be allowed in there.”

“Oh, yeah?”  Manaheem, already at the door, leaned against it with all his strength, forcing it open.  He happened to catch Herod and Herodius, sitting on the couch, in an amorous embrace.

The guard lunged for Manaheem, saying to Herod at the same time, “I’m sorry, your Majesty, I tried to stop him.”

The king motioned.  “Ah, that’s all right.  Let my foster brother stay, now that he has gone to all the trouble of finding me.”  The guard left.

“Oh, it was no trouble at all, your Majesty.  I remembered that you always spend Passover week here.  I don’t know why you are so strict about keeping the Passover and doing it in Jerusalem.”

“It adds to the blessing.”

“And that’s why you do it? --to ensure Jehovah’s blessing?”

“Why else?”

“But how can you expect to have his blessing when you are persisting in a lifestyle which is clearly unpleasing to him?  Herodius is still Philip’s wife, even if you did marry her.”

Herodius had been sitting quietly by, but at this last remark, she gave a start.

“What is this?!”  Herod grimaced.  “Have you got the spirit of John the Baptist, come back to haunt me?”

“No, dear foster brother.  I’m not a prophet, just an observer.  But I have heard that there is a new prophet in town.  I think his name is Jesus.  He even does miracles.”

“Well, perhaps he is John the Baptist reincarnated.  But, enough of this! Why did you come here tonight?  State your business or be gone.”

“Why, Herod, dear, I thought you would know why I came. I come for the rest of my money, of course.”

“The rest of your money?  For what?  The insurrection was a failure.”

“Failure or not, I did my part and I expect to be paid.”

“Well, I expected the mission to succeed.  I gave you your advance.  That’s enough.  Why should I pay more for a failed venture?  And besides, the uprising may have happened anyway, sooner or later, whether you engineered it or not.”

“That’s beside the point.  You wanted it done now.  I did what you told me to and I want my money.”  Manaheem paused and stroked his mustache.  “And I shall get my money and more.  Yes!  You’ll pay up, and with interest, or I shall expose your part in this little plot.  How would it look for a king to have plotted the overthrow of a governor?  What would Caesar say?”

During Manaheem’s last speech, Herod went to the closet, took out his crown, and started playing with it. “You wouldn’t!  You rascal!  You would, wouldn’t you?”

“I most certainly would, dear brother, unless you hand over five thousand shillings.”

“Five thousand?  That’s outrageous!”

Manaheem walked slowly toward the door.  “Well, I’m sure I shall have a most anxious audience for this news.”

Herod motioned.  “No!  Stop!  I’d be ruined!  O.K., I’ll pay what you ask.  I don’t have it all here, of course.  You’ll have to wait until after Passover when I go back to the palace.  In the meantime, why don’t you sit down and have some wine?”

“No thanks.  You could go back, get the money and come back.”

“Are you that desperate?”  Herod threw the crown down to the floor and reached into his pocket.  “Here’s a thousand.  You’ll get the rest after Passover.  O.K.?”

Manaheem took the money.  “Alight. Just don’t forget.”  He walked slowly out, turning at the doorway to add in a slightly sarcastic tone:  “Enjoy your stay in Jerusalem, brother.”