For the Temple | Page 4

had inherited; while the younger sons, taking their smaller share, would

settle in the towns or villages and become traders, or fishermen,
according to their bent and means.
There were poor in Palestine--for there will be poor, everywhere, so
long as human nature remains as it is; and some men are idle and self
indulgent, while others are industrious and thrifty--but, taking it as a
whole there were, thanks to the wise provisions of their laws, no people
on the face of the earth so generally comfortable, and well to do. They
grumbled, of course, over the exactions of the tax collectors--exactions
due, not to the contribution which was paid by the province to imperial
Rome, but to the luxury and extravagance of their kings, and to the
greed and corruption of the officials. But in spite of this, the people of
rich and prosperous Galilee could have lived in contentment, and
happiness, had it not been for the factions in their midst.
On reaching the house, John found that his father had just returned
from Hippos, whither he had gone on business. He nodded when the
lad entered, with his basket.
"I have hired eight men in the market, today, to come out tomorrow to
aid in gathering in the figs," he said; "and your mother has just sent
down, to get some of the fishermen's maidens to come in to help her. It
is time that we had done with them, and we will then set about the
vintage. Let us reap while we can, there is no saying what the morrow
will bring forth.
"Wife, add something to the evening meal, for the Rabbi Solomon Ben
Manasseh will sup with us, and sleep here tonight."
John saw that his father looked graver than usual, but he knew his duty
as a son too well to think of asking any questions; and he busied
himself, for a time, in laying out the figs on trays--knowing that,
otherwise, their own weight would crush the soft fruit before the
morning, and bruise the tender skins.
A quarter of an hour later, the quick footsteps of a donkey were heard
approaching. John ran out and, having saluted the rabbi, held the
animal while his father assisted him to alight and, welcoming him to

his house, led him within. The meal was soon served. It consisted of
fish from the lake, kid's flesh seethed in milk, and fruit.
Only the men sat down; the rabbi sitting upon Simon's right hand, John
on his left, and Isaac and his son at the other end of the table. Martha's
maids waited upon them, for it was not the custom for the women to sit
down with the men and, although in the country this usage was not
strictly observed, and Martha and little Mary generally took their meals
with Simon and John, they did not do so if any guest was present.
In honor of the visitor, a white cloth had been laid on the table. All ate
with their fingers; two dishes of each kind being placed on the
table--one at each end. But few words were said during the meal. After
it was concluded, Isaac and his son withdrew and, presently, Martha
and Mary, having taken their meal in the women's apartments, came
into the room. Mary made a little face at John, to signify her
disapproval of the visitor, whose coming would compel her to keep
silent all the evening. But though John smiled, he made no sign of
sympathy for, indeed, he was anxious to hear the news from without;
and doubted not that he should learn much, from the rabbi.
Solomon Ben Manasseh was a man of considerable influence in Galilee.
He was a tall, stern-looking old man, with bushy black eyebrows,
deep-set eyes, and a long beard of black hair, streaked with gray. He
was said to have acquired much of the learning of the Gentiles, among
whom, at Antioch, he had dwelt for some years; but it was to his
powers as a speaker that he owed his influence. It was the tongue, in
those days, that ruled men; and there were few who could lash a crowd
to fury, or still their wrath when excited, better than Solomon Ben
Manasseh.
For some time they talked upon different subjects: on the corn harvest
and vintage, the probable amount of taxation, the marriage feast which
was to take place, in the following week, at the house of one of the
principal citizens of Hippos, and other matters. But at last Simon
broached the subject which was uppermost in all their thoughts.
"And the news from Tiberias, you say, is bad, rabbi?"

"The news from Tiberias is always bad, friend Simon. In all the land
there is not a city which will