(AN: You all are going to know the Jewish names of the days of the week by the time this story is done! Aside from Yom Chamishi [that is Thursday] every day has been named in the chapters up to and including this one.)
(Also, for those who may have been upset with that little flashback from the second part of 'A Journey South', I threw you all a bone from my reading of Legends of the Jews. Enjoy!)
The Incident at the Temple
When the Sabbath dawned the next day, it seemed that the joy of the previous night had been all but forgotten. No further meetings occurred that day, no revelations whether physical or angelic. It seemed to be quite an ordinary day, for a Sabbath at least. Joseph went to the synagogue while Miriam was obliged to stay in the cave and take care of baby Joshua. This was not terribly inconvenient for her, to be truthful, nor against her liking either. She was still sore from last night, and her clothes were damp with sweat and stained with blood. She did not feel at all like being among people, even for the Sabbath.
Praise HaShem, she thought, for giving us the Torah that gave women forty days of cleansing and purification after the birth of a male child.
For that day, she held Joshua in her arms, rocking Him back and forth, singing to Him bits and pieces of the melodies she had heard as a child herself. Aside from her own body having to recover after last night's painful and bloody ordeal, there was another reason she was thankful for the forty days of separation. Her mother had told her to take care of their neighbors' children, likely in preparing her for when she would have her own children. While it had been difficult then to do so, small children being what they are, it was even harder for her to do this all alone and for her own child. Yet she managed quite well for her firstborn Son. She wondered about an old parable her mother Hannah had told her when she was young, about the differences between men and women.
"'Man was made from the dust of the ground,'" Hannah told her. "'But woman was made from the rib of the man. Throw a jar made of clay to the ground, and it breaks; but throw a bone to the ground, and it does not break. Women have strengths of our own, and certain things that can break a man cannot break a woman.'"
Surely it was that kind of strength which allowed her to take care of this little messy child.
Which is not to say that it was all bad either. Miriam remembered that the children she had taken care of in Nazareth had, at some point or another, a pervasive trait of fussiness. But not Joshua; He only cried when He was cold or hungry or in need of being cleaned. The rest of the time, He looked up at His mother, smiled when He heard her voice, and laughed if she kissed His nose or stomach. The sound of the infant's giggle filled Miriam with joy.
Many hours later, Joseph returned to the cave from the synagogue and told her about what had happened. He got to meet the rabbi and see where he stayed, so that he would be able to find him come the next Yom Shishi; the eighth day of Joshua's life. Aside from this, he was very excited about what had been read from the Torah at the synagogue: a passage from the prophet Micah pertaining to the Messiah. She could feel the excitement radiating off of him as he spoke, the smile on his face, and the impassioned gestures of his hands as they articulated the story along with his own words.
"Can you believe it, Miriam?" he asked. "All this time, I thought that I was just protecting you from idle gossip and rumors back in Nazareth, or at least fulfilling what little duty we have to Rome. Now I see that it was the work of HaShem moving through us all along."
"What do you mean?" Miriam asked, as she sat against the cave wall, Joshua in her arms.
"The words of the prophet Micah," Joseph repeated. "'But thou, Bethlehem-Ephratah, though thou art least among the myriads of Judah, yet from thee shall He come forth who shall be ruler in Israel; whose come has been of old, even from everlasting to everlasting.' It was the will of HaShem that we came to Bethlehem!" He smiled and let out a happy sigh.
"What is it, beloved?" Miriam asked.
"It gives me comfort," Joseph replied. "To know that HaShem's will is greater than all the powers of the world: greater than Caesar in Rome, or Cyrenius in Syria, or Herod in his palace. The kings of the earth think they act of their own power and will, but it is the Hand of HaShem that guides them."
Miriam smiled. That Joseph was starting to believe this was good. Nonetheless, she felt honored to have had a revelation of this fact first and foremost: perhaps it was fated to be this way. According to legend, when HaShem revealed the Torah to Israel on Mount Sinai, it was the women whose minds were first opened to this truth, and for this they did not bow down to the golden calf with their men. Now, in the present, to see the truth she had believed for these nine long months come to pass - and that she was alive to see these things and others - filled her with great joy and happiness. There was also something comforting in the knowledge that HaShem had not forsaken His people, even almost four hundred and forty years after the destruction of the Temple.
The Sabbath came and went, and Yom Rishon dawned. Joseph continued looking for work to pay for the house they would be moving into once they were ready for the census registry, and Miriam continued taking care of baby Joshua. With what little money Joseph had and could earn from odd-jobs around Bethlehem, he bought for them food and clean cloth. Miriam needed the cloth, as well as water from the well, for her own purification.
But she was by no means idle while she was cloistered away in the cave. Aside from cooking, cleaning herself, and taking care of baby Joshua, something else came into her mind. When Joseph returned to the cave after a hard day's work, she made measurements across his shoulders and waist with her hands and arms. After she got a handle for how broad his shoulders were, she asked him for needle and thread, which he was willing to procure. She knew how to sew, and what she planned to make was something truly special. All the prophets and priests of old had for themselves a stately robe which they wore as a sign of their office: and she had a mind to weave one for Joshua when He was to come into manhood.
Yom Rishon ended and so began Yom Sheni, the day the heathens dedicated to the moon. And so the days went on, one after another. Joseph went to do his work, and to provide for his small family, and Miriam stayed in the cave, taking care of business, recovering, and taking care of baby Joshua. Eventually the swelling of her stomach receded and outwardly, she seemed very similar to her old self. But there were some changes more substantial, aside from her constant nursing of the child: she seemed to be bleeding all the time, and did what she could with the cloth Joseph brought her to stem the flow. Day after day this continued, and she worried if something was wrong. She asked Joseph to find Rachel and ask her about the bleeding; the midwife told Joseph that it was not unnatural and that she should continue in her purification until the appointed time when the rabbi would say that she was released.
So the days went on, one into another, and the next Yom Shishi dawned. After eating breakfast, Joseph went at once to the synagogue to find the rabbi's house. To his great relief, the rabbi was available and, apparently, in better spirits than Benjamin. He didn't even spend time haggling on a price but accepted Joseph's first offer and went into his house to gather the tools of his craft. While Joseph was waiting outside the rabbi's house, he heard someone calling his name behind him. He turned around and noticed a familiar face upon the streets of Bethlehem.
"Joseph?" the gray-haired man asked.
"Joachim!" Joseph greeted. He ran up to the father of Miriam and, as was the custom, embraced him and planted a kiss on each cheek.
"What brings you here?" Joseph asked.
"The same reason you're here, for the census," Joachim replied. "No sooner had you and Miriam left, but I spoke to an old friend up from Capernaum. He told me there wasn't any way we could have registered in Nazareth, since my wife and I are also of the house of Judah. So we made the trip down here."
"Hannah is with you as well?" Joseph asked. "That is wonderful news. Miriam will be happy to see her again."
"And how is my daughter?" Joachim asked. "Is she well?"
"Yes, she is well," Joseph nodded. "I've just spoken with the rabbi; he will perform the circumcision."
"Circumcision?" Joachim asked. "Has it really been eight days already?" He shrugged, but didn't comment further. Joseph did not blame him, for he could not help but empathize with the old man. Presently, the rabbi came out with his tools and things in a leather sack tied over his shoulder.
"I must go," Joseph said.
"Where are you staying?" Joachim asked. "My wife and I may come over to visit."
"At my uncle Benjamin's han," Joseph replied; he did not add that they were staying in the spare stable in the hills behind the han. They parted, with Joachim telling Joseph that they would see each other again as Joseph and the rabbi made their way toward the cave.
At the cave, Joseph introduced the rabbi, an elderly man named Lemuel. The old rabbi asked for Joseph to hand him the baby, since he could not take Him from Miriam herself yet. Joseph took the child, wrapped in Miriam's shawl as before - the blanket she had been working on remained forgotten back in Nazareth - and presented Him to the rabbi.
"And HaShem spake to Abraham, saying," Lemuel repeated "'This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee; every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant between Me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.'"
"Amen," Joseph and Miriam said one after another.
Miriam had witnessed the circumcision of John, and hadn't enjoyed the crying of the infant any more than his mother did. But it seemed to hurt her a bit more when it was her Son under the knife. Thankfully the deed was done, and Miriam did not have to hold her breath over-long. Joseph took the child, wrapped Him in the shawl, and delivered Him back into Miriam's arms.
"Blessed art thou, HaShem, our God, who is King over all the world; who sanctified Israel with the covenant of circumcision."
"Amen," Joseph and Miriam repeated.
"What is the boy's name?" the rabbi asked.
Joseph turned to Miriam, who nodded wordlessly at him; he then turned to the rabbi. "His name is Joshua."
"Joshua," rabbi Lemuel repeated. "A worthy name. And may this child, like the son of Nun, be a shining example of the salvation of HaShem through study of the Torah and good deeds."
"Amen," Joseph and Miriam mumbled.
"Woman," Lemuel said to Miriam. "Eight days have passed, and two and thirty remain yet for your purification. On the fortieth day, you shall be clean and may enter into the court of the women in the Holy Temple. On that day, you shall present this child before HaShem to be redeemed and dedicated."
"Thank you, rabbi," Miriam replied.
"It is part of the Torah," said Lemuel. "Given to us from HaShem by the hand of Moses. For HaShem spake unto Moses and said: 'Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast, it belongeth to HaShem.' And again, 'When HaShem thy God shall bring thee into the land which He promised to our fathers...'"
"Peace be upon them," Joseph and Miriam muttered, lowering their heads.
"'Thou shalt set apart unto HaShem all the firstborn, of man and of beast, such as open the womb. The firstborn of thy children thou shalt redeem.'"
"How shall we redeem Him?" Miriam asked.
"With a lamb," Lemuel said. "Without spot or blemish."
"But, rabbi," Joseph interjected. "We're poor people. We cannot afford a lamb."
"Do not be afraid," Lemuel said reassuringly. "HaShem considers the plight of the poor, for He ordained in the Torah that the reaper and the harvester gather not all the increase from their crops and vineyards, but save a portion for the poor. As for the redemption of the firstborn, you may purchase two turtle-doves or two pigeons, which are sold only for a shekel; that will suffice."
They both thanked the rabbi, who blessed them and the child before leaving the cave.
With business concluded, Joseph went out onto the town to look for work. Miriam, meanwhile, remained in the cave; she was still sore, aching, and bleeding. For the present, Joshua was sleeping and she was doing her best to wash out some of her clothes. Though she still had two and thirty days before she was considered clean, she felt filthy and disgusting in unwashed clothes. In between this, she set about starting a fire and preparing what warm food they had for when Joseph would return from work. Hours passed in this until, at length, she heard footsteps from outside the cave. Peeking outside, she saw her mother Hannah running up the hill to the entrance of the cave, her hands holding up her skirt.
"Mama!" Miriam cried out, waving at her approaching mother. She was quite surprised to see her mother here in Bethlehem, but had no time to consider why or how this happened. Hannah had gained the top and, without another word, threw her arms around her daughter's shoulders.
"My poor little bird!" Hannah said, sobbing into Miriam's shoulder. "It's as we were told!" She pulled back and planted a kiss on each of Miriam's cheeks. The young woman noticed that her own eyes were moist with tears.
"This is not a place for you," Hannah said, gesturing to the cave. "Oh, your father is giving Benjamin a piece of his mind about this lack of hospitality; the flames of Hinnom do not burn hotter than your father's fury...and his wrath is only half of mine!"
"Papa is here too?" Miriam asked.
"Yes," Hannah nodded. "We both came down here for the census. Joachim ran into Joseph earlier today, and he told us where you were staying. When we came to Benjamin's house, we found out that you were staying here of all places! A sheep's cote, fit for nothing more than filthy sheep!"
"Shh!" Miriam replied in assuring tones. "Please, Mama. It's alright." She tried hard to keep from smiling, as she thought about the fuss her dear mother would make if she knew about the shepherds.
"It is by no means alright!" Hannah insisted, raising her voice. "You should be in a proper house!"
"Please, Mama," Miriam insisted. "Don't shout; you'll wake the baby."
Hannah suddenly remembered where she was and composed herself. Miriam went back into the cave and her mother followed on behind her.
"Your father is going to be up here soon," Hannah said to her. "Once he's settled this matter with Benjamin."
"Wait, what?" Miriam asked. "But I'm still unclean."
"Please, little bird," Hannah scoffed. "You mustn't worry about that. I went through the same process with you: only I was unclean for over two months after you were born!"
There was a sigh of relief from the older woman as Miriam made her way over to the trough. She leaned down and lifted up the little baby out of the manger and held Him in her arms, rocking Him with a gentle up and down motion. Hannah's expression softened from concern to joy as she saw the little sleeping baby stretching His arms and yawning with His mouth: she was smiling widely and the tears poured down her cheeks yet again. She felt young, as she had not felt since she held Miriam in her arms when she was a baby herself.
"Look, Joshua," Miriam said to the baby, a smile on her face. "It's grand-mama Hannah." Hannah smiled, strange to hear that word now being used to describe her.
"Do you want to hold Him, Mama?" Miriam asked.
Hannah nodded and held out her hands. Miriam reached out and placed her firstborn into the arms of her mother. Hannah gently rocked the child back and forth in her arms, beaming back at the little sleeping baby.
"Joshua?" Hannah asked. "There's no one in our family with that name. Why not name Him after your uncle Simeon? Or after Joseph or his father?"
"That was the name the angel told me to give Him," Miriam replied. Just then, baby Joshua babbled and wiggled His arms about. "Oh, I know that look, He wants to be fed. Let me have Him." Hannah handed Joshua back to His mother, who pulled down the neck of her dress and offered herself to the child; as soon as the child felt His mother's flesh against His cheek, He latched onto her and gripped her robe with His tiny fist.
After twenty minutes of nursing, Miriam concealed herself and continued rocking Joshua to sleep. Hannah, meanwhile, walked about the cave, busying herself with helping her daughter with what served as her dwelling and place of confinement. As she did, she imparted some motherly advice that Miriam would need after giving birth. Miriam listened intently, paying close attention to everything she was told: she wanted to know what to expect for the remainder of her separation period. More so, she wanted to learn any helpful bit of information - no matter how small - that might be needed in the days to come.
It dawned on her that Joseph would likely be wanting children of his own ere long.
So the day carried on. Close to evening, baby Joshua was lying asleep in the trough, while Miriam and Hannah finished the preparations for the evening meal. Joachim and Joseph appeared at the mouth of the cave; the old man seemed to have calmed down from how Hannah had described his reactions from earlier that day. Joseph was exhausted but bore an optimistic expression on his face.
"We have good news," Joseph said.
"We've arranged for a house for you," Joachim added. "It's small, but it's a far cry from this filthy sheep's cote."
"Praise be!" Hannah exclaimed.
"But how will we afford it?" Miriam asked.
"We have a few shekels to spare," Joachim answered. "Only enough for the first month. Consider this a gift to you, my daughter, on the birth of your son."
"No, Papa," Miriam replied. "I cannot accept this."
"Please," Joachim returned, a hint of insistence in his voice.
"You need the money more than we do," Miriam said.
"Don't be foolish, child!" Joachim stated firmly. "We're old, your mother and I. You have a husband and child to take care of."
"Very well," Miriam sighed. "Thank you, Papa."
"This will be enough, I believe," Joseph said, with a smile on his face. "I was planning on staying for the dedication. Besides," He turned to Miriam. "There's bound to be enough work in Bethlehem for a carpenter. We'll be fine."
That day ended and the Sabbath began. Hannah and the two men went to the synagogue and then returned to the cave to Miriam and the baby. The very next day, being Yom Rishon, they made their preparations to move them into their rented house. Joseph and Joachim piled what few goods the young couple had for themselves onto the back of the donkey and led it down out of the hills and into the town: Benjamin hadn't sold or mistreated their donkey in the ten days since their arrival. Meanwhile, Miriam scooped up baby Joshua into her arms and together with her mother followed on behind.
The little house was a little smaller than the house that Joseph had back in Nazareth. White adobe walls surrounded a floor of bare earth, with a roof made of wood; there was only one floor, so the donkey would have to stay inside with them. There was only one sleeping mat for the both of them, but Miriam would have to sleep on the floor, as she was still in her blood and therefore unclean. Joseph said that he could build a cradle for Joshua, which Miriam accepted graciously: though she was attached to her little baby, she was still human and her arms became tired from holding Him for hours on end.
Once they were settled in, Joachim and Hannah bade them goodbye. They had only come for the census, and having completed their obligation to Rome, only stayed to see how Joseph and Miriam were doing. As it was, they would now return to Nazareth. Miriam noticed that her father seemed to be in better spirits than she had left him; for this she thanked the God of her fathers. He embraced his daughter tearfully and said:
"Would to HaShem that you were coming back to Nazareth with us now."
Hannah was all tears at the parting from her daughter, and Miriam found herself tearing quietly as well for both of them. The grandmother kissed her daughter once on each cheek, then kissed Joshua on the forehead, before joining her husband on the long journey by foot back to Nazareth. It was Yom Sheni; the eleventh day from Joshua's birth and the day after the Yom Rishon when they left the cave and entered their rented house.
If Joseph had believed that it would be easy to find work in Bethlehem, he was sorely mistaken. Most people promptly turned him down as soon as they heard who he was; and what little work he was able to get never seemed to be enough. He was suspicious of Benjamin, whom he believed had spoken of the events of the past several days and had so damaged his reputation. He would have to work even harder to support the little family as well as to earn back the trust of his relatives and the people of Bethlehem.
As for Miriam, she remained at the house day in and day out; being a mother was a full-time occupation. Aside from the general maintenance of the house, she also cooked food for two, washed and cleaned up for three, and took care of baby Joshua; He meanwhile didn't do much else besides eat and sleep. It was hard work, and with work being hard to come by, they were not thriving by any means. But they were still healthy and Joseph wasn't lame, so they were not obliged to beg for food. Furthermore, Miriam's body started to rebound from the pregnancy. By and by the swelling of her stomach reduced and her body seemed, outwardly at least, similar to how it was beforehand. She didn't bleed as much as before, but there were still intermittent moments of blood. Hannah had told her that this was to be expected; she was grateful for the forty days of separation, so as to not cause a scene with an accidental showing of blood.
The third Yom Shishi since Joshua's birth dawned, marking the fifteenth day of His young life. Another Sabbath came afterward, marking the official end of the week. Fifteen days then became two and twenty when the fourth Yom Shishi dawned on Bethlehem; then nine and twenty days, followed by three times twelve days. The next week then came; the third day of the week, dedicated to Mars by the Romans by designated as Yom Shlishi by the people of Israel. It was a very important day for the young couple, for this was the fortieth day of Joshua's young life and the conclusion of Miriam's days of separation.
The day before, Miriam was busy with cleaning her clothes and those of Joseph for the trip to Jerusalem tomorrow: must look their best when they came before the Holy Temple. Furthermore, the whole of tomorrow would be spent on the road, in the city, and on the road back to Bethlehem; so not only did they need clean clothes to wear, but food for their journey as well. Joseph had made a little basket, which would be bound to Miriam's back with cords; into this they would place Joshua, so that Miriam might walk the long journey to Jerusalem with Joshua on her back and not weary herself. As for Joseph, he had managed to save a few shekels to cover the cost of the pigeons.
Early in the morning on Yom Shlishi, they said the shema and ate breakfast; then Joseph strapped the basket to Miriam's back, into which he put baby Joshua, then together they walked out of the little house and closed the doors on behind them. Then they went on their way down the long, dusty road that would lead them to Jerusalem, following the same one they had taken some two score and two days ago when they came down this way from Nazareth by way of the Holy City.
As the sun was on its way to noon, they found themselves approaching the southernmost walls of the Holy City. The path they were taking seemed to take less time now than when they had journeyed it beforehand. As they made their way down the path towards the Essene Gate, they came downwind of the GeiBen Hinnom. Here they covered their faces and Miriam took Joshua off her back and buried His face in her bosom, that He smell not the loathsome stench of that place. They made haste to enter into the city and leave the foul smelling valley behind them. At length they reached the Essene Gate and entered the city. As before, they followed the aqueducts from the southern end of the city, through the narrow streets of the Tyrropoeon Valley, and up at last to the sacred place atop Moriah: the Holy Temple.
The Second Temple was after this fashion. From the south one passed through the Huldah Gates, named after the prophetess of old. This entered upon Solomon's Porch, what was also commonly known as the Court of the Gentiles. Beyond this wide plaza, at the top of the hill, no one who was not of the House of Israel could pass into the Temple grounds. On the eastern side of this court, the Beautiful Gate led the way into the Holy precinct. Upon the walls and around the door were written in Greek letters, that all might read, these words:
Let no foreigner enter within the parapet and the partition which surrounds the Temple precincts. Anyone caught will be held accountable for his ensuing death.
Beyond the Beautiful Gate, there opened the Court of the Women, the outermost court of the Holy Temple. Here Israelite women and children under the age of twelve were permitted to approach, but no further. This outer court was divided on each corner by separate chambers, each of them colonnaded on all sides. Beyond this was a staircase which went through the Nicanor Gate, and into the main courtyard before the Temple itself.
This was not how God had planned for His meeting place on Earth. The instructions for the Tabernacle, given down to Moses so long ago, had only one courtyard separating the common folk from the Holy Place.
Through the Huldah Gates and into the Court of the Gentiles passed Miriam and Joseph. Here the pavement was filthy with dust and animal droppings, and there were small shops and stalls here and there, crowding up the court and filling it with noise. All manner of commerce was done here on the footsteps to the Holy Temple. Men haggled for prices over lambs, cattle, goats, and birds, while at small wooden tables, learned men counted out Greek drachmas or Roman denarii and exchanged them for the Tyrian shekels. Joseph went towards one of the bird vendors and, after a bit of haggling, exchanged his shekel for a small wooden cage with two pigeons. They now made their way towards the postern gate on the southeastern side of the dividing wall beyond which the Gentiles could not pass; this one was used by the general traffic of people in and out of the Temple.
Into the Court of the Women they walked. Here they saw a great multitude of people, old and young, male and female, moving about here and there. There were some in a small circle around two young men, one with a drum and another with a flute, who played a mournful tune. Another group sat on their knees, with their veils covering their heads, hands lifted up, singing catches of the Psalms of David the King. A group of men, all of them long-haired and bearded, made their way towards the colonnaded chamber directly right of the entrance through which Miriam and Joseph had come: these likely had fulfilled the Nazirite vow and were on their way to have their hair shaven. At the far end and to the left-hand corner of the outer court, there lurked several men with faces bound and shrouded, who bowed and prayed apart from the others: lepers who had for themselves a court of their own near to the Temple. In another group, several bearded men - between the ages of forty and seventy - were dancing about while one struck a tambourine to keep time.
Through this they made their way, coming towards the Nicanor Gate, where two other courts - the Court of Men and the Court of the Priests - awaited before the main courtyard of the Temple. Near the Nicanor Gate, Joseph was obliged to leave Miriam as he went into the Court of Men to seek out a priest for the dedication. She did not have to wait long; in short time, Joseph made his way back in the Court of the Women with a priest behind him. The priest called for one of the younger priests to take the pigeon cage while he held his hands in the votive gesture over Joshua in Miriam's arms: the noise from the Court of the Gentiles had woken Him up and His eyelids slid open, allowing His dark brown eyes to examine His surroundings.
While the priest gave the blessing, Miriam's keen eyes noticed a strange figure behind him. An old man in the garments of a priest seemed to be standing within the shadow of the Nicanor Gate, just beneath the archway. He was very old, with a long, forked beard that was turning from gray to white; he looked older than Joachim, Zechariah, and rabbi Judah, so much so that Miriam doubted not that he may even have mentored the two rabbis when they themselves were young men. For the present, the old priest didn't do anything but look in their direction periodically before looking upward.
Once the dedication ceremony was complete, Joseph and Miriam turned as though they would leave the Temple, their business concluded. But even as they made their way back towards the gate they came through by, the old priest walked out after them with a speed surprising for one so old.
"Peace be with you!" the old man said. "I beg only for a moment of your time."
"Greetings, rabbi," Joseph returned. "Is there something you need?"
"Your pardon, man," the old man said to Joseph. "My name is Simeon. I was told to come to this spot and see the child who is the consolation of Israel."
"Who told you to come here?" Joseph asked.
"The Ruach HaKodesh," Simeon replied. He then turned to Miriam, his old hands trembling as he dared to speak. "May I see the child?"
Joseph looked at Miriam with a look of surprise on his face as she nodded and handed baby Joshua into Simeon's old, gnarled hands. A smile appeared on old Simeon's face as he held up Joshua towards the heavens.
"HaShem, God of our fathers!" Simeon said. "Behold thy Messiah! Your servant lifts up to You Your Anointed One, in whom Your soul delighteth. Blessed be HaShem, the maker of Heaven and earth, and the giver of life to those that walk upon the earth; for Thou has called Thy servant in righteousness, to hold His Hand, and keep Him, and give Him unto Thy people for a covenant!"
"Amen," Joseph and Miriam said respectfully, though they were astonished to hear such things.
Simeon lowered his arms, and even as he did, one of Joshua's little hands reached out and patted the old man's beard. It was more than the dear old man could bear. The springs of his head were loosed and tears fell down his wrinkled cheeks and into his long gray-white beard.
"O HaShem," Simeon wept. "Thou who has given the breath of life unto those that walk upon this earth, it is enough! Thou has promised with Thine own Spirit that Thy servant should not taste death until he has seen with his own eyes Thy salvation. Now may Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people. A light for the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel!"
With trembling hands, Simeon handed Joshua back to Miriam. Then he held up his hands in the votive gesture over both Miriam and Joseph and said: "May HaShem bless and keep thee. May HaShem make His face to shine upon thee. May HaShem left up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace."
"Amen," Joseph and Miriam respectfully said, still in stunned awe.
But no sooner had he said this, but Simeon went over towards the southern gate of the women, opposite that gate which they had entered into the Court of the Women. He then appeared again, but this time behind him was another one as old and weathered as himself; a woman whose thin, gray hair was hidden beneath her shawl.
"Come, Hannah bat-Phanuel!" Simeon said, laughing and crying. "Come, good woman! See the salvation of HaShem!"
The old woman approached Miriam and Joseph with glee written upon her old face. Perhaps it was her own experience that made her more open, or perhaps it was from hearing this old woman's name - for she bore the name of Miriam's own mother. nevertheless, there seemed to be a wordless understanding between them as soon as their dark eyes met: she wanted to see Joshua. Miriam held her arms out to present baby Joshua to the old woman.
"Behold the salvation of Israel!" Hannah said. "The Anointed One has come to Jerusalem! O give thanks to HaShem, for He is good; His mercy endureth forever!" She placed a slender, wrinkled hand over the baby Joshua and smiled at His tiny, squished face. Then she looked at Miriam: "Blessed art thou among women."
Miriam thanked the old woman, who then picked up the sides of her skirt and ran toward the group of dancing men and asked them if they sought the Messiah, the promised redeemer of Israel. In that tumult, Miriam turned to Joseph, with a look of panic in her eyes. Joseph nodded, understanding what she meant: this would attract unwanted attention. Straightway they repaired to the gate through which they had come. But even as they were leaving, Simeon came after them.
"Gentle mother," he said to Miriam. "A word of warning before you go."
"Yes, rabbi?" Miriam asked, turning around to the old man, Joshua lying in her arms.
"This child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel," Simeon said to Miriam, the joy fading from his voice; he now spoke in grave seriousness. "Lo, He is a sign that shall be rejected by many; yea, that the thoughts of the hearts of many may be revealed, a sword shall piece through thy soul."
Miriam gasped; with one hand she covered her gaping mouth, and with the other she held Joshua closer to her bosom, as if she could protect Him from this fate. Simeon said no more, but turned and went his way. Meanwhile, Miriam turned after Joseph, who was already out of the gate by the time he noticed that she was not following him; he stopped and waited for her to appear.
"What was that about?" he asked.
She shook her head, choosing rather not to talk about it. They had a long road back to Bethlehem before them, and there were troubles enough to worry about once they got back to the house. But as she thought on what she had heard, as she had done for the past ten months, ever since Gabriel appeared to her that morning in Nazareth, the more confused she became. Was not the Messiah to reign forever? What could possibly happen that would be so traumatic as to pierce through her soul as a sword?
(AN: This was one of the longer chapters, but there was a good reason for it being that long. I wanted to make sure that we covered all of our bases, including making it to forty days before the Temple incident. I did some research into the Second Temple in order to depict it accurately, and even mentioned the soreg stone.)