Journey to the Well by Diana Wallis Taylor

Author:Diana Wallis Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC014000, FIC042000, Samaritan woman (Biblical figure)—Fiction, Jesus Christ—Fiction, Bible. N.T.—History of Biblical events—Fiction, Women in the Bible—Fiction
ISBN: 9781441203809
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2010-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

25

Haman was a frequent visitor to their home. He stayed at the caravansary where he now worked. He seldom spoke of what he did there, but they knew he had something to do with the merchants and the caravans that came to Shechem. Somehow he didn’t seem the type to work at that sort of task, but he seemed always in good spirits and did not complain. He brought occasional small gifts for Caleb and spent time talking with Elon and Jesse about Joppa.

“Joppa is called the gateway to Palestine, for it is built on a rocky knoll that projects out into the Great Sea.”

“The Great Sea?” interrupted Caleb, fascinated with the stories of the caravansary and places far away.

“Its other name is the Mediterranean.” Haman seemed inordinately patient with Caleb’s questions. He believed Caleb to be the son of Marah and Jesse and there did not seem to be a need to tell him differently. It was as if she had always been Caleb’s mother.

“Joppa has a circle of great rocks that form a harbor,” Haman continued. “The cedars of Lebanon were shipped to Joppa when King Solomon was building the great temple in Jerusalem. I have seen the temple. It is magnificent.”

“We believe that Mount Gerizim, our holy mountain, is the place to worship,” Jesse put in. “The Jews worship in Jerusalem, > but we of the Samarim do not share their views. There is none greater than our holy mountain, Gerizim.”

“That is true, Cousin, but the temple is magnificent all the same. Great pillars, courts bustling with many people from many lands, moneychangers, merchants selling doves, goats, lambs for sacrifice. It is a meeting place. Many teachers and rabbis come from far and near to talk to the people who gather there.”

Elon became stern when they mentioned the temple in Jerusalem. “What could they tell the people that we of the Samarim do not already know? When have you heard a Jewish rabbi with any new thoughts?” he growled.

Haman was not deterred. “As a matter of fact, there are many with new and different thoughts these days.”

Jesse changed the subject. “Have you been to Caesarea, Cousin? I hear it is also a great seaport.”

“Yes, an interesting port. Two giant towers mark the entrance to the harbor. Merchandise from all over the world comes into Caesarea.”

“What sort of merchandise?” Caleb asked, fascinated.

“Well, there are stevedores, workmen who unload bales of wool and amphorae, or large clay storage jars used for wine or dried fruit. Much grain is shipped through there. There is also glassware from Syria, timber from Palestine, frankincense and myrrh from Arabia … many wonderful things. These are brought in by the ships and transferred to the caravans that take them inland, like the ones that come here to Shechem.”

Caleb asked so many questions that Jesse, sensing his cousin’s slight impatience, put a hand on Caleb’s shoulder. Caleb realized he had spoken more than he should in the presence of his elders and was instantly silent.

It was time to finish serving the meal.

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