Rebekah Redeemed by Sagan Dianne G

Author:Sagan, Dianne G. [Sagan, Dianne G.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Buoy Up Press
Published: 2010-09-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Philip talked about his Roman friends and how he longed to cement his relationship with them. He seemed to crave this way of life over his own heritage. He spoke of nothing else as they traveled the road from Jerusalem.

Not far from Bethany, the entourage arrived at the country villa. Rebekah felt alone and depressed. Even though Deborah got into trouble for listening in on everyone and loved to gossip, she had become a friend. It seemed like Rebekah’s life consisted of never feeling secure or loved, always unwanted and passed off to someone else, always ripped from any relationship that gave her comfort. She still missed seeing Mary and Martha daily at the well. They had been the only people who really cared about her since she lost her father.

Fields of barley and wheat surrounded the main house. A small olive orchard banked in a hillside behind the stables. Extensive rows of grapevines basked in the sun. A pair of heavy, carved gates faced the road. Rebekah noticed a well near her new master’s house. At least she wouldn’t have to walk so far for water.

Philip and his manservant left orders with a man named Aaron who seemed to be in charge of the household. He directed Rebekah, Eunice, and Anna to follow a woman he called Prisca into the house. Prisca had a sinewy look to her and had deep lines in her face.

“Put them to work preparing for the master’s birthday celebration. You’ll only have Eunice and Anna for a few days, but Rebekah stays with us,” said Aaron.

Prisca nodded her acknowledgment and waved the girls through a doorway. Rebekah caught glimpses of the household as she followed Prisca. This villa was not like anything Rebekah had seen before. It didn’t reflect much of the traditional Judean homes or Jacob’s lavish home in Jerusalem. They emerged into an open air atrium with a rectangular pond, lush plants and benches scattered among the cool green. She walked on intricately tiled floors. Murals depicting heroic soldiers and hunters killing beasts decorated the walls surrounding the atrium. Numerous doorways opened onto a balcony that encircled the atrium. A stairway led up to the second floor rooms at each end of the atrium.

They walked through a passage that went under the second floor with rooms on either side. After continuing through a smaller open garden filled with greenery, flowers and a small fountain, they came to the kitchen and servants’ part of the villa. This part of the house remained plain and utilitarian.

Rebekah soon learned that Philip liked surrounding himself with friends and that they spent their time hunting, drinking, and entertaining women at their Roman banquets. He stayed up late every night and awoke in a foul mood and sick from drink. He barely acknowledged his servants and resented any messages from his father, Jacob, to summon him to Jerusalem. He seemed to hate everything about his heritage and his own people. He considered everything and everyone at his disposal, to be used for his own selfish purposes.

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