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Written by Kimba Henderson
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Saturday, 29 March 2008 06:00 |
 Babylon, 539 BC
He noticed that she was taller than the others, dark-skinned, bold featured - a Jebusite without a doubt. She did not like the Hebrew slaves serving alongside her within King Belshazzar's banquet hall. In fact, she had a hatred for them. He could tell by the way she kept to herself and did not lower her eyes to look at them. There was such a deep hatred there - the one thing he had in common with this slave. Hadn't these Jews routed her people from Jerusalem, the city they had built, the city once called Jebus? Hadn't they killed or enslaved most of those who'd been left behind? As Habron returned his attention to his meal, he vowed to keep Rabin the Jebusite in mind. He would surely find use for her
As one of the king's top advisors, Habron was used to noticing things, especially if it served his purposes. "She's lovely, isn't she?" King Belshazzar remarked, having noticed Habron's eyes upon Rabin. The king had mistaken the reason for Habron's interest, but he simply smiled. "I will give her to you as a gift," the king offered, enjoying his own generosity.
As the goblets were filled, fine exquisite pieces made of gold and encrusted with jewels, King Belshazzar stood to propose a toast. "To the great god, Sin and our patron god, Marduk, may they continue to shower their blessings upon Babylon." As Belshazzar, his wives, and thousands of his nobles drank the exotic, sweet wine of the region, those who knew of the goblets' origin cringed in fear. Stolen from the Temple of God when King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem almost 50 years before, these goblets belonged to the God of Heaven, who did not share His things with gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. The king had made a mistake. It would be his last.
Rabin's clay pitcher shattered as it fell from her hand. Almost immediately, other pitchers met the same fate. Then came the screams, then the desperate rushes for the exits. Fear and panic filled the hall. King Belshazzar's knees knocked and his legs gave way as he saw the reason for the chaos. On the wall before him, a disembodied hand wrote a message that he knew in his heart of hearts was meant only for him.
Hours passed, but it seemed like days. Although the banquet hall was almost empty, a cloud of desperation loomed, as the king's "advisors" took their turns arguing over the meaning of the writing on the wall. "The words are a secret message and cannot be read," an ambassador from a far away land suggested, hoping to secure a more prestigious post.
"Nonsense! With the liver of a goat, I will be able to decipher this message from the gods," challenged the king's premiere magician.
"The words are a greeting of friendship in the language of the great god Marduk," offered the chief priest.
As more arguing erupted, King Belshazzar held his head. Was this the wisdom he'd surrounded himself with all of these years? Rabin stood nearby and filled his cup with wine. He looked up at her; with gratitude he rarely showed anyone, but did not drink.
As Nitocris, the queen mother, overheard the commotion in the banquet hall, her heart sank. Last night's lunar eclipse signaled a time of danger for kings as it always had, but she hadn't expected the lot to fall to her son. Nitocris knew who the message was from, and it struck a deep fear in her. She had known of Him through her father, Nebuchadnezzar. He was a powerful God that did not send personal messages without great intent or consequences. She ran as fast as she could from her room, accompanied by her personal guards. She was running to the one man in Babylon who could help. A man whose counsel she'd always fruitlessly hoped her son Belshazzar would entertain during his reign. He was a Jew of all people, a slave, one amongst the exiles, Belteshazzar, Daniel of Judah.
As the man neared the banquet hall, he noticed it was most quiet. He had lived in Kasr Palace most of his life, and this hall before him had always been a place of celebration and revelry - but not this night. Rabin was the first to notice Daniel as he appeared in the doorway. His lips were moving, and his eyes were closed. Perhaps, he was praying to the gods or perhaps he was just\u0085old.
King Belshazzar followed Rabin's eyes and rushed over to Daniel. Habron snorted quietly in disgust. Why the king held this slave in high enough regard to run to him was a mystery. Habron was familiar with this Jew. As a student of the city's historical records, Habron knew much of Belteshazzar's deeds and the deeds of his God. He had thankfully been pushed aside during King Belshazzar's reign. Why was he back like a plague of locusts? Habron would keep a jealous eye on this exile.
"Are you Belteshazzar, advisor to my grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar?" asked the king.
"I am he. How can I serve you?" Daniel asked.
"My mother tells me you are filled with a spirit of a God that enables you to solve mysteries. Interpret these words for me, and I'll clothe you in purple, place a gold chain around your neck, and make you rich and famous. You will be the third most powerful man in the kingdom of Babylon." A shocked silence overtook the king's "wise men." Why the king offered such honor and luxuries to this slave, the same ones he'd offered them, was beyond puzzling. Habron nodded seemingly supportive of the king, but his heart raged.
"Keep your gifts to yourself or give them to one who desires them," Daniel said looking at Habron, "but I will do as the king asks." As Daniel made his way toward the wall, Rabin watched him. He was old, but there was an inexplicable strength that emanated from him. Rabin had never seen such strength in a man, not even the king. The path to the wall was dark and littered with the king's "wise men," but Daniel made his way through albeit slowly. Rabin grabbed a torch and followed Daniel, helping light his way. He began to walk a bit faster, more purposeful. The king followed behind him a bit meekly. There was much in Daniel's way, shattered pitchers, plates, and jewelry left behind from fleeing guests and from the whispers and derisive chuckles she heard, his enemies were many and close.
As Daniel reached the wall, Rabin held the torch closer to it. He looked up at her and nodded his thanks. As Daniel turned his eyes to the wall, he saw the message, MENE MENE TEKEL PARSIN. Daniel sighed heavily, not wanting to deliver such tidings to the king. As he turned to him, Daniel noticed the temple goblets strewn around the room and shook his head in disdain. Suddenly, the reason for the message was clear to him. The king moved to Daniel and awaited his fate.
"When your grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar became arrogant, the God of Heaven took his mind and exiled him until he acknowledged His power. You knew this, but by using the chalices from His temple to worship your worthless gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, you've treated the God that holds your life in His hands with contempt." Daniel's words held little compassion. Rabin looked on amazed by this slave's boldness.
"How dare you berate the king!" Habron began. Belshazzar held up his hand silencing him.
"What is your God's message to me? Belshazzar asked quietly.
Daniel was direct, "MENE - God has brought the days of your life to an end. TEKEL - You have been weighed against your ancestors and have come up lacking. PARSIN - your kingdom has been given to the Medes and Persians."
Belshazzar hung his head. The room erupted in shock and surprise. Such emotions were in Habron's heart, but he fought to keep them from surfacing. Did this Jew know that at this very moment, Darius the Mede and his army were marching to Babylon? Did he know of his betrayal and that of Asurpinal, King Belshazzar's most trusted military commander? Habron would have to do something about the exile straight away.
"Such dark tidings, Belteshazzar! We still hold to the tradition that bearers of bad news be executed..." Belshazzar held up his hand again, more weakly this time, but Habron still fell silent.
"No," the king whispered, his voice cracking. "Belshazzar has done what was asked of him. I will not reward his integrity with punishment. This Jew has honored his God."
And then it happened. Rabin's eyes narrowed in anger as she backed away from Daniel. It was dark, but Habron couldn't miss the hatred in her eyes. As the king motioned for Camsis, his personal guard, to give Daniel his rewards, Habron smiled. He had found a use for Rabin, the Jebusite.
As the sun rose over Babylon, a gong sounded, clear, foreboding - final. Daniel rose and ran to his balcony. As he looked out, he saw that The Euphrates River still ran through the fortified city, splitting it into two banks. On every corner, a temple to a different god still stood. Just west of Daniel's quarters, a waterfall still flowed through the Hanging Gardens' mountain-like series of trees, plants and flowers - a place still of indescribable beauty. And just beyond the Gardens, the ruins of the long-abandoned Tower of Babel, still loomed. But, something was different. There was a visible presence of Persian soldiers in the city, yet there were no evidences of a battle. They'd somehow taken the city without conflict.
Daniel dressed quickly and ran toward Queen Nitocris' quarters just down the hall from him. He knew his God had been true to his word and that Nitocris' son Belshazzar was dead. He rounded the corner and stopped in his tracks. Surrounding the door were Persian soldiers, dressed in the colorful palette of silks from their land. Their curved swords were enough to dissuade anyone who thought perhaps these men were soft like the fabric of their clothing.
The door opened and Darius the Mede emerged, flanked by Habron and Asurpinal, Belshazzar's trusted military commander. How familiar they were with each other. This was not their first meeting. Daniel immediately knew why the city had been so easily taken. Two of the king's men were not his men at all. As Habron whispered in the Darius' ear. Daniel bowed respectfully, halfway expecting one of the soldiers' curved swords to fall upon his neck. "You may rise, Belteshazzar," Darius said. Daniel was surprised to find Darius' craggy, battle-scarred face light up in a smile, as he had the kind of masculinity that only 50 years of warring could bestow upon a man. "Habron tells me that you're the third most powerful man in Babylon. With Belshazzar dead, his father Nabonidus in exile, you have quickly risen in the ranks."
"It is not a rank I asked for nor do I desire it," Daniel answered.
Darius knew much of what was in a man, and in this one, was true sincerity. He would need that. Darius moved closer. "What is your true name, the name you were given by your father?"
Daniel was surprised Darius even bothered to ask. "I am Daniel."
"Well, Daniel, it has pleased King Cyrus to set me up as ruler of Babylon. I've heard much of your wisdom from the Queen, and so it pleases me to make you my advisor along with Asurpinal and Habron. I will not repeat Belshazzar's mistake and value you too late." Darius smiled again and left Daniel's presence followed by his other advisors. As Daniel bowed, he could hear the heaviness in Habron and Asurpinal's steps. He prayed silently to God, knowing that once again, his life was in danger.
It had been a month since Darius made Daniel one of his closest advisors. He had distinguished himself amongst all of the other administrators. The king suffered no losses in any of the provinces that Daniel oversaw, and no fault or corruption could be found in any of his dealings. Habron's leadership was another matter. Many of those who lived within his provinces had yet to submit to the king's rule. "Rebellion within your provinces is so prominent, Habron, it appears to be a new manner of festival," Darius scolded.
Habron knew he would have to answer for the state of his affairs and was ready. "The Persian tradition of allowing its subjects to worship whichever god they choose is wise but perhaps a bit premature. Men should earn such a freedom by first showing their loyalty and submission to you," Habron reasoned. Darius' eyes lit up, more from the prospect of being exalted than the validity of Habron's argument. Unlike his usual practice in such matters, Darius' pride made his decision, and a decree was written that day: ANYONE WHO PRAYS TO ANY MAN OR GOD FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS OTHER THAN KING DARIUS SHALL BE THROWN INTO THE LION'S DEN. The decree was final and could not be repealed. Habron smiled within himself. He knew Daniel would never follow such a decree. His days were numbered.
As Rabin walked to her new master's quarters, much was on her mind. It would disgust her to be so near a man she hated, but her heart was assuaged by the fact that she would play a part in Daniel's demise. It was a king of the Jews who had conquered Jerusalem, the city built by her people, the Jebusites. It was a Jewish landowner who had forced her father into such vast debt that his only recourse was to sell her and her sister, Darya into slavery. Habron's plan was simple. Whenever she saw Belteshazzar praying, she simply had to hang a red cord Habron had given her, from his balcony. Someone would be watching for her signal at all times of the day. Once Daniel was arrested, Habron would give Rabin her freedom. She could return to Jerusalem, her home and to her family. Her step quickened.
Daniel had heard of the decree, yet it had not changed his practice. Three times a day he still opened his windows toward Jerusalem and prayed to the God who could protect him. As he rose to his feet from his afternoon prayer, there was a knock at the door. Daniel moved to the door quickly, thinking perhaps the king needed his counsel. He was surprised to find Rabin before him and immediately smiled, remembering her from the banquet hall. "Come in, Child," he said without even wondering why she was there.
Rabin entered and did all she could to hide her true feelings for the man before her. She held the bull-shaped idol around her neck asking the great god Baal for strength. "I am Rabin, a gift from Habron," she said with a weak smile.
"I need no such gift," Daniel retorted, seeing through Rabin's smile and realizing her heritage.
"He will beat me if I do not please you," Rabin replied, remembering Habron said Daniel would not simply accept her. "Is there nothing I can do to please you," she continued demurely, as she allowed her garment to slip, exposing her shoulders.
Daniel lowered his eyes, refusing to be tempted by this unique beauty. "The God of Heaven has more noble purposes for your youth and beauty," he said, his heart aching for her. He knew a woman who was so willing to give away her virtue should not remain in the hands of Habron. "This is my sanctuary from the darkness that dwells within this palace," he continued. "You are most welcome in my home, but deception and betrayal are not." As Daniel walked away, Rabin quickly covered herself, embarrassed by her attempt at seduction. Something in her heart warmed toward this man who refused what most men would demand, but something else in her heart hated him all the more.
The next morning, Rabin found a blanket covering her in the place she had fallen asleep. Beside her was a plate of sumptuous fruit. She quickly sat up and began to eat. She'd never tasted fruit so delicious and wondered if it'd been picked from the Hanging Gardens. Daniel emerged from his sleeping quarters quietly and watched Rabin decimate grapes, figs and an unfortunate pomegranate. As he laughed, Rabin quickly rose to her feet and bowed. "Good morning, my lord," she said, as a pomegranate seed flew from her mouth and hit Daniel squarely in the forehead. Daniel laughed again, realizing how long it had been since he'd laughed in such a way.
"You do not need to call me lord. My name is Daniel."
"I thought you were called Belteshazzar?" Rabin asked.
"That is the name the Babylonians gave me when I was brought here as a slave. They wanted me to forget who I was, my people, my land, and my God."
"How is it you are a slave," Rabin asked, surprised to discover she sincerely wanted to know more about this man who was her enemy. "You eat the food of kings, walk in this palace unaccompanied, and speak to kings as if you have authority over them. Your lot is not like mine," Rabin said with a hint of resentment in her voice.
"When kings beckon me, I must go to them. I do not eat the food of kings, because it has been sacrificed to their useless gods, and I walk this palace at will, but I am watched constantly by those who mean to do me harm." Daniel's eyes bore into Rabin's. She looked away, filled with guilt. Daniel moved to her and spoke softly, "Do not let my surroundings fool you. A slave I have been for 65 years, and a slave I still am. You see, I cannot go home to my family which a free man could do. Isn't that your lot, my child?"
Rabin's heart sank. How did this man know that was her deepest desire? She could only manage a nod. Daniel placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and moved to leave.
"If your God gives you the power to unravel mysteries other men cannot, then why doesn't He give you the power to go home?"
Daniel looked at Rabin. Her eyes were bright with curiosity. How could he explain his people's present, God-sanctioned bondage to a woman who was predisposed to hate His God? How could he share the truth with her but allow her to see the goodness of the God of Heaven? He sighed heavily. He would try.
With great effort, Daniel attempted to sit. Rabin took his arm and guided him to the floor. A puzzled look crossed her face. Her aid to Daniel was not out of a slave's duty but out of concern. What was it about this man that made it harder for her to hate him the longer she was in his presence?
"Once, we were content to have the Most High God as our king, but then we looked to our neighbors and demanded a human king like they had, and our God gave us one. Soon we began to follow our neighbors' ways and their gods and forgot our God. Although it will not last forever, we have earned every moment of our bondage." Daniel's heart was suddenly heavy, reminded of the sin of his people.
"Your God is jealous, like a wronged woman?" Rabin understood Daniel's God more than he expected her to.
"Yes, but much more patient, forgiving, and kind," Daniel came to his God's defense.
Rabin smiled, "Please tell me about a time when he was kind."
Daniel had somewhere to be but could not turn Rabin down. What story would he tell her? What story would help her know and understand the God he worshipped and adored? What tale could move her heart enough to reject the dark deed Habron had in mind for her to do? There were so many to choose from. Daniel nibbled on a vine of grapes, hoping the perfect story would come to him before Rabin lost interest. Then, it came to him. Deliverance from Egypt! She would like that one. Oh yes, that was the place to begin!
As Rabin collected Daniel's sun-dried robes from the balcony; her mind was filled with stories of his God. It had been like this for days now. She could not stop thinking about God's saving hand at the Red Sea, and how it showed He was a protector. His voice opened the eyes of Hagar the Egyptian in the desert, and she found water to quench the thirst of her young son, Ishmael, so that he didn't die but became a great nation. This God was a provider. But was he loving, she wondered? Daniel had tried to explain God's love in the way He had given the Jews the promised land of Canaan, the land her people and the Canaanites up to then had inhabited. "It is His land to do with as He pleases and sees fit. It never belonged to any that lived on it beforehand," Daniel reasoned. It was always meant for the people that God called His very own." Rabin knew it would take some time before she ever saw Daniel's God as loving, but she was in awe of Him nonetheless.
Rabin's favorite story was one that had not quite happened yet, one that offered her hope. Within Daniel's sleeping quarters was a secret compartment hidden in the wall near his bed. He called it his treasure chest in which he stored many of his drawings and writings. "I call them my treasures," he said, "because God sent them to me and only me, in my dreams." There were drawings of a two-horned ram and a four-winged leopard, but Rabin's favorite was a statue of a man with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, it's belly and thighs were crafted in bronze, and it's legs and feet were a mixture of clay and iron. Each precious metal represents a kingdom to come. And once all four kingdoms come to pass, the God of Heaven will set up His kingdom. It will be a kingdom of peace made up of all nations of people," he said with a smile. Then his smile widened, "it will never be taken away from those who possess it, and it will last forever."
"Men live to steal kingdoms from one another," Rabin remembers saying, "what kingdom cannot be stolen by men?"
"One that belongs to the God of Heaven," Daniel answered confidently.
Rabin stopped folding Daniel's robes and wondered if Daniel's God would ever let her be a part of his kingdom. She looked inside and saw Daniel praying. She wanted to interrupt him and ask, but did not want the wrath of his God to fall on her for disturbing him. As Rabin left the balcony, she promised herself that she would ask Daniel if she and her people could ever belong to the God of Heaven. The red rope that Habron had given her was the last thing on her mind.
Something in the night made it difficult for Rabin to sleep. Perhaps, it was the priests atop Etemennki Temple, the three-story high ziggurat just beyond the palace, beating their drums as they welcomed the full moon or was it the stale breeze filled with the scent of garbage from the city streets. Something was troubling Daniel as well. Rabin could hear him tossing and turning in the next room. Suddenly, he screamed. Rabin was at his side in a moment shaking him awake. It was a dream that was causing him such anguish. Daniel awoke and saw Rabin beside him. He took her hand and squeezed it as he sat up. "Thank you Rabin," he said breathlessly, "but you must never wake me from my slumber. My God speaks to me in my dreams."
"Is it always so scary?" Rabin questioned.
"No. In fact, it was in a dream that God revealed to me the vision of His kingdom."
Rabin knew this was her chance. "Can I and my people ever be a part of your God's kingdom? Or, does He want to be an enemy of the Canaanites and Jebusites forever?"
"God's kingdom is promised to all those who follow Him, and you must remember that it is your people who have decided to make God an enemy," Daniel said firmly.
"But, He..." Rabin started to argue.
"There are practices amongst your people that are despicable before the Most High God."
Daniel's words silenced Rabin. Her mind wandered to the ways of her people: child sacrifices, temple prostitution, witchcraft and all the deeds that came with it. She would stop her mind there. No reason to continue. These practices would not please a God like Daniel's.
"Does He even want to be my God?" Rabin wondered out loud.
"Of course, he does," Daniel said softly as he touched the idol around her neck. "But, He would have to be your only God."
Rabin's hand flew to her idol before she could stop herself. Daniel just smiled patiently, understanding how hard it would be for her to truly change her allegiance to a God not of her people. "Your faith will grow if you ask God but go back to sleep. The morning will be upon us quite soon." As Daniel lay back down to return to his slumber, Rabin returned to bed as well. "One God," she kept whispering. She closed her eyes attempting to sleep, but tonight she would find no rest.
Habron had always been a patient man. Treachery required it, but Rabin was testing his virtue. It had been ten days since she'd become Daniel's servant, but the red rope had yet to hang from his balcony. The Hebrew was stubborn and would not follow the king's decree. He knew that but could only prove it if Daniel was caught in the act. The answer was simple. He was being betrayed. This Jebusite woman was not aware of who she was dealing with. He would have to make her aware.
As Habron hid behind the pillars outside of Daniel's quarters, he heard footsteps. They were light but had a long stride. He knew whose they were. Habron reached out from the pillar and grabbed Rabin roughly by the arm, the basket of fruit and vegetables she'd bought from the market crashed to the ground but made little noise in the grand hallway of the palace. She screamed, but Habron quickly covered her mouth with his hand and thrust her up against a pillar. Her head knocked against the cold, hard plaster and a sharp pain shot through her entire body.
It took Rabin a moment to focus on her assailant as his eyes bore into hers, blazing with rage. It was Habron and without a word, she knew he was on to her. How much he knew, she wasn't sure. All she was certain of at this moment was that her life was in danger, and that she did not have a God like Daniel's God to save her.
To be continued...
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