The Child Madonna, Chapter 15 'The Consequences'

Context…
After being caught by Herod’s soldiers on return from her mission to her father and his Zealot rebel colleagues hiding in the hills, and brought back by the Roman captain in charge of the platoon, (see Chapter 13 put on ABC Tales earlier) the soldiers seek and kill a number of the rebels and return three bodies to the village, including that of Mari’s father, Joachim.

Chapter 15 The Consequences
After the funeral many of the mourners dispersed but Eli’s own family gathered for a meal that women from the village had prepared for them. At the end all the women returned to their homes or lodgings to put their children to bed, and prepare themselves, while the men stayed behind to discuss a number of issues that Eli wanted to settle with his kinsmen. Only Anna was required to remain, as their talk would concern her state of widowhood and responsibility for her future, as well as for Mariam and her siblings. Anna returned briefly to ask Mari to settle the children and not to wait up herself, as it was clear that her long day at Mount Arbel, her grief and sleepless night had now taken a heavy toll.

Mari was vaguely aware of Anna’s return, it seemed well into the middle of the night, but she no more than opened half an eye as her mother slipped past her, and promptly turned over and fell immediately into a deep sleep.

The next morning Mari woke up to find that the household had already been humming for some time. Rebecca, Salome and Benjamin had dressed and were off to join Miriam’s three for breakfast, and play under their aunt’s supervision. Anna was sitting on the end of the mattress, gently shaking Mari by the shoulder and saying:

“Mari, Mari, wake up, love, there are things I have to tell you before it is too late. Mari, can you hear me? Are you awake yet?”

The girl shook herself from her heavy sleep, rubbed her eyes, and smiled at Anna’s concerned face. Then she propped herself up on one elbow and waited for what her mother had to say.

“Mari, listen carefully, I’ve got a number of important things to say and I must know you’ve understood.”

“It’s alright, mother, I am awake, is anything the matter?”

“Last night, after the funeral meal, Uncle Eli, Clopas, Jonas, Simon, Zacharias and Joshua with two of the rabbis from the synagogue talked for a long time about our future. You know of course that many years ago I had to flee from my mother’s home in Ein-Karem, near Jerusalem, when Salome, your grandmother, moved up here with Joachim your father, and I was but recently married to him. Uncle Eli took us in and gave us all a refuge for the sake of grandma. He promised us then that we would always have a home here. Now that your father’s dead, I was worried whether Uncle Eli would feel any further obligation to us, but we have no worries on that score. Eli says I may stay on here in this house with my family; he will assume full responsibility for us all and will act as head of the house to take all decisions now that Joachim is gone. In fact, that will not be much different, as Joachim was so seldom here to consult.”

“That is good, mother. At least we’ll have no worries about a home. It had not occurred to me that Father’s death could have led to us losing our house as well.”

“Yes, child, that is good. But I have some other news as well that concerns you. I’m not sure if you will be so pleased.”

Mariam sat up straighter and looked more alert. She said nothing but waited for her mother to continue. Anna was clearly struggling to put her thoughts into words. She continued slowly, choosing her words very carefully.

“Uncle Eli thinks it is time you were married….”

Mari made as if to interrupt.

“Hold on, my child, let me finish before you say anything and listen carefully. He believes that you have many qualities, not least the obvious way you have with animals and children, but he thinks you are becoming too independent, too wayward, and he fears that if someone does not take you in hand soon, you will cause real problems for yourself and us, even worse than have just happened….” Shush, don’t protest, those are his words, not mine. He knows that he encouraged you to read and write and learn the scriptures just like a boy, and now he worries that you do not know your role in life; he thinks you need the discipline of a husband who will command you.”

“But mother, I’m still only twelve.”

“I know, love, but you’re of age now, and many of your friends are already betrothed or their fathers are negotiating an engagement.”

“Is he thinking of anyone in particular already, or is he just saying that he will start looking?” she asks nervously.

“He spoke at length to the others last night and asked their advice. There is a name that was suggested. Apparently one of your father’s band managed to escape from the soldiers and has taken refuge in Nain. They think that he needs to find a home and settle down and they are suggesting your name to him as a wife.”

“Is he one of the Zealots I met with Father on Mount Arbel ?”

“I gather so, my child. He is the one called Isaac from Capernaum in northern Genneseret in Galilee.”

“Oh.”

Anna waited for further reaction. “You don’t seem very enthusiastic.”

“I didn’t like any of Father’s friends very much. They seemed so rough and dirty and I felt uncomfortable with them. I can’t really say why. If Dad hadn’t been there, I think I would have been frightened of them.”

“Do you remember this Isaac in particular?”

“Not very well. I think he was one of the younger men, but very big and burly. Does it mean he would still be a Zealot and be a wanted man living in the hills nearly all the time like Father ?”

“I’m not very happy about that, love. It’s no life for a young girl like you; even I had a few years of marriage before your father took to the hills for most of the time. I think, though, he wants to try to settle down and avoid bringing himself to the notice of the soldiers.”

“What say do I have in it, mother?”

“You are of age, my daughter. You cannot be married without your consent. Uncle Eli and the others know that, although they expect you to do as you are told, especially in view of the charity that they are showing towards me and the children.”

“Are you saying that they will throw us out of our home if I don’t marry this man?”

“No, no, child, nothing as crude as that. If you will not marry this man, they will try to persuade you, but you have the final word and I will support you, whatever they say.”

Mari leant forward and hugged her mother.

“Thanks, Mum, that makes me feel much better. What is to happen next?”

“Sometime today Uncle Eli will formally ask you for your consent to marriage. It is up to you to ask to meet Isaac first, and consider the proposal before giving your consent. You may need to stand up to Uncle Eli’s blustering, but I think I understand you well enough to know you’re well capable of that. I just ask you not to turn the man down out of hand; that would make Eli very angry with you, and he’s already not very pleased as you well know.”

“Alright, mother, I’ll take your advice. But you know that I’m not very keen. How will you get along here without me to help with the children? And what about them, Salome was saying only yesterday that she never wanted me to go away?

Mari had a sudden afterthought.

“Mother, you said that this man came from Capernaum. Would I have to go and live with him all that distance away from you?”

“I’m not sure. That’s one of the things the men are still considering. They think it may be too dangerous for him there as he could be known to the authorities. It might be safer for him to have a room with Joshua and Susanna in Nain. You would be in closer touch with us there.”

“So I have to wait for Uncle Eli to send for me this morning when he will talk to me about getting betrothed?”

“Yes, Mari. That’s part of what he will want to talk to you about.”

“What? There’s some more?”

“I’m afraid so, Mari. I don’t really know how to tell you this. They have decided you are to be punished for placing yourself in moral danger with gentiles and putting the Zealots and whole village at risk.”

“That’s unfair! What should I have done?”

“I know, child, that’s what I told them myself, but I’m afraid they accused me of being too soft with you. You know your uncle, how much he hates to be indebted in any way to a foreigner and the visit of the Roman captain cut him to the quick. And everyone is nervous now that the soldiers will still come back to the village and trick us, despite what the Roman said. They don’t trust him at all.”

“What are they going to do to me?”

Anna paused and swallowed, unable to look her daughter in the eye.

“You’re to be taken to the market place at sundown and submit to a caning from the priest.”

“You mean a public caning with everyone looking?”

“I’m afraid so, Mari.”

“Oh mother, it will be humiliating, everyone will be there from the village; will Joshua and Jonas and the others still be here, or will they have gone home?”

“I think they’ll be there, Mariam, they were part of the discussion.”

Mari buried her face in her mother’s breast and shook silently.

“I don’t think I can bear it, mum, not the shame. I know as a child I’ve had lots of spankings and canings here in the family, but so has everyone else. It’s different in public. Rhoda told me it was awful when she was caned for stealing some fodder for her animals instead of driving them out to graze for themselves.”

“Child, you will have to be brave and take it with dignity, knowing that you have not committed any sin that would earn such a punishment from the Lord God. And my girl, it could have been a lot worse!”

“Worse, how could it have been worse?”

“Mari, you are technically an adult, admittedly only just. And an adult punishment is normally a whipping carried out in the outer courtyard of the synagogue – a full thirty nine stripes. They wanted you flogged, Mariam, but I pleaded for you, and they relented. Even Uncle Eli, I think, admitted that that would have been too harsh for you.”

Mariam had gone pale at her mother’s words, and was realising with shock that she was in the process of putting her carefree childhood romps behind her. Her life was changing so fast that she was reeling with the pace, her ignorance was being blasted away and she was frantically trying to make sense of the new realities.

The girl, still sitting upright in bed, shivered suddenly, despite the morning warmth. Anna, looking at her with compassion, said as gently as she could:

“The time is marching on, Mari. I think you should get up and prepare yourself. I will excuse you going to fetch the water this morning; Miriam will ask Salome to go for you. By the way, Miriam brought over this old tunic of hers for you to wear. It will be a bit long and baggy, but it will give you something to cover yourself with when Eli calls for you. I shall finish washing your own tunic this morning, and you will be allowed to put it back on after the caning, because you will then have been purified.”

“When will you have made me a new loincloth?”

“I’m sorry, Mari, I just haven’t had the time in the last couple of days. It’s about time you were able to do that. I’ll ask Eli if I can purchase some suitable cloth this afternoon, and I’ll show you how to make it. It’s something we can do together while you’re recuperating from your caning.”

Mariam gave her mother a withering look at this reference as she stepped up from the mattress and pulled Miriam’s shift over her naked body.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to keep reminding you. What will you have to eat now?”

“I really don’t feel like anything. Telling me about the marriage plans and the punishment has made me too nervous to be hungry.”

“You must have something. You’ll feel faint otherwise, you don’t want people to think you can’t take it.”

“Leave me alone for a while, Mum. I want to say my prayers.”

Anna slipped outside into the courtyard and started to milk the goats, leaving her daughter alone in the little room. Mari was not used to saying her prayers here, she preferred the open air when she was caring for her flocks, but she felt at this moment a pressing need to say something to God.

“Lord God, listen to your servant, Mariam. I hardly know what to say to you this morning, my mind is in so much of a whirl. I am frightened by the things Mother has told me. Help me to be a brave girl and bear the punishment without disgracing myself or my family. And help me to make the right decision about getting married, and be strong enough to speak my mind. Look after Dad, take him to heaven to live with you, and comfort Mum, Salome, Rebecca, Benjamin and me.”

When Anna came back carrying the pail of warm milk, she poured some out into an earthenware basin and handed the girl a ladle, saying:

“Make some butter, Mari, we shall still need plenty to make up for what everyone has been eating in the last two days. And here,” she said, pouring out some more milk into a cup, “drink this if you will not eat!”

Mariam put the cup to her lips, pulled a bit of a face, took a quick draught and swallowed awkwardly as though she was having difficulty in keeping it down. Then, unfinished, she laid it to one side and started stirring the milk in a distracted way, while her mother kept up a flow of talk of this and that, designed to prevent Mari dwelling on what had already been said. She grunted in acknowledgement from time to time, then suddenly interrupted:

“Mother, you needn’t try to talk to me all the time. I need to think.”

“Sorry, love. I think I am as nervous as you are. When someone you love is worried or in trouble you feel it more than if it was yourself.”

“I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just that so much is happening, I need to sort it out in my mind a bit.”

“Don’t worry, love. You do what you feel is best. I’ll go outside for a bit and see how the children are getting on over at Miriam’s.”

“Mum, I suddenly thought, they won’t make Salome and Rebecca watch me being punished, will they?”

“No, don’t you concern yourself about that, I’ll ask Miriam to stay with the children, so that I can be with you.”

“Thank you.”

Alone, Mari continued to stir, her mind elsewhere; she gave no clue to her thoughts, her face was masked, her eyes were dull in the sunless room. And as she thought, she felt somehow that she was not alone. She felt stronger. She took a long deep breath. She breathed slowly, out and in, calming her fluttering stomach. She looked over her shoulder as if she sensed someone present. But there was no-one there?

She was daydreaming away when she heard the door open and a shaft of light fell across her lap.

“Mari, Uncle Eli is in the yard, he is ready for you.”

Mari started, then shook herself and stood up, looking at her mother and gulped.

“Listen carefully to what he says, and be polite; try not to argue too much with him. And accept his authority, child, it is for the best.”

“I’ll try, Mother, really I will.”

“Good luck and God bless you, Mari.”

Anna stooped and kissed her daughter on the forehead as she reached the door.

Mari stepped out into the bright sunshine and squinted around. In the corner, shaded to some extent by the wall of his own home, stood Eli, with Jonas and Clopas. Eli beckoned Mari across and then put up a hand restraining her before she can touch any of them. She remembered she was still ritually unclean.

“Mariam, your mother has told you what we need to speak to you about?”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“Then listen carefully, child, these things are of great importance.”

Mari nodded, the other two men watched her without saying anything.

“You know of course that I’ve responsibility for you now that your father’s dead.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve told your mother that I will support her and her family as long as it is necessary.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“It is no more than my duty, child, one that a Pharisee would be ashamed to neglect. Now, standing in place of your father, I have the responsibility of finding a husband for you. You are midway into your thirteenth year, just past the age of your maturity and many young girls are already married by then. I believe you need a husband. It is not good for you to be roaming the hills and streets as freely as you do. Salome and Rebecca are of an age when they can take on your duties of caring for the flocks and helping in the fields, as well as working with your mother about the house. Do you agree with me?”

“Sir, it is not for me to say. If you feel that I should be married I must listen to your advice. I am happy still in the fields and looking after Miriam’s children as well as my brother and sisters.”

“I’m glad you are prepared to accept my advice. I discussed the question of a husband for you with Clopas and my sons-in-law last night and we are resolved to betroth you to a close friend of your father, Isaac of Capernaum. Do you know the man?”

“I believe I met him briefly when I was with my father on Mount Arbel.”

“We have sent word to him to offer you in marriage. Do you give your consent?”

“Sir, I should like to meet him and discuss it with him, before I consider your proposal properly.”

Her answer stunned the men, at least Eli and Jonas looked shocked, Clopas hid his views whatever they were.

“Did I hear you right, girl?

Mari, in a somewhat small voice, stuck to her guns.

“Sir, I ask that I might meet Isaac before I give my consent.”

“Do you not trust your kinsfolk to have your best interests at heart?”

“Yes, of course I do.”

“Well then, why the hesitation?”

“I would like to meet this Isaac, Uncle, when he is not living rough and on the run from the soldiers. Will he be able to live with me, or will he be hiding in the hills all the time?”

“Your cousin Susannah and her husband Joshua have kindly offered you both a room in their house in Nain. What more could you ask?”

“I am grateful to them, Uncle. But I would still like to talk it over with Isaac first. I am very young and he seemed a lot older and very large to me. I was a bit frightened of him.”

“He is a fine man, Mariam, worthy of your father. He has fought alongside your father for many years, well trusted. He honours our nation, comes from a family of Pharisees, and abhors the gentile. He may be a little rough in his ways, but that comes from spending so many years living off the land. So let’s hear no more of this nonsense about seeing him first. You saw him on Mount Arbel. Let me send your consent to him.”

“Please, Uncle, don’t rush me. It is a big step for me to take, I want to make sure it is right for me.”

“What has got into you, girl?” exclaimed Eli in mounting anger, whilst the other two men were muttering between themselves. “It is not for you to decide these things. It is my responsibility, and your duty is to be submissive and accept what I arrange for you without all this quibbling.”

“I thought I had the right to be consulted, Uncle?”

“And you are being consulted, girl! And I expected you to have been pleased with what we had fixed. After all the problems of the last few days, to put it mildly, I would have thought you’d have been bending over backwards to be co-operative. Are you telling me formally, child, that you will not give your consent to this match?”

“No, Uncle. But I am asking you to let me postpone my decision until I’ve met Isaac and we have talked together.”

“And that is your final word?”

“Yes, sir.”

Eli was clearly very frustrated and upset and withdrew to discuss the matter with Jonas and Clopas. Mariam strained to hear what they were saying, but most was lost, except for an important phrase from Clopas’ lips “….she is within her rights…..” Eventually Eli turned back to the trembling Mari, who was feeling chilled and goose-pimply despite the increasing heat of the day.

“We can’t make you go against your wishes, because you are of age, and the law demands your consent. I am not pleased, however. You are flaunting your independence and strong will, which is what I feel should be curbed by marriage to a strong husband. I shouldn’t be at all surprised if your mother hasn’t put you up to this. She has too much influence over you.”

“No, Uncle, my mother has left it entirely up to me. She has not tried to advise me against Isaac. And she has said that she will support me, whatever I decide.”

“So it is your will which prevails, is it, little girl. You ignore the views of your elders and betters, those appointed to look after your interests. I don’t know why I bother.”

“Please don’t say that, sir. I am very grateful for all you have done for us. But please be merciful to me on this. I have prayed to the Lord God to show me what is right and I don’t feel I have an answer yet.”

“So you would use God’s name against me now, would you? Be careful, young lady, you are coming within inches of blasphemy! If you insist on exercising your right as an adult, I could use that same argument in a moment on the other matter about which I have to inform you.”

“What do you mean?” asked Mari with misgivings, suddenly in her mind making the connection Eli intended her to make. “No, you can’t mean…..”

“Indeed I do,” said Eli with grim satisfaction which he was unable to avoid showing in his face, “we spent a long time last night debating the penalty for your misbehaviour and had concluded that as you have reached your majority, you were liable to the full rigours of adult law and should therefore be subject to a whipping like any other adult condemned in this town. Your mother pleaded on your behalf, especially that your immature body would not be able to bear the full onslaught of thirty nine lashes. I told her that that was your misfortune; if you had not behaved irresponsibly, you would not have had to suffer the consequences. Then your mother herself begged to be allowed to suffer the punishment in your place, so, after further discussion, we decided to be merciful to you and treat you as a child instead. And now you insist on making us treat you as an adult!”

“Did you say my mother offered to take my place and be whipped instead of me?”

“Yes, that is precisely what I said, child. You have your mother to thank for your reduced sentence.”

“Oh.”

“However, Mariam, despite your provocation now, I have to tell you that you are to receive a public caning in the market place at sundown tonight. You put your father and his colleagues at risk, you put the whole village at risk, you consorted with gentiles and allowed them to bring you home and all this was highly irresponsible. You and your family have already been punished by the death of your father. However, so that you truly learn the lesson of your wildness and the errors it can lead to, you must be made a public example. I ask you, Mariam, do you submit to this sentence that I am communicating to you?”

Mariam looked at his stern face and decided that no good will come from further argument or excuse. She hung her head.

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m glad to see some humility in you at last. Listen to me carefully then. You are to return to your home now, wash yourself and wear only the shift that you have on now. When the light is beginning to fade, I shall knock on your door and your mother will accompany you in procession to the market place where you will be instructed what to do. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“After you have received twelve lashes of the rod, you may put on your own clothing once more, as your purification will be complete and enter into the normal life of the village without restriction.”

“Yes, sir.”

Eli relaxed his face a little, staring at the frightened girl in front of him.

“I’m sorry, my child, that it has come to this. I have always had high hopes for you, but you have bitterly disappointed me. Do not now further disgrace your family by taking this punishment badly. Try to control yourself throughout, do as you are instructed, and do not break down or try to run away during the caning. These things sometime happen; at least show that you have some dignity.”

“I will try, sir.”

“Right, girl, go and prepare yourself.”

Mariam turned and tried to walk more calmly than she felt across the dusty yard, then nearly threw herself through her own door into the arms of her mother who had been watching anxiously through the narrow window.

“How did it go, girl?”

“As you said it would. Why did you tell him that you’d take my place, Mum, you couldn’t do that!”

“Oh, did he tell you that, Mari? I asked him not to say anything. I would gladly stand in for you, love, if I could. I am going to find this afternoon as difficult as you are. It sounds silly, I know, but when you see someone you love suffering, it hurts you too!”

“Oh, Mum, I love you!”

“Mari, my child, no mother could have a daughter who makes her so proud. Just remember that when others criticise and blame you. This nightmare will soon be over, love. This week has been dreadful for both of us. Let us hang on together and thank the Lord that we have each other.”

Meanwhile Clopas was scurrying after Eli, clutching his sleeve, and saying angrily:

“Have you already made up your mind? You said last night that such a punishment was still under consideration, that we’d talk further with the synagogue rabbis today. Have you already gone to them this morning and made the arrangements despite what we agreed?”

“You’d better come in and not shout so much lest Anna and Mariam hear you. Jonas, you too, if you are having second thoughts.”

“I didn’t think you were serious last night. I thought you wanted to shake the girl up a bit, just make her think about the potential consequences of her actions. The marriage is one thing, but a public beating? What sin has she committed? She hasn’t killed or stolen or behaved immorally of her own volition. She was a victim, not the perpetrator of wrong.”

“Not you too, Clopas? You’re as bad as her mother and your wife. Can’t you see she’ll be the ruin of us, she’s wild, she’s out of control, she doesn’t know the meaning of obedience. If we don’t act now to curb her, she’ll finish up bringing the wrath of the Romans down upon us, or go to her own execution first. Surely you can see that she is no longer the innocent child. She has dangerous dreams, look at the way she answered back to us. She does not know her place.”

“But you’ve encouraged her over the years. Why did you support her education with the boys? Why did you give her that scroll on her twelfth birthday? Now you regret what you’ve done?”

“I thought she could make a good marriage, she was intelligent, I thought I could shape her. I suppose you think it’s my fault that she abuses those gifts.”

“How does she abuse them? She cares for your grandchildren, she looks after your flocks, she is the first to be called on whenever there is drudgery to be done. Why should she not dream a little?”

“Jonas, you’ve said nothing. What do you think? Do you think I’m being unjust?”

“Well, we did say last night that she should be punished. We even thought the adult whipping should be considered although the girl’s mother talked us out of that.”

“If you must punish her in some way, why the public caning? Do you want to show up your own family? Do you want to heap ridicule on yourself by showing for all to see that you can’t control your own niece?”

“Clopas, I am a Pharisee with some position in this town. How do you think it would look if I am seen to be lenient with my own kinsfolk? I could be accused of favouritism and people would lose trust in my integrity.”

“Well, how would people know that you think Mari deserves a beating? Would it be public knowledge that you showed a little mercy for once? She has not been publicly tried of a criminal offence, probably few others would think she deserves such a thing.”

“All the town saw the way she was brought in by that Roman officer, flaunting herself shamelessly and then having the nerve to defend him in front of our neighbours. And everyone knows she brought the soldiers here and caused the death of the Zealots. There are many angry and fearful people here. We can’t be seen to do nothing.”

“I think you’re out of order, Father. I’m ashamed that you can think of treating Mari like that. It’s just not justice.”

“And what is your view, Jonas, you didn’t really help much last time you spoke?”

“Well, perhaps you could carry out her punishment behind the family walls this time – that is, provided you haven’t already given notice on the public board at the synagogue.”

“You haven’t, Father, surely not already before checking with us?”

Eli was discomforted because that’s just what he had done earlier that morning. He had consulted with the rabbis with whom the discussion had taken place the night before and confirmed their provisional decision. One of the rabbis had been surprised and had challenged Eli, but the other had congratulated Eli on his strength in resisting familial pressure and said he would carry out the caning himself to avoid embarrassing Eli further. Eli was now reluctant to admit this, but Clopas realised from his hesitation that Eli had already notified the decision.

“That means it’s already public knowledge. Now you’ve made it harder to retract the decision without it seeming just what you wanted to avoid.”

“So we should stick to our decision, should we not? Otherwise we’ll look fools who’ve been weakened by women’s pleading and enrage those who were appalled at the soldiers’ threats and actions.”

“Father, you can’t allow this brutal and humiliating punishment to go ahead just to spare your pride. For goodness sake, call it off and quickly before any more people read about it.”

“It’ll be all over town by now. It only takes a couple in this place to read something and within an hour it is common knowledge.”

“I don’t think people want to see Mari punished. I think the majority are sorry for her and think she was ill used. If you like, I’ll check out a few neighbours and townsfolk and see what they think.”

“If you must. But be discreet. Just get a feel of people’s reaction, don’t make it seem as though we’re asking their opinion and could be swayed by that. Go then and let us both know the general consensus. It doesn’t matter what time we call it off, if we do, since as you say the town gossips will already be hard at work.”

Clopas walked down to the market and the impending punishment was on everyone’s lips. He did not have to ask anyone, he was grabbed by any who know him, who asked incredulously if it was true. Surely not, unless there’s some guilty secret that has not been made public. People seemed to be appalled that such a sentence should be passed on an angel like Mari, everyone’s favourite. Some even questioned Eli’s sanity. Others were curious perhaps just to see the disgrace of the rabbi’s own niece.

It was not that uncommon to see miscreants brought to the market place or synagogue for whipping or stoning, and squalling children being spanked by their fathers on the doorsteps of their houses was an everyday occurrence. You would not have seen this in Jerusalem, of course, that was a much more refined city where such public justice was frowned upon, except under Roman law. But here, well it’s a backwater and justice was rough and quick and administered largely by the rabbis whose word went unquestioned, although they soon picked up the vibes of the villagers over what behaviour was unacceptable and warranted such retribution.

The only discordant voice was that of the outcast, Rachel, who had already heard the rumour from Bilpah whom she had met earlier that morning at the well. Rachel was glad that such a well respected and liked girl was due to get such a thrashing and she was determined to observe it all, even if she would have to watch from afar, lest she receive the crowd’s jeers and taunts herself. That would teach the sheltered little paragon. She was not the only one whom the crowds would shun. There would be the two of them – perhaps she’d talk to her now, no longer be afraid to be seen with her.

She was going to say something to Clopas, then she thought better of it. He’d only badmouth her. Best to say nothing and enjoy someone else getting it for once.

Clopas did not need to stay long in the town. The opinion was overwhelming. He hurried back and found Eli, now with both Jonas and Joshua and other male members of the family who had not yet returned to their homes. He was as diplomatic as he could be without undermining Eli in front of his kinsmen, but his message was clear. By exposing Mariam to such a public ordeal he would lose sympathy and respect. He must surely cancel the public notice at once and inform the synagogue authorities.

The men chewed over the options at length but the clear consensus was that Eli must retract. Only Joshua, Jonas and Clopas were implicated in the deliberations with Anna during the night over the family’s future, but the other relatives concurred with the advice Clopas was now giving. To save his father further embarrassment, Clopas volunteered to advise the two rabbis at the synagogue of their decision, leaving Eli to debate with his sons-in-law and cousins what should happen in its place. Eli could not afford to step back any further. He had advised Anna and the girl of the punishment. He could not lose face by cancelling it totally. Without Clopas to argue on the girl’s behalf, Eli convinced the others that the girl deserved chastisement and was given the backing he needed to decide to carry it out himself, but in the privacy of the family homestead.

The afternoon was long and stifling and full of tension.

As the sun began to lose its strength and sink toward the reddening hills, Rachel made her furtive way towards the village market clearing and was surprised to find few people there. She had expected a big turn-out for such an infamous occasion. She latched on to a group of gossiping women, at a safe distance of course, and soon overheard the dominant topic of conversation. The public caning had been cancelled. Rachel felt a pang of disappointment. Then she heard them say that the girl was still to get a whipping but that the rabbi would execute it in the privacy of the Pharisee’s home. Apparently Eli had let it be known that the girl was not to escape punishment completely. What should she do? She began to drift back to her own house but meandered via the walls of Eli’s courtyard out of curiosity. She was not alone, a few other stragglers appeared to be occupying themselves doing nothing in particular. A couple of times someone looked as though they were going to come over and tell her to clear off and she shrank into the shadows, but still lingered.

Eventually she was rewarded. She heard a gaggle of voices, she dared not look through the cracks in the wooden gate. Silence. Then she heard the crack of the cane. Again and again and again. She had come to gloat, but as she heard the punishment unfurling and nothing more but strangled gasps from the victim, her sympathies changed. She began to feel sorry for the girl and hatred for the self-righteous clergy who ruled this village. The lashes reverberated around the still evening and Rachel grimly thought that this was too much. The bastards, she thought to herself, and “one up to you,” she muttered under her breath, “you’re made of tougher metal than I thought”.

There was a more general movement and the gates opened and a number of men walked slowly from the courtyard. Instead of slinking away, Rachel’s anger had made her foolhardy. Throwing caution and decorum to the winds, she yelled at the top of her voice:

“Well done, kid, don’t let them grind you down. Come and see me sometime, I’ll tell you a thing or two about priests and rabbis!”

Jonas, who had come to close the gate, chased Rachel, shouting after her:

“Whore and Jezebel, don’t you come near our home. Go back to the gutter where you belong!”

The girl laughed brazenly at him, then gave him the slip, running up a side alleyway until she was lost in a maze of back streets and Jonas returned red-faced and out of breath.
He went up to Anna’s house and shouted inside:

“Don’t take any notice of her, she’s in league with the devil. Don’t let anyone ever catch you with her.”

Anna took the tearful Mari in her arms and said more quietly:

“That is good advice, my child. She will only cause trouble; no decent Jew will be seen with her. You have other, better, friends here.”

At midnight, when Anna had done her best to soothe and comfort her tortured child, singing softly as she used to sing lullabies when she was a baby, she said to Mari:

“Mari, are you ready to hear some better news?”

“Yes, mother.”

“Uncle Eli’s had a message back from Isaac in Capernaum. He’s turned down your uncle’s offer of betrothal to you. He won’t have you because he thinks you betrayed him and the others. Are you pleased?”

Mari, her eyes still shut, let a smile spill across her red and blotchy face.

“Are you sure, mother? He doesn’t really want me?”

“Yes, quite sure, my love. Eli’s furious; he’s so angry, he couldn’t bring himself to tell me. Clopas had to pass the message on.”

Mariam began to laugh; her body shook under her mother’s fingers, transmitting her hysteria to Anna, so that she too began to rock in strained merriment. They laughed until once more the tears flowed.

“Oh, mother, stop it, stop it, I mustn’t laugh so much, it hurts so, oh Mum, stop laughing, oh…..”