drjerilyn

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: Revisiting “The Second One to Know”

by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. (Copyright 2016)

A Reading from the Gospel of Luke 1: 26-38 (http://www.usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/index.cfm#Luke)

Announcement of the Birth of Jesus.*

26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.l28And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”m29But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.30Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.31n Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.32o He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,* and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,33and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”p34But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”*35And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.q36And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived* a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;37for nothing will be impossible for God.”r38Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

 Here begins a midrash to tell us ‘the rest of the story’ for there was another being who was present when the angel of the Lord came to Mary. Her young puppy, Abigail, was also there with her.

Mary felt strange that morning of the angel’s visit, as she was awakened by the community rooster, Zephaniah, who interrupted not only Mary’s but also the slumber other light sleepers in the small community of Nazareth. It was going to be a warm day so the alarm was not necessarily unwelcome. Many within the small community often began their daily work at sunrise so that they could nap during the hottest time of the day, around noon. Mary and her widowed mother, Anna, were no exceptions. 

Mary rolled on her sleeping mat and was greeted with a lick on her face by her puppy, Abigail. Abigail was a small fawn-colored dog that she had recently rescued from a Roman officer who was going to kill the puppy because it caused his horse to unexpectedly rear in fright when the puppy bolted out in front of him. No one knew where the puppy had come from nor how it got into the center of the village. Mary begged the officer for the life of the dog, letting him know that she would take care of it. Though Anna was not too keen about keeping a dog, an outcast, in her house, she gave Mary permission to keep the little dog.

After chores were done and the simple noon meal had been eaten, Anna retired to a cool part of the small house for her mid-day siesta. Mary was also sleepy and retired to a corner with Abigail trailing behind her. It was then that Mary was confronted with the angel of the Lord who gave her wonderful news. She was to be the mother of the Most High!

After the angel left her, Mary sank down onto her reed mat in shock. She did not totally comprehend what had just taken place. Abigail, who had been hiding behind Mary when the angel appeared, continued to tremble because she too had seen the light of the angel. Mary came to her senses and began to comfort Abigail who continued to quiver and shake.

“There, there,” cooed Mary. “It is okay, Abigail, no one will hurt you,” Mary said in a very low, quiet voice. “ I know that we are both surprised by this wonderful news that….that…. I am going to be a mother, the mother of God’s son, though I still don’t understand how that can be. I will trust in the Lord for His great mercy is everlasting and he has greatly honored me. Imagine that, simple me will be God’s mother!” Mary said, her voice trailing off as she stared into space.

“We must awaken Anna and tell her the good news, especially the news about Elizabeth.”

With that, Mary got up quickly with Abigail right behind her. “Mother, mother, I have wonderful news….”

Like Mary, let us think about this wonderful news that “… God so loved the world that he gave* his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Have a prayerful week. Blessings!

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: Three Widows Journey Home-Ruth, Naomi and Chalyah

Three Widows Journey Home—Ruth, Naomi, and Chalyah

A Reading from the Book of Ruth 1: 3-17 (NAB: http://www.usccb.org/bible/ruth/1)

 By Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. Copyright 2017

3 Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah, the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years,5 both Mahlon and Chilion died also, and the woman was left with neither her two boys* nor her husband.

6She and her daughters-in-law then prepared to go back from the plateau of Moab because word had reached her there that the LORD had seen to his people’s needs*and given them food.7She and her two daughters-in-law left the place where they had been living. On the road back to the land of Judah,8Naomi said to her daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s house….She kissed them good-bye, but they wept aloud,10crying, “No! We will go back with you, to your people.”11Naomi replied, “Go back, my daughters. … my lot is too bitter for you, because the LORD has extended his hand against me.”14Again they wept aloud; then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth clung to her.

15“See now,” she said, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!”16* But Ruth said, “Do not press me to go back and abandon you!

Wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge.

Your people shall be my people and your God, my God.

17Where you die I will die, and there be buried.

May the LORD do thus to me, and more, if even death separates me from you!”

          Here begins a midrash to tell us about another “widow” that accompanied Ruth and Naomi as they returned to Bethlehem:

           The original reason that Elimelech went down to Moab with his family was because Moab had food. It seems strange that Elimelech’s family would pack up lock, stock, and barrel to move to a foreign country where people worshiped foreign gods and had a long-time hatred of the Israelites. But so it was.

           In the company of this family was a family of canine-companions who helped to herd the sheep who made the journey with their owners. The head of this family was Malkiel (God is my king), a strong sheep herding dog who was devoted to Mahlon, Ruth’s husband. His mate, Chalyah (Jewel) was the prized companion of Ruth and came with her as part of her dowry when she married Mahlon. As fate would have it, there in the land of Moab, the canine family multiplied and prospered. Chalyah first litter of puppies was seven strong.

Then the tragedies began.

           Mahlon, Ruth’s husband and his brother-in-law, Chilion while tending the flocks, were set upon by a pack of wolves that roamed the area. Both men and the guard dog Malkiel, were taken totally by surprise and all lost their lives that night. Truly, it was a terrible loss for the whole family.

           As the Scriptures report, Naomi tried to get her two widowed daughters-in-law to return to their families. It was only Ruth who chose to stay with her mother-in-law and face possible rejection and isolation when they reached Naomi’s home in Bethlehem.

           After proclaiming her loyalty to Naomi, Ruth asked, “As I will not forsake you, please do not command me to leave behind my Chalyah, who has been the jewel of my life. She has been so faithful to me and has been with me for these long years. I know that she is old and the journey might be too much for her, but I cannot leave her.”

           Naomi relented and allowed Ruth to have Chalyah accompany them on their journey.

           Their journey was full of adventures, but one particular instance was memorable. Ruth and Naomi entered a small village seeking a place where they could get a meal and a safe dwelling in which to sleep. There was a small inn in the village, but they were full for the night. The gruff innkeeper turned them away with a wave of his hand, noting that a dog accompanied them and might create a stir if he tried to make room for them. His wife, peeking around the edge of the gate to the courtyard, saw the three begin to return to the dusty path to continue their journey.

           She went after the three, closing the gate so that no one would see her leave.

           “Mistress—ladies,” she cried. “Do you see those caves over there in the hillside? You can bed down there for the night. If anyone asks you why you are there, let them know that Chalyah gave you permission.”

           The old dog’s ears pricked up at the sound of her name and she came close to the woman, who patted her dusty head and smiled at her.

           Ruth said, “Chalyah is the name of my dog, Mistress. Thank you so much for your kindness.”

           “Sleep well and God be with you,” exclaimed Chalyah as she returned to the inn.

           They bedded down for the night and Chalyah, the dog, took up a spot near the entrance of the cave. It was fortunate that she was there, for in the middle of that dark night, a group of armed men came roaming along the hillside looking for a place to divide up the booty they had taken from those who had been staying at the inn. Chalyah began barking and created quite a stir. The men had no idea what was happening and ran away from the barking dog, surprised by the presence of an animal in the caves. In the process, they dropped the valuables they had stolen.

           The next morning, Ruth and Naomi took the valuables back to the inn, requesting to see Chalyah.

           “Chalyah,” Ruth said, “Here are the valuables that I think must have been were stolen from your guests last night. The robbers tried to find a place in a cave to spit up the goods and came into the cave where we were sleeping. My Chalyah heard them and frightened them away. They dropped these.”

           With that the innkeeper’s wife opened the burlap sack and there were jewels, gold, and other precious objects in the bag.

           “How can we thank you,” cried Chalyah, as she gazed in wonder at the glittering treasure in the coarse brown sack.

           “Pray for us as we continue our journey,” said Naomi. “We still have a long way to go.”

           With that the three widows continued on their journey back to Bethlehem. Funny, something similar would happen many centuries later when a family of three, with one on the way, would be on the same road returning home to Bethlehem.

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: The Dog Does Penance-A Reading from Jonah 3

by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. (Copyright 2017)

Reference: NAB: http://www.usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/index.cfm#Jonah

The Dog Does Penance

A Reading from Jonah 3:1-10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time:2Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.3So Jonah set out for Nineveh, in accord with the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an awesomely great city; it took three days to walk through it.4Jonah began his journey through the city, and when he had gone only a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be overthrown,”5the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small,* put on sackcloth.a

6When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.7Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh:* “By decree of the king and his nobles, no man or beast, no cattle or sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water.8Man and beast alike must be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; they all must turn from their evil way and from the violence of their hands.9* Who knows? God may again repent and turn from his blazing wrath, so that we will not perish.”b10When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.

      We must begin our story earlier, much earlier than what is related in this sacred story of Jonah and the great city of Nineveh. So to begin….

      Alexander the Elder lived on the Street of the Cloth Makers. He had a reputation for being the best at dying linen in colors of royal red and scarlet purple, so much so that news of his extraordinary colors reached the king of Nineveh. The king was so impressed with his wears that he appointed him as “Royal Clothier,” a title that was coveted by every linen merchant on the winding, narrow street in the great, vast city of Nineveh.

     One thing that made him so successful was the fact that his wife, Priscilla, was the maker of the linen that he would dye. There was a close working relationship between husband and wife, so much so that when Alexander, the Younger,  their son, was born, they wove beautiful richly colored garments for the child.

     As son Alexander grew, he became the envy of all the many children that played on the well-worn cobblestones of the Street of the Cloth Makers. He had clothing fit for a king. Alexander the Younger had learned from his parents that one should use their talents for the benefit of others and so he gave away many of his shirts and tunics to poorer children so that they could enjoy the beauty and richness of the clothing his father and mother produced.

     Alexander the Younger loved animals and especially gravitated to those who were sick and injured. When Marcus, another linen maker’s dog had puppies, Alexander could not resist the cries of the smallest of the litter, a little black dog he named “Ruff” for the weak sound the dog made when he came near. Alexander begged his parents to allow him to keep Ruff because he feared that the dog would die, as Ruff was so weak and helpless. Reluctantly, Alexander the Elder and Priscilla his mother agreed and Ruff became a permanent fixture in Alexander’s second-story house and in the shop below.

     That was the year that an epidemic broke out in the great city of Nineveh. Many on the Street of the Cloth Makers lost loved ones and Alexander the Elder’s family was no exception. Their beloved son died early one morning with Ruff cuddled next to him. Ruff could not go with the family to bury the boy as dogs were not allowed, but he sat howling in the shop that had been shuttered and closed for the day.

     It was then the prophet came to the great city of Nineveh proclaiming the need for repentance. Alexander the Elder had lived and worked with many of the Jewish merchants that frequented his shop and had often observed the ritual of fasting, wearing sackcloth and sitting on a pile of ashes to express their intense sorrow for their sins. Alexander thought it a strange custom because he did not follow the Jewish religion but honored the gods of Nineveh, a fact that did not seem to matter, at least it did not matter to those Jews who lived on the Street of the Cloth Makers. All of the residents helped and took care of one another regardless of their faith tradition.

     The king proclaimed a fast because he had been touched by the words of Jonah, the Prophet. He knew that there were parts of the city where violence and corruption reigned supreme. The king wanted to fulfill the request of the holy man but was not quite sure what he was to wear for he was not familiar with the clothing of repentance. He went to Alexander for advice.

     When the king arrived, Alexander was able to inform him about the Jewish mourning ritual and produced some samples of sackcloth for the king to see. The king ordered that ALL living beings in Nineveh fast and wear sackcloth so that the God who had threatened to destroy the city would not carry out his plan. 

     Alexander and the other cloth makers produced enough of the fabric so that all of the citizens, including their animals, could be covered in sackcloth. This included Ruff who sported a brightly colored coat of sackcloth, a garment that was out of keeping with mourning, but followed the prescription of the king.

     The story ended happily in that the actions of the citizens of Nineveh and their animals were seen by God and God did not destroy the city. As for Ruff, he continued to wear his coat as a reminder of the time of deliverance and remembrance. When the king came to the shop, he remembered the great fast and this helped him to keep the God of the Jews in his heart. Truly, “The Dog who did Penance” became a symbol for the community of how gracious God had been to them. Thus, Ruff provided a fitting tribute to his family who continued to prosper on the Street of the Cloth Makers.

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: Another of the Good Wife’s Virtues: Abigail (Proverbs 31: 10-31)

It has been some time since I have posted any new midrashim. I hope you continue to visit this blog as I have many more stories to post. Thank you all for visiting my blog.

Another of the Good Wife’s Virtues-Abigail

A Reading from Proverbs 31: 10-31 (taken from NAB:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/proverbs/31)

Who can find* a woman of worth?a

Far beyond jewels is her value.

11Her husband trusts her judgment; he does not lack income.

12She brings him profit, not loss,*all the days of her life.

13She seeks out wool and flax and weaves with skillful hands.

14Like a merchant fleet,*she secures her provisions from afar.

15She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household, a portion to her maidservants.

16She picks out a field and acquires it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17She girds herself with strength; she exerts her arms with vigor.*

18She enjoys the profit from her dealings; her lamp is never extinguished at night.*

19She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.*

20She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.

21She is not concerned for her household when it snows— all her charges are doubly clothed.

22She makes her own coverlets; fine linen and purple are her clothing.

23Her husband is prominent at the city gates as he sits with the elders of the land.*

24She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts.

25She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come.*

26She opens her mouth in wisdom; kindly instruction is on her tongue.

27She watches over* the affairs of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband, too, praises her:

29“Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all.”

30Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.*

31Acclaim her for the work of her hands, and let her deeds praise her at the city gates.

 Here begins a midrash to tell us who the writer of Proverbs had in mind when he penned these words, for, indeed, there is more to this story:

Yes, it was Abigail who was the subject of this glowing list of virtues, for she was the wife of Adonijah, who was one of the elder leaders in a small settlement of weavers and merchants who located together in a large city not too far from Jerusalem.  Though wealthy and a member of the landed gentry, Abigail added much to the family’s income through her weaving of fine linen, woolen cloaks, and belts that were sought after by not only local merchants but also those who traded throughout the Roman Empire.

One of the qualities that the anonymous writer of Proverbs did not catalogue was Abigail’s uncanny ability to detect the suffering of animals. It was almost as if she understood their grief and pain that cried out for relief. She taught her children to always care for injured and sick animals.

Thus, it was not surprising that one day, her youngest son, Amos, brought home a dog that was obviously about ready to give birth. Amos had found the dog wandering in the street next to their home. Though only a four-year-old, he had already named the animal, Mary, after his aunt who lived in Jerusalem. Stately Aunt Mary would probably have been horrified if she knew that her youngest nephew had bestowed her name on a dog, an outcast from society.

“Mother,” quizzed Amos, “this dog is named Mary, and followed me home. Can I keep her?”

“Son,” replied Abigail, “where did you find her? Do you know that she is about to have puppies?”

“Mother, I just knew that she was in trouble because some of the big boys in the town were chasing her and she was having a hard time running from them. I stood up in their path with my big brother Joel and we chased them away from her. See how thin her legs are? Mother, can I keep Mary, she needs our help!” cried Amos, almost to the point of tears as Mary gazed up at both Amos and Abigail as if begging for help.

“Let us ask your father’s permission when he returns home,” she replied, knowing full well that with a name now, the animal had already become a part of the family.

When Adonijah returned home, he could see that Abigail had something on her mind and he drew her aside into the courtyard, away from the children.

“What is it, my love?” inquired Adonijah.

“It seems that Amos has brought home a dog, a pregnant dog, whom he named after your aunt Mary. The animal is in pretty poor shape and is about to give birth. I can see that Amos and Joel have learned the lessons of compassion and care to protect the suffering and extend the hand of hospitality to them,” she whispered to her husband.

“Humm. That could pose a problem for me because we have already extended the hand of hospitality to six visiting rabbis who are on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover. I don’t think they want to share their room with a pregnant dog, even one named after grand dame, Mary!” Adonijah whispered into his wife’s ear so none of the children could hear.

“Let me consider this, dear husband. Will you support my decision in this matter?” asked Abigail.

“You always bring honor to our house and I know that you will decide rightly,” replied Adonijah as the children came running to meet him.

That evening, Abigail fed the dog very carefully and created a bed for Mary under her loom as she had an unfinished project that the merchant, Marcus, was going to pick up the next morning. Abigail had determined to work on it until it was finished even if she completed it long after the family had retired. Abigail could see that Mary was uncomfortable and that night the puppies were born. There were five little newborns that needed attention. Abigail put her weaving aside to take care of Mary and her newborn pups.

Early the next morning, Adonijah left for the city gates to work with the elders deciding issues of importance for the community. Before the distinguished visiting rabbis arrive, Marcus showed up for his three promised woolen cloaks. Abigail gave him the two cloaks she had completed and negotiated with him to deliver the remaining cloak when it was finished.

As they were talking, Amos burst into the small hearth room excited about the puppies, but even more excited about the distinguished visitors that had arrived at their home and were waiting outside the gate to the courtyard.

“Oh, dear,” thought Abigail to herself. “They have come much too early.”

With that thought, she settled her accounting with Marcus and he exited through the servants’ entrance. She then went to escort her guests into the courtyard. There, she settled her guests in the shade under the fig trees that lined the outdoor table and had the servant bring them milk and bread, as well as wash their feet.

It was then that Amos brought Mary and the puppies into the courtyard to show the guests the new additions to the household. Though Abigail’s first thought was to stop him from bringing Mary and the puppies into the yard, she paused and let enthusiastic Amos come forward.

Though there were some raised eyebrows in the company of the six visiting rabbis because dogs were outcasts within the Jewish community (see Leviticus 11: 27—“Of the animals that walk on all fours, those that have paws are unclean for you. If you touch the dead body of such an animal, you will be defiled until evening.”) It was then that Abigail stepped forward.

“Distinguished guests, I know that you are on your way to the Passover Feast. Though I have but a little knowledge of the Law of Moses, I know that Moses commanded us to show compassion to the suffering animals that come across our path. I take the responsibility for this pet that my son, Amos, brought home to us because she was in distress, being unjustly persecuted by some of the village boys. I trust that my action follows Moses’ command, blessings be upon him, that we should take pity and care for animals that are in distress. We must choose life.”

With that, Adonijah appeared behind his guests, who were taken by Abigail’s reasoning. Moreover, they had become intrigued by the way the puppies and the mother dog snuggled up to Amos, who was laughing and giggling as the puppies sought to be close to their mother.

“Dear Adonijah. We wish to thank you for your hospitality and hope our stay will not inconvenience you or the rest of your family. Dear Abigail, we thank YOU for your wisdom and kindness to the least of God’s creatures. Blessings be on this household.”

As the mid-day meal was fast approaching, Abigail further welcomed her guests and went about her duties of serving.

So, let us take from this story the fact that the Letter of the Law instructs us as in proper behavior so that we become holy as our God is holy, but the letter must always be balanced with compassion and mercy for these are also divine qualities that we should develop.

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: Stuck in the Mid, but Ever Hopeful--Jeremiah and Merea

Title: Stuck in the Mud, but Ever Hopeful—Jeremiah and Merea

A Reading from Jeremiah 38: 1-10

from NAB: http://www.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/38

 by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. (Copyright 2017)

1Shephatiah,  [and others] …, heard the words Jeremiah was speaking to all the people:*2Thus says the LORD: Those who remain in this city shall die by means of the sword, starvation, and disease; but those who go out to the Chaldeans shall live. Their lives shall be spared them as spoils of war that they may live.a3Thus says the LORD: This city shall certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon; he shall capture it.

4Then the princes said to the king, “This man ought to be put to death. He is weakening the resolve* of the soldiers left in this city and of all the people, by saying such things to them; he is not seeking the welfare of our people, but their ruin.”b5King Zedekiah answered: “He is in your hands,” for the king could do nothing with them.6And so they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah, in the court of the guard, letting him down by rope. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.c

7Now Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian, a court official in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the cistern. The king happened to be sitting at the Gate of Benjamin,8and Ebed-melech went there from the house of the king and said to him,9“My lord king, these men have done wrong in all their treatment of Jeremiah the prophet, throwing him into the cistern. He will starve to death on the spot, for there is no more bread in the city.”d10Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Ethiopian: “Take three men with you, and get Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”11Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went first to the linen closet in the house of the king. He took some old, tattered rags and lowered them by rope to Jeremiah in the cistern.

      Here begins a midrash to tell us ‘the rest of the story’ for Jeremiah did not wait alone for his rescuers to appear:

     Though not mentioned in the scriptures, Jeremiah had a companion with him who kept watch over the cistern, unable to do anything to help his master. This servant was one he kept hidden in his humble dwelling because she walked on paws and her kind ate blood, a being that was shunned by the Law of Moses. Her name was Merea, a dog who had “adopted” Jeremiah as her master.

     Jeremiah had always seemed to be an outsider because he spoke a truth that the people of the city did not want to hear. The elders of the town thought that Jeremiah was always stirring up trouble because his messages from the Lord seemed to make no sense—surrender risking death so that one might live! This was pure nonsense, for everyone knew that if the city surrendered, the people would be killed and their possessions taken from them.

     When the city first came under the siege, Jeremiah was not welcomed in any house and staked out a place for himself near the city wall, building a crude lean-to of sticks and wood, something to keep himself warm and somewhat comfortable at night. One cold, dark night a small, spindly dog came in and curling up beside him in the lean-to and went to sleep.

     In the morning, Jeremiah felt himself strangely warm, warmer than on previous cold mornings. He noticed that a small, brown, dusty-colored dog had snuck into his dwelling and cuddled up next to him. He felt sorry for the dog and shared his meager rations with her. She was most grateful, licking his hand in gratitude.

     As the siege of the city continued Jeremiah became more and more unpopular because of his message to surrender, a message from the Lord, the king and elders shut out. He sought comfort in the presence of his loyal companion and named her “Merea,” the Hebrew word for “devoted companion,” for that was what she was for him.

     When the princes threw Jeremiah into the cistern, she tried to stop them, but could not. They kicked her aside and she could do nothing but hide behind a large basket until they left the enclosure. She came back to the cistern and heard her master’s cry for help. She could only bark and cry, hoping someone would come to pull her master out of the deep cistern that was empty except for the sticky mud in which her master was held prisoner.

     Then, it occurred to her that she should get help and went to find Ebed-melech, a foreigner but a friend of both Jeremiah and the king. He had visited the lean-to many times during the siege to talk with Jeremiah and share a small meal with him and Merea.

     She found Ebed-melech and began to bark and latched onto his course brown cloak as if to pull him with her. He had heard rumors that Jeremiah was in trouble, but did not believe them.

     “What is it you want, Merea? Do you want me to go with you?” he said. “Perhaps the rumors about Jeremiah are true and he is indeed in trouble.”

     It was at Merea’s insistence that he went with her. Knowing that the food for the city was gone, Ebed-melech realized that Jeremiah was definitely in trouble and he should go to the king to beg for Jeremiah’s life. As commanded by the king, he went and drew Jeremiah out of the cistern.

     After being saved by Ebed-melech and hearing about how his brave companion saved him, Jeremiah was most thankful to the Lord for such a great gift.

     “Thank you dear friend, Ebed-melech, for saving me.”

     “Don’t thank me but Merea,” said Ebed-melech, “for it was her insistence that something was wrong that made me think the rumors of your being thrown into the cistern were true.”

     Though, Jeremiah was eventually hauled off to Egypt, we really don’t know what happened to Merea. Perhaps she went along; perhaps she died in the siege of the city. Only God knows what happened to her.

     So the lesson of this story is to have us consider how valuable friendship can be, both the two-legged and four-legged variety.

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: Canine Care for Lazarus Rewarded

A Reading from Luke 16: 19-31

taken from NAB (http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/16)

by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. (Copyright 2017)

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.*19“There was a rich man* who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.20And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,i21who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.22When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,23and from the netherworld,* where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.24And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’25Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.j26Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’27He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house,28for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’29But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’30* He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’31Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’”k

           Here begins a midrash to tell us ‘the rest of the story’ for there was one particular canine out of the pack who surrounded him, who offered comfort and healing to Lazarus during his life. The little outcast was a no-name mongrel dog, small in stature and brown in color, though it was hard to tell what color she was because of the dirt that clung to her painfully thin body as she snuggled up to Lazarus, especially on cold nights. Lazarus had named her “Chelyah,” a Hebrew word for “jewel,” because she seemed to glitter as a jewel, brightening his day as he sat propped up against the cold, stone wall that encircled the rich man’s house.

          Both Lazarus and Chelyah worked together to survive, though Lazarus had had a good life in the past, while Chelyah’s life had been nothing but a struggle for food and warmth. Lazarus had been a merchant in his younger days but lost all his wealth when an important shipment of goods from Rome had been lost at sea. Though he tried to get his friends and family to help him get back on his feet, his family ignored him and he sank deeper into poverty, a poverty from which he could never escape.

           One might ask why his family, a very close-knit one within the Jewish community, had taken such a position in disowning Lazarus. It seemed that in his travels through the eastern part of the Roman empire, Lazarus had contracted a skin disease that made him untouchable and an outcast from Jewish society. He suffered many years with this infirmity, eventually having to resort to begging as he had no resources nor had he the physical health to enable him to follow his former profession. Thus, Lazarus camped outside his house where the dogs congregated for scrapes from the rich man’s table.

           It was Esther, the compassionate cook, who made sure that the dogs, Chelyah and Lazarus had something to eat. She had found Lazarus and Chelyah huddled up one morning, sleeping in the shelter of the awning that covered the gate. She felt sorry for him and especially for Chelyah because they were so very poor. Their peaceful sleep, however, evidenced a friendship that seemed to be the only thing that kept them each alive.

           In both the morning and evening, Esther, would sneak some dainty morsels of food from the serving trays, cover them, and hide them in her voluminous skirt. When the dishes had been taken into the courtyard for the rich man to enjoy with his friends, she would slip out the back door and quietly walk around to the front gate to Lazarus and Chelyah who were waiting for her and most grateful for anything that Esther brought.

           It was in the winter season, known for very cold nights when Lazarus died. Chelyah knew something had happened to her master for his body felt icy and he did not awaken when she licked his face, but lay motionless. Chelyah was afraid to move and began to whimper and cry, wondering what had happened to her beloved master.

           Esther came out as usual that morning and discovered that both the dog and her master had been released from their suffering as it was she who discovered their bodies, motionless in the sunlight that was beginning to creep over the horizon. She asked one of the servants to carry both man and dog to her home where she prepared both for a simple but solemn burial in a niche reserved for the poor. With prayers and loving touches she left them there together.

           Little could she know that Lazarus found himself in a place of light, warmth, and love. Lazarus marveled at how his fortunes had changed and he now received all that the rich man had denied him in life. However, there was one thing that lay heavy on his heart—what had happened to his jewel, Chelyah?

           “Father Abraham,” he asked. “What has happened to my beloved companion who extended such kindness to me while I was alive?”

           “Are you missing your companion?” Abraham asked.

           “Yes,” replied Lazarus. “She was such a good dog and she gave me love and companionship in my darkest days. Should she not receive a reward for her efforts? The All-Merciful cannot justify not rewarding such loyalty and love. Is she here somewhere, ready to greet me as she always did when I lived on earth?”

           With that, Abraham petitioned God, blessed be he, to look with kindness on that canine spirit in order to reunite those who had been companions in life and death…. So, did Abraham’s petition receive a favorable reply and did Lazarus and Chelyah again become companions in the eternal light and peace?  Do all dogs do go to heaven? I wonder….

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[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: A Face of Forgiveness: Jesus and Rufus

A Face of Forgiveness: Jesus and Rufus

A Reading from Matthew 27: 15-26 (NAB:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/27)

by 

Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. Copyright 2017

The Sentence of Death.15* g Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished.16* And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called [Jesus] Barabbas.17So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you, [Jesus] Barabbas, or Jesus called Messiah?”18* For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed him over.19* While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him.”20h The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus.21The governor said to them in reply, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They answered, “Barabbas!”22* Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus called Messiah?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!”23But he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!”24* i When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. Look to it yourselves.”25And the whole people said in reply, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.”26Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged,* he handed him over to be crucified.

           Do you ever wonder why Pilate lost his nerve at the last minute? Yes, the people were crying out for Jesus’ blood, but why at this critical time? It could have been that Rufus was not there. Here begins the story of Rufus, the canine companion of Pilate:

          Pilate had been a military man all his life. Anything that had to do with battle interested him, even after he was appointed to the Governorship of a hotbed of rebellion centered in Jerusalem. He had taken a particular interest in fighting dogs and had several in his kennels. Rufus, a gigantic brown mastiff was his favorite because Rufus seemed to feel the inner struggles that Pilate let no one, not even his wife, glimpse.

          Pilate had taken Rufus with him on various campaigns throughout the Roman world. Their relationship became even stronger when Rufus saved his master from being run through on the battlefield near a Roman outpost. Rufus arrived in the nick of time to prevent an enemy soldier from throwing his lance that would have killed Pilate for sure. From that moment forward, Pilate and Rufus became inseparable.

          The morning when Jesus was brought before his master, Rufus was in the lower part of the Governor’s palace with the members of the cohort of soldiers preparing for their day. Rufus had not slept well that previous night because Pilate, totally out of character, had entrusted his care to a centurion, Brutus. Brutus had fed Rufus and left him tied up near a low stool that stood near the doorway to the courtyard where there was a post for tying the horses for grooming.

          There was a commotion in the early morning that awakened Rufus and he turned to see a man being stripped and tied to the pole. Scourging was brutal and often lethal to someone who did not have the strength that the current prisoner evidenced.

          When finished, the whole cohort assembled near where the man had been seated and they put a cloak of purple around him and a crown of thorns on his head. They continued to mock him and strike him on the head, driving the thorns deeper into his scalp. Strangely, he said nothing nor did he try to defend or shield himself from the blows.

           Rufus detected something in the man, a sorrow deeper than anything he had ever experienced. He saw the face of the man and he could almost hear the words of forgiveness that seemed to rise like a prayer. Rufus could not bear the pain of sorrow he saw in the face of the man seated on the low stool and put his massive head sadly on his giant paws.

          When the soldiers had been told that the prisoner was to be led away to crucifixion, several went to gather up the tools they needed for the execution.  Rufus was all alone with the man and crept closer to him whimpering. He softly licked the gaping wounds that he could reach; attempting to offer comfort as if to ask, on Pilate’s behalf, that the forgiveness he saw in the man’s face could possibly be extended to his master.

          The man slightly nodded his head, as if to affirm, that indeed, forgiveness was extended to all of those who had called for his death, even the one who could have saved him, if only Pilate had shown the courage he had so often exhibited on the battlefield. He then dropped his bleeding head and shivered. The soldiers came back and roughly shoved Rufus aside, dragging the prisoner up to his feet and shoving him into the bright light of the courtyard.

          Rufus never could understand what happened to the man who had looked into his face that day, but his life was forever changed by the forgiveness he experienced. Pilate noticed the change in his former companion and retired him from fighting and combat missions. Pilate realized that Rufus had become a gentler dog, gentle enough that the Governor’s grandchildren could ride on him. He lived out his days, though not much is known about how he died. Perhaps the man to whom he had extended comfort and care that day, came to take him home.

          Here ends the story of Rufus, Pilate’s fighting dog, a dog that discovered the face of forgiveness in the face of Jesus of Nazareth.

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: A Holy Week Mystery-Where Shira Got Her Cross

A Holy Week Mystery-Where Shira Got Her Cross

A Reading from Matthew 21: 1-11 (NAB: http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21)

by 

Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. (Copyright 2017)

The Entry into Jerusalem.*1a When they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage* on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,2saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her.* Untie them and bring them here to me.3And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The master has need of them.’ Then he will send them at once.”4* This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:

5b “Say to daughter Zion, ‘Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

6The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them.7* They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them.8* c The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road.9d The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying:

“Hosanna* to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” 10And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken* and asked, “Who is this?”11And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet,* from Nazareth in Galilee

Background for midrash:

“…. The Nubian burro has a cross on its back because it was said … that these donkeys carried Jesus to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

To ride on a donkey signified coming in peace. This symbolic event served to reinforce what Jesus had told the people of Israel: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt the foal of a donkey.”(Zachariah 9:9 KJV)

Many Christians believe that the donkey had known what Jesus was about to go through with his trial and suffering. They say that seeing the tragic event of Jesus’ crucifixion, the donkey wished [s]he had been able to carry the cross for Jesus, as[s]he was the one who should carry such burdens. The donkey turned [her] back on the sight, but [s]he could not leave Jesus whom [s]he had carried…..

In reward for the loyal and humble love of the donkey the Lord caused the shadow of the cross to fall across [her] back and the donkey has carried the cross ever since as a sign [of] the love of God….Each Christian Donkey carries a cross on its back that is unlike all the others. There are no two alike[;] each Donkey is defined by the cross they bear on their back. Many of these donkeys are called Jerusalem Donkeys, Christian Donkeys, Jesus Donkeys, Miniature Donkeys or even Mediterranean Donkeys because in the Middle East these burros are used in everyday life… [for]farming or traveling purposes.

…Also contrary to popular belief the Christian Donkeys are VERY smart, love attention, GREAT moms, [and] are protective of their family…[They] have an internal barometer to let them know if bad weather is approaching so they can seek shelter. …”

Taken From: http://www.mdresort.com/legend-christian-donkey/

 Here begins “the rest of the story” for there is more to know about Shira, the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and the gift she was given:

           Shira did not always have the mark of the cross on her back. She was born in a small village out just outside of Jerusalem on one spring morning during lambing season. She became an orphan soon after birth as her mother had been attacked by a marauding pack of wolves that had been terrorizing the surrounding villages. Shira was taken in and nurtured by a goat named Myriam, the matriarch of the goat herd, who had, herself, just given birth to a son. They made a strange sight, Myriam, her son, and Shira. The farmer Ezra was amazed that Myriam would take on such a strange-looking child, but was glad that she did, for another beast of burden would be a great help to him to bring his vegetables to the Jerusalem market. Shira seemed to fit right in with the rest of the goat herd and became important to them because her natural protective instincts that were constantly being tested.

           Shira grew became even more protective of her adopted family, treating the lambs as her own children, though she had given birth to a colt just a few weeks before. During this particular spring, she even foiled an attempt by a lone wolf to carry off a small lamb who had wandered into the field, far away from its mother. Shira saw the lamb wander off and followed it before it was snatched by a large lone wolf. She was able to kick at the wolf and scare it away from the youngster,  eventually shooing the youngster back to her mother with a disgruntled head butt action, braying all the way back to the safety of the herd.

           It was right before Passover on the first day of the week, when Ezra went into Jerusalem to deliver his fresh vegetables to Adonijah the baker. He had just taken off Shira’s saddle blanket and disappeared into Adonijah’s shop, when a pair of the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth came looking for Shira and her colt. The merchants who were milling about in the street gave their approval for Shira and the colt to be led away, so the disciples led Shira and the colt out to Jesus who sat on her back triumphantly riding into the city.

           Ezra had heard of Jesus of Nazareth and even heard him preach. So when he had concluded his business with Adonijah and saw that Shira and the colt were not where he had left them, he asked another merchant, Josiah, what had happened. Josiah told Ezra that two men had led them away as Jesus needed them. Since Ezra knew of the young rabbi, he was not angry but very proud that his Shira had been taken for such a noble task.

           “Ezra!” shouted Adonijah as he leaned out of a second-story window. “Ezra, I will need more vegetables by Friday. Can you deliver them to me on Friday?”

           “Certainly,” shouted Ezra back to Adonijah who continued leaning farther out of the window to hear Ezra’s response over the din in the street. “I will be here in the afternoon. Will that be convenient for you?”

           “That will be fine,” replied Adonijah. “Shalom my good friend. See you on Friday.”

           By that time, the disciples, who had taken Shira and the colt, returned them to Ezra who was just getting ready to pack up his belongings to return home.

           The following Friday, Ezra had Shira and the colt ready to return to Jerusalem. Even though it was going to be a warm, spring day, Ezra used a heavier than normal blanket under the baskets slung on either side of Shira. He had a good selection of melons, leeks, garlic and even brought several wine skins of new wine for his old friend Adonijah, hoping to be given some of his wonderful bread to take with him. Though the sky was a brilliant blue, it smelled like rain was coming. Ezra said a silent prayer that, if the rain caught them in the open, his donkey and her colt, who did not like rain, would be able seek shelter.

           It was deathly quiet when then entered Jerusalem, as if everyone had left the city. A man scurrying by told them that everyone was at the trial of the young rabbi from Nazareth. Ezra and his donkeys followed the man as closely as they could and happened onto an elevated street. There they caught a glimpse of the condemned man, Jesus, being driven like a beast of burden up very steep steps. Ezra could not believe his eyes. He asked a man about Jesus and what crime he had committed. The bystander said that he did not know anything about Jesus but understood that the Governor released Jesus Barabbas to the crowd in honor of Passover. The crowd had condemned Jesus of Nazareth and Pilate gave the order for him to be crucified.  He was carrying his cross to the place of crucifixion outside the city.

           Ezra determined to learn more for he knew the place of execution. With Shira and the colt in tow, he joined the crowds who were gathering to watch the spectacle. He found a place to ground-tether Shira and began to ask questions of the people milling around. When he returned to his donkeys, he noticed that both had turned around and faced away from the crosses, the shadow from cross of Jesus falling across the back of Shira and the back of the colt. As the hour was getting late, and Ezra was very upset by the injustice, feeling so powerless to help the young rabbi, he headed down the hill of execution and turned toward home.

           It somehow seemed to take longer to get home, though he had left after Jesus had been crucified. Ezra walked along with a heavy heart. Though he did not know Jesus but he had heard him speak, he had wanted to learn more about the vision of love the young rabbi presented. Jesus touched his heart and Ezra remembered that gentleness, as a tear fell from his eye, brought there by the sadness he felt over the death of this innocent man.

           A sudden cloudiness, very dark and ominous, blanketed the sky and Shira was anxious to reach cover in the small cave she spied just ahead. She almost pulled Ezra off his feet and she clopped into the cave, just as thunder and lightning erupted over her and her colt. Ezra was grateful that she had moved so quickly to save them all from getting drenched in the downpour that, fortunately, only lasted a few minutes.

           The rest of the trip was uneventful except for one thing. When Ezra arrived home, he took care of his donkeys before he did anything else. He removed the baskets and the blanket, amazed to find a cross of dark hair that covered the shoulders and back of Shira, and the colt. It seemed that Shira had received a remembrance of Jesus, a dark cross drawn on her shoulders. Ezra then realized why Shira and the colt had turned their backs to the suffering Jesus. It was as if they should have carried Jesus’ cross and not the Master.  It was as if Shira, who had carried Jesus on Palm Sunday in triumph into Jerusalem, needed to turn her back on the evil she saw in his crucifixion.

            So we now know where Shira got her distinctive marking. We have not only solved the mystery of where Shira got her cross, but also we see that this remembrance is passed on to the offspring of Jerusalem/Jesus donkeys who bear the same mark, for the blessing continues.

           So, let us take from this story: that we never know how our good deeds might have long lasting consequences. We plant the seeds and God brings the flowers to bloom.

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: Palace Intrigue: When Athaliah Ruled

Title: Palace Intrigue: When Athaliah Ruled

A Reading from 2 Kings 11: 1-20

Quoted from NAB:http://www.usccb.org/bible/2kings/11

by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. Copyright 2017

Death of the Heirs of Ahaziah of Judah.1a When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she began to kill off the whole royal family.2But Jehosheba,* daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash, Ahaziah’s son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse, from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain. He was concealed from Athaliah, and so he did not die.3For six years he remained hidden with her in the house of the LORD, while Athaliah ruled as queen over the land.

Death of Athaliah.4But in the seventh year, Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians* and of the guards. He had them come to him in the house of the LORD, made a covenant with them, exacted an oath from them in the house of the LORD, and then showed them the king’s son…. 12Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown and the testimony*upon him. They proclaimed him king and anointed him, clapping their hands and shouting, “Long live the king!”

13When Athaliah heard the noise made by the people, she came before them in the house of the LORD.14When she saw the king standing by the column,* as was the custom, and the captains and trumpeters near the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, Athaliah tore her garments and cried out, “Treason, treason!”15Then Jehoiada the priest instructed the captains in command of the force: “Escort her with a guard detail. If anyone follows her, let him die by the sword.” For the priest had said, “She must not die in the house of the LORD.”16So they seized her, and when she reached the Horse Gate of the king’s house, she was put to death.

      Here begins a midrash to tell us ‘the backstory of King Joash’ for it was not only Jehosheba that deserves credit for saving the life of the king but also the nurse, Amneris, an Egyptian slave and her dog, Anubis.

     Amneris had been captured in one of the many battles that the Israelites had with the neighboring tribes. Though she was but a young girl she had been in the service of Pharaoh in his very household as keeper of the hounds. She had a gift of presence with animals, especially the hunting dogs that Pharaoh loved because he enjoyed seeing his sleek pets racing across the sands to bring down game. The pleasure of this event was not only realized in the hunt but also in the delicious dinner that Pharaoh’s stewards and cooks prepared after the hunt.

     Amneris came to be in the household of Jehosheba because Jehosheba also loved animals and had heard from the slave seller what a gifted girl she was. Jehosheba, sister to Ahaziah, lived within the palace grounds in her own dwelling. As a young widow of royal blood, she often took care of the children of the king, coming and going within the palace walls as she wished.

     Amneris often accompanied her mistress during her visits to the palace. It was on one of these visits when she happened upon merchants who were on their way from Egypt. She noticed that they had a hunting dog with them and inquired about the dog. The chief merchant told her that the Pharaoh had given him the dog because Pharaoh was very pleased with the gifts he brought from the mysterious countries of the East such as India and China.

     The dog had been in the service of Pharaoh for several years and recognized Amneris as her former keeper. Jehosheba noticed the reaction of the dog and inquired of the chief merchant if she could purchase the dog for Amneris as she had become close to her slave, treating her more like a daughter than a slave. The chief merchant looked pensive as if considering his options, fearing to refuse a royal princess, yet not wanting to give up so valuable an animal. In the end the dog, Anubis, named after the god of the underworld, became the property of Amneris.

     Despite the religious prohibition against dogs laid down within the Law of Moses, Anubis was allowed to play with the royal princes in their chambers. Amneris, as the dog’s keeper, was also allowed unusual access to many of the restricted royal apartments. Here she made friends with many of the guards and palace servants. She knew that she should keep her ears open, for she had heard a rumor that Athaliah, though distraught over the death of her son, was about to take a desperate step to insure that she ruled alone on the throne.

     As it was not unusual for Amneris and Anubis to pass unchallenged into the bedrooms of the princes, she heard a secret from one of the eunuchs who had heard that the guards were going to slay all of the young princes, a rumor that was very likely to come to pass.

     “Mistress, I understand that the Queen is going to kill all of the royal princes and it will happen tonight,” she exclaimed to Jehosheba.

     “How do you know that this is going to happen?” inquired Jehosheba.

     “I heard it from one of the eunuchs who serves the queen who had overheard her give the order to one of her generals,” whispered Amneris, as she knew that the palace walls had many ears. With this, Jehosheba commended her slave for her vigilance and confirmed that she should, indeed, save the young prince, Joash, from the clutches of Athaliah.

     In the dead of night, Amneris and Anubis crept quietly into the bedroom and gathered up the sleeping prince, taking him into the inner recesses of a small room in the Temple where he could be kept safe. Jehosheba met them and requested the Amneris remain there to look after the boy. This Amneris did faithfully for six years until it was time for Joash to be proclaimed king.

     You might wonder what happened to the loyal duo of Amneris and Anubis. During his six years in hiding, the loyal companion of Amneris was a great diversion for the young prince as it was necessary to keep him occupied, especially when the Queen’s guards frequented the Temple area. Though forbidden to enter a sacred space, the dog quietly hid in secret places when he needed to remain undiscovered. The day the king was anointed by the priest, Jehoiada, Anubis slipped out of the Temple and was never seen again. For her meritorious service, Amneris was given her freedom but remained in the service of Jehosheba for the rest of her days as the chief nursemaid and dog keeper.

     So, let us take from this story that good always triumphs over evil as God uses both dogs and people to fulfill his purposes.  So let us consider how we can serve as God’s instruments in our life situation.

�Qݙ?��

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: The Dog Scorned by Jezebel

A Dog Jezebel Scorned

by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. Copyright 2017

NAB from: http://www.usccb.org/bible/2kings/9

A Reading from 2Kings, Chapter 9: 6-10: 30-36

Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet’s aide poured the oil on his head and said, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anoint you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel.7* You shall destroy the house of Ahab your master; thus will I avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the other servants of the LORD shed by Jezebel.8b The whole house of Ahab shall perish: I will cut off from Ahab’s line every male, whether bond or free in Israel.

....10In the confines of Jezreel, the dogs shall devour Jezebel so that no one can bury her.”

…Death of Jezebel.

30Jehu came to Jezreel, and when Jezebel heard of it, she shadowed her eyes, adorned her hair, and looked down from her window.31As Jehu came through the gate, she cried out, “Is all well, you Zimri, murderer of your master?”f32Jehu looked up to the window and shouted, “Who is on my side? Who?” At this, two or three eunuchs looked down toward him.33“Throw her down,” he ordered. They threw her down, and some of her blood spurted against the wall and against the horses. Jehu trod over her body…, he said: “Attend to that accursed woman and bury her; for she was the daughter of a king.”35But when they went to bury her, they found nothing of her ….36They returned to Jehu, and when they told him, he said, “This is the word the LORD spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: In the confines of Jezreel the dogs shall devour the flesh of Jezebel

      Here begins the story of one dog who tried to save Jezebel, wicked though she was, from the pack of dogs that surrounded her. We must go back in time to discover the story one of Jezebel’s slaves, Miriyam, who was a Hebrew. Her father had sold her to Jonah, the slave merchant, because he could not pay his debts. Her father had lost a great deal of money gambling and with a throw of the dice had squandered his posterity and plunged himself into deep debt. In order to pay the debt, he sold Miriyam, a young woman of 12- years old.

     Jonah, the slave merchant, was often used by the king as a source of slave labor and thought that Miriyam would make a great slave for Queen Jezebel who would think nothing of having a Hebrew as a slave. In fact, Miriyam was known as a healer of animals and that could be a very valuable skill, as Queen Jezebel was fond of sleek hunting dogs purchased from Egypt. Jonah, a Hebrew by birth but fallen away from his faith, knew that Hebrews were prohibited from owning hunting dogs as dogs were unclean animals because they walked on paws and drank blood. Yes, Miriyam would bring a fine price at the slave auction to be held that week in front of the king’s palace.

     At the slave auction, the queen made her appearance and inspected all of the slaves that Jonah had made available to her. When Jezebel, dressed in her fine jewels and silks came to the poorly dressed Miriyam, she stopped, for she could see that the young girl was very beautiful, despite her tattered dress and dirty face. She stated that she would take the girl even as Jonah was beginning to enumerate Miriyam’s skills and accomplishments.

     Several months later, Miriyam was brought to the queen’s chamber. She knew that one of the hunting dogs had had puppies, but she was unsure what the queen was going to need of her.

     “I understand that you are a healer of animals,” inquired the queen in a haughty manner.

     “Yes, I am,” stammered Miriyam.

     “One of my prize puppies has not been nursing and appears to be dying. See what you can do to save it.”

     With that, the queen swept the train of her robe with her foot, turning to exit the room. In a moment, she had left the bewildered girl standing in the dimly lit chamber.

     Over the next few months, the puppy, Miriyam had named Chalyah or Jewel, began to thrive and grow. Despite her shaky beginning, she became the sleekest and the most energetic of all of the puppies born to the queen’s dog. This fact did not escape Queen Jezebel.

     Jezebel had organized a hunting party and took Chalyah with her on the hunt. Chalyah had led a sheltered life within the palace with Miriyam so did not know what she was to do as a hunting dog. The queen became very angry when Chalyah did not respond like a hunting dog and kicked her in the side. She ordered her to be taken back to the palace to be returned to Miriyam.

     When Jehu came into the city of Jezreel, Queen Jezebel hoped to use her feminine charm to woo him to her side, as he was a king who had power and vision, not like her weak and timid husband, Ahab. Her manner was haughty and proud, and she threw out a verbal challenge to Jehu. Jehu demanded her servants to throw Jezebel down. The attendants took her and threw her down onto the paved courtyard where she died.

     Chalyah was near Miriyam on the lower level of the palace and saw what was happening. Chalyah tried to block the mongrel dogs, who frequented the palace grounds, from getting close to the body of the dead queen. She did her best, but the other dogs were too strong for her and she retreated to the safety of Miriyam, sustaining a nasty bite in the leg from one of the scavengers who did their dirty work, according to the word of the Lord God.

     You might ask, what happened to Miriyam and Chalyah. Both continued to live in the palace of the king and Miriyam’s gift for healing became known throughout the royal community, for Chalyah’s leg healed in short order.

     Here ends the midrash of Miriyam and Chalyah, the dog scorned by Queen Jezebel. So, what is the moral of our tale? Even if your efforts are scorned by others, do not grow weary of doing good to others.

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: The Queen of Sheba’s Cat - A Gift Fit for a King

by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. (Copyright, 2017); NAB: http://www.usccb.org/bible/1kings/10

The Queen of Sheba’s Cat – A Gift Fit for a King

A Reading from 1 Kings 10: 1-2, 10

Solomon’s Listening Heart: The Queen of Sheba.*1a The queen of Sheba,* having heard a report of Solomon’s fame, came to test him with subtle questions.2She arrived in Jerusalem with a very numerous retinue, and with camels bearing spices, a large amount of gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke to him about everything that she had on her mind... 10Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty gold talents, a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again did anyone bring such an abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

      Here begins a midrash to tell us ‘the rest of the story’:

     There was another item the Queen of Sheba brought with her on her journey seeking the wisdom of King Solomon. This gift did NOT appear in the list of the gifts given. It was a coal black cat she had raised from a kitten. She adopted the cat because her chief handmaiden, an Egyptian with a Hebrew name, Shiphrah, had found the kitten in a dark corner of the royal bedchamber. No one could find the mother of the kitten, but it was definitely in distress. The queen’s heart was moved to pity and she commanded Shiphrah take care of the kitten and nurse it back to life.

     Shiphrah went about her duty to keep the kitten safe, warm, and provide it will the choicest cream taken from the royal banquet table. The queen checked in on the kitten and as she grew, the kitten would come at the command of the queen and sit on her lap, purring with contentment. The queen was so enamored with the cat that she gave it the name of her kingdom, Sheba. Sheba rewarded the queen’s kindness by catching mice that plagued the royal grain stores next to the palace, bringing her dead offerings and laying them at the queen’s feet.

     One day the queen fell ill and did not stir from her bed that whole day. The royal physician could not discover what was wrong with the queen and called in other physicians to attempt to understand the strange and sudden sickness that overcame the queen. Sheba sensed that something was wrong when her mistress did not come into the throne room to conduct the business of state as she usually did. Sheba padded quietly into the marbled room of the sleeping queen and lay down next to her, purring up a storm.

     The next day the queen was fine and attributed her healing to her purring cat, Sheba, confirming on her the title of “royal assistant to the Court Physician.” Though the court physician was not happy to be sharing his title with a cat, he could see the wisdom in the queen’s decision.

     As the queen was curious about a myriad of subjects and wished to know more, she undertook a long trip to see King Solomon of Israel in Jerusalem, for she had heard many wonderful things about the wisdom of Solomon. Because of her importance to insuring the queen’s health, Sheba went with the retinue.

     Though cats were associated with pagan worship in Egypt, King Solomon accepted the gift of the healing cat from the queen because, in his wisdom, he knew that the cat meant a great deal to her. It was a gift of the heart and he promised faithfully to take care of Sheba, the royal assistant to the Court Physician, as long as the cat should live. However, because cat was considered a pagan god, this precious gift did not appear in the list of gifts mentioned in the sacred scriptures of the Israelites. Those at the court of the wise King knew of the special gift that had been given by the queen to the wisest man in the world. Sheba lived a long and happy life in the Court of Solomon and healed many through her purring presence.

     So, let us go out and provide others with our healing presence, just as Sheba did in the court of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon’s Israel.

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: The Wisdom of Solomon, Part 3: Paying It Forward in the Time of King Solomon

The Wisdom of Solomon-Part 3—Paying it Forward in the Time of King Solomon

A Reading from 1 Kings 3: 25-28; 5:6-9

by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. (Copyright 2017)

 Scripture: NAB: http://www.usccb.org/bible/1kings

Solomon’s Listening Heart.* 25he said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other.”26* The woman whose son was alive, because she was stirred with compassion for her son, said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby—do not kill it!” But the other said, “It shall be neither mine nor yours. Cut it in two!”27The king then answered, “Give her the living baby! Do not kill it! She is the mother.”28When all Israel heard the judgment the king had given, they were in awe of him, because they saw that the king had in him the wisdom of God for giving right judgment….

Solomon’s Riches: Chariots and Horses.6b Solomon had forty thousand stalls for horses for chariots and twelve thousand horsemen.7* The governors, one for each month, provided food for King Solomon and for all the guests at King Solomon’s table. They left nothing unprovided.8For the chariot horses and draft animals also, each brought his quota of barley and straw to the required place.

Solomon’s Renown.9c Moreover, God gave Solomon wisdom, exceptional understanding, and knowledge, as vast as the sand on the seashore….

 Here begins a midrash to tell us ‘the rest of the story’ a Part 3, if you will, that will indicate what happened to the child, Gershom, who had been saved by the wisdom of the great king:

          If you remember, the two prostitutes came to Solomon to decide the issue of who was the mother of a living child, for both Shiphrah and Puah claimed to be the mother.  If you remember, both women had been born into Jewish households and their parents named them after the courageous midwives that saved the Hebrews in the time of Moses as told in the Book of Exodus. Remember, it was Shiphrah who asked to spare the life of the child because she truly loved her son, Gershom. Though a single mother, she had hoped to raise her boy to become a servant in the house of a rich merchant. Though her outlook for honorable employment looked very bleak, she always prayed that God would take pity on her and her son and give them what they needed to survive for that day.

           When her claim to the boy was denied by King Solomon, Puah, the other prostitute, left the palace, and vowed to get even with Shiphrah at all costs. Puah unjustly brought Shiphrah before the king again, accusing her of taking an expensive broach. Puah stated that Shiphrah had seen the broach in the traveling bag of the merchant who came by the brothel the previous day. The merchant stayed just the afternoon and then left. The merchant returned later that night claiming that his expensive broach was missing, so it must have been taken by someone there because that was the only place he had stopped that day.

           Remember, how the king considered the manner in which Puah accused her fellow prostitute. It was Puah who gave a complete description of the expensive trinket and thus, her very words point the finger at herself as the thief. The king, in his wisdom, rather than kill or maim her, decided to banish Puah from the city. If she dared to enter the city at any future time, she would be killed. Shiphrah, on the other hand, was given a job as a serving maid and her baby boy would, in time, be given a job within the palace.

           As Gershom grew up in the king’s service, the king took an interest in his welfare. Over the years, King Solomon would often have Gershom go with him to select the best brood mares for the stables’ breeding program. Gershom had a way with horses, a horse whisperer, if you will, and all marveled at the wise decisions that Gershom rendered as he worked on the king’s behalf. It was as if the king’s wisdom had rubbed off on Gershom; as if the king had become the father that Gershom never knew.

          Gershom grew into manhood and, by the king’s order, moved up in rank until he was the overseer of all of the king’s stables. It was then that another figure from his past came to haunt him—the son of Puah, the prostitute.

          Ahab was a fine youth that had been taken into the king’s service to work in the stables. As a child, Gershom had heard rumors of how his life had been saved by the king but did not know any of the details because his late mother, Shiphrah, had thought it best to let the past be in the past. So Gershom did not know about Ahab’s connection to his late mother. He accepted the apprentice, Ahab, as he would any other servant of the king.

          Puah had told her son of his family history and kept alive in Ahab the desire to seek revenge on Shiphrah’s family. So, Ahab wounded himself by cutting his shoulder with a spear, claiming that Gershom had struck him without any reason. Ahab had many friends in high places so they brought the matter to the king for a decision.

          King Solomon was deeply grieved to hear the charges against Gershom and brought him before the whole court.

          “What is this I hear about you?” quizzed the king.

          “Your majesty, I come before you as one who is innocent of the charge of wounding the servant, Ahab,” said Gershom, humbly.

          “I claim that he struck me a blow without cause,” cried Ahab, “And here is the proof!” With that, he drew back his tunic that revealed a nasty cut on his shoulder.

          The king looked closely at the wound, for something did not appear right. He asked what had caused such an unusual looking cut. Ahab hesitated because he knew that if he had said that a spear had cut him, the king would know that it was self-inflicted for Gershom had never learned how to use this weapon. Therefore, he replied that Gershom had hit him with his whip.

          “Ahab, now I know you are lying, for no whip that we have within the kingdom makes that kind of a mark!” replied the king. The king knew that Ahab had always had it in for Gershom.

          The lad fell on his face and begged forgiveness. The king while he had always tried to be merciful, felt intense rage and was going to proclaim the death sentence when Gershom spoke up.

          “Great king, I beg mercy for this man. Do not have him killed!”

          “Gershom, why do you beg mercy for your enemy?” asked the king.

          “As the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is merciful and, in your kingdom, mercy is the quality renowned throughout the world, I beg you to act as you would for others that you have pardoned,” replied Gershom.

          “As you wish, Gershom, but just as I did with his mother, he will be banished from the kingdom.”

          That evening when all was quiet, the king reflected on the happenings of that day. He thanked God for the gift of wisdom God had given him as a young person. He continued his prayer of thanksgiving for the life for he had saved, Gershom, the son of the prostitute, Shiphrah. The young man had become a living tribute to that wisdom by extending mercy to one who had wronged him. By saving a life, the king had “payed it forward” and that life eventually saved another.

 So let us also consider how our good deeds often plant the seeds of compassion that are manifested in the actions of other people. How will you “pay it forward” today?

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: The Wisdom of Solomon, Part 2

Sorry, it has been a while, dear readers since I posted more Midrash Musings. As we continue through the Bible, seeking to use our imaginations to ask the question, “what if...” and discover a richness to God’s word, I offer the following.

The Wisdom of Solomon-Part 2

A Reading from 1 Kings 3: 16-28

by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. (Copyright 2017)

Scripture taken from NAB (http://www.usccb.org/bible/1kings/3) 

Solomon’s Listening Heart.*16 Later, two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.17One woman said: “By your leave, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth in the house while she was present.18On the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were alone; no one else was in the house with us; only the two of us were in the house.19This woman’s son died during the night when she lay on top of him.20So in the middle of the night she got up and took my son from my side, as your servant was sleeping. Then she laid him in her bosom and laid her dead son in my bosom.21I rose in the morning to nurse my son, and he was dead! But when I examined him in the morning light, I saw it was not the son I had borne.”22The other woman answered, “No! The living one is my son, the dead one is yours.” But the first kept saying, “No! the dead one is your son, the living one is mine!” Thus they argued before the king.23Then the king said: “One woman claims, ‘This, the living one, is my son, the dead one is yours.’ The other answers, ‘No! The dead one is your son, the living one is mine.’”24The king continued, “Get me a sword.” When they brought the sword before the king,25he said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other.”26* The woman whose son was alive, because she was stirred with compassion for her son, said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby—do not kill it!” But the other said, “It shall be neither mine nor yours. Cut it in two!”27The king then answered, “Give her the living baby! Do not kill it! She is the mother.”28When all Israel heard the judgment the king had given, they were in awe of him, because they saw that the king had in him the wisdom of God for giving right judgment.

 Here begins a midrash to tell us ‘the rest of the story,’ a Part Two if you will:

There is more to this story than just Solomon’s decision to give the child to her mother. First of all, the two prostitutes had very biblical names: Shiphrah and Puah. Both women were born into Jewish households and their parents named them after the courageous midwives that saved the Hebrews in the time of Moses as told in the Book of Exodus. Unfortunately, as times were very violent ones, both sets of parents were killed in one of the many battles that raged around their villages. The two young women were literally thrown onto the streets to fend for themselves.

           It was Shiphrah who asked to spare the life of the child because she truly loved her son, Gershom. Though a single mother, she had hoped to raise her boy to become a servant in the house of a rich merchant. Though her outlook for honorable employment appeared very bleak, she always prayed that God would take pity on her and her son and give them what they needed to survive for the day.

           Puah, on the other hand, was a very cold and calculating woman who was jealous of the gifts that Shiphrah possessed. Shiphrah was kind and often shared her meager food ration with other women in the brothel who were worse off than she was. Puah took everything she could get, and resented being shoved aside to make room for younger and prettier women. She resented the goodness she witnessed in Shiprah’s actions.

           When her claim to the boy was denied by King Solomon, Puah left the palace, vowing to get even with Shiphrah at all costs. She did not have to wait long for that opportunity to arrive, for the very next day, in the belongings of Shiphrah, there was found a very expensive broach that a merchant claimed had been stolen from him by a prostitute. Shiphrah was dragged before the king again, and this time it was Puah that claimed to be a witness to the thievery.

           “I saw her hide this broach in her tunic then put it in her mattress, O great king,” Puah said. “She thought I did not see her do it, but I did and she should have to pay for her crime!”

           Puah stated that Shiphrah had seen the broach in the traveling bag of the merchant who came by the brothel the previous day in the late afternoon. He had just come into town and had come to see his friend, Manasseh, who ran the place. He stayed just the afternoon and then left. The merchant returned later that night claiming that his expensive broach was missing. He reasoned it must have been taken by someone at the brothel because that was the only place he had stopped that day.

           The king considered the manner in which Puah accused her fellow prostitute. There was something in her manner that betrayed a sense of wanting to even the score, get revenge for the embarrassment she had felt the previous day at being accused of lying. King Solomon detected a sense that all was not right with the story told by the accuser.

           The king had the two women and Manasseh stand before him. Much like a lawyer who grills the untruthful person on the witness stand, the king continued to hammer at Puah to discover where her story did not ring true. He asked both women to describe the broach in question. Shiphrah hesitated, honestly trying to recall what it looked like, but could not give an accurate description other than it was red. But Puah, on the other hand, gave a detailed description down to the small circle of rubies that encircled a large ruby that made up the center. The king had his answer!

           Again, Puah had incriminated herself, proving by her very words that it was she who had taken the broach and tried to blame her fellow prostitute for the crime.  The king, in his wisdom, rather than kill or maim her, decided to banish Puah from the city. If she dared to enter the city at any future time, she would be killed. Shiphrah, on the other hand, was given a job as a serving maid and her baby boy would, in time, be given a job within the palace.

           So let us also consider how important it is for us to take responsibility for not only our good and noble deeds but to be humble if caught in an unintentional mistake. Most importantly the story tells us that we should never lie to get what we want nor should we seek revenge for past hurts.

u᯾���K

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: Sticks and Stones can...David, Nathan, and Abishai

A Reading from 2 Samuel 16: 5-13 (NAB: http://www.usccb.org/bible/2kings/16)

by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. (Copyright 2017)

 David and Shimei.5As King David was approaching Bahurim, there was a man coming out; he was of the same clan as the house of Saul, and his name was Shimei, son of Gera. He kept cursing as he came out,d6and throwing stones at David and at all King David’s officers, even though all the soldiers, including the royal guard, were on David’s right and on his left.7Shimei was saying as he cursed: “Get out! Get out! You man of blood, you scoundrel!8The LORD has paid you back for all the blood shed from the family of Saul,* whom you replaced as king, and the LORD has handed over the kingdom to your son Absalom. And now look at you: you suffer ruin because you are a man of blood.”9Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said to the king: “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.”e10But the king replied: “What business is it of mine or of yours, sons of Zeruiah, that he curses? Suppose the LORD has told him to curse David; who then will dare to say, ‘Why are you doing this?’”f11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants: “If my own son, who came forth from my loins, is seeking my life, how much more might this Benjaminite do so! Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.g12Perhaps the LORD will look upon my affliction and repay me with good for the curses he is uttering this day.”13David and his men continued on the road, while Shimei kept up with them on the hillside, all the while cursing and throwing stones and dirt as he went.h

 Here begins a midrash to tell us ‘the rest of the story’:

The one being who was not mentioned in the above story was Nathan, King David’s loyal sheepdog who accompanied King David everywhere. Nathan had been with David for a very long time as David saved him from the mouth of a lion after that lion had killed his mother. With David’s help, Nathan learned the tasks required of a loyal sheepdog and later learned how to be a protector of his master in both peaceful and turbulent times.

Because dogs were not honored in the Israelite society, Nathan was often not mentioned in the important stories from the Books of Samuel and Kings. Nonetheless, Nathan had often saved his master from harm and was a listening presence for him as the following story illustrates.

This particular morning, King David and Abishai had gone out early and left Nathan in the battle tent. They returned, intending to grab a bite to eat and discuss what their next move might be, considering that David’s son, Absalom, had attempted to become king in place of his father. Both were standing just outside of the king’s tent when Shimei came up cursing against David because David had replaced Saul on the throne as it pleased the Lord to appoint him. Despite all of David’s transgressions against the law, the Lord loved David and David loved the Lord.

The words of Shimei must have caused David to think, for it was true that he was a “man of blood” because he had killed many in battle, though King Saul’s death could not be attributed to him. In fact the three, King David, Abishai, and Nathan had not taken the life of King Saul when there was presented to them the perfect opportunity to do so. David, rightly pointed out to Abishai, that he would not be the one to kill God’s anointed. So they took King Saul’s water jug and spear with them as they left Saul’s camp.

Shimei rightly pointed out that David was getting what he deserved as his own son, Absalom, had amassed an army of loyal supporters to topple King David and support his claim to be installed as king in his place. Coming to his defense, looking at Nathan, Abishai’s reply indicated that Shimei should be killed as he was committing a crime by cursing the king and pelting him with rocks and dirt.

David pointed out that perhaps this cursing was part of God’s plan to help David consider what struggles he was to face. Thus, he did not permit Abishai to carry out the legitimate penalty for cursing the king.

Later in his tent with Nathan sleeping next to him on his bed, David pondered the words that had wounded him painfully. “Oh, Nathan. I fear what will happen to my son now that he has taken up arms against me. Shimei’s words have wounded me deeply for it appears that I will have to confront my own son in deadly combat, for the one who I loved has rebelled against me,” whispered David into Nathan’s ear. He buried his head into Nathan’s soft fur and hugged him to ease the pain he felt in his heart.

Further intrigue and planning came to naught for Absalom was not successful in his bid for his father’s throne. Though King David gave words that his son should be treated gently, Absalom was killed on the field of battle and David and Nathan mourned his passing.

So, let us consider that the words of others that often wound us can be reflections of behaviors or activities in our own lives that we should examine. For the God who loves us, often uses common circumstances to help us to mend our ways and move closer to Him.

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings-The “Other” Nathan-King David’s Dog

The Other Nathan – King David’s Dog

A Reading from 2 Samuel 12: 1-15 (NAB: http://www.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/12)

by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. (Copyright 2017)

 Nathan’s Parable.*1The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, he said: “Tell me how you judge this case: In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.a2The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.3But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. Of what little he had she ate; from his own cup she drank; in his bosom she slept; she was like a daughter to him.4Now, a visitor came to the rich man, but he spared his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him: he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”5David grew very angry with that man and said to Nathan: “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves death!6He shall make fourfold restitution* for the lamb because he has done this and was unsparing.”b7Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man!

Nathan’s Indictment. “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel. I delivered you from the hand of Saul.c8I gave you your lord’s house and your lord’s wives for your own. I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were not enough, I could count up for you still more.9Why have you despised the LORD and done what is evil in his sight? You have cut down Uriah the Hittite with the sword; his wife you took as your own, and him you killed with the sword of the Ammonites.10Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.d11Thus says the LORD: I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives before your very eyes, and will give them to your neighbor: he shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.* e12You have acted in secret, but I will do this in the presence of all Israel, in the presence of the sun itself.”

David’s Repentance.13Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan answered David: “For his part, the LORD has removed your sin. You shall not die,f14but since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you will surely die.”15Then Nathan returned to his house.

 Here begins a midrash to tell us ‘the rest of the story’:

After his encounter with Nathan the prophet, King David had time to think. This was not the first time he had been convicted of sin by a being named Nathan.  David remembered his loyal sheepdog named Nathan, who had shared his life when he was a youth and had almost been killed for David’s sin.

As a shepherd for his father, Jessie, David spent many hours with Nathan, moving the sheep from one grazing area to another. He enjoyed being with his black and white companion, running after the sheep, keeping them safe and secure. Nathan had even found water for the herd when it appeared that there was none to be had.

One late afternoon, as the sun was setting, Nathan was keeping watch over the sheep who were settling in for the night. David was hungry and took one of the bummer lambs, a lamb that had been neglected by its mother and would probably die, butchered it, and prepared a fine lamb stew for himself. The carcass of the animal was dumped aside and much of the meat was not used. Nathan thought that that might be a good evening snack, for often David would leave meat for Nathan near his rock. So, the dog began to chomp on what was left over.

After a fine meal, with his belly full, David settled in under a tree that was near to the rock Nathan used as a lookout point from which to survey the sheep. Nathan had climbed to his perch and also fell asleep. David’s father, Jesse, had been looking for David and found him asleep under the tree, oblivious to his surroundings.

When Jesse spied the half-eaten carcass of the lamb, he was greatly alarmed and blamed Nathan for the deed due to the fact the carcass was at the base of his look-out rock. Jesse was ready to strike the dog to kill him, when David stopped him saying, “No, father,” he cried, “it was me; I butchered the lamb; Nathan had nothing to do with it. I have sinned by taking what was not mine. Forgive me, Father. Don’t hurt Nathan.”

At this, Jesse hugged his son, grateful that he had acknowledged his transgression and asked for forgiveness. Jessie called Nathan to come to him where he could pet him and beg his forgiveness for his fit of anger that could have cost the dog his life. Yes, another Nathan had been a savior to David, and David remembered that event that happened so long ago.

Let us take from this story that we too must be able to acknowledge our sins and failings, especially when another might be liable to receive the punishment for our sinful actions.

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[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: David, Abishai, and Nathan-Saving Grace

Title: David, Abishai, and Nathan—Saving Grace

by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min. (Copyright 2016)

What happened before our scriptural reading: David has been hounded by King Saul because Saul was jealous of David’s gifts and the fact that the Lord loved David. King Saul continued to chase David ending up at Gibeah. Saul took 3,000 of his best troupes intending to kill David in the wilderness of Ziph. Here is where we take up the story:

A reading from 1 Samuel 26: 5-12 (NAB: http://www.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/26 )

David then went to the place where Saul was encamped and saw the spot where Saul and his general, Abner, son of Ner, had their sleeping quarters. Saul was lying within the camp, and all his soldiers were bivouacked around him.b6David asked Ahimelech the Hittite, and Abishai, son of Zeruiah and brother of Joab, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?” Abishai replied, “I will.”c7So David and Abishai reached Saul’s soldiers by night, and there was Saul lying asleep within the camp, his spear thrust into the ground at his head and Abner and his troops sleeping around him.

8Abishai whispered to David: “God has delivered your enemy into your hand today. Let me nail him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I will not need to strike him twice!”d9But David said to Abishai, “Do not harm him, for who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and remain innocent?10As the LORD lives,” David declared, “only the LORD can strike him: either when the time comes for him to die, or when he goes out and perishes in battle.* e11But the LORD forbid that I lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed! Now take the spear at his head and the water jug, and let us be on our way.”12So David took the spear and the water jug from their place at Saul’s head, and they withdrew without anyone seeing or knowing or awakening. All remained asleep, because a deep slumber* from the LORD had fallen upon them.f

Here begins the midrash telling the “rest of the story” not mentioned in Scripture: 

     Before David set out to Saul’s camp, he was sitting in the tall, dew-ladened grass with Nathan, his loyal sheepdog at his feet. David was thinking about his decision to go into Saul’s camp, considering this action very carefully. He needed to have good information about troop strength and weapon supplies, information from which he could form a plan to fight or flee from Saul. Thus, he thought it best go to himself but wanted to take someone with him, so he asked for volunteers. Abishai said he would go with David.

           As if seeking to volunteer for this difficult assignment, Nathan looked as if he wanted to go along. Nathan was getting old, but the prospect of going with David on an adventure was enough to energize his old, tired body. The years seemed to melt away as Nathan followed David and Abishai down the dark, unlit gully coming into the Saul’s camp. He followed the lead of his master and crept slowly forward, ears and head attentive to any sound or disturbance.

           The night was overcast and it appeared all were in a very deep sleep for no one stirred as the three went past the guards who slumbered propped up on their spears, their helmet straps hanging loose. When Abishai mentioned to David that he could strike down Saul with one blow using Saul’s own spear, David’s reply came out in more than a whisper. This stirred one of the guards in the circle around the king who suddenly woke up.

           Nathan, who was behind David, saw the guard move and bit his master’s cloak drawing him quickly to the ground. Abishai also hit the ground, for he was close to David as he fell. All three remained silent as the guard who had jolted awake fell back into sleep as if drugged.

           David took the spear and the jug of water and as the scripture states and left the camp for the Lord had put all of the men into a very deep sleep.

Let us learn from this lesson how protective God is for those he loves.

[drjerilyn]

Midrash Musings: A Dog for David and Jonathan

A Dog for David and Jonathan (NAB, found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/20)

by Jerilyn E. Felton, D. Min.

Copyright 2017

The following is based on 1 Samuel 20: The Story Background– David was best friends with King Saul’s son, Jonathan. King Saul was jealous of David’s gifts and constantly was trying to have him killed. The communication lines between King Saul and his son Jonathan were well established for it was as if Jonathan knew what his father was thinking. He warned his dearest friend, David that King Saul was seeking to kill him, by setting up a signal  as the following illustrates. We pick up the story with a reading from 1 Samuel 20: 18-42

18 Jonathan then said to [David]: “Tomorrow is the new moon; you will be missed, since your place will be vacant.19On the third day you will be missed all the more. Go to the spot where you hid on the other occasion and wait near the mound there.f20On the third day of the month I will shoot arrows to the side of it, as though aiming at a target.21I will then send my attendant to recover the arrows. If in fact I say to him, ‘Look, the arrow is this side of you; pick it up,’ come, for you are safe. As the LORD lives, there will be nothing to fear.22But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrow is beyond you,’ go, for the LORD sends you away.23However, in the matter which you and I have discussed, the LORD shall be between you and me forever.”24So David hid in the open country.

David’s Absence. On the day of the new moon, when the king sat down at the feast to dine,25he took his usual place against the wall. Jonathan sat facing him, while Abner sat at the king’s side. David’s place was vacant.26g Saul, however, said nothing that day, for he thought, “He must have become unclean by accident.”*27On the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was still vacant. So Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to table yesterday or today?”28Jonathan explained to Saul: “David pleaded with me to let him go to Bethlehem.29‘Please let me go,’ he begged, ‘for we are having a clan sacrifice in our city, and my brothers insist on my presence. Now then, if you think well of me, give me leave to visit my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”30But Saul grew angry with Jonathan and said to him: “Son of a rebellious woman, do I not know that, to your own disgrace and to the disgrace of your mother’s nakedness, you are the companion of Jesse’s son?31For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, you cannot make good your claim to the kingship!* Now send for him, and bring him to me, for he must die.”h32But Jonathan argued with his father Saul: “Why should he die? What has he done?”33At this Saul brandished his spear to strike him, and thus Jonathan learned that his father was determined to kill David.i34Jonathan sprang up from the table in a rage and ate nothing that second day of the month, because he was grieved on David’s account, and because his father had humiliated him.

Jonathan’s Farewell.35The next morning Jonathan, accompanied by a young boy, went out into the field for his appointment with David.36There he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows.” And as the boy ran, he shot an arrow past him.37When the boy made for the spot where Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan called after him, “The arrow is farther on!”38Again he called to the boy, “Hurry, be quick, don’t delay!” Jonathan’s boy picked up the arrow and brought it to his master.39The boy suspected nothing; only Jonathan and David knew what was meant.40Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go, take them to the city.”41When the boy had gone, David rose from beside the mound and fell on his face to the ground three times in homage. They kissed each other and wept aloud together.42j At length Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, in keeping with what the two of us have sworn by the name of the LORD: ‘The LORD shall be between you and me, and between your offspring and mine forever.’”

 Here begins the ‘rest of the story’ –

There was another being that accompanied Jonathan and the boy when Jonathan went out into the field to alert David that he must leave. That being was David’s old sheepdog, Nathan. Nathan had been a constant companion to both David and Jonathan as their friendship grew. Though Nathan had retired from herding sheep for David, he was given a place by David’s side at the palace of King Saul.

Because of age had begun to take its toll on the faithful companion, Nathan, Jonathan thought that it was best to take Ezra, a boy from the palace, to retrieve the arrows he shot into the air. Jonathan was using the arrows as a sign that King Saul was seeking David’s life and that he must run away. As he was packing up his arrows and bow for Ezra to carry, he noticed that Nathan was attentive and looking for the cue to go with the party, as Nathan often accompanied Jonathan hunting.

Jonathan had an idea. Because Nathan meant so much to David and because he knew that David had to leave, he thought that David might enjoy having the company of his old friend. It would be a warm, living symbol of the covenant that he had made with David.

David received the gift from Jonathan and was both were happy and sad that David and Nathan had to leave. Nathan was also torn between the love he had for David and the love he had for Jonathan. As David rose from the ground and bid good-bye to Jonathan, Nathan came to Jonathan, licked his face as if to lick away the tears, offering healing to his wounded heart, and then followed after David.

Here ends the midrash of David, Jonathan and their canine companion, Nathan. Let us go forth to remember our dear pet companions who have been loyal and faithful to us.

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