The Maccabaean

In Anxious Days*

FOOT-SORE and weary, covered with dust and overcome by his long journey, Joshua entered at Jabne the building where the Sanhedrin was assembled. Rabbi Gamaliel, the Patriarch, sat behind a long table on a raised chair. The other members of the Council sat around him. The crowd filled the lower part of the hall. The moment when the young man entered, the Patriarch and Rabbi Akiba were closing an argument on some recondite text. Joshua turned to one of the younger scholars, who, at the end of Akiba's speech, rose, and begging to be excused for an interruption, implored that one who had come from a far distance might be given an immediate hearing.

The Patriarch raised himself, and looking at Joshua, said, "Come hither. Who are you, and whence come you?"

With an effort, shaking off the weariness that had beset him, Joshua replied: "I come far from here, from the city which is the city of desolation to all those who are of the race of Israel. I come from the city by the Tiber, where our people are persecuted, where the heathen resides, where, as you know, O Rabbi, Domitian, the son of Vespasian, the brother of that godless person, whose name should not be mentioned in your holy ear, reigns. A wild licentious tyrant, he oppresses his people, and with bitterness and evil, wishes to punish our brethren. The lot that has been ours is as nothing to what he wishes to do now—to destroy us. Moved by his evil passion, yielding to an animal lust that inflames him for a daughter of Israel—let me conceal my sufferings, O Rabbi—a desire for my sister Jobāa, whom God has shielded against the tyrant, by reason of his unsatiated passion, he has decided to destroy our people. The next senate will decide upon our destruction. A priest of Baal has said that the Jews seek the life of the Cæsar; therefore, all the Jews must die, all, all of them! True men, God-fearing women, our chaste daughters, all are to be given as a prey to the flames and to the wild beasts of the arena. The Cæsar and his lascivious court will witness the bloodthirsty spectacle of the martyrdom of Israel. Therefore, thou great Patriarch, and wise rabbis, I have come to you to seek from the counsel of the Sanhedrin protection and rescue from the hands of the murderer."

Joshua would have sunk to the ground had not, at the instance of Rabbi Joshua ben Chananya, a seat been given him. During the whole of his speech, profound silence had reigned in the court. For a moment it gave way; and then again the sonorous voice of the Patriarch compelled all to silence.