Daron Fraley: The Thorn

Uzziel directed the group to remove their sandals and shoes, then gave them a quiet moment of reflection before leading them through another oak door. Partway down a carpeted hall, they rounded a corner to enter a small room decorated with nothing more than luxuriously upholstered mahogany chairs and a short stone altar in the center of the floor. Light poured in from above, just like in the foyer. A feeling of reverence and holiness permeated the room.

At the altar, Jonathan and Rachel knelt together before the High Priest of Uzzah and received at his hand blessings of eternity. Eli and Boaz, official witnesses, looked on. Although the ceremony was simple, the profound beauty of it impressed Jonathan. He and Rachel both accepted the binding covenant, then Uzziel pronounced the associated promised blessings. As he did so, Jonathan felt the peculiar sensation of the presence of his own parents. He recognized traits familiar to him-the wisdom of his father, the cheerfulness of his mother.

Thrilled in the moment, he focused on Rachel. Her eyes sparkled. As if she had heard his thoughts, she nodded. Jonathan squeezed her hand tighter, intent on memorizing her expression.

At Uzziel’s direction, they stood and embraced, then held hands as they witnessed the same ceremony once more, this time for Pekah and Abigail. Once the two of them had made the same marital covenant, congratulatory hugs were shared by all. Arm-in-arm, the wedding party then left the temple, walking out into the blazing light of the sister suns. As they entered the gardens, they were greeted by a cheering crowd, the wedding feast already set before them.

Eager guests waited for both couples to take seats at the heads of their tables. Eli, the guest of honor to both couples, offered a prayer of thanks. Then the celebration began. Food was abundant, and wine was served in moderation. There was dancing and story telling, juggling, and short comedic skits. More musicians than Jonathan could count performed their very best. As the afternoon turned into evening, food appeared again.

Not long afterward, the low suns cast shadows throughout the entire city. Glow-stone lanterns were charged and hung all around. When the festivities started to lag, Eli took pity on the tired newlyweds, announcing that it was time to escort them to their accommodations for the night before the Sabbath began. A parade of celebrants formed behind the two couples, and Eli led the way to the home of Uzziel and Miriam.

Humble, yet sufficient, Uzziel’s home had two spacious rooms separated by a loft within the second story, all above the kitchen and main living space. Miriam had suggested the arrangements to Rachel, insisting that she and Uzziel had already planned to stay with friends for a few days. Knowing that Pekah and Abigail would then also have a private place to spend their first nights together, Rachel had consented.

The singing and celebrating parade stopped at the door. Variations on blessings of peace and posterity offered by the well-wishers drew humble appreciation from both brides. Allowing Uzziel’s family some privacy, the crowd dispersed. Eli offered his own private well wishes, as did Rachel’s parents, who gave hugs of congratulation and love to all four of them. The couples then waved to their friends and family, turning to walk into Uzziel’s home together.

Seven days after the coronation and the weddings of Jonathan and Pekah to their lovely brides, the family celebrations came to a close. Both couples had decided they would return to Hasor after the Sabbath. As a wedding gift, Jonathan offered Pekah and Abigail a small family property within the village walls of Hasor. It would be their first home together.

The newly wedded Gideonites were very grateful for it. Between them, they did not have a possession in the world except the funds that had been delivered to Abigail, partial proceeds from the liquidation of Jasher’s estate. The majority of the funds were given, at Abigail’s request, to Jasher’s ailing mother, Dinah, for her care. Dinah had been invited to come and live with Pekah and Abigail in Hasor, but she declined, saying she preferred to stay in Gideon for the rest of her short days. Abigail relented, yet promised to visit her soon.

Jonathan sat with his bride and all their friends, enjoying one last celebratory meal before the Sabbath. Their gathering was small-only close friends and family, all resting under the sycamore trees behind Uzziel’s home: Tavor and Sarah were there with the boys, Miriam’s sister Deborah, a few of Eli’s cousins, Jeremy and Josiah of Uzzah, Abram’s widow Esther with her boy, and Eder of Gideon, who was quickly becoming like a member of the family.

“Where’s your father?” Jonathan asked Rachel as he ran his fingers through her hair.

“I’m not sure. Mother?”

Miriam shook her head with slight irritation and threw a dish cloth over her shoulder as she started grabbing up empty platters and bowls. “A message from Boaz was delivered this morning. Uzziel read it and left earlier than I expected. I assume he’s at the temple, but he didn’t say how long he would be. It has been about nine hours, and now the meal is cold-I wish he’d told me. I just cannot seem to get it through that thick head of his that it’s rude to be late to dinner, especially with all these people…”

Miriam’s voice trailed off as she disappeared into the house with an armload of dishes. Sarah and Deborah followed her, bearing plates and cups needing to be washed. Some of the guests cleared their own place settings and filed into the house. Still finishing up with his sons, Tavor sat nearby and fed them. Esther rested in a rocker with her own infant son asleep in her arms.

Jonathan heard a shout.

“Uzziel!” Miriam cried.

Chatter erupted in the house. At first, Jonathan thought they were all just excited to see Rachel’s father. But the tone was different. There were gasps, exclamations, and whispers. It sounded like something was wrong. Jonathan stood up as Uzziel almost stumbled to the threshold of the back door, Miriam on his arm. Her eyes were wide, misty. Uzziel bubbled with excitement, saying over and over, “Come! Come, all of you!”

“Father, what’s the matter?” Rachel asked, rising to greet him.

“Come to the patio, please. Come outside, all of you. There you are! Eli, Jonathan. Are the others still here?”

“What’s the matter?” Rachel again asked.

Uzziel turned around, frantically waving to those in the house. “Just come outside. I want to tell everybody. Please come! ” He stepped aside to let everyone exit, then lead an almost-resistant Miriam out to her chair. He asked her to sit down before taking his own seat, gasping.

“Father, are you well?” Rachel asked.

“I’m fine. I ran from the temple. I just need some air.” While the old high priest took a few moments to compose himself, all patiently waited, some of them gaping.

“Is he ill?” Jonathan whispered.

Rachel shook her head. “Excited, I think. I have no idea what got him so flustered.”

Uzziel cleared his throat and surveyed the faces around him. “This morning I got a note. Oh, what a blessed day!” he broke off, grinning.

“Yes, dear,” Miriam said. “We know about the note. Where did you go?”

Uzziel looked like he was about to cry, not the kind of tears one would have under duress or pain, but the kind one would have when a thoughtful gift was received from a very close friend. Miriam reached out and touched his arm.

“Dear?”

Uzziel came back from the visions that seemed to be playing in his mind and cleared his throat again. “I was called to the temple early. Boaz wanted to talk to me right away. He had seen… he heard… Boaz told me everything. We prayed together by the Rock of Sacrifice, we went into the temple, directly to… and then… we both saw