Deborah: A tale of the times of Judas MaccabaeusLudlow, James M. (James Meeker)
History
Deborah: A tale of the times of Judas Maccabaeus
Ludlow, James M. (James Meeker)
Jewish fiction; Jews -- History -- 586 B.C.-70 A.D. -- Fiction; Maccabees -- Fiction
As the soldiers deposited their burdens of spoil they took their places
in groups of tens and hundreds according to the ancient arrangement
of the army of Israel--the order in which they had already gone into
the battle. The instant the morning rays touched the Temple walls, the
silver trumpets, which yesterday had sounded the onset, gave out the
time notes of the antiphonal chant of Israel, the Te Deum of victory
during many ages of faith:
"Lift up your heads, ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting
doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory?
"The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory."
As the chant died away the great gate by the tower of David was swung
open. In the shadow of the portal stood Deborah. She had arrayed
herself in richest apparel. Her chiton was of glistening white silk and
dropped to her feet. It was girdled high beneath the breasts; opening
deep above, exposing a neck that needed no circlet to adorn it. From
her shoulders fell a purple robe. This was matched by a purple cap that
rose high from her forehead and was banded with pearls. Strings of
these gems were pendent against her black hair, which, unclasped, fell
about her shoulders.
This contrast with the remembrance of her in the cheap attire of the
Fort of the Rocks, and as with bleeding feet she flitted over the stony
fields on her many secret missions, wrought the patriot soldiers to the
highest pitch of enthusiasm.
"The Daughter of Jerusalem! the Daughter of Jerusalem!" The shout was
taken up by one company after another. It echoed from the walls and
floated over the hills.
By Deborah's side was a Greek. He was in full uniform of a Captain
in the King's service. Judas quickly confronted him. The contrast
between the two men was extreme. The Greek was the model for an Apollo,
such was his grace of pose and motion. His muscles were full, yet
long, exquisitely moulded by the practice of the gymnasium and by the
fencer's art. The Jew was a Hercules of gigantic stature; "badly put
together," would have been the comment of a gymnasiarch; long arms,
legs short, muscles knotted. The Greek was clean-shaven, his locks
oiled; the Jew's head covered with reddish hair bleached by exposure.
The Greek was handsome, a woman's ideal. The Jew's face, overhung by
heavy brows, based in a broad, square chin, and covered with short,
untrimmed beard, might have been an unpleasant one, but for the kindly
brightness of his eyes, which would have won the confidence of a child.
The Greek made obeisance to the conqueror.
"Judas, son of Mattathias, I, though esteemed a heathen, have made a
vow before your God, that, if Jehovah granted you victory in this
battle, I would serve Him and you."
"I am not commissioned to receive the service of any but the men of
Israel," replied Judas firmly, but with a courtesy that could awaken no
resentment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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