thundercloud. Marah felt he could hear her heart pounding within her.
“You have not consummated this union?” It was more a statement than a question. For a long moment his eyes bored into hers. She shook her head and looked quickly down at the ground again.
Apparently satisfied that she was telling the truth, the shammash moved toward the gate and beckoned the others to follow. He strode a few steps and then turned back to Marah. “He is to come to the temple, the Bit Allah , the House of God, when he returns. We will decide on this matter then.”
Marah watched them go, her heart still pounding. They knew. She was not the only one to share Shimei’s secret after all. The rumors in the village had reached the ears of the council of elders and the high priest. What was she to do? She did not know how to reach Shimei or when he would return. She prayed that he would return under cover of darkness. She would watch for him and warn him of the danger.
Three more days passed before Shimei’s return. Marah had watched diligently each day and listened for him each night before she fell asleep. Her thoughts were troubled. In the Book of the Law, given to them by Moses, the agreement she had made with Shimei was against God’s commandments. She knew she had done wrong, and the guilt lay heavy on her spirit. It had seemed the only thing she could do. Marah made sure that Athaliah was sleeping and quietly crept up to the roof where she could ponder the situation.
She could not knowingly hurt Shimei. Then again she did not want to marry a strange relative of Zibeon’s, should there be one who was able to perform the duties of kinsman redeemer for her. Shimei would have had to publicly renounce his place as kinsman. She thought of pulling off his sandal and spitting in Shimei’s face. She could not do that. Then there would be the question of why. Did the whole village know about Shimei? Did they only want to put the rumors to rest? Her head swam with anxious thoughts until finally she sat down on the matting and wrapped her arms around her knees in the cool air. Then, putting her head down on her arms, her heart cried out to the God of the universe.
Lost in her own agony, she was startled by a village dog barking. She stood up and peered over the parapet to see a shadowy figure entering the courtyard. At first she was afraid, concerned it was a robber or worse, but as the figure stood in the moonlight, she recognized him. It was Shimei!
With a stifled cry of relief, she hurried down the steps to the courtyard. Shimei seemed surprised to see her at that hour of the night. Marah looked around quickly.
“Come inside the house. There is news I must tell you. I have been watching for your return.” When he hesitated, she took his arm and urged him to come quickly.
To their relief, Athaliah was sleeping soundly. They moved quietly so as not to disturb the animals below them and wake her. Marah lit a small oil lamp.
“Shimei, the shammash was here. The elders wish to speak with you when you return. I am to tell you to come to the Bit Allah for questioning by the elders and the high priest.”
Shimei did not seem to be startled or surprised. He sighed. “Word came to me from a friend concerning this. I have known for two days, but there were things I had to do. I thank you for what you tried to do, but it would not have worked. It is too late for that now. I must leave Shechem tonight and I cannot return.”
He knew? “But then why . . . ?” Marah whispered.
“Why did I return?” Shimei pulled a rolled parchment from his cloak. “We are betrothed, Marah, under the Levirate law you are as my wife, and the only way you can be free of me is . . . a bill of divorcement.” Seeing the shock on her face, he tucked the parchment on a ledge and put his hand on her shoulder.
“You are divorcing me?” Marah stared at him, bewildered.
“It is best. The truth is known and I am in danger of stoning. You should be free to
“You have not consummated this union?” It was more a statement than a question. For a long moment his eyes bored into hers. She shook her head and looked quickly down at the ground again.
Apparently satisfied that she was telling the truth, the shammash moved toward the gate and beckoned the others to follow. He strode a few steps and then turned back to Marah. “He is to come to the temple, the Bit Allah , the House of God, when he returns. We will decide on this matter then.”
Marah watched them go, her heart still pounding. They knew. She was not the only one to share Shimei’s secret after all. The rumors in the village had reached the ears of the council of elders and the high priest. What was she to do? She did not know how to reach Shimei or when he would return. She prayed that he would return under cover of darkness. She would watch for him and warn him of the danger.
Three more days passed before Shimei’s return. Marah had watched diligently each day and listened for him each night before she fell asleep. Her thoughts were troubled. In the Book of the Law, given to them by Moses, the agreement she had made with Shimei was against God’s commandments. She knew she had done wrong, and the guilt lay heavy on her spirit. It had seemed the only thing she could do. Marah made sure that Athaliah was sleeping and quietly crept up to the roof where she could ponder the situation.
She could not knowingly hurt Shimei. Then again she did not want to marry a strange relative of Zibeon’s, should there be one who was able to perform the duties of kinsman redeemer for her. Shimei would have had to publicly renounce his place as kinsman. She thought of pulling off his sandal and spitting in Shimei’s face. She could not do that. Then there would be the question of why. Did the whole village know about Shimei? Did they only want to put the rumors to rest? Her head swam with anxious thoughts until finally she sat down on the matting and wrapped her arms around her knees in the cool air. Then, putting her head down on her arms, her heart cried out to the God of the universe.
Lost in her own agony, she was startled by a village dog barking. She stood up and peered over the parapet to see a shadowy figure entering the courtyard. At first she was afraid, concerned it was a robber or worse, but as the figure stood in the moonlight, she recognized him. It was Shimei!
With a stifled cry of relief, she hurried down the steps to the courtyard. Shimei seemed surprised to see her at that hour of the night. Marah looked around quickly.
“Come inside the house. There is news I must tell you. I have been watching for your return.” When he hesitated, she took his arm and urged him to come quickly.
To their relief, Athaliah was sleeping soundly. They moved quietly so as not to disturb the animals below them and wake her. Marah lit a small oil lamp.
“Shimei, the shammash was here. The elders wish to speak with you when you return. I am to tell you to come to the Bit Allah for questioning by the elders and the high priest.”
Shimei did not seem to be startled or surprised. He sighed. “Word came to me from a friend concerning this. I have known for two days, but there were things I had to do. I thank you for what you tried to do, but it would not have worked. It is too late for that now. I must leave Shechem tonight and I cannot return.”
He knew? “But then why . . . ?” Marah whispered.
“Why did I return?” Shimei pulled a rolled parchment from his cloak. “We are betrothed, Marah, under the Levirate law you are as my wife, and the only way you can be free of me is . . . a bill of divorcement.” Seeing the shock on her face, he tucked the parchment on a ledge and put his hand on her shoulder.
“You are divorcing me?” Marah stared at him, bewildered.
“It is best. The truth is known and I am in danger of stoning. You should be free to
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