Visiting Elisheva E-Book

Stephanie Meier

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 89

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Two women, Mariam and Elisheva, spend time together at Elisheva's home near Jerusalem. Each is expecting a child, one of whom will prove to influence world history.

Leseprobe

This is the story of Mariam and Elisheva and their sons, Jeshua and Jochanan. I have related the story as it is told in the Bible (Matthew 1, 18ff and Luke 1), but I have also added fictional elements. I struggled a little with the description of the child being conceived through the Holy Spirit, and even toyed with the idea of making it a natural process. But in the end, I decided to keep to the miracle of the virgin birth, although this does not mean I fundamentally believe it to have been so. For me, it remains a possibility that the story is symbolic and may not have happened one to one as described. No matter how, it is still a good story —e se non è vero, è ben trovato!

Stephanie Meier, St. Gallen, 10th July 2018

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

1

Mariam strolled slowly along the narrow path in the early freshness of the Galilean morning. She was a strong young woman with lustrous brown hair and fire in her eye. At present, she felt able to cope with the changes occurring in her. However, she was aware that this positive feeling would not last. She had already experienced many mood swings in the last few days, her feelings changing like clouds moving across the sky.

She was grateful that Sarah and Shimon were setting the pace of their journey, leaving Mariam free to idle behind on the dusty path, and to ponder in her heart the astounding experiences of the past few days.

Was it only three days ago that she had felt such an indescribable ecstasy? In her own mind she called it the visit of the angel, to give the experience a name. She had been darning a gown and was about to put it aside when she suddenly stopped, both confused and excited. What was that sound? Where did it come from? It was like flapping wings or a rush of wind. She stood stock-still. Was she alone? Or was someone there with her?

A tingling sensation ran through her body from the soles of her feet through her spine to the top of her head. She began to tremble, unable to understand what was happening to her. Was she sick? The sound seemed to become dense, visible – there, a face! An incredibly gentle, loving face appeared. Suddenly, she was no longer afraid, for she knew that whatever happened, the Lord God was with her. She felt the greatness of the Lord, within her and round about her. It was at the same time exciting and tender. Mariam was at peace and knew she was to carry a child.

But then, fear filled her heart since she was engaged to be married to Jossef. Their wedding was still some time away. What was she thinking of, to feel excited about becoming pregnant at such a time? Was she mad?

«Jeshua!» whispered a voice in her ear. She looked towards the gentle, loving face and was at peace again. Jeshua, why Jeshua? Yet there seemed to be no need for questions. She knew instinctively that the child Jeshua would be great, and important for the people of Israel and for the House of Jacob, to which her betrothed belonged. Mariam realised she was part of the great history of all being and knew that her holy child would be called the Son of God.

Her heart melted in love at the thought of the still unconceived child Jeshua, and a sensation of ecstasy threw her to the ground, hurling her darning work into a corner. Questions came again: How could that be? She had not slept with Jossef and did not intend to do so before the wedding. Yet she felt that conception would occur very soon.

Mariam realised she would never be able to understand with her mind, and she felt no need to do so. She was able to let go, allowing conception to take its course in its own way. Thinking of her child reminded her that her aunt, Elisheva, was also expecting a child. Elisheva‘s neighbours, Sarah und Shimon, had given them the news when they came visiting from Bethany. Elisheva was the younger sister of Mariam’s mother, Hannah, and was known to be infertile. If God was able to plant a child in Elisheva‘s womb, He would also handle the conception of Mariam‘s child.

Mariam stretched herself out on the floor and gently stroked her stomach with one finger. What a thought — her child! She rose, put away the darning and stoked the fire to cook the evening meal, full of wonder at this new life soon to be growing inside her. Once she started going about her work, she noticed that the sounds of flapping wings and rushing wind had stopped. It was quiet once more, both in the room and within her.

2

When Hannah arrived home and began to help Mariam with the preparation of the lentil stew, she did not immediately notice that a huge change had occurred in her daughter. Mother and daughter looked at one another and smiled. A homely feeling of well-being spread through the small room. Not much was said that evening. It was as if Hannah knew that Mariam had something to digest.

Hannah recited the blessing, and they shared the meal in a peaceful silence. Afterwards, Hannah embraced her daughter who was looking beautiful, her face aglow. Mariam‘s great joy made her mother happy too.

Once darkness had fallen, the two women went to bed. But Mariam could not sleep. Lying on her back, staring into the darkness, she listened to Hannah’s regular breathing.

All at once, the excitement returned. The darkness densified in places to form wings, hovering over Mariam. The sound of flapping wings and the rush of wind ushered in a similar ecstasy to that of the previous evening — ah, but now she felt no fear. Something great was happening to her. She had to place her hand over her mouth to stop herself from crying out! The feeling of ecstasy lasted for a long time, or was it only moments? Afterwards, Mariam could not tell.

Next morning, she felt nothing but shame. Who did she think she was? She was merely an ordinary woman. If she became pregnant now, a terrible taint would rest on her, and she would drag her family down with her.

When Mariam went out with a sullen face to fetch water from the pitcher in the yard, Hannah could no longer see any trace of her daughter’s glowing happiness. Mariam was now fighting back tears — whatever would her betrothed say if she became pregnant?

Maybe it was all just imagination, maybe she would not become pregnant after all. But that now seemed even worse than the taint of being an unmarried mother, now that she knew about Jeshua and his great significance. Was she crazy? Was this all just a pipe dream?

Things continued in this vein for the next few days, until Mariam began to get on Hannah‘s nerves with her continual mood swings. When Sarah and Shimon came to take their leave before starting on their return journey to Bethany, Mariam suddenly had the idea of accompanying them and going to stay with her Aunt Elisheva for a while.

A mad idea, to leave so suddenly! There were preparations to be made, Mariam would require food for the journey, and her sleeping mat would need to be rolled and bound up. But once the idea had formed in her mind, Mariam could not be shifted from her decision. Hannah accepted the fact that she would be unable to dissuade her obstinate daughter from her plan. In the end, after the strain of the last few days and once everything was packed and ready for departure, they were both quite glad to part company.

3

«Come on, Mariam, you‘re such a snail!» shouted Mariam‘s travelling companion, Sarah, from the shelter of a group of trees where she was waiting with her husband Shimon.

«Yes, I‘m coming!» answered Mariam, abruptly dragging herself back from her dreams into the present. She ran the hundred feet to Sarah and Shimon with long strides.

«Not so fast, Mariam, we‘ve still got a long way to walk!» said Sarah. «You certainly never do things by halves, either you‘re a snail or a racehorse!» All three laughed, and Shimon leaned against their pack-donkey, Chital, who was waiting patiently next to him in the shadows, hanging her head in resignation. He smelt the sweetness of the figs she was carrying, merging with the warm, dry smell of the jute sack to a homely fragrance.

«Right, let‘s get on!» he decided, pulling Chital along by her halter, The little group moved slowly down the sloping path, stepping over scrub and causing loose stones to roll away under their feet with a hollow sound .

***

After a long march, they saw their day’s destination, the small town of Nain, in the valley below, bathed in the golden rays of the evening sun.

«Made it!» said Shimon. «Now we just need to find ourselves an inn for the night.» He stroked his wife‘s cheek lovingly. «You‘ve coped well so far. I know you find the going hard, but we‘ll soon be home.»