28

A crowd of people, mostly men, amassed as if court was being held by the Fish Gate. The messenger plowed through those gathered, clearing a path and not caring if he shoved or insulted those in his way. She followed her father and prayed his status would protect her from harm. Craning her neck to see over turbans and head dressings, she spied a tribunal waiting near the doorless gate.

Four officials hovered to the left of the newly restored frame. Nehemiah was flanked by Ezra the priest and her father’s counterpart, Rephaiah. At least Rephaiah’s ever-haughty son Gershom was nowhere in sight. Adah’s jaw clenched at Rephaiah’s stern-faced stare. No doubt her summons suited his attempt to have his son replace her father as ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem.

Five priests stood on the right of the city’s entrance, including her foe, Delaiah, who had refused to blow the shofar to save his own people. It was strange, but her accuser wore a brightly dyed purple head band.

Lord, I’ve done the work. Please do not forsake me.

“There she is,” a man bellowed. “She’s the girl who insulted the prophetess.”

Someone’s spit dampened her chin. She wiped the wetness on her robe and hastened to catch her father.

“The daughter of Shallum is the false prophetess,” a laborer yelled.

Worse indignations flooded the gathering space.

Sweat dripped down the side of her face while a sea of perspiration pooled above her lip. “God of Jacob, I need to be brave.”

“The witch is prophesying.” Her first greeter offered another taunt. Why couldn’t the man stay silent?

Rephaiah met her father before they reached the circle of officials. Arms crossed and legs in a wide-stance, he acted like he was the judge at this tribunal. “Did I not instruct you to discipline your daughter, Shallum? Her tirade against Noadiah has soldiers camped at our gate. Sanballat has brought over eight-hundred men from Samaria to savor our undoing.”

Several men nodded in agreement.

“Ah, my friend.” Her father opened his arms as if to hug his fellow ruler. “Is my daughter so powerful that a rebuke from her lips puts our city in peril?”

A laugh roared behind her. She turned to find Telem and the brothers listening to the conversation.

Toda raba, Adonai.

“She is an untamed fool.” Rephaiah retorted. “Perhaps this time the governor will see her sinful ways.”

Adah hid her fisted hands in the folds of her robe. Throwing her shoulders back, she held Rephaiah’s slit-eyed condemnation without a flinch, although every measure of her body flamed hotter than a torch. She pressed her lips together and did not answer the ruler’s insult.

“Do you have need of me, Rephaiah?” Nehemiah stood a few feet beyond the chattering ruler. “I believe we are conferring by the gate.”

Rephaiah acknowledged the governor with a slight nod. “Yes, all the better for the girl to see our enemies lying in wait for a battle.”

Her father shook his head. “Why should they want to do battle now when our walls are restored and Tobiah is not seated at Sanballat’s side? Tobiah delighted in burning our fields and speaking ill of our God.”

“Because.” Telem stepped from her shadow. “If Nehemiah is accused of treason, Sanballat could petition the king to govern this neighboring land and control the trade that goes with it.” Telem cast a glance in her direction. “I was not deaf in the caves. Jerusalem is becoming a prized jewel.” Telem announced his proclamation to those who stood listening nearby. “A thief like Sanballat will devise a way to snatch it from our people.”

The brothers agreed and started a raucous among those who heard her mason.

“Why is this laborer allowed to speak?” Rephaiah huffed.

“He is a Levite.” Ezra paraded over from the gate toward Rephaiah and castigated anyone who did not disperse to let him pass. “I knew this mason’s father. Hasn’t he been working for Shallum?”

“A son would not be dearer to me.” Her father clapped Telem on the back.

Telem looked as shocked as she felt. But she would grasp any support that was given.

“Woe that you did not have a son, Shallum.” Rephaiah tsked at her, sounding as though he had food stuck in his teeth.

Adah breathed deep, her chest plumping like a bothered hen. Enough of this banter. If armies waited to do battle, then why was no one lined up for war? “Why was I summoned if I am not a son? There are plenty of officials here to ride out and meet this envoy.”

Nehemiah bowed his head and pressed his hands together. “Sanballat and Tobiah have been sending messengers for a while. Their letters are all the same, asking me to meet them at a location outside of this city. I have never agreed to their requests. A message from Artaxerxes is different. I must receive it and answer the king. It is my duty.”

Telem raked a hand through his hair. “Can’t they bring it into the city?”

“They won’t,” Rephaiah snapped. “The daughter of Shallum scolded the prophetess. It is no wonder they believe this is a trap, and we will revolt and kill any messengers. Some nobles believe the prophetess. They believe her claim of treason to be true. Noadiah is well respected among the people.”

She heard his unspoken inference—and you are not. Be strong and courageous and do God’s work. God will not forsake us.

Adah cleared her throat and then asked, “If they desire to talk with the governor, why am I here?” Her defiant gaze moved from her father to Rephaiah to Ezra and then to Nehemiah.

“The king summoned you as well,” Nehemiah answered. “No doubt Sanballat and the prophetess have slandered your name. By including you in their schemes, they cast doubt on your father’s loyalty.”

And it would be easier to kill a woman than a respected ruler. Oh Lord, protect my family. I meant to bring my father honor, not shame.

Shielding her eyes with her hand, she observed Nehemiah’s face for any sign of worry. He did not act or look downcast like he did the night she found him weeping for his forefathers and his city. He did not tremble or tear his embroidered robes. His calmness soothed the terror of his people. And it soothed her.

“My daughter cannot go.” Her father’s body teetered. “If they think she is planning treason against the king, they will kill her on the spot in front of this city. As a warning.”

“What is one girl?” Rephaiah’s breathy comment settled in her ears.

Swallowing as if this were the last bite of her final meal, Adah said, “I will go.” She stepped closer to Nehemiah. “I was one of the first people to hear of the governor’s plan to rebuild Jerusalem. If my life has to end, it will end with the governor at my side, and the vision of our wall in my sight. I believe God desires our city to rise from the rubble. And I will not rest until the gates are secure and Jerusalem is strong.”

“This is the City of David.” Telem shouted. “The men of Judah will defend it.”

Bystanders agreed.

Rephaiah pushed some gawkers aside. “Look,” he said, pointing to the outskirts while his eyes showered her with disdain. “Observe what awaits this city and its rulers.”

In the distance, expanding as far as she could see outside the northern gate, down the main road, and shaded by a scattering of trees, were soldiers. She had beheld raiders from this army when Othniel’s fields burned.

Crooked-nosed Sanballat perched on a mount in front of his men. Twirling and stomping in glee at his side was the purple-clad false prophetess. She frolicked as if the ground was set ablaze. The fighting men of King Artaxerxes sat atop horses decorated with the golden-yellow and pomegranate red of Persia. Breastplates, swords, and spears shone in the sun’s glare.

The conspirators gave Adah no fright, but the envoy from the king ground her fortitude to flour. Men trained to kill did not bring greetings. But they were not a legion. She hastily counted fifty warriors.

Closing her eyes, she prayed aloud, “Lord, I trust You will not forsake us, and I believe that Your servant Nehemiah is doing Your work. Protect us with Your army. Show our enemies there is but One True God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And that You are here with us. And me.”

She stepped back and flung her arms wide, moving back and forth as if she were the prophetess of this city. Her charge to the men gripping swords and fidgeting with arrows would be one of encouragement, not despair.

“I am ready to meet our visitors,” she said.

“As am I.” Nehemiah whipped his arm in the air as if he stood ready to release a sling stone.

Telem squinted out toward the hills. “Not yet.”

Rephaiah stomped his sandal. “We cannot keep an envoy from the king waiting. The soldiers will believe we are planning a revolt.”

“And if they are planning to attack, we need to win.” Telem regarded her with a smirk. “Do you not remember how King David took this city from the Jebusites?” He mimicked shoving something heavy over his head.

She smiled in remembrance of being flung out of Telem’s tunnel. “Listen to my mason.” Rejuvenated of spirit, she stood tall and fixed a scorned noblewoman’s gaze on the officials. “He knows how to get men to the hills and trap our enemy if we have to fight. For we will fight if Sanballat charges the gate.” She glanced at the men near the entrance. They wore plain tunics and carried lackluster blades. Sanballat may disregard their fortitude, but she would throw her lot in with them any day. Rotating in a tight circle, she shouted, “We will fight like men—”

“And women,” Telem interjected with a nod.

“Of Jerusalem.” She raised a fist toward the cloudless sky.

As her proclamation hung in the air, her father came by her side and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Let it be so,” her father shouted. “God will give us the victory.”

Now, no matter what happened, with her vow fulfilled to build the wall and her father’s praise in front of the city’s officials, she could meet whatever end God decried. With another shiver hovering just beneath her skin, she recited a prayer of King David’s. “Rescue us O’ Lord, from evil men and protect us from men of violence.” Turning to behold all who listened, she yelled with abandon, “Be strong and courageous!”

Nehemiah echoed her charge. He and Ezra and her father added a hearty, “Selah!”