Though Avi had deserted the vineyard in anger for several days after another bout with his mother, he reappeared on the day the elders had set to honor Naboth in the tower. No one was surprised. Unable to change Naboth’s mind, Sara helped her husband comb and dress for the occasion. “Stop your whimpering, woman,” Naboth told her while she did her best to arrange his hair. “You’ll recognize this occasion as a blessing before the night is out.”
“It is plainly a snare,” Sara sighed, “only vanity seeks honor among the unrighteous.”
“We would have no friends at all if we lived by your standards,” Naboth said, then he wrapped her in his arms and murmured, “but O, I love you so.”
“Oh, stop, you silly man,” Sara sniffed, tears in her eyes. “I will remain beside you. We will somehow see this through.”
Sara, Avi and Yashar (over Avi’s objections) accompanied Naboth to the tower where they found a room set with several long tables and benches. Some townspeople had already taken seats, most of whom Naboth and Sara knew, some whom they only recognized and a few whom they did not know at all.
“I am truly, truly honored,” Naboth murmured as they passed inside.
The elder, Zvi, greeted them wearing a jewel-encrusted vest. “Your seats are at the head table,” he said. “I will take you to them now.”
Naboth stopped abruptly after beginning forward to point at two tattooed men sitting at the head table. “Forgive me the mention,” he said to Zvi, “but those already seated are well known to everyone as followers of the Baalim.”
“You are correct sir,” Zvi said, “present according to the wishes of our king.”
“These never mix with us,” Sara said at Naboth’s arm. “I beg you, sir, let’s turn now and leave the tower.”
“This is Israel, not Judah,” Zvi said. “We look down at no one and embrace strangers for mercy’s sake.”
“You look down at everyone,” Sara said. “Tell us when mercy rightly embraces idolatry?
“Forgive my wife, sir,” Naboth said, “she is unbending.”
Zvi ignored them both and led them to their seats.
*
Yashar leaves Juttah. Yashar says no. Juttah stays by fire and sleeps then stirs. Juttah goes to gate. Men poke at Juttah. Juttah waits by wall where men and horses do not come. Juttah smells bad things but what?
*
The affair began cheerfully but Sara sat in tears. The elders rose and, one by one, heaped praise upon Naboth. “From thorns to flowers, from briars to vines,” Givol said.
Sara suddenly sat straighter and grabbed Yashar’s hand. “The Lord has shown me everything,” she whispered in a panic, “but it’s too late. This is a sham, entirely, as I feared. Woe upon me and my poor husband on this, the worst day of my life.” Yashar tried to calm her but could not. “It is Jezebel’s doing, Yashar, not Ahab’s,” she said. “The elders know its beginning and its end.” She stood and interrupted the speaker, shouting, “What has my Naboth done to deserve such a betrayal?”
The room fell silent.
“Betrayal?” Zvi asked, rising from his seat. “Woman, I hear only praise.”
“O Lord,” Sara cried out, “had you only spared me this witness. How have I deserved it?”
The first of the pagans beside them pounded the table and rose, saying, “I’ve heard enough. Shame, I say, on Jezreel for her blindness and hypocrisy.”
“Have you some charge to bring before us, sir?” Zvi asked quickly.
“See how he leads the man, Yashar?” Sara sobbed. “This has all been planned.”
But Yashar did not see. Neither, it seemed, did Naboth, who sat rubbing his scalp, confused.
“I do have a charge,” the tattooed man said. “Naboth the vintner has cursed both the God of Israel and Ahab, our king. I have witnessed his adultery with these eyes!”
Naboth’s neighbors began to shout, demanding that the stranger say no more.
“Thank you, my friends,” Naboth said, bowing meekly.
“I will sit,” the man said, “after I ask a simple question. What does your law say regarding one among you who stands accused?”
All eyes turned to the head table. The elders frowned and stroked their beards.
“Surely,” Naboth cried out to them, “you are not considering this man’s evil testimony?”
The elders appeared to confer.
Sara prayed aloud, Lord save us, Lord defend us, Lord protect us, Lord forgive us.
Zvi turned to face the guests, cleared his throat and announced, “This personal attack means nothing…” The room exploded with cheers but quieted suddenly when Zvi added, “…in the absence of a second witness. So says our law.”
The second man rose quickly. “Honor demands that I say this,” he said. “I too am a witness against this man.”
“Why consider the testimony of these strangers?” Yashar stood and shouted. “Naboth’s accusers bear the marks of the Baalim. Will you allow their word to stand against your godly neighbor’s?”
Several stood and appealed to the elders alongside Yashar. While they spoke, the nobles nodded as if listening. They huddled a second time then called the two witnesses against Naboth to join them. With their backs to the accused, his family and their guests, the elders appeared to interview the two men at length.
“They are not discussing it,” Sara said. “This evening is about murder.”
Sara proved right. After the two who testified against Naboth hurried from the room, Zvi turned to face his audience, raised his arms for silence and said, “Two witnesses our law required, two witnesses we had. We, your elders, have made diligent inquiry according to our burden and have found no fault in their accounts. Our duty, then, is clear.”
“Liars!” Yashar shouted, breaking the silence that had fallen upon Naboth’s neighbors. “This man’s innocence screams at you.”
But that plain truth sat poorly with everyone. Even Naboth seemed offended. “You must never,” he said, “dare speak disrespectfully of a noble.”
“Enough,” Sara said. “Yashar, say no more. Sit beside me quickly before they accuse you too.” She turned to Avi. “Do not try to defend your father,” she said. “Allow what must happen to run its course.”
“You speak as if I’m already gone, woman,” Naboth said.
“You are, husband,” Sara said, her eyes shut tight against her pain, “according to the designs of Israel’s queen.”
Zvi pronounced judgement in detail; Naboth was to be taken outside the gates.
“I am to be stoned?” Naboth asked. “Certainly my neighbors, who came tonight to honor me, will have no part in this.”
“You are wrong, husband,” Sara said. “They must follow the word declared to them, turning neither to the right or the left, or face condemnation themselves. It is the law.” She rose with Naboth as others forced him to his feet. “Die knowing the truth, sir; you have been murdered by Jezebel so Ahab may acquire your family’s vineyard.” She kissed Naboth quickly as they drew him away. “May God consider your sweet nature, husband, and overlook your pride.”
Zvi led the others, who led Naboth, out onto the quadrangle. Yashar broke free from Sara and followed. As Zvi repeated the elders’ instructions, Naboth’s friends lit torches and gathered stones.
*
“I knew Yashar would not do as I asked,” Sara told Avi, sitting alone with him in the once crowded room. “We have had our differences. I say now, bless me, child. Go, avoid the mob and save yourself.”
“What will you do, Mother?” Avi asked.
“The Lord insists that I become part of this,” Sara said, “although I do not know why. But I do know that it would be a comfort to die knowing you survived this night.”
*
“They will murder you as well,” Naboth told Yashar as the lad pushed through the crowd to stand beside him. As if confirming him, those surrounding Naboth raised their voices and threatened Yashar too. Hearing the commotion, several guards from the garrison rushed out from the tower station to investigate.
Sometimes great confusion makes things clear. Naboth saw sweet Sara, running like a doe, flash past the soldiers and into the circle to stand beside him. O, how he loved her. Like a fury, his old, boney girl attacked the first man who raised his hand to cast a stone, scratching, slapping, kicking, O that woman…
If only Naboth had listened to her counsel.
“Lord have mercy!” he shouted, when Yashar attacked them too.
Guards arrived wielding weapons as the first stones found their mark. Naboth staggered. It seemed that Sara and Yashar would fall too until Naboth, resigned to shut his eyes and die, caught sight of Yashar’s enormous, fin-backed dog, hurtling towards them above the confusion like a weightless apparition.
*
Juttah sleeps next to the wall.
Juttah’s eyes open. It is dark.
Men with stones and sticks shout.
Juttah smells his family and sees Yashar strike men.
A man strikes Sara, so Juttah strikes them all.