24. Much like a family harvest

After an evening with no sleep, Yashar wanted nothing more than to return to camp and his bed but Naboth’s family would not allow it. Zach hurried down ahead of everyone and revived the fire. Everyone waited for Yashar at the circle, insisting that he speak.

“I have mentioned Elijah to you many times,” he said. “Did you not believe me?”

“Of course we believed you,” Sara said, “but this morning we saw with our own eyes, you and God’s anointed, Elijah, standing together!” She began laughing. “The prophet ignored the king of Israel himself to embrace you, our Yashar. We saw tears in his eyes. We heard his cries of joy as he held you in his arms. And of course, Yashar, how special, knowing that Elijah had come to avenge the king’s sin against my poor husband…”

Sara’s voice trailed away.

Yashar extended his hands toward the flames to warm them. “I suppose it wasn’t easy to imagine such a bond,” he said.

“Tell us, Yashar,” Nurit said, her eyes filled with wonder and new respect, “do you know his hiding place? Did you summon the prophet on Naboth’s behalf? How else would you have known that he would come?”

Perception sometimes turns sharp corners. How strange to look upon the faces of the family he had so desperately longed to join only to discover their need for comfort from him. “I think God, sometimes, whispers to each of us,” he said, “not only to his prophets.”

It did not end then. They insisted that Yashar repeat all that he had seen and done at Carmel. When Yashar finished that tale they wanted to know more about his childhood—how Elijah had saved him and his mother from the drought.

Yashar hesitated. They seemed to be having too much fun.

Sara sensed what was troubling him and said, “We’ll listen, Yashar, to honor the Lord for sending Elijah to restore Naboth’s honor. Then we’ll continue to grieve.”

Yashar spoke about himself, his mother, Zarephath and Elijah for some time. The family hung on every word, giving glory to God for all that had happened and all they had heard.

*

During a huddle soon afterward, Sara and her sons agreed to ignore Ahab’s order to vacate the vineyard. They had a crop to bring in. Zach said it best. “After Elijah confronted him, the king has more on his mind now than gardening. We will not challenge God himself and dishonor our father’s memory by allowing years of his labor to rot on these vines.”

When the mourning period ended, Zach and Yashar surveyed the terraces and sampled grapes. “God is good,” Zach said, “they are full of flavor, better than I remember as a child. You and Naboth nurtured them well.”

Naboth was gone but his vineyard had been restored. Despite his loss, Yashar had never been so satisfied. As he worked beside Zach and his brothers by day then sat with them and their wives each night, his heart surged with contentment. The omens had vanished. The air in the vineyard had turned sweet as a kiss. Juttah chased fireflies. Sara sang to her grandchildren.

Yashar thrilled at it all, imagining himself one of Naboth’s clan.

Heaven, he thought, must be much like a family harvest.

*

They worked sunrise to sunset every day except upon the Sabbath. Ahab never bothered them. It seemed that the king, as Zach had supposed, had been too unnerved by Elijah’s curse to follow up on his threat. It became common knowledge in Jezreel that Ahab, cloaked in sackcloth and having torn his clothes, had not returned to Samaria but haunted the citadel halls at Jezreel instead, whispering by day, crying by night, calling upon the Lord, God of Israel, not Baal, for mercy. Jezebel sent many messengers to the king carrying both promises and threats in the queen’s own hand, but Ahab refused to go home.

*

The harvest passed too quickly. O, how Yashar loved to pick, sort, destem, divide and crush grapes, but the time soon came for Naboth’s family to leave the vineyard of their ancestors forever. “It is just a place, after all,” Sara sighed.

Zach had invited Sara to live with him and Nurit in Shunem.

“I will,” Sara answered after some thinking, “if you promise, Zach, never…” She paused, choked with emotion. “Promise me you will never allow your youngest brother into your home while I remain alive.”

No one had mentioned Avi since Naboth had died. By not coming to pay his respects upon his father’s passing, Avi had broken all their hearts.

“May God forgive me,” Zach told his mother, “but because my brother failed to properly mourn his father, because he did not appear to comfort his own mother or assist us in our work here in the vineyard his father so loved, I will honor your request.”

All packed and bundled for travel, they walked up the path together a final time. While they stood at the gate, reluctant to go, Nurit surprised Yashar by kissing his cheek then asking, “Honor us, brother, and come to Shunem to live with Zach and me. Help us work our land.”

“Do not worry,” Nurit laughed when Yashar lowered his eyes, “we will not insist that you become a farmer. Remember, Yashar, Naboth himself admitted that no man in Israel knows more about grapes than my sweet Zach. Help him in the fields, Yashar. He will teach you all he knows about vines.”

“I am honored by your offer,” Yashar said, “but God has whispered in my ear. For a time, I do not know how long, I must remain in Jezreel.”