27. A plan in your back pocket

Bidkar continued to visit Yashar in the vineyard, often bringing a bird purchased from the market that they might prepare and eat together. The new, quiet relationship suited each of them; each was alone, if not lonely, and each found the other good company.

During the entire year that passed since Naboth had died, Ahab had left Yashar to do as he pleased in the vineyard but it had become clear, by then, that Yashar had worn himself out. “One man cannot properly maintain such an enterprise,” Bidkar warned, “much less successfully bring in a harvest,” and so he recommended men in Jezreel who were willing to work for wages.

Yashar hired them and the resulting harvest was timely, plentiful and good. But when the work was completed, Ahab ordered Bidkar to seize all the wine and skins and bring them into the city.

Bidkar led a company down the hill to do as ordered. “This is the king’s property after all,” he explained. “Given his recent remorse, I had doubted that Ahab would care. Yet he clearly covets these terraces. I hope you understand, Yashar, I have no choice.”

Oddly, Yashar seemed unbothered. “What I have learned today about Ahab is unfortunate,” he said, “but what I have learned this season about winemaking has been a blessing. Do what you must, sir, the wine and whatever gain it may bring mean nothing to me. I am comforted. The God of Israel will deal with Ahab in his time, Elijah has promised it.”

Bidkar could not help but bow. “I see that you are truly honorable,” he said, “and am grateful that you have not allowed the king’s greed to come between us. I tell you, Yashar, I’ve led thousands in my days but not one in ten thousand could have answered such obvious outrage with your grace. Bless you for your forgiveness. You will never have a more respectful friend than I.”

The two clasped hands. Out of difficulty, their friendship had grown stronger.

*

Yashar looked past the king’s robbery but a sticky problem remained. Left with nothing to barter or sell, he had no way to pay his help. Those men appeared suddenly one evening beside his campfire hoisting torches and bearing clubs. “We worked as you asked,” one said. “Now we demand to be paid.”

Up until then Juttah had not been concerned by these same fellows who had worked in the vineyard for days beside his master but, upon hearing their threatening speech, he rose, arched his bristling back and began to growl.

That simple warning caused the men to lose their nerve but Yashar encouraged them. “I promise,” he said, “I will see to it that this dog will not harm you even if you beat me.” He stopped and sighed, nearer to tears than he had been in years. “Your cause is just. The king has taken my means to pay. I am dishonored, embarrassed and ashamed.”

The men, good fellows after all, dropped their clubs, sat beside Yashar at the fire and wept alongside him. “O God,” Yashar cried, “forgive my foolishness and bless these men who worked for me in good faith. They have families to feed and nothing to show for their efforts.”

For no apparent reason, Juttah barked. Yashar’s attention, then, somehow turned to Sara’s cottage and he remembered Sara’s curious remark on the day she left Jezreel; walk through my cottage, look about it with great care. As the others watched, Yashar pushed open the cottage door, swept aside curtains of cobwebs then lit a lamp. The bigger of the hut’s two rooms was empty. In its smaller room, Yashar found two cots aligned along either wall, a worn stone mattock beside one of them (so that was where Naboth had slept) and a small mound of smooth stones stacked beside the other on the floor. Yashar kneeled beside the stones and found under them a small, woven purse; Sara’s stash of silver coins from Tyre.

What had prompted her to leave so much behind?

Juttah ran in circles around them as Yashar stepped back to the fire, counted out coins and settled up with his helpers. Everyone forgave everyone then they joined in prayer. Many good men remained in Israel. Maybe that was why God had not yet allowed her complete destruction.

*

As commander of the garrison, Bidkar was able to visit the imprisoned prophet, Micaiah, in the Jezreel lockup whenever he pleased. During his visits, the captain gained insights from the holy man concerning right belief and behavior according to the Lord. These he shared with Yashar. The two had begun to meet nearly every evening as they became stronger friends. Though he had increased much in faith and understanding, the poor captain, still an officer in Israel’s mostly pagan military, bore more than a few rough edges. This never seemed clearer than on the evening that Bidkar and Yashar once again discussed Ahab and the vineyard.

“The king landed an unrighteous windfall by stealing everything from you,” Bidkar said that night. “Clearly he prefers cash to equity and so does his queen.”

Yashar nodded, unsure where the captain was headed.

“So, next harvest,” Bidkar said, lowering his voice, “if you choose to remain and work this property, I will look the other way while you sell half the yield on the coast, two thirds of it, perhaps. Let Ahab steal the rest. He will be none the wiser.”

“And the God of Israel,” Yashar asked, “how much wiser will he be?”

Bidkar folded his arms.

“Let’s rather think this way,” Yashar said. “We have a bit of leverage, consider this. Ahab now knows that I can work this land successfully and he very much appreciates its yield. He must ask himself, then, who else in Jezreel could do as much, as faithfully as I? If it becomes clear to Ahab that I might leave rather than work as his slave, maybe he will find part of something better than nothing. Maybe, through you, he and I can negotiate?”

“Ahab does not negotiate,” Bidkar said, “especially with his servants. But the king fears Elijah and remembers you are his friend. If I can present your case indirectly, by asking questions, bringing telling reports and, perhaps, expressing fears that you might leave, your logic may work.”

“Good then,” Yashar said. “When I get back, we’ll try.”

“Get back?”

“The harvest is complete,” Yashar said. “I can leave these vines for a while with no worries. I’ll visit Sara and Zach at Shunem. Why don’t you come with me?”

Bidkar quickly agreed, eager for a change of venue. “But keep my little plan in your back pocket,” he added with a wink, “in case your approach with Ahab fails.”