Harvest - 02 - Harvest of Gold

by Tessa Afshar

  Nehemiah shook his head. “You have done well. Even though your section is a good deal wider than the rest, you have managed to come up halfway, same as the others. You’d have to lay down five of me, head to toe, in order to match the width of this wall.”

  The goldsmith beat his sleeve with a dirty hand. A cloud of dust rose up in the air. His hair stood in tangled knots, and not a single piece of jewelry adorned him. He looked like he had not bathed in days. He had been too busy working, setting an example for his servants, Nehemiah knew. The delicate fingers that once purified silver and shaped gold were covered in calluses now.

  “The people have been working with their whole hearts. And this enthusiasm is largely due to you, my lord Nehemiah. You have inspired us to persist and not give up. You show up in person every day. I’ve seen you pick up stones with your own hand, and I thought, if the governor of Judah can do this, then a goldsmith has no excuse. So here we are. Filthy but proud.”

  Nehemiah placed a hand on Uzziel’s shoulder. “One day, people around the world will remember you for this accomplishment, my friend.”

  He was glad he had been able to enjoy that moment of celebration, for he had little peace from that moment. Sanballat, Tobiah, and their influential friends discovered how well the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls was proceeding. This success infuriated them. Their enemies were more intent than ever to smash down their work and destroy them before they could taste further success.

  In his office that night Nehemiah received the disturbing report that Sanballat, along with his friends the Ammonites and Ashdodites as well as a few other local tribes, intended to attack Jerusalem. It was the worst onslaught against them yet.

  Nehemiah winced when he heard the news. He didn’t feel fresh and strong. He didn’t feel up to such a huge challenge. He was already stretched thin.

  For Nehemiah, this journey had started months before. He had begun by fasting and praying and grieving for his people. For months he had carried on the delicate responsibilities of his regular work as the king’s cupbearer while also carrying the burden of the wreck Judah had become. Immediately following those months, he had taken on the duties of organizing a large caravan and leading them through a long, incommodious and dangerous journey. He had borne the heavy pressure of protecting them. And then he had had to face the problems of Jerusalem.

  Why now, when he was at his weakest, would God allow the worst to come against them?

  Hanani, who was with him when the news came, said, “In a skirmish, we would be hopeless. If they plan to fight against us, there is little we can do to protect ourselves. Even with your Persian military escort we are shorthanded. Your escort was large enough to provide safe passage for a caravan, but it is too insignificant to make a real difference against so many enemies determined on our destruction.”

  Nehemiah did not answer. What could he say? He agreed with many of Hanani’s concerns. Grey with weariness, he gathered those closest to him. Quoting Solomon, he reminded them, “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. We will pray and ask for God’s guidance. He will show us the way, for human wisdom shall not prevail in these circumstances.”

  They prayed long and hard. In spite of his fatigue, Nehemiah persevered and would not give up. He knew God was their hope. Their strength. When they were finished, Nehemiah had a plan.

  “We will guard the city day and night. We will protect ourselves as we build. And we will succeed.” Strangely, with that resolution, he felt a new vigor. The discouragement that had overwhelmed him at the initial news of the impending attack lifted off him as if it had never been.

  Before Nehemiah could put his plans into action, he received a visit from a group of men who represented the workers. “My lord,” they said. “We are exhausted. For a month we have worked fourteen hours every day. The strength of the laborers is giving out. What’s more, the conditions at the construction site are becoming untenable. There is more rubble than ever to contend with. The site has become downright dangerous in parts. The other day one of the children stumbled upon a piece of masonry and split his leg open from knee to ankle. We cannot rebuild the wall. Not under these conditions.”

  “I see.”

  The man reddened under Nehemiah’s steady gaze. “We are tired. And now there are whispers that the enemy is going to attack us. The Judeans who live near those parts bring us repeated reports of Sanballat’s imminent onslaught. If we aren’t dead from weariness first, we’ll die by their arrows.”

  Nehemiah placed a bracing hand on the speaker’s arm. “In the midst of a significant building project, one has to face a point when it seems there is more chaos than there is progress. This is where you are. You’ve grown tired. You feel overcome. But do not set your mind on the disarray of the moment, for when God is in the building, chaos will eventually be replaced by His order. When things appear to be falling apart, God is in fact causing them to fall into place.

  “Do not be swayed by Sanballat’s threats. He has increased his attacks because he’s afraid. The wall is so high that Sanballat and his friends are losing confidence. That’s why they bear down so hard against us. Their new tactic is to terrorize us. To plant fear in our hearts so that we will give up. But God is bigger than Sanballat. Although things seem to be falling apart, even now, in the midst of our worst disarray, the Lord is working to make them fall together for our future good.” He took a deep breath and allowed his hand to fall away from the man’s arm.

  “I am making plans for the defense of Jerusalem. I will ensure that the workers have a short rest as I make preparations. Don’t lose heart now. In your exhaustion, you feel overwhelmed. You want to give up. What you don’t know is that you are close to victory.”

  Nehemiah invited Darius and Lysander for a private conference and explained the situation to them. Darius considered the news for a moment. “They mean to throw you into confusion. Thus far, your people have worked wholeheartedly. But this news is bound to shake their confidence. If they believe that coming to work on the wall means they’ll be killed by an errant arrow, they are not going to feel as motivated as before to show up.”

  “So we must give them the feeling of security,” Nehemiah said.

  “The feeling and the reality. I don’t think your enemies are making empty threats. They are intent on killing your workers. But only because they believe them to be easy prey. Once we give them the message that Jerusalem is not to be won so simply, they will give up their intention of attacking you.”

  After studying the map of the city, the three men decided upon a defense strategy. Nehemiah stationed some of his people behind the lowest points of the wall, where the city was most exposed. He posted families at strategic locations. Not only were they providing essential defense, but they were also located in positions where the enemy could spy them with ease. The glint of their weapons could be seen from leagues away. With a few well-placed guards, Nehemiah had managed to make Jerusalem appear like a fully defended garrison city.

  Those who owned arms brought their own. A few even donned coats of mail. Nehemiah provided swords and spears and bows for the rest. He gave the workers a day of rest while he waited for the enemy to reconsider their plans.

  Once he had inspected these defenses and determined their effectiveness, he called a gathering of the people and the nobles. As always, he opened the meeting with a simple prayer for the Lord’s protection and guidance. And then he spoke to his countrymen. He had not prepared his speech beforehand. He relied on God to give him the words.

  “People of Jerusalem, you have heard the rumors that Sanballat, Tobiah, and their friends intend to attack us. Do not fear! You have worked harder and better than they expected. You have accomplished an impossible task. You have completed half of the wall. That half is already providing an effective defense for us. Our men who stand behind it, guarding Jerusalem even as I speak, have enough covering to remain
safe against an onslaught of arrows.

  “Remember the Lord. He is great and glorious. Remember also your families, for you fight for your brothers, for your sons and your daughters. You fight for your wives and your homes.”

  There were tears in many eyes. Men wiped at their cheeks surreptitiously. Nehemiah took a deep breath and let silence settle over the crowd for a moment. He let his words sink in before beginning again.

  “There is no other nation that can boast of your faithfulness. You have come from far and wide in Judah: from Tekoa, Gibeon, Mizpah, and Jerusalem’s hinterland. You have worked long hours with no pay. You have sacrificed your comfort for the Lord.

  “You come from every background conceivable. The high priest has been working alongside merchants and officials and women and rulers. You, Malkijah, although you are ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem, you have been repairing the Dung Gate. Never once did I hear you whisper that it was beneath your dignity to work on that smelly stretch of land.”

  The crowd laughed. Malkijah bowed low until his forehead almost touched the ground. The crowd went wild.

  “And you, Shallum, ruler of the half-district of Jerusalem, though you have no sons, you brought your daughters to help you repair the wall. I tell you, if I had a son half as strong as one of your daughters, I would count myself blessed.”

  “And they are all of marriageable age, lord governor!” Shallum shouted. “Just in case there is an interested bride-groom with a hefty bride price milling about.”

  A deafening cheer went up among the people. Nehemiah smiled.

  The enemy still lurked at their door. The workers remained weary to the marrow of their bones. The work sites continued to be dangerous. Judea’s economy was still in shambles. Nothing had changed in their circumstances. But Nehemiah knew that the spirit of the people had turned from fear and defeat to hope. And that was how victories were made. God was teaching him—and His people—that when it came to battle, what happened in the mind had far more power than what happened in the world.

  Sarah could not sleep. She did not know if it was the discomfort of her body or the constant worry about Jerusalem that kept her wakeful. If the rumors were to be believed, their enemy might charge against them at any moment. Giving up on rest, she abandoned her bed and, donning a linen robe loose enough to accommodate her increasing girth, she grabbed a light scarf and slipped out of her chamber. She decided to visit the courtyard, hoping the fresh air would help clear the cobwebs from her mind. A small lamp lit a narrow path as she navigated the uneven stairs. The hour had grown late, and she walked quietly to avoid disturbing the rest of the household. She was on the second to last step when a voice jolted her. “Sarah!”

  She almost jumped out of her skin. Looking up, she saw Darius striding toward her. “I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said.

  Behind him, the door of Nehemiah’s office remained ajar, pouring soft light into the hall. “My lord! Have you been meeting with the governor so late?”

  Close up, she noticed the hollows under his cheeks, the paleness of the usually robust skin. Was anyone in Jerusalem not exhausted? Weariness had not robbed him of his startling beauty. Even after being with him for so many months, she sometimes found the sheer physical attraction of that face overwhelming. It made her as shy and tongue-tied as an adolescent girl. In the aftermath of the rupture in their relationship, these feelings had grown even more disruptive to her peace. She feared she could not hide them from his penetrating observation. His relentless intelligence came against her like an unleashed weapon, leaving no room for pride or self-preservation. It shattered something in her soul to acknowledge that he had no use for her responses anymore.

  In spite of the uneasy truce they had entered since Damascus, he remained withdrawn from her. He had shut a part of himself up, locked it away, so that she could not reach it. When he sought her, it was no longer with the ease of dear friends. He felt awkward around her. And he spent his nights alone. It was the deepest sorrow of her heart. She surrendered it to the Lord day and night, but it always returned and weighed her down with the heaviness of a stone olive press.

  Darius rubbed a hand against the back of his neck. “There are many details to oversee. Nehemiah is planning his defense strategy for the coming days.” He put one foot on the bottom step and rested his elbow on his bent knee. “He is surprisingly astute, your cousin. I knew he was a talented administrator, but I didn’t expect him to have any military sense. I underestimated him; it turns out he would do well as a general in time of war.”

  “Will there be a battle?”

  He shrugged a wide shoulder. “No one knows for certain. We must prepare as if there will be.”

  Sarah sat on the stair and wrapped her arms around her legs.

  “What are you doing out of bed?” Darius asked.

  “I couldn’t sleep. I thought fresh air might do me good.”

  “Come. I will accompany you. I could use some air myself.”

  The courtyard was dusty and smelled of horse dung. Not a single flower or herb plant adorned the place. Darius found a stone bench where they could sit side by side. He leaned against the wall behind them and gazed at the stars. The night blazed with them.

  “I miss home,” Sarah said. What had made her blurt that out? Would she never learn to have control over her mouth?

  Darius turned to study her. “I thought this was home.”

  “In a way. Home to my spirit. But I think of your palace near Persepolis as my real home. If we were there, we could stroll in the gardens, with the sound of the pools trickling, and the scent of honeysuckle and lilies sweetening the air. Anousya would lick my toes and demand my attention. My friends and family would be gathered about me. And there wouldn’t be an army at my door, seeking my blood.”

  “Are you sorry you came?”

  “No. Just tired, I think. Tired of worrying.”

  “We’ve had a report that Sanballat and his allies have postponed their plans to come against us. Apparently, witnessing the evidence of Jerusalem’s strong defense has put them off for now. Even if they choose to come against us, it will be in the form of a skirmish, directed at a portion of the wall. They would not come against the city itself. The king, while not concerned with minor disputes, might find an outright war against one of the regions under his rule offensive. Something these men would not risk. Rest easy, little Sarah. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Sarah flashed a smile. “You are handy with an arrow, as I have good reason to know. Perhaps you should teach me.”

  “You’d probably take off my ear in your first attempt to use a bow. My thumb would be the victim of your second attempt. And the tip of my nose would be gone in the third. No. I confess I don’t find it an appealing prospect.”

  “Are you disparaging my aim?”

  “Absolutely. I’ve seen you throw a stick for Anousya.”

  “You are a wiser man than I gave you credit for. So, how will we go back to rebuilding the wall?”

  “Without the help of your bow and arrow, you mean? I’m sure we’ll manage.”

  Sarah laughed. “I mean Nehemiah had to stop the building project in order to station all those guards. If we start rebuilding again, won’t we be vulnerable to attack? We only have enough men to either guard or build, it seems to me. We can’t do both.”

  “Yes, we can. Nehemiah’s plan is that half the men do the work while the other half, equipped with spears, shields, and armor, post themselves behind the workers. The Persian officers will help the guard. No doubt the sight of us will put off Sanballat. The work will go on, a little slower than before. But it will go on. I told you. Your cousin has a good head on his shoulders.”

  “You seem to have warmed up to him.”

  “I said he had talent. I didn’t say he had become my dear friend.” He stretched against the wall. “Roxanna and her servant leave for Egypt tomorrow. She can’t delay her departure anymore.”

  “Are you sad to see her go?”
she asked, trying to keep her voice casual. Would he miss the beautiful Roxanna?

  “Sad? Relieved, more like. Never seen anyone like that girl for stirring trouble. I thought Lysander was in a foul mood while she was around. But he became worse since she announced her intention to leave. He’s been acting like a wounded tiger all day. Heaven help us when she actually goes.”

  Nehemiah had arranged for the construction to begin again that morning. There weren’t as many workers at the wall. But that could not be helped. Many of the stronger men had been posted as guards. He had spent the past hour walking the perimeter, trying to ascertain if certain sections needed more help. On one side of him walked a silent Darius, appraising their preparations with shrewd, experienced eyes.

  On his other side, he was accompanied by a trumpeter who held his instrument at the ready. Before starting the work again, Nehemiah had told the laborers that he would use the trumpet as a signal. “The construction site is extensive and spread out and, now with fewer workers, our men are widely separated from each other. If we are attacked, I will use the trumpet as a signal.”

  At first the people had thought he wanted to give them a warning so that they could flee at the first sign of attack. Nehemiah had cleared up that misconception before it had a chance to take root.

  “What I want you to do is follow the sound of the trumpet, for it will lead you to the fighting. We will aid our brothers who have come under enemy assault. Remember that we are not fighting in our own strength. Our God will fight for us!”

  Now as he walked past the upper palace, near the court of the guard, a tired-looking man pulled on his sleeve. Nehemiah turned in polite inquiry.