The Gate of Heaven

by Gilbert, Morris

  “Well, it’s not exactly dirt,” Demetrius said, laughing. “You have to have the right minerals.”

  Jacob listened as Demetrius spoke easily. He, like others, admired the tall, strong form of the slave, and after a time he said, “Demetrius, I haven’t spoken to you about how you rescued my daughter. Don’t think I’m ungrateful, however.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bag full of coins. Removing several of them, he extended them to Demetrius. “I’d like for you to have these.”

  “Why, you don’t have to do that, master.”

  “As a matter of fact, I do. Take them now. No argument.” Jacob pressed the money into Demetrius’s hand, then said, “Now, I’ve heard stories about how you leaped clear over the bull and pulled his tail and all sorts of wild things.”

  “It wasn’t really difficult. You see my people practice what is called bull leaping….”

  Jacob listened intently as Demetrius described the ancient custom. He ended by saying, “I’m too old to be doing such things very often now and too heavy. It’s a wonder that bull didn’t get me, but he’s smaller than the bulls we used at home in Minoa.”

  “That is an amazing thing,” Jacob said, shaking his head.

  Demetrius looked down at the ground. “My dear brother was killed by a bull. I’ve never forgotten it.”

  “Oh my, that’s too bad!” Jacob exclaimed.

  “Many were killed and injured. I never worried about myself, but I worried about my sister all the time. But she was the best of us, really.”

  “How did such a strange thing come about, Demetrius? I’ve never even heard of such a thing in Egypt or anywhere else.”

  “I don’t think anyone really knows, sir. There is a story of the gods that’s told. According to it, Zeus, the king of the gods, fell in love with a beautiful mortal named Europa, a princess from this very country. He appeared to her first in the shape of a bull, and later she bore him a son called Minos. This man established a kingdom on our island and became a great king indeed. Every year Athens was forced to send him a ship filled with young men and women. They were fed to a creature called the Minotaur. He was part bull and part man.” Demetrius shrugged and shook his head, a smile on his face. “This monster, according to the myth, lurked in a labyrinth. It was a building full of passages so intricate that no one who entered would ever find the way out. In one famous story Theseus, a Greek, unwound a ball of thread as he stalked the Minotaur through the labyrinth. He killed the Minotaur with a magic sword given him by Minos’s love-stricken daughter Ardine. And, of course, he could follow the trail of thread and escaped.”

  “Do people believe that story?”

  “No, I don’t think so really. It’s just a pleasant story. We have movements of the earth often in my country. They are very frightening. The land shakes and wide cracks open up. Superstitious people say that’s the Minotaur still alive and shaking the earth from somewhere deep down.”

  “And this bull. People worship it?”

  “Well, it’s very prominent in our religion. As you enter the palace, there’s a giant painting of a charging bull on the east wall. And there are horns carved from magic blocks of stones in all the rooms and hallways. Sometimes the officials pour libations from the vessels fashioned in the shape of a bull’s head.”

  “What about the afterlife?” Jacob asked. He was intensely interested in such things, and his eyes glowed as he added, “Do your people believe in that?”

  The question seemed to make Demetrius uncomfortable. “Well, I suppose after a fashion, but you know how the Egyptians build huge structures to preserve the bodies of the pharaohs? We don’t do anything like that. We build simple tombs, but it’s almost as if our people have shut out of their minds such things as any life after death.” Then he asked, “What do you believe about such things, sir?”

  “I believe that we are made for more than this life.”

  “Has your God told you this?”

  Jacob shook his head. “No, but the hope of such a thing seems to be in our people. I think one day God will tell us more about himself and about the life that is to come.”

  “I’m very interested in this God you call the Lord.”

  “Are you, now?” Jacob needed no other invitation. He drew Demetrius down to sit on a bench and began to tell him about his God. “God has always sought men,” he said. He continued to speak of God’s dealings with men according to the old tales passed down for generations. He spoke of the flood and of Noah and said, “Our family comes from Noah’s son named Shem.”

  “I’ve heard,” Demetrius said cautiously, “that you actually wrestled with your God and that’s how you hurt your hip.”

  “I don’t know if it was the Lord or merely one of His servants. I think He probably has many.”

  “But you’ve said that He is a God of love. He crippled you. Doesn’t sound like a God of love to me.”

  Jacob’s eyes burned, and at that moment Demetrius realized the depth of this old man who sat across from him. “Sometimes men are so stubborn that God has to get their attention any way He can. If He has to break me, that’s a small price to pay for finding the God of all power.”

  Demetrius listened with interest. “I’d like to know this God, but I’m not a Hebrew.”

  Jacob thought for a moment and then said, “I don’t think God is only interested in the Hebrews. As a matter of fact, the most godly man my father ever mentioned was a king called Melchizedek. He wasn’t a Hebrew, but he knew God better than anyone my grandfather Abraham had ever met.”

  The two men sat there silently, and finally Jacob looked at the young man and said fervently, “I think the Strong God, the Almighty, will hear any man or any woman who calls on Him with a hungry heart.” He rose up and said, “I didn’t mean to keep you so long.”

  “It’s very interesting. If there is such a God and you’re right, a man would be a fool not to seek after Him,” Demetrius said.

  “Perhaps, then, we can talk more at another time,” Jacob said, smiling.

  “Indeed, I would like that, sir!”

  Dinah sat impatiently as Leah brushed her hair. She was looking at herself in the highly polished bronze mirror that Demetrius had made for her. It was so much better than any of the other mirrors, that she had grudgingly admitted it, even to him. Lowering the mirror, she said, “I’d have a maid if I hadn’t bought that Demetrius.”

  Leah stopped brushing and smoothed Dinah’s hair down with her free hand. “Why don’t you have Jacob sell him? Then you could buy a maid.”

  Dinah didn’t answer for a moment and then she said, “Maybe I will the next time he’s impudent.”

  “Aren’t you the least bit grateful that he kept you from getting killed by that bull?”

  “I wouldn’t have been killed. I would have gotten away.”

  “That’s not the way I heard it,” Leah said dryly.

  “Aren’t you about through there, Mother?”

  “Yes. And if that’s all the thanks I get, you can brush your own hair next time. Or get Demetrius to do it.” She laughed, saying, “That would be a sight to see.”

  “Don’t be foolish! I don’t want him touching me.” She flushed as she said this, for she had not been able to forget the kiss that Demetrius had given her. It infuriated her that she could not laugh it off, and now she said, “When are we going to leave for the festival?”

  “As soon as your father says so.”

  “Men!” Dinah exclaimed. “They get to decide everything.”

  “You should have been born a man.”

  “I wish I had,” Dinah said. She got up and walked about impatiently, then looked out the door of the tent and said, “Have you ever seen King Hamor?”

  “Of course not. None of us have. Not even your father.” Leah tossed the brush down on Dinah’s chair and said, “We don’t exactly move in the same world as kings and princes.”

  “I’ve heard his son Shechem is the handsomest man in the country.”

&nbs
p; “If he’s rich, then everybody would think he was handsome.”

  “I wouldn’t. If he’s ugly, he’s ugly.” She pouted for a moment and then said, “I wish we could hurry up and go. I get so bored of being stuck out here in the middle of nowhere. I don’t know why we can’t live in the village.”

  “Because we make our living with sheep. You can’t keep thousands of sheep in the middle of a village. Now, don’t be so foolish. We’ll be staying three or four days during the festival,” she added, “so be sure to take plenty of clothes.”

  “I will.” Dinah suddenly smiled. “I’ll pack it all and let Demetrius carry it.” The thought pleased her, and she laughed aloud. “I’ll wear him out by the time we get to the village.” I’ll have the best time there, she thought. There’ll be singing and dancing and lots of good food. I may not meet the prince, but there’ll be lots of handsome young men there, I’ll wager.

  The screams and laughter of the young girls who were trampling out the grapes in a large wooden vat caught King Hamor’s eye. He turned around to stop and stare at them. “It’s a wonder we don’t taste their feet in the wine we drink. There must be a better way to get the juice out of grapes and make good wine.”

  Hamor was a man of no more than average height and was running toward being fat. His clothes were rich, and the turban on his head contained flashing jewels. He turned to the young man beside him. “Do you see any there worth your trouble, Shechem?”

  The prince was as slender as a knife blade. He was somewhat taller than his father, and his clothes were even more ornate. Even his shoes were imbedded with red and green stones that glittered in the sun. From his turban he had exotic plumes, brought from some far country, that trembled in the breeze. He had a thin face and was dark complected, but his eyes were large and well shaped, and his mouth full, with a sensuous look about it.

  “Who are these people? Are they farmers?”

  “No. They’re shepherds.”

  “I don’t know anything about them. Do they have a king?”

  “Oh no. They don’t own any land. How could they have a king? Don’t be foolish, my son.”

  “Well, who are they, then? Where do they come from?”

  “I don’t know, but I know one thing. They’ve got more cattle than anyone I’ve ever seen in my life. Their herds are huge. They call themselves Hebrews.”

  “Hebrews! I’ve never heard of them.”

  “They’re just wandering shepherds. The leader is a man of some stature. His name is Israel, so I hear.” His eyes went back to the young women who were laughing as they trampled out the grapes and then to the men, strangers to him but all bearing the earmarks of a shepherd. “I rode through their herds one day. They seemed to stretch out forever.” A crafty look came to his face. He was no fool, this Hamor, and always kept his eyes out for opportunities to increase his fortunes. He glanced back toward the women and said, “Those are their women, I suppose. Do they please you?”

  Shechem’s back arched, and he looked and said, “That one there might be nice to taste. A real desert flower.”

  “Which one?”

  “That one. The one with the reddish hair. See what pale skin she has and a body to drive a man crazy, at least I think so. It’s hard to tell under those robes.”

  Hamor suddenly laughed. “How many wives do you have now in your House of Delight?”

  “None prettier than that one.”

  Hamor ceased to smile. He studied the young woman carefully, then turned to face his son. “An alliance with these people wouldn’t be all bad.” He smiled. “We’d never run short of meat if we had herds like these people have.”

  Shechem stared at his father, and an understanding came to him. “There’s always room for one more in the House of Delight, and that one would be a delight. She’s probably never known a man. I’d like to teach her a few tricks.”

  “I wouldn’t say no to an alliance with the House of Israel.”

  “You don’t care about Israel,” Shechem said, laughing scornfully. “You just want his flocks and herds.”

  “Don’t be so cynical, my son!”

  Shechem knew his father well. He nodded and moved over toward the young woman. “I’ll see what can be done.”

  Dinah had not been wrong about the festival. She had enjoyed everything tremendously. The music delighted her, for there were musicians from all over the land. They played timbrels and flutes and pipes and some stringed instruments she had never heard before.

  The trip had not been hard, and she had delighted at forcing Demetrius to carry more clothing and gear than she would ever use. He had complained about it, and she had enjoyed saying, “Be quiet, Demetrius. You belong to me, and that’s all there is to it.”

  Now the young women of Jacob’s retinue had joined together and were performing a dance. Dinah was especially pleased at this, for she loved to dance. Along with the other young women she moved in an intricate routine they had practiced ever since she was a child. It was a rather sensuous dance, even though they were all clothed in modestly concealing robes. She took a special delight in the movements, lifting her hands and swaying from side to side, and when they broke out into song, her voice could be heard above all the rest.

  After the dance, Dinah was laughing and speaking with her friend Shamar when suddenly she heard a voice right behind her.

  “That was a beautiful dance indeed.”

  Dinah turned and saw a slender young man approximately her own height. He was dressed in such rich apparel that she knew he was of the royal house. She curtsied and said, “Thank you very much.”

  “And what is your name, if I may ask?”

  “My name is Dinah. I am the daughter of Israel, the Hebrew.”

  The slender man bowed, his dark eyes smiling. “My name is Shechem.”

  Dinah instantly flushed and was almost tongue-tied. “Prince Shechem?”

  “That is my title. You must be warm after your dance. Come over in the shade and let me have my servants bring you some refreshment.”

  The other young girls watched enviously as Shechem escorted Dinah to a tent that had been erected for the purpose of refreshment. He called for refreshments and the servants scurried around, quickly bringing two flagons of wine. Shechem took both of them and then handed one to Dinah. He bowed low, saying, “This will not be as good as the wine at the palace, but it will have to do.”

  “It’s very good,” Dinah said. She was well aware that everyone was staring at her and this pleased her.

  Shechem spoke pleasantly of the dance, asked her how she had learned it, and commended her fulsomely. Finally he said, “It would please me for you to meet my father. Would you mind?”

  “No, Prince Shechem, not at all.”

  Shechem led Dinah to the king, who greeted her with a smile and a slight bow. He listened as Shechem spoke enthusiastically of Dinah’s dancing, and when he had finished, he said, “I believe I have heard of your father. His name is Israel?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  “Is he here? I would like very much to meet him.”

  “Oh yes. He would be very honored.”

  Jacob was indeed there and had been watching the proceedings. When he saw Dinah looking for him, he stepped forward slightly. She called his name, and he came at once and bowed low before the king as Dinah made the introductions.

  “It is an honor to meet you, sir,” the king said. “I have seen your beautiful cattle. I’m very interested in such things. Perhaps you would tell me a little of your methods.”

  Shechem laughed at his father. “I don’t think Israel’s daughter and I want to hear about raising cattle.”

  “One day when you are king you will have to take care of such things, but run along, son.”

  Shechem skillfully guided Dinah out away from the king and her father. They walked through the activities for some time, and finally Dinah said, “I think I must go back to my father now.”

  “Of course. It has been a great pleasure
.” Shechem’s eyes were warm and his smile even warmer. “It occurs to me that we’re going to have a celebration at the palace in a week. My father’s given me leave to invite any friends I choose. It would please me greatly if you would come.”

  Dinah whispered, “Oh, Prince Shechem, I would be delighted—but I could not come without my father’s permission.”

  “Why, of course you couldn’t! Naturally you must ask him. But I will assure you that I could send a group of our soldiers to escort you and also to bring you home again, and you will, of course, bring a chaperone with you.”

  “I will ask.”

  “I will look forward to it.” He reached out and bowed low. When he smiled his teeth were white, making him look even more handsome. “The festival will be a failure for me if you do not come.”

  “I will try,” Dinah whispered. And as she turned from the prince, she immediately began the campaign to wheedle permission out of her father. He’s got to let me go. He just has to!

  Jacob proved to be hard to persuade. Dinah, however, had seventeen years’ experience of getting her own way from him, and in the end he grudgingly granted permission.

  Judah was not pleased. He came to Jacob after hearing of the trip to the palace by his sister and said bluntly, “Father, I don’t think you should let Dinah go.”

  “Why not, my son? It’s an honor for her.”

  “She’s too young for such things. Visits like that to the palace could turn her head. She won’t be satisfied with a plain tent anymore.”

  But Judah’s words fell to the ground, and Dinah was ecstatic as she began to prepare.

  Demetrius heard of the visit from Jacob himself. The patriarch had called him to one side and said, “I want to send a good guard with her, so you and Amasa will go.” Amasa was one of the boldest of Jacob’s servants, a proven warrior. “I’ll also send Tersa with her as a maid.”

  Demetrius said merely that he would be very careful to guard Dinah, but he spoke more plainly to Dinah.