Articles - Miscellaneous

Two years ago, I visited the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf at As-Salt, Jordan; I visited Wadi Sho'aib several times; it leads downs to Jordan valley. Half-way down is a pillar, marking sea-level; this year on my return, I went just past there with a German friend and climbed till we could see the Dead Sea; on the way back, we had bread & milk with a Bedou family. On my first visit, as I sat and watched the sun set over the hills of Palestine, I imagined the following; if you would like to read more, it is from 'Tales of Wadi Sho'aib.'

Hobab: Three Night Visitors Time of Isa al-Masih 1 AD

Oh the cold that night, even here in the valley! What would it be like up there on the hills, above our home, or down the valley, across the river and by that City of Peace? That's where they were going, those three strangers from the East. After they had left, father spoke of them in hushed tones. They had talked long into the night… but more of that later. It was such a surprise at first.

We see them all passing our home: caravans of merchants; squads of Roman soldiers; dignitaries with purple cloaks and 2 squads of soldiers; the occasional carriage with a wealthy lady and a troop of horsemen. But these men came simply, three men and a servant to see to their needs. They must have been rich; I saw that each was looking after a special box - a present they were bringing for a king, they told father. Their ways were simple, yet father's eyes were distant next day as he told me how rich they were in learning.

They had studied the stars all their lives They went outside and father spoke of the stars he knew; they let him share his wonder at the familiar stars, then remark on that new star that shone up the length of the wadi, over the hills from way over the river. Then the oldest said that this was the star he had waited all his life to see, the star that spoke to his life's knowledge, to tell him he was to seek out the King of the Jews.

But where were they to seek the King of the Jews? I lay awake as they talked into the night; my father, who knew little of the Jews and their ways, and they, mysterious men of the East, who knew nothing, yet had spent their all to come on this journey. The stars shone; the beasts ate their fill; and they talked. Where is he who is born King of the Jews? They asked, for we have seen his star at its rising and have come to worship him. They must have recognized in father one who knew not the God of the Jews, but wanted to know God. As they left, he said, 'Come back this way, and tell me of the Child…'

…and so they returned. They had been to see the king, though even over here, father knew him for a vile and vicious man, not one these good men, these scholars, would wish to know. He knew nothing, but called in their religious experts, who had the answer in their holy books: 'In Bethlehem, the House of Bread, this king is to be born; Out of thee will come the ruler of my people Israel.' This king was given to the Jews, yet he received gifts from these strangers, coming from the world to a simple house.

'We will never come again by this way,' said one as they bade us farewell, 'and should any come after us these days, say not we came here. But you, my young friend,' - and he looked at me - 'do you watch out for this king; when he grows up. We know not how, for he lives humbly, but he will be great, and his showing will be to the world, not to the Jews only.'

Those were the words that stayed with me, but how could they be? The Jews are a down-trodden, despised race who keep to themselves, how could the King of the Jews be for the whole world? But I knew that this king for all the world, he would be the one father would want as his king. Would the Jews to whom he came know him as king?

Note: reading Matthew 2; we base our calendar on the event of this year, though some think it happened in 6 BC.

Geoffrey Elliott

© St Edmund's Church, Roundhay - Charity Number 1131904