CHAPTER I
The meeting took place in the khan of Bethany as appointed.Thence Ben-Hur went with the Galileans into their country,where his exploits up in the old Market-place gave him fame andinfluence. Before the winter was gone he raised three legions,and organized them after the Roman pattern. He could have hadas many more, for the martial spirit of that gallant peoplenever slept. The proceeding, however, required careful guardingas against both Rome and Herod Antipas. Contenting himself forthe present with the three, he strove to train and educate themfor systematic action. For that purpose he carried the officersover into the lava-beds of Trachonitis, and taught them the useof arms, particularly the javelin and sword, and the manoeuveringpeculiar to the legionary formation; after which he sent them homeas teachers. And soon the training became a pastime of the people.
As may be thought, the task called for patience, skill, zeal, faith,and devotion on his part--qualities into which the power of inspiringothers in matters of difficulty is always resolvable; and never manpossessed them in greater degree or used them to better effect. How helabored! And with utter denial of self! Yet withal he would havefailed but for the support he had from Simonides, who furnishedhim arms and money, and from Ilderim, who kept watch and broughthim supplies. And still he would have failed but for the geniusof the Galileans.
Under that name were comprehended the four tribes--Asher, Zebulon,Issachar, and Naphthali--and the districts originally set apart tothem. The Jew born in sight of the Temple despised these brethrenof the north; but the Talmud itself has said, "The Galilean loveshonor, and the Jew money."
Hating Rome fervidly as they loved their own country, in everyrevolt they were first in the field and last to leave it.One hundred and fifty thousand Galilean youths perished inthe final war with Rome. For the great festal days, they wentup to Jerusalem marching and camping like armies; yet they wereliberal in sentiment, and even tolerant to heathenism. In Herod'sbeautiful cities, which were Roman in all things, in Sepphoris andTiberias especially, they took pride, and in the building them gaveloyal support. They had for fellow-citizens men from the outsideworld everywhere, and lived in peace with them. To the glory ofthe Hebrew name they contributed poets like the singer of theSong of Songs and prophets like Hosea.
Upon such a people, so quick, so proud, so brave, so devoted,so imaginative, a tale like that of the coming of the Kingwas all-powerful. That he was coming to put Rome down would havebeen sufficient to enlist them in the scheme proposed by Ben-Hur;but when, besides, they were assured he was to rule the world,more mighty than Caesar, more magnificent than Solomon, and thatthe rule was to last forever, the appeal was irresistible, and theyvowed themselves to the cause body and soul. They asked Ben-Hur hisauthority for the sayings, and he quoted the prophets, and told themof Balthasar in waiting over in Antioch; and they were satisfied,for it was the old much-loved legend of the Messiah, familiar tothem almost as the name of the Lord; the long-cherished dreamwith a time fixed for its realization. The King was not merelycoming now; he was at hand.
So with Ben-Hur the winter months rolled by, and spring came,with gladdening showers blown over from the summering sea in thewest; and by that time so earnestly and successfully had he toiledthat he could say to himself and his followers, "Let the good Kingcome. He has only to tell us where he will have his throne set up.We have the sword-hands to keep it for him."
And in all his dealings with the many men they knew him only asa son of Judah, and by that name.
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One evening, over in Trachonitis, Ben-Hur was sitting with someof his Galileans at the mouth of the cave in which he quartered,when an Arab courier rode to him, and delivered a letter.Breaking the package, he read,
"Jerusalem, Nisan IV.
"A prophet has appeared who men say is Elias. He has been in thewilderness for years, and to our eyes he is a prophet; and suchalso is his speech, the burden of which is of one much greater thanhimself, who, he says, is to come presently, and for whom he is nowwaiting on the eastern shore of the River Jordan. I have been tosee and hear him, and the one he is waiting for is certainly theKing you are awaiting. Come and judge for yourself.
"All Jerusalem is going out to the prophet, and with many peopleelse the shore on which he abides is like Mount Olivet in the lastdays of the Passover.
"MALLUCH."
Ben-Hur's face flushed with joy.
"By this word, O my friends," he said--"by this word, our waitingis at end. The herald of the King has appeared and announced him."
Upon hearing the letter read, they also rejoiced at the promiseit held out.
"Get ready now," he added, "and in the morning set your faces homeward;when arrived there, send word to those under you, and bid them beready to assemble as I may direct. For myself and you, I will gosee if the King be indeed at hand, and send you report. Let us,in the meantime, live in the pleasure of the promise."
Going into the cave, he addressed a letter to Ilderim, and anotherto Simonides, giving notice of the news received, and of his purposeto go up immediately to Jerusalem. The letters he despatched byswift messengers. When night fell, and the stars of directioncame out, he mounted, and with an Arab guide set out for theJordan, intending to strike the track of the caravans betweenRabbath-Ammon and Damascus.
The guide was sure, and Aldebaran swift; so by midnight the twowere out of the lava fastness speeding southward.