The greatest threats often come after the miracle. As joy spreads through Bethlehem, darker plans take shape in Jerusalem. King Herod’s fear turns deadly, and the lives of innocent children hang in the balance. Once again, those who know the truth must decide how far they are willing to go to protect it. In this Faith Story’s final chapter, loyalty is tested, wisdom outmaneuvers power and courage takes a quieter, but no less heroic, form. Part III of The Girl Who Guarded the King, written by Guy Johnson, brings the story to its conclusion, showing how faith, sacrifice and love carried one family and one brave girl safely home.
The morning following the presentation of gifts, Melchior called his colleagues and men together to discuss plans. ‘We have accomplished our purpose,’ he said; ‘We have met the new king, knelt before him, and paid homage. Under normal circumstances, we might set out for home and continue our researches at the great observatory. But these are not ordinary circumstances. A powerful enemy in Jerusalem threatens us and the life of a newborn rival who has no earthly defenders. We have no way to contact the king of our own country for new orders. We don’t know what King Herod is planning to do next. I propose that we stay here a few more days while we seek information concerning what those plans may be.’
All agreed with Melchior, and one of the group was selected to go to Jerusalem as a spy to attempt to determine what the situation there was. Tobias was young and inexperienced but also quick thinking and clever; he was chosen to be the spy and agreed.
Before he set out for the city, Tab and Adam advised him to go first to the kitchen of the palace and ask for Captain Hamilcar. Adam was sure that his friends there wouldn’t betray Tobias; Tab had confidence that Hamilcar would help.
While waiting for Tobias to return, the magi waited restlessly. Tab and Adam continued helping out at the inn. Adam spent much of the time working with Joseph who was repairing the furniture of the inn which has been in use for many years and showed it. Tab had found a small blank papyrus scroll among the gifts brought by the magi along with a box of paints. She was making a story book for the little king to enjoy when he was a bit older.
Mary and Joseph were making plans with Hephzibah and Simeon. The older couple assured the younger that they were welcome to stay as long need be but were concerned that danger from King Herod might strike any time. Much depended on the news Tobias would bring when he returned.
To Tab the waiting seemed forever but on the fifth day just before the midday meal, Tobias returned to the camp. He spent most of the afternoon in conference with the magi, but he managed to see Tab and slip her a letter in secret. It was from her father. Tab quickly found a quiet spot where she could read the letter in private and hurriedly opened it.
‘Ibrim, scribe and librarian,
To his well-loved child Tabitheus,
Greetings! May this letter find you well.
Tobias has told me something about your adventures since I saw you last. It has not been so exciting here. When you and your friends made your getaway, General Microbius took it into his head that I was the mastermind behind it all. Luckily the king wanted the work on the library to continue so I am still breathing, although under house arrest.
The general has been out of sight recently. Hamilcar says this is because a Roman friend of Herod has come to inquire about the fate of the magi, who it seems are under his protection. So Herod ordered Microbius to stay out of sight for a time and pretends to the Roman that he respects the magi and their mission. Since the Roman is a boyhood friend of Herod, he plans an extended visit here enjoying the hospitality Romans consider their due.
It seems then that you all are pretty safe for the time being. It will be several weeks before the king can make fresh plans to attack you there in Bethlehem. I don’t like the idea of leaving a job undone, but if an opportunity arises I will join you there and we can go back to our comfortable ship in Memphis. I long to see you and the pyramids.
Be well.’
Tab read her father’s letter twice, first in a rush and then slowly and thoughtfully. Then she ran into the inn to find Adam and tell him what she had learned.
At the same time, Tobias was reporting to the magi what he had learned in Jerusalem. Pompilius Superbus had been sent by the prefect at Antioch to determine how Herod had received the magi. The Median emperor had mentioned in a dispatch to Antioch that the scientists planned a trip to Judea, and expressed concern for their safety. It was the task of Pompilius to avoid an incident which could restart war between Rome and Media.
Pompilius and Herod had been boyhood friends in Rome. Herod seized on this friendship as the pretext for a lavish welcome for Pompilius who took advantage of this hospitality to extend his stay weeks longer than necessary.
Herod did not forget the magi and their quest but would make no overt attack during his old friend’s visit.
Tobias was able to report to the magi that they were in a protected position for a short time at least, as was the young king. In addition Captain Hamilcar had promised to send word immediately if the situation changed.
Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar took counsel at once with Mary, Joseph, Simeon and Hephzibah. For safety’s sake, Mary, Joseph, and the baby needed a long term asylum. Egypt was close by and with the gifts of the magi, they could travel in comfort. In accordance with the Law, Mary and the young boy needed to be presented in the temple when he was forty days old. They could safely travel to Jerusalem while Herod was occupied with his friend. So it was agreed that the young family would remain at the inn for the time required by the Law and make a timely escape if Hamilcar warned them of the need. The magi, having completed their purpose and seeing plans for the wellbeing of the newborn king were settled, decided to return immediately to their observatory. For the time being, Tab and Adam would remain with Hephzibah and Simeon at the inn.
And so it was that two days later, Tab and Adam said a long goodbye to their friend Darius who had taught them about the stars and how to ride a horse. The magi set out with their slow moving camels on the highway to the sea. They planned to find a ship there which would take them north to Tyre where they could find a caravan to take them to Babylon.
Later, on the appropriate day, old Ezra drove Mary, Joseph, and the young boy to Jerusalem to the temple. They encountered no danger, but the baby was recognized by two elderly worshipers who spent their lives in prayer in the temple courts.
Tab and Adam spent their days waiting, worrying, and expecting news. They kept busy helping the innkeeper and his wife. Then, one morning as she stepped out of the kitchen to scatter some grain for the chickens, Tab was met by two strangers, their faces hidden, their dark cloaks covering them from head to foot. The taller signaled her to be silent. The shorter gave her an unexpected hug. Looking up into his face she recognized her father.
When the king’s troops had marched out of sight on the road up to Jerusalem Hamilcar breathed a sigh of relief.
‘That seems to have gone well,’ remarked Simeon.
‘Yes, but we’ll still be on high alert for the next few days,’ the old soldier added.
‘Surely we can bring the children home,’ said Ezra.
‘That we can do, but we still can’t allow ourselves to become lax. Herod is full of tricks.’
The word was quickly spread and soon the mothers and youngsters were back in their homes. All continued to worry, however, until a messenger from Jerusalem arrived.
The subaltern who had led the soldiers back to headquarters informed Hamilcar that the king considered their assignment had been successfully completed (the soldiers had prepared some robes stained with sheep’s blood for evidence) and Hamilcar was invited to return to lead the king’s forces, provided he returned with the library man and his assistant.
Hamilcar replied with a message that he would be happy to return but that in the confusion of the attack the two book men had vanished.
A second message from Jerusalem assured Hamilcar that the king was ill and had given up dreams of a great library. Hamilcar was needed at once to take command of the army.
Hamilcar accepted the post by return message and prepared to return to the capital. Before he left, he spoke privately with Adam. ‘My boy, you have always said you wished to join the king’s guard. You are still a bit young for that, but you have proved your worth in defending the magi from attack and in saving the children. If you come with me now I will be able to give you a place on the guard under my command. Will you accept my offer?’
Adam thought carefully for several minutes before replying. ‘Thank you, sir, for this offer. It’s true that being a guardsman has been my dream. What I have seen these last few weeks has made me think again about what I want to do in my life. I always thought a guard’s job was to help people in need, to fight against cruelty and evil. That’s the kind of soldier I saw you were. I could serve under that kind of general but no one who would order me to murder defenseless children. I can’t follow the old king. I will follow the new king, the Messiah. I’m sorry I won’t be able to go with you. You have been a father to me.’
Hamilcar accepted Adam’s decision, thinking perhaps that if he himself were younger his own decision might have been different. He was almost ready to say a final farewell to his friends, when Tab knocked at his door. ‘Come in, boy!’ he shouted.
‘Hamilcar, I’m sorry to see you go.’
‘I will certainly miss seeing you in your workshop in the palace, Tabitheus. But Egypt is your home. You have a future there. It will be a bright one.’
‘I don’t know about that. It will be full of books, thousands of books. That I do know. I have a little scroll here I made for you. It has some of the words of the ancient prophets, and for when you don’t feel like reading, I drew some pictures of the famous war of the cats and the mice.’
‘Thank you, Tab, I never had a book of my own before. I’ll keep it in my box of treasures. I must say you have really impressed me from the first day we met. You are so young and have learned so much in those few years, And you’re up for any challenge, ready to help where you’re needed. I will certainly miss you.’
After one more good-bye, Tab returned to her friends and Hamilcar buckled his saddle bags.
As Tab, Ibrim, and Adam saw their friend off on his way back to Jerusalem, Ibrim was already planning his return to his workshop in Memphis. Simeon would be happy to provide him with a large, very old but still working four-wheeled covered wagon to journey in, he thought. He decided that he would bring up his plan at supper that evening.
When the three returned to the inn, they found a message waiting for Tab and Adam:
‘Darius, son of Melchior Magus
To his friends Tabitheus and Adam
‘Greetings.
I hope this letter finds you alive and well. There was still plenty to worry about when our party left Bethlehem. We arrived safely in Tyre and have been waiting here for quite a while hoping to find a caravan heading to Babylon the we can join for the trip home. But that’s not the good news. Dad got a letter from the head of the observatory in Memphis in Egypt telling him they have an opening there for a promising young scientist to study their methods and achievements. Well, there wasn’t anyone else around so it’s going to be me. I’ll be in Egypt all next school year! Tab, I hope you’ll be back home by then. Adam, you should try to come to Egypt, too. Then we can all get together for some new adventures!
Be well!’
Tab and Adam were still thinking and talking about the letter when Ibrim claimed their attention to travel plans. He began by asking Adam what he was hoping to do in his life. ‘Well, sir, you know I chose not to take a guardsman post with Hamilcar. I had never planned anything else. I can’t go back and work in the king’s kitchen. No one there would welcome me, though I am a demon at chopping turnips. Zach and Zeb have taught me a lot about being a shepherd, but as their father said I’m a city boy. While Joseph was here he taught me carpenter skills and I liked that work. What I do know is the someday not too far off the young Messiah will need helpers and followers. I would like to be one of them.’
‘I see,’ said Ibrim. ‘The Messiah at present is in Egypt where Tab and I are going. You should come with us. I can find you work in our shop. You could learn to prepare books, make book cases or cabinets. I don’t know just what you will end up doing but we’ll find something.’
So Adam agreed to go to Egypt with Tab and Ibrim. After a day of packing and another day for farewell celebrations with Simeon, Hephzibah, and the shepherds, the three travelers began their journey. Ibrim held the reins, with Tab and Adam beside him on the wide front seat.
‘I’m glad you’re with us, Adam,’ said Ibrim. ‘I would be proud to have a son like you.’
‘But-‘ said Adam.
‘And Tab,’ said Ibrim, “No father has ever been prouder of his daughter!’
‘What ?- ‘ said Adam.
‘We’ll talk about this later,’ said Tab.
As things turned out there was little time to talk. When they arrived at the shop in Memphis, Ibrim found a huge stack of work orders requiring immediate attention. He and Tab set to work at once putting in long overtime hours. Adam was kept busy helping where he could and learning the business from Tab’s uncle.
When everyone finally had time to draw a quiet breath, Tab and Adam found they were happy no longer to be brother and brother but content to be brother and sister. Darius, when he arrived in the city, smiled and claimed not to be surprised at all. He had known Tab was a girl from the first moment he had seen her, he said, and had not considered it worth mentioning. The three shared several holidays together before Darius returned to Babylon.
During the next few years, Tab and Adam worked together in the Memphis shop. When Ibrim opened a branch office in Alexandria, Adam, now a master of the business, moved to take charge of the new shop. Tab remained in Memphis and managed the home office when her father retired.
For many years, neither Tab nor Adam heard any news of Mary, Joseph, and the young king. Then after almost thirty years later, Adam began to receive reports of a powerful prophet preaching and healing in Galilee and Judea. Tab confirmed that she had heard such stories, too.
As the news accumulated, Tab became more and more eager to meet the young prophet. Adam was first to suggest that they make a journey north. It took some time to arrange work schedules and travel routes, but at last they were able to leave Egypt.
It was the beginning of the Passover festival when they arrived in Jerusalem. The city was crowded with pilgrims who had come to worship in the Temple.
‘Do you think he will be here?’ asked Tab.
‘We will see the Messiah again.’ answered Adam.
Guy Johnson