heard that most of the comments centered on the exceptional weather for the occasion. He had to agree. Bright and hot in the sky, Aqua and Azure now neared their weekly eclipse, but cool breezes in the garden provided a welcome relief from the past few days of heat. A perfect day-Jonathan was grateful.
All chatter suddenly stopped when the two long-awaited women appeared under the granite archway. Everyone stood up. Rachel and Abigail walked forward, arm-in-arm, drawing the adoring gazes of many and the envious looks of some. Small, white Queen’s Flowers from the mountains had been woven into a few thin plaits of their hair. The woolly, starred leaflets and tiny, golden flower-heads set off the women’s delicate braids like jewels seated in shining crowns. Both ladies were dressed in simple, strikingly brilliant dresses. The women were stunning.
When they finally reached the special seats reserved for them right at the front of the ceremonial canopy, Jonathan could hardly take his eyes off Rachel. He had never seen her more beautiful. She smiled shyly back at him. Uzziel had to try twice to get his attention.
“Jonathan and Pekah, please be seated.” Uzziel chuckled.
Jonathan noticed they were the last two people standing. Pekah fumbled to find his own seat. Jonathan sat down quickly and apologized, but still held Rachel’s gaze.
Uzziel lifted his hands high. “My dear brothers of Uzzah, your wives, our brothers of Daniel, and your wives, and of course our most welcome brothers of Gideon, and your wives. We are here today to witness the anointing of the heir of Daniel, as a king and judge over his people, until He to Whom the right truly belongs comes to rule among us. And may that day be soon-I have prayed for His appearing. I know many of you have done the same.”
Voices from Daniel and Uzzah rumbled their approval. Even many of the Gideonites joined in, but Uzziel seemed oblivious to their reactions.
“We are also here to celebrate the joining of Jonathan’s heart to that of my precious daughter, Rachel…” Uzziel’s voice choked with emotion.
Jonathan saw the way Uzziel looked down upon Rachel. He wondered what it would be like to give away a daughter of his own.
Uzziel wiped a tear that ran down his cheek. Rachel whispered, “I love you,” to her father. Miriam also nodded her encouragement. Finally, the old priest was able to continue.
“We are also here to celebrate another union. Jonathan’s friend of Gideon-a man who saved his life-has asked to take a promised bride unto himself on this very same day. Pekah and Lady Abigail of Gideon will also be joined together in the holy bond of marriage. What a joyous day this is!” Uzziel smiled largely and laughed.
“But I do not care for pomp. And neither does Jonathan of Daniel. Boaz, would you bring me the horn?”
Boaz marched up to Uzziel, bearing the horn of oil, his white and blue temple robes flowing around him. Uzziel accepted the horn and took his place behind the stone chair where Jonathan sat.
Jonathan peered over his shoulder. Without flourish, Uzziel unstopped the large, silver-capped end of the horn, opposite the polished point. When Uzziel smiled at him, Jonathan turned back to the assemblage. He could feel Uzziel lean down, the horn above his head.
In a vibrant tone full of authority, Uzziel declared, “Jonathan, Son of Samuel, Heir of the Tribe of Daniel, I anoint you with this oil as a king and a judge, a priest and a counselor, to stay in this stead until the end of your days and through the eternities. May your life be long, your wisdom deep, your charity unbounded. May your kingdom be unified and never divided from your brothers, Uzzah and Gideon. And may you have peace.”
The crowd remained silent. Uzziel stepped back and handed the oil horn to Boaz, then signaled for Rachel to step forward. Eli also stood, but disappeared somewhere behind the stone chair where Jonathan could not see him. When he returned to stand next to Rachel, he held a purple and white cloth embroidered with the symbol of a serpent, draped in a manner to hide something in his large hands.
“Jonathan,” Uzziel said, “Eli has something for you, which I believe is appropriate for the occasion. Eli?”
Eli smiled, not in his usual jovial manner, but in a way which warmed Jonathan’s very soul. The big red- headed man rocked nervously back and forth on his feet as if unsure whether Jonathan would like what he had brought as a gift. Jonathan reassured him with a supportive nod, and Eli cleared his throat to make an announcement.
“Jonathan, I had some of my men accompany me on an errand two days ago. I rode to Hasor, and I brought something back with me. Rachel helped me make it. It came from your favorite.”
Jonathan was confused until Eli removed the cloth covering. There in his hands lay a simple wreath of olive leaves, painstakingly woven, and unadorned by anything else. Next to it lay The Thorn. Jonathan glanced up at Eli and Rachel in surprise. Rachel winked at him, then took the crown of leaves and placed it on his head with a kiss.
“I love you,” she whispered as she stepped back next to her brother.
Eli then dropped to a knee, handing the newly anointed king the scepter of The Thorn.
Jonathan was deeply touched. He rose from his chair and took both Eli and Rachel into his arms, kissing them both on the cheek. He released them and wanted to say something more about the joy he felt in his heart, but could not. Words would not come.
A cheer of “Hosanna!” from the crowd, now on their feet, broke the awkward silence. Again the cry came, and yet again a third time.
Uzziel turned to face the throng again, waving them back into their seats.
“We have another matter to attend to before we celebrate. Those who would like to wait here until the wedding party returns, may. Others may proceed to the pavilion in the eastern corner of the temple garden. Rachel and Jonathan, Abigail and Pekah, would you follow me?”
Jonathan hesitated, searching the crowd. Finding General Amon and Captain Mehida, he motioned for them to approach. He then removed the olive wreath from his head and handed it to Mehida, and The Thorn to Amon.
“Would you take these for me until I return? I don’t need them within the confines of the temple.”
Both leaders graciously accepted their assignment. The general promised they would wait with the other guests until the men and their brides returned to the pavilion.
Leading Rachel gently by the arm, Jonathan followed Uzziel under the white granite archway-Pekah and Abigail, Miriam, Uzziel, Boaz, and Eli all in tow. Small by most standards, the size of the wedding party felt comfortable to Jonathan, and it was just what Rachel had wanted. Jonathan agreed with her. The sacredness of the event about to take place would be held close to their own hearts.
All in white, they strolled across the temple courtyard, near the font, past the thin, lingering smoke of an early morning offering upon the Rock of Sacrifice, and up onto the stone porch which protected the oak doors of the temple itself. Other priests there greeted them warmly and opened the doors wide so all could enter.
Pekah and Abigail gasped as they stepped into the brilliantly lit foyer, suns-light streaming from glow-stone skylights high above, and some of the finest craftsmanship ever worked in wood, stone, or cloth before their eyes. Although familiar to Jonathan, he remarked on the finely woven carpeting with patterns of wheat as a border, and then on the sculpted handrails adorning twin, spiral, marble staircases ascending on their right and on their left. Chairs with matching desks of cherry wood sat in the corners. Jonathan understood Pekah’s and Abigail’s reactions.
Uzziel directed the group to remove their sandals and shoes, then gave them a quiet moment of reflection before leading them through another oak door. Partway down a carpeted hall, they rounded a corner to enter a small room decorated with nothing more than luxuriously upholstered mahogany chairs and a short stone altar in the center of the floor. Light poured in from above, just like in the foyer. A feeling of reverence and holiness permeated the room.
At the altar, Jonathan and Rachel knelt together before the High Priest of Uzzah and received at his hand blessings of eternity. Eli and Boaz, official witnesses, looked on. Although the ceremony was simple, the profound beauty of it impressed Jonathan. He and Rachel both accepted the binding covenant, then Uzziel pronounced the associated promised blessings. As he did so, Jonathan felt the peculiar sensation of the presence of his own parents. He recognized traits familiar to him-the wisdom of his father, the cheerfulness of his mother.
Thrilled in the moment, he focused on Rachel. Her eyes sparkled. As if she had heard his thoughts, she nodded. Jonathan squeezed her hand tighter, intent on memorizing her expression.
At Uzziel’s direction, they stood and embraced, then held hands as they witnessed the same ceremony once
