Chapter 13

David promptly complied and found that the lean arm was trembling. They moved slowly up the street together. For something to say, David remarked drolly, ‘I’m afraid your congregation will think you have fallen into bad company, Master.’

‘It won’t matter,’ replied Elimelech huskily. ‘Nothing matters now. My people have objected to my interest in the Nazarene; but now—they don’t know what to think—about anything!’

It wasn’t as if they were strangers, the Rabbi and this Sadducee. David had no connections with the Synagogue, never attended its services, was presumed to hold it in contempt; but he was its chief financial support. Whenever he sent a contribution, he took pains to explain that the gift was not meant to imply the slightest interest in the Synagogue, but only his appreciation of Rabbi Elimelech’s kindness to the poor of Bethsaida. The Regents of the Synagogue always scowled when they got it, and indignantly talked of refusing it, which they never did.

Once the good old man had climbed the hill and spent the afternoon with the Sadducee. And they had enjoyed each other. On leaving, however, Elimelech had remarked, with some embarrassment: ‘I wish we might do this—often—but—’

‘I understand fully, Master,’ David had said. ‘You have enough to bear without defending your friendship for a Sadducee.’

Impatient as he was to inspect the old man’s mind in regard to the alleged miracle of Hannah’s healing, he refrained from pestering him with questions while they were on the way. They walked slowly, arm in arm, with short, shuffling steps, David acquiring the Rabbi’s limp. It seemed a long journey to the commodious old house hard by the Synagogue. David tenderly assisted Elimelech up the steps and through the door. Courtesy demanded that the Rabbi invite his friend to sit down and courtesy compelled the Sadducee to accept.

When Elimelech’s breathing was easier, David asked: ‘What think you, Master? Was Hannah’s recovery miraculous?’

‘That word is often used loosely, David,’ replied the old man, apparently hoping that his candid evasiveness would preclude further questioning. Noting David’s shrug, he elaborated on his irrelevant remark: ‘Frequently a new experience is called miraculous.’

‘Let us not trouble ourselves about the careless use of big words, Master,’ said David reproachfully. ‘This is a serious matter!’

Elimelech acknowledged his futile attempt to retreat from the main issue: he closed his eyes and slowly nodded his head.

‘You know as much about it as I, David. Hannah was at the point of death. Gershon said so. Everybody said so…Jesus spent a few minutes at her side, and she sat up, recognized those who stood by, and accepted food… If that is a miracle’—the weary old voice faltered and finished lamely—’it was indeed a miracle.’