Baara's Dreams

Chapter 2

Baara was hurrying from the well, seeking to balance the jar on her head while almost running in her haste to return to Naaman's dwelling before Maacah arose from her midday repast. To avoid the jeering remarks of the other slave women, for months she had been going for water during the heat of the day while Maacah rested. So far she had managed to conceal her clandestine trips from her mistress. She did not want Maacah to know of her struggle for acceptance. Her mistress had been so kind about the nightmares that Baara had refused to bother her with the pettiness of the others.

Today a caravan had been at the well when Baara approached. Some male servants were watering the camels of the caravan, and so Baara had stayed in the shadow of the wall, knowing she could not approach while men were present, without appearing wanton. While tempted to return to the villa without water, Baara had known she could not do so without revealing her midday excursions to her mistress. To avoid having to make the hurried trip more than twice a week, she had allowed the jar to become almost empty before going to the well to replenish the supply she used in caring for Maacah's needs.

When the men had finished watering the animals and drunk deeply themselves, they had finally left the well. Baara had quickly partially filled the jar, placed it on her head and headed for home. Now in her haste, she stumbled. The jar began to slide and Baara lunged to catch the jar before it fell and broke. She managed to save the jar, but found herself holding the bottom with the top facing downward while the precious liquid sloshed out, making a mud puddle in the street around her sandal-clad feet.

Baara's involuntary cry of despair in the silent street, followed by a murmured, "Help me, Yahweh," brought an unexpected response from behind a nearby gate. The gate flew open as a deep voice asked, "Who calls on the name of Yahweh in the streets of Damascus?"

Expecting a vengeful man intent on pacifying the local god, Rimmon, Baara cowered as she turned toward the voice. Instead of confronting an irate male, she found herself facing a rather large, imposing woman, who from her looks was probably not more than ten years her senior. Instead of the scowl she expected to encounter, Baara found herself looking into a smiling countenance.

The woman took in the scene quickly and immediately continued in her hoarse, masculine voice, "I'm sorry. I did not mean to frighten you. Ever since I had a disease of the throat as a child, I have sounded like this. While the prophet Elijah healed me, Yahweh left me with this scratchy voice as a reminder of His watch care. I should have known my speech would scare someone with such a modest tone as yours, but as I rested inside the gate, I heard your murmured entreaty to Yahweh. I have not heard His name mentioned except in a curse since I was brought here as a slave eight years ago. I'm surprised you dare mention His name aloud in public."

"The street was empty," Baara replied, "and the entreaty almost involuntary. It is a habit I have not yet broken. I have only been here a few months, and my mistress is lenient. She allows me to worship whomever I please."

At the mention of her mistress, Baara's skin paled as she heard people begin to stir in the house beyond the gate where the other woman stood.

"I must hurry to get home before my mistress awakens from her midday repast," she exclaimed. "She does not know I go for water in the heat of the day, and now I have spilled everything and muddied the hem of my garment. The secret will be mine no longer. She will learn of the ridicule that has caused me to abandon the well in the mornings."

Baara's new acquaintance spoke quickly, "Let me fill your jar from my master's water skins. I am a trusted servant and am in charge of many others. Perhaps with my help you can still return undetected."

As the woman hustled Baara into the courtyard and began to quickly fill the jar, she suggested that, if discovered, Baara tell her mistress she had gone in the heat of the day this once because she had accidentally allowed the jar to become empty. She also suggested Baara come for water in the mornings as soon as she finished her chores. She indicated that she would wait until Baara approached to go for water, because she would like to talk to someone who knew of Yahweh.