Baara's Dreams

Chapter 22

By the time Naaman, Ophiram and Manoah reached the assembly place outside the city gates, there was already a large crowd of men present. Every man in Kedesh and the surrounding territory seemed to have heard of the gathering. Men stood in clusters here and there talking quietly among themselves. One pair stood alone at the edge of the crowd. The others kept glancing their way speculatively, but no one disturbed their solitude as they stood stoically, looking expectantly toward the camp of Naaman. These two were the brothers of Ophiram and Manoah, Benjamin and Jesse. Manoah had sent a messenger to them, telling of Ophiram's surprising action and the meeting scheduled for the evening. They knew no more than the others, but they weren't about to allow their ignorance to be known.

When Manoah and Ophiram walked toward the group with Naaman, the two went to meet them. After the kiss of welcome was given all around, they conferred briefly before continuing on to the front of the crowd. The five stood side by side, presenting a unified front for all to see. Shortly thereafter, Nemuel arrived and the meeting commenced. After formal greetings and a statement of the purpose of the assembly, Nemuel turned to Naaman.

"If I understand correctly," he said, "you wish to claim Nahbi's land for your slave girl, Baara, appealing to the custom established by Moses when he granted Mahlah the right to inherit her father's land. Have you any proof that Baara is the daughter of Nahbi?"

"Only her word and mine," Naaman replied quietly but forcefully.

Smiling, Nemuel answered, "I hope you take no offense when I say that is a fairly flimsy claim," but his smile did nothing to lessen the venom behind his words. "You are a confessed enemy of Israel; if not presently, then in the recent past. She is a slave who may or may not have been defiled by your men and brainwashed by your culture. She could easily be an opportunist come to take advantage of a people with lenient laws more favorable to women than those of most societies."

"And how would she have known to make such a specific claim?" Naaman asked. "You told me to come prepared to represent her and I have. Ask me questions about the land she claims. Ask about her family. If she has not told me the answers already, I am prepared to have her come and testify on her own behalf."

Gesturing to a group of men who stood in the distance aloof from the crowd, he gave a signal. The men parted to reveal the slight, veiled figure standing in their midst. Closing ranks around her, they kept her far enough from the crowd that she was not a part of the gathering, but close enough to summon if necessary. They formed a human wall around the girl, making it impossible for her to see or understand the proceedings.

As the crowd murmured at this unexpected and unconventional development, Nemuel clapped his hands for silence.

"This is most extraordinary," he blustered. "But then this whole situation is somewhat bizarre. I did not mean to anger you, Naaman. I was only telling you how things stand. Surely you understand our hesitance to merely grant the claim without investigation."

"Of course I understand," he replied calmly. "That is why I have Baara nearby, just in case I do not know the answers to any personal questions you might ask. The girl has the memories of her father's holdings. Her mind houses the particulars about her family. I have questioned her concerning these things, but I had no list of questions from which to work. I knew I could not anticipate all of the possible questions you could ask. I am prepared to defend Baara's claim. If you ask questions I cannot answer, then I will confer with Baara to find out the proper response."

"Very well," Nemuel conceded. Then turning to those gathered he asked, "Does anyone here have questions they wish to put to Naaman?"

A man stepped forward. "What kinds of buildings were on Nahbi's land?"