When Ephrayim was sixteen his oldest sister Dorcas married a laborer and moved to another part of the city. She came back to help her mother with Ephrayim when she could, but within a year had a baby of her own to care for. More of the household work fell on Rahel’s shoulders. Rahel was not the beauty that Dorcas was and there was no money for a dowry. Without that, Rahel resigned herself to a life with her parents and younger brothers. She loved Ephrayim, but did not understand all his talk about the Law and history. She listened politely when he talked and tried to at least say an encouraging word at the right spots, even if she didn’t understand.
Rahel understood Rubin perfectly. His concerns were about what would be served for dinner and if the weather would be good tomorrow. Together they laughed and teased each other. She would hunt the market for his favorite foods and cook them, sneaking him tidbits before mealtime when he was hungry.
Two years after Dorcas’ marriage Seth’s former master died and his sons inherited the business. Their wives, eager to increase their newfound wealth pestered their husbands to expand the business and cut costs. Seth and his crew found themselves asked to travel even further and to cut less than optimal timber. As well, Seth was told that he needed to put in a full day of cutting or finishing while supervising the crew. The sons didn’t have the understanding their father had of trees and land. Many of the trees in the surrounding countryside didn’t produce good lumber and were more dangerous to cut, especially if there was no one overseeing the placement of the cuts and fall zones. When Seth tried to point this out to the sons he was called lazy and told to stick to his place if he wanted to continue working for them. Seth needed the money he earned, so although the work was hard on his aging body he kept up with their demands.
Unlike their father, the sons sent them out to cut even when the weather was bad rather than allowing the workers to accumulate timber to finish when it rained. The sons’ greed and lack of experience resulted in disaster several years after they had taken over the business. While trying to cut down a tree on a wet slope Seth slipped while making a final cut and the tree fell on him, pinning his legs. The workers freed him and carried him back to the city on some of the freshly cut timber.
The physician who was called to the house shook his head when he saw Seth’s injuries. One leg was crushed and would probably need to be cut off and the other was badly broken and would never heal enough to support Seth’s weight. He dosed Seth to sedate him and set to work. Miriam and Rahel huddled outside the house, praying for Yahweh to spare Seth and help the physician heal his legs. A neighbor ran to the school to get Rubin and another went to Dorcas’ house to bring her to be with the family. Ephrayim had been overlooked in his corner with all the commotion. By the time Rahel realized he was still inside she feared that the disruption of carrying him out would distract the physician and so he was left inside. Propped up on cushions in the corner Ephrayim prayed to Yahweh as he never had before. He recited verses from the 34th Psalm of David,
“I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.”
Ephrayim begged Yahweh to heal his father, asking that although he, Ephrayim, might not be a righteous man his father certainly was. He reminded Yahweh of his father’s sacrifices at the temple, his adherence to the Law and the way he had raised his sons to be aware of His Law. He felt presumptuous in doing this, but from the physician’s mutters he knew his father’s life was at stake. Finally he bowed his head even further and gave his own will over to Yahweh, saying, “You are the author of all that happens to us. I know that whatever Your will is for my father, it is all for the greater good of Israel.” Ephrayim sat in silence, repeating the verses of the 34th Psalm to himself, holding on to those promises until the surgeon finally moved away from his father and walked outside.
Ephrayim could hear a chorus of voices asking the physician about Seth, and then sudden silence. “I did what I could for your husband, but even if he lives he will likely never leave the house again. I removed his left leg, and set the right one, but the damage is very serious. His right leg will never be able to bear any weight and there may be damage to his hips that is not yet evident. He will need constant care so that the humors of the body remain in balance. I will return tomorrow to determine if will need additional care from me.” He then gave Miriam specific instruction on Seth’s care and foods that must be avoided.
Rahel and Dorcas rushed into the house, exclaiming over the mess left by the physician. Rahel fainted when she moved the cloth that covering Seth’s severed leg. Dorcas called for Rubin, and the two of them moved Rahel outside and then began to clean the house. Rubin, his lips white with strain, wrapped the leg and bundled it in some sacks used for marketing. This was one thing he did not want his mother to see. He instructed his mother to remain outside with Rahel for a little while and the two siblings worked to restore the house to some semblance of order. Dorcas glanced at her father as she worked. He was pale and barely breathing.
Dorcas distracted Miriam while Rubin carried out the severed limb, and then led her mother to Seth’s side. Miriam cried out at the sight of his white face and dropped to her knees, cradling his head. Seth murmured incoherently, tossing a little in pain and Miriam called to Dorcas to bring a clean cloth and a bowl of water. Knowing there was little else she could do, Miriam sponged his hot face with the cloth over and over praying for Yahweh to spare her husband.
The two daughters took over the running of the household, allowing Miriam to devote her attention to Seth. Rahel ran to the market to buy food for their dinner while Dorcas tended to Ephrayim’s needs. Rubin returned and announced that he would not be returning to school. He was thirteen, and most of his peers had already left school; it had only been Seth’s insistence that had kept him there. Now his family needed him to earn money for them to live. Miriam protested faintly, knowing that his father would want him to remain for the few months left of his education, but Rubin was adamant. He would find work and support them all.
The next morning Rubin left before sunrise to take his place in the market with the other day laborers who hired themselves out for farm work or other unskilled trades. He had barely looked at his father or spoken to his sisters since his announcement the night before. Rahel built up the fire in the pre-dawn light to prepare a breakfast she doubted anyone would eat. Dorcas arrived and the two convinced their mother to rest.
It was mid-morning before Seth recovered enough to be aware of his surroundings. He asked for water in a broken voice, and Rahel rushed to his side with a cup. She lifted him to help him drink and he sank back to his bed in pain. Seth asked what had happened and Ephrayim told him of the accident and what the doctor had done. Miriam awoke and held Seth as he cried in pain and helplessness. Through the pain he realized that he would no longer be able to support his family. When he heard that Rubin was out with the day laborers, he buried his face in his hands. He would never be able to apprentice Rubin to a skilled tradesman. All the money he had saved would be used to pay the physician and supplement the little Rubin could make as a laborer. Head in hands he silently prayed to Yahweh to let him die, so as to not be a burden on his family.
As the days passed Seth’s condition stabilized. Miriam’s constant care kept infection from the wound, and the physician pronounced that his services were no longer needed. Rubin left for the market every morning, and brought home his meager wages to his mother each night. When Seth tried to talk to him about school, Rubin simply walked out of the house, refusing to discuss it.
It was almost a week after the accident before Seth felt well enough to resume his evening lessons with Rubin and Ephrayim. Seth and his older son talked quite a bit during the days, both about what the family could do to make Rubin’s slender wages cover their expenses and about Yahweh’s mercies. When Seth announced at dinner that they would resume their Torah lessons, Rubin exploded with anger.
“How can you expect me to sit and listen to you talk about Yahweh’s Law and his mercy when you’ve lost a leg and can never walk again. He doesn’t care about us, or if He does, He hates us. Look at us. Ephrayim could never walk, now you can’t walk. Rahel will be a drudge for the two of you for the rest of your lives and I’ll be working sunrise to sunset just to try to keep us fed. Tell me about Yahweh’s mercy – it would be more merciful if he struck us all down right now with a bolt of lightning. I’m not going to listen to any more Torah, and I’m never setting foot in the temple again. I’ll spit on the priests if they come near me. That’s what I think of your Yahweh.” Rubin jumped up and ran from the house.
Seth bowed his head and began to pray silently, asking Yahweh’s forgiveness for Rubin. His life had been turned upside down in the space of a day, and he couldn’t really mean what he’d said. He prayed for Rubin, that Yahweh would soften his heart and give him peace. When Miriam, Rahel and Ephrayim realized that Seth was praying, they also bowed their heads and sent their petitions to Yahweh for Rubin. Finally Seth raised his head and with a strong voice asked Rahel to get the Torah scroll so that he and Ephrayim could resume their studies.
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