The Sons of Isaac(8)
He never mentioned his disappointment to anyone, and he consoled himself in his choice by reminding himself that his sister, Rebekah, would face a far more difficult proposition. Old Nazzim was lusty and ugly and he could not imagine Rebekah having a moment’s happiness. It will all be worthwhile. He will not require the special fertility rites at the temple, and once the marriage takes place we will be well on our way to controlling the old man’s fortune.
* * *
Laban wasted no time before telling Rebekah and his father what he had in mind. It was two days later in the afternoon while the others were taking a noonday nap that he broached the subject. “My sister,” he began, “my father and I have prayed and given choice gifts to the old goat-man under the stairs. We all know that he has unusual powers.”
Here he stopped and looked at Bethuel, hoping he would go on and tell Rebekah about Nazzim. Bethuel said nothing and finally Rebekah asked, “I know you have burned the costly incense and anointed the old god’s head, and I have even been told you did all this so he would find a rich husband for me. Is that true?”
Both Laban and Bethuel were taken aback. Neither knew what to say. Finally Laban nodded. “It’s true. We asked for a rich husband.”
“And?” Rebekah said.
Again Laban and Bethuel looked at each other. Neither wanted to be the one to break the news to her. Finally Laban spoke. “The old goat-man has answered wonderfully. It is the rich Nazzim himself that has asked for your hand.”
“Nazzim?” Rebekah puzzled for a moment over the name. “Certainly not the old man that came with Barida?” she said finally.
“Yes, yes,” Bethuel said. “He is old and very ugly but he is rich. He could give you everything.”
“That’s what we asked the old goat-man for … a rich husband,” Laban said.
“Rich husbands come with some disadvantages,” Bethuel hastened to add.
“He is old. You won’t be bothered with him for long,” Laban said, seeing the look of disgust on Rebekah’s face. He desperately wanted her to agree without any unpleasantness.
“Well,” she said finally after recovering from her initial shock, “you can go tell the old goat-man I have other plans.” She looked at them with complete confidence as though she knew something they didn’t.
“What other plans?” they almost shouted.
“Well, when I heard of your dealings with the old goat-man, I went and talked to my old nurse, Deborah. She reminded me of the God of Abraham, Elohim, and I have asked Him to find me a husband.”
Bethuel and Laban were speechless for a moment. They couldn’t imagine such foolishness. “The God of Abraham,” Laban finally said. “He can’t be seen; you can’t deal with Him.”
“Why not?” she asked with a saucy toss of her head.
“Well, you can’t bargain with Him,” Bethuel said.
“You can’t even threaten Him,” Laban said.
“We can take the old goat-man out and beat him if he disappoints us, but Abraham’s God can’t be touched,” Bethuel added.
“Where would Abraham’s God ever find anyone richer than Nazzim and someone who would not require the fertility rites?” Laban felt they were certainly winning and she would have to agree.
Rebekah was standing with her back to the courtyard wall. Behind her spread a huge grapevine with shiny leaves and ripe fruit. Carefully she pulled off a cluster of grapes and looked at them. It gave her a moment to think. “If by the time of the new moon,” she said finally, “Abraham’s God has not brought me a better and richer husband, I promise to marry old Nazzim.”
Bethuel and Laban looked at each other and smiled. They felt they had won and with so little trouble. “Then you agree to marry Nazzim?” Laban said, wanting to pin her down.
“Only if the God of Abraham fails to send me a better and richer husband,” she repeated.
Laban could hardly believe it had been so simple. He smiled again. “The God of Abraham has undoubtedly gone off into the desert with him, and it is the god Sin and the goat-man that rule here. I have no fear that Elohim will hear you or that He will answer and send you a rich husband. This is all just foolishness.” He began to feel a bit sorry for her, seeing how trusting she was and how sure she was that the God of Abraham could help her. “To marry Nazzim may seem hard to you, but you won’t regret it, I promise you. The old man will be dead in a year and then you can marry anyone you please.”
With that Laban and Bethuel went out the gate and left her standing by the grape arbor. “Oh God of my uncle Abraham,” she prayed, “You see how they are thinking. If You don’t hear me and help me, the old goat-man will win and I will have to marry that horrible old man.” There was no answer but she was excited. If the God of Abraham did accomplish this impossible thing, how splendid it would be. She sat down on the bench where Nahor usually sat and enjoyed a few of the dark red grapes.