Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15
CHAPTER II.


brilliant stars.
CHAPTER H.
k,Ha.tw.
Herod's palace lay In gllttering
spendor under the brilliant May sun
The streets OF Jerusalem We're thrOnged
with traders and lolterers, who eN-
changed friendly greetings g0od-na-
tured badinage, or threats and yIo-
lenCe.
In the crowd were men Of various ma
lions, IN strange, fantastic garb They
gazed with interest on the magnificent
buildings. which the luxurious but
prodigaI and oppressive Herod had
built, The scene was strange to men
who had travelled for days and weeks
amid the deserts and barren hills OF
Arabia and Juiea. Travel-stained and
weary II was no wonder that they
walked as In a daze. nor that they
were the object Of remark and ridlcuIe
from the welI-dressed loungers.
one group Of these travellers, how
ever differed from the rest Their dress
was strange 10 Jerusalem. but 1t was
! not grotesque They were men Of So
! Der thoughtful mien, their faces fur
! rowed with the lines Of deep, serious
| reflection. Even the younger men OF
the group were venerable. As they
walked toward the inn near the pal
ace OF Herod the eyes of the crowd
were turned toward them with inyolun-
tary respectful attention.
'Who are they?' asked a richly
dressed Pharisee OF Roman soldier.
81 know not answered the soldier.
Apparently they are from the east:
but whether Hindoo, Parsee or Cushite
/ know not"
Taking up their lodging in the inn.
these men set strange rumors anoat By
their questions. Where Is he that Is
born King OF the Jews? For we have
seen his star In the east, and are come
to worship him."
OF all who came 10 see them OF those
whom they met In the streets. OF
Scribe, Pharisee, Sadducee and Essene,
they asked this question: until the
city was filled with the strange rumor
that at last Jehovah had looked upon
his people and sent them their de-
liyerer The rumor reached the ears Of
Herod, brought to him by curious, won
dering men,
Where is he that is born King of the
Jews they asked. "aud who is hep"
Herod, lying on his he'd in his richly |
furnished palace, was greatly disturbed |
by these rumors. He was I'm the last |
year Of his life. Old before his time, |
wasted by disease, brought upon him |
by his eXcesses filled with unaVaiing |
remorse, for his murder OF wife, child |
rem and friends, his peace OF mind |
was gone from him, and even the shad-
ow Of a rumor was enough TO cause
him serious fear. Had one come 10 dis
pute his right 10 rule? Was the power
OF Rome, represented by him to be de-
He'd! Who aud where was the King OF
the Jews?
Herod could not rest until these Ques-
tons were answered. He could not
brook even the thought Of a rival be-
ing born 10 dispute with him authority
over the Jews, or TO endanger the rule !
OF his family.
But he was as crafty as he was sus-
piciOus, lie called into his council
all the chief priests and
elders OF the Jews, and asked them
where II was probable the expected
King was born, They knew that Beth
lehem was the city OF David, and the !
king would likely be OF his line. They
also, the prophecy that out /
OK Bethlehem was 20 come the Deliver
er Of the Jews. Accordingly I'm answer
10 Herod's questioning, they gave the
opinion that the new king would be
found In Bethlehem
Dismissing the Jews. Herod lay on
his bed for awhile absorbed In thought
The question which had filed Jerusa-
EN- since the arrival OF the wise men
rom the east was upperm6st In his
thought and would not be quelled..
Where Is the king OF the Jews. and
Who Is he? What need Of another
,Hg3 Am not / the friend Of the
Jews and Of Caesar? Why then are
hey always looking forward for the
oming of "a delIyerer? is my kingdom ,
My temporary? And Is II so hateful ,
% the Jews. whom / am always seek.
ny 90 couciIiate2
These and other questions which ,
ierod asked himself, are the ones
'hich self-interest and suspicion al
rays ask of tyranny In his old age G
nd declining lifo Herod was confront [.
d by the universal problem OF maxi !
lg himself and his influence immortal
nd be would enddre nothing which '
ldangered his throne and the stability 6
his line OF succession. Hence his q
'aIousy and suspicion OF this new king q
If the Jews. {
A step IN the corridor caught his SEN $
tive ear. who is there?" he cried In
arm, and then added as a well known c
CURE appeared All. Sylvanus. IS II | q
Iou' Thy coming Is most opportune. n
trhals thou Canst answer this uni /
'rsal question concerning the new q
ing Of the Jews e
The Judean advanced confidently and J.
'lberately toward HerOd Concealiug ! b
ost sNi.fully the interest he felt in n
De- subject for he had thought deeply {
TIE words OF Ezra, while pretending p
shpllpf
They say be has been born at Beth
hom' he said with assumed indlf-
renee.
The chief priests and elders say he
ouId ue born at Bethlehem" ans VI
cred Horol But thou sayest. has b
EN- p9st thou know that his birth III
ls Thereof q
''As well as one may know anything lN
lm an old DANES tale. revawped and n
trFerotcd by drunken mel. Dost 81
1u believe the adaCe I'm Who ver- u
.s| II so. thou mayest believe that y
@ drunken Galileans have told the (
nth" y
what have they told thee?" asked ir
rod eagerly rising with difficulty 20 g
reclining position a
Carried out Of his proud, supercil- "
DIS frame OF mind by the beauty Of 81
) theme, Sylvanus repeated the story p
ma had told him. As he proceeded
p Jewish Messianic hope shone b
rough his dark eyes, lighting up his q
ce with radiance which proved n
m lew nv birth and feeling though | n