Ana and Jesus journey to Jerusalem for Passover, encountering hardship and injustice along the way. Their shared compassion and rebellious spirits lead them to challenge societal norms, culminating in a life-altering revelation for Ana. This section explores themes of female solidarity, spiritual rebellion, and the conflict between personal ambition and societal expectations.
Chapter 41: The Jericho Road
As Passover nears, Jesus proposes a trip to Jerusalem. Along the dangerous Jericho road, he shares a childhood memory with Ana: he and his father once worked to repay a debt incurred after Jesus freed a merchant's mistreated doves. He emphasizes that the sight of the birds soaring freely was worth the cost. Their conversation is interrupted when they find a person beaten and left for dead. While others, including a priest, pass by, Jesus insists on helping.
The victim is a woman, and Ana is horrified to recognize her childhood friend, Tabitha. Tabitha is severely injured, with a head wound. As Jesus cares for her, a Samaritan offers assistance, sharing water. Jesus is struck by the Samaritan's compassion, as he helps a Galilean despite the animosity between their peoples. The Samaritan helps them get Tabitha onto Jesus’s back, and they take her to Bethany. Before leaving, the Samaritan gives Ana a coin for Tabitha’s care.
Chapter 42: A Friend Found
In Bethany, Ana and Jesus are welcomed by his friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Mary immediately takes charge of Tabitha's care, allowing Ana and Jesus to rest. During their meal, Ana tells Lazarus about Tabitha’s past, and he offers her refuge in their home. That night, Ana watches over Tabitha, struck by her friend's frailty. Ana worries about Tabitha's future, knowing she cannot bring her to Nazareth, where her relatives might find her and sell her again.
When Tabitha awakens, Ana explains how she was found and that she is now married to a man from Nazareth, not Nathaniel. Tabitha’s eyes show a flicker of her old curiosity. Before Tabitha falls back asleep, Ana anoints her forehead with olive oil, whispering, “I anoint you, Tabitha, friend of Ana,” recalling a childhood memory. This act symbolizes the renewal of their bond and Ana's commitment to bearing witness to her friend's life and pain, a central element of the Feminism and Women's Voices theme.
Chapter 43: A New Voice
In the days leading up to Passover, Tabitha slowly recovers. Ana spends all her time with her, recounting her life since they were separated. She tells Tabitha everything, including her marriage to Jesus and her status as a mamzer in Sepphoris and Nazareth, wanting her friend to know she is not alone in being an outcast. One afternoon, while preparing bitter herbs for the Passover meal, Tabitha shares her own story. Through gestures, she communicates that she ran away from the man in Jericho who had purchased her because his wife was abusive. She was heading to Jerusalem to become a beggar.
Mary, who has grown close to Tabitha, promises her she will not have to beg. The next day, Ana finds Tabitha with a lyre. Mary explains that she gave it to Tabitha, hoping it might bring her comfort. As Tabitha plucks the strings, a look of wonder spreads across her face. Ana watches, deeply moved, and thinks, Mary, you have given her a voice. The lyre becomes a powerful symbol of restored expression for someone whose literal voice was taken from her.
Chapter 44: The Stampede of Lambs
Ana and Jesus travel to Jerusalem to sacrifice a lamb at the Temple. At the Pool of Siloam, Jesus ignores the crowds and personally carries several paralytics into the water to be cleansed. As they approach the Temple, Ana is struck by its grandeur, but also by the stench of blood and the overwhelming commercialism. Jesus calls the area with the money changers a "den of thieves," expressing his disgust with the corruption of a sacred space, a key moment in the theme of Alternative Faith and Spirituality. He reminds Ana of their first conversation, when she spoke of setting God free from buildings, and tells her, "That’s when I knew I would love you, Ana."
Inside, they witness a money changer refuse to help a poor widow who is one coin short of the required amount for a lamb. Enraged, Jesus gives the widow the coin from the Samaritan. As he confronts the money changer, Ana is reminded of his story about freeing the doves. On impulse, she walks to the lamb enclosure, unlatches the gate, and sets the animals free. A pandemonium of bleating lambs and shouting merchants erupts. Ana and Jesus flee the chaos, but not before Jesus scoops up a lamb and gives it to the widow. On the street, he asks if she was the one who freed them. When she confirms it, he asks what possessed her. "You did," she replies, solidifying their bond as a Love as an Egalitarian Partnership built on shared rebellion and ideals.
Chapter 45: A New Life
Before leaving Bethany, Ana says goodbye to Tabitha, who is now composing her own songs on the lyre. Ana tells Tabitha that she wrote down her story years ago, affirming the importance of witnessing another's pain. Back in Nazareth, they recount the "unforgettable" story of the lamb stampede to the family. Time passes, and one morning Ana realizes with dread that she is pregnant; the blackseed oil she has taken for six years has failed. She is initially distraught, fearing the loss of her identity and her life as a writer, a core conflict in her Search for Self and Personal Longing. She confides in her aunt, Yaltha, who offers comfort and wisdom.
Ana finds a private moment to tell Jesus. His first concern is for her happiness, asking if she is glad to have the child. His gentle support helps her move from anguish to contentment. They announce the pregnancy to the family, who erupt in celebration. The final months of her pregnancy pass quickly. The narrative closes as Ana awakens one night with birth pains, realizing with a jolt of fear that Jesus is away in Capernaum and she must face labor without him.
Character Development
- Ana: Her compassion and loyalty shine through in her care for Tabitha. Her rebellious spirit culminates in freeing the lambs, strengthening her bond with Jesus. Her pregnancy sparks an internal crisis, forcing her to reconcile her desire for a life of the mind with motherhood.
- Jesus: His compassion is evident in his actions, such as helping the paralytics and the widow. His anger at injustice is displayed at the Temple. His love for Ana is rooted in their shared spiritual and rebellious ideals. His supportive reaction to her pregnancy highlights their egalitarian relationship.
- Tabitha: Reintroduced as a tragic figure, Tabitha embodies the silencing of women. Her healing, culminating in finding a new "voice" through the lyre, demonstrates resilience and the power of female community and art.
Themes & Symbols
- Feminism and Women's Voices: Tabitha’s mutilated tongue symbolizes patriarchal violence. Her story, recorded by Ana and expressed through music, emphasizes bearing witness and finding alternative forms of expression.
- Love as an Egalitarian Partnership: The Temple incident exemplifies Ana and Jesus acting as rebellious partners. Her action is understood and cherished by him, showing their relationship is based on mutual respect.
- Alternative Faith and Spirituality: Jesus's condemnation of the Temple and Ana's act of freeing the lambs reject institutionalized religion in favor of a faith rooted in compassion and justice.
- The Search for Self and Personal Longing: Ana’s pregnancy brings her fear to life: that motherhood will erase her identity as a writer. Her despair and eventual acceptance frame the conflict between a woman's societal role and her personal ambitions.
- Symbol: The Lyre: A gift from one woman to another, the lyre symbolizes the restoration of voice and agency. It allows Tabitha to express the stories and emotions she can no longer speak.
Key Quotes
"That’s when I knew I would love you, Ana."
Jesus speaks this line to Ana at the Temple. This quote reveals that Jesus loves Ana not just for her compassion or intellect, but for her shared spiritual vision and willingness to challenge established norms.
"You did."
Ana replies this to Jesus after he asks what possessed her to free the lambs. This simple statement encapsulates the depth of their connection. Ana's act of rebellion was directly inspired by Jesus's own values and actions, highlighting their shared commitment to justice and freedom.
Why This Matters and Section Significance
This section marks a turning point in the novel. The reunion with Tabitha reinforces the consequences of patriarchal violence. The Temple scene is the climax of Ana and Jesus's connection, transforming their philosophy into a public act of rebellion. Ana's pregnancy shifts the trajectory of her life, forcing her to confront the conflict between her intellectual longings and the destiny prescribed for women.