Chapter 61: A Hailstorm of News
After five months of waiting, Ana hopes Jesus will summon her to join him and John the Immerser. Instead, Lavi, now a man, appears at the gate, having escaped from Tiberias after the death of Ana’s father, Matthias. He offers himself as her servant and brings a flood of news. Matthias died two months prior, regretting his failure to make Herod Antipas a king, and Judas has become a follower of John the Immerser.
Lavi confirms he delivered Ana’s warning to Phasaelis, who escaped to her father in Nabataea. Antipas, enraged by his return from Rome with Herodias, tortured servants who aided Phasaelis, including the steward who delivered Ana’s ivory sheet. The steward could read Greek, meaning he likely revealed Ana as the author. Herodias now urges Antipas to arrest John for condemning their marriage. Ana reflects on the consequences of her actions, comparing them to a single stone that "causes the entire mountain to fall."
Chapter 62: Yaltha's Secret
Ana overhears Yaltha questioning Lavi about Apion, an envoy from Alexandria selling Matthias’s estate. Ana realizes Yaltha plans to return to Egypt with Apion to find her long-lost daughter, Chaya. Confronted, Yaltha confesses her plan, stating, "I’ve lost one daughter; now it will be two."
Moved by Yaltha's pain, Ana shifts her focus to helping Yaltha. This highlights the theme of The Search for Self and Personal Longing, showing it's a universal human experience. Ana resolves to go to Sepphoris with Lavi to find Apion and secure passage for Yaltha. When Yaltha worries about Jesus' return, Ana confidently replies, "Tell him that he may wait. I have waited plenty for him."
Chapter 63: The Serpent in the Garden
Ana defies her brothers-in-law, James and Simon, expressing the novel's theme of Feminism and Women's Voices. Arriving at her childhood home in Sepphoris, she and Lavi find it decaying. Inside, Apion has already taken up residence. Ana, struck by a daring idea, steals a chest of valuable jewelry from her mother’s old room.
She rationalizes the theft as an act of love for Yaltha, who will need a bribe to secure passage to Alexandria. This reveals a pragmatic and morally complex side of Ana. As they leave, they are confronted by Apion. Thinking quickly, Ana lies, introducing herself as Haran’s niece, feigning pregnancy, and arranging to return the next day.
Chapter 64: A Bargain of Greed
The next day, Ana and Lavi return to meet Apion, armed with the proceeds from the jewelry—six thousand drachmae. Ana requests that Apion take Yaltha to Alexandria, claiming Haran has given his permission. When Apion hesitates, Ana offers a bribe of five hundred drachmae.
Seeing greed in Apion's eyes, Ana knows she has found his weakness. He demands one thousand drachmae and secrecy. Ana agrees but adds a condition: he must treat Yaltha with kindness. They arrange to meet again in five days, demonstrating Ana’s ability to navigate a patriarchal world.
Chapter 65: A New Beginning, A New Danger
Returning to Nazareth, Ana smells roasting lamb and knows Jesus is home. Their reunion is tender, though Ana notes he looks older. She tells him of her father’s death and her plans for Yaltha, omitting the theft and bribery. Jesus reveals that John the Immerser has been arrested. He and some disciples, including Judas, escaped and hid in the desert.
Jesus plans to continue the movement with a different vision, focusing on love and fellowship, especially with the outcast. This exemplifies the theme of Alternative Faith and Spirituality. He plans to begin his ministry in Galilee after his sister Salome’s wedding. Ana declares, "Where you go, I will go," and Jesus agrees, affirming their Love as an Egalitarian Partnership. To consecrate this new beginning, he takes her to the cave where their relationship began, a symbol of their bond. He acknowledges the danger they will face from Antipas.
Key Events
- Lavi arrives with news of Matthias’s death and Phasaelis’s escape.
- Lavi warns Ana that the steward could have revealed her name to Herod Antipas.
- Ana discovers Yaltha’s plan to return to Alexandria to find her daughter, Chaya.
- Ana defies her brothers-in-law and travels to Sepphoris, stealing jewelry to fund Yaltha’s journey.
- Ana bribes Apion to take Yaltha to Alexandria.
- Jesus returns to Nazareth and reunites with Ana.
- Jesus reveals John the Immerser's arrest and his plan to begin his own ministry.
- Ana commits to joining Jesus in his ministry, and he accepts her as an equal partner.
Character Development
Ana evolves from a patient wife into a decisive woman, defying authority and committing theft for a noble cause. Her reunion with Jesus solidifies her commitment to being an active partner.
- Ana: Decisive, cunning, committed to Yaltha and Jesus.
- Jesus: Transformed, resolute, focused on love and inclusion.
- Yaltha: Longing for her daughter, pragmatic, loving towards Ana.
- Lavi: Loyal, capable, a trusted friend and ally to Ana.
Themes & Symbols
These chapters explore themes of feminism, personal longing, and egalitarian love. Symbols like the cave and the stolen jewelry reinforce these ideas.
- Feminism and Women's Voices: Ana's defiance and manipulation highlight her refusal to be constrained.
- The Search for Self and Personal Longing: Yaltha's longing for her daughter mirrors Ana's quest for self-fulfillment.
- Love as an Egalitarian Partnership: Jesus accepts Ana as a partner in his ministry.
"The Torah also said love your neighbor, and wasn’t I taking the jewelry out of love for Yaltha?"
Ana uses this rationalization to justify her theft, demonstrating her ability to forge her own moral code. She prioritizes love and loyalty over strict adherence to religious law.
Significance
These chapters mark a turning point, propelling the plot forward and raising the stakes. The reunion of Ana and Jesus marks the beginning of their shared public ministry, while the arrest of John the Immerser establishes the danger they face. Ana's actions position her as a resourceful partner and secret patron of Jesus's movement.