Joseph, Carpenter Of Nazareth, Passes Tests And Takes Bride
Editor! Note: The Gospels are
wanting in their narrative of the
love story of Mary and Joseph
which reached its climax oq that
first Christmas nearly 2,000 years
ago. Here, drawn from respected
but non-canonical sources, it an
account of their wedding.
By GEORGE CORNELL
' AP Religion Writer
He had borne enough. The rab
bi had examined him. The elders
had taken counsel. He had been
interrogated by the whole con
gregation of Nazareth. Even
priests of the. Holy City had come
to inquire into his reputation.
Joseph's patience waned. Ver
ily, they had tested him without
quarter. 'He took a last driving,
swing with his mallet, the chisel
biting deep into the seasoned car-
ob timber. The questioning near
made him doubt himself.
Yet, manifestly, all of it had
been necessary if he was to re
' ceive the most excellent and gen
teel maiden, Mary bath Joachim.
With his foot, he shoved the
chips and splinters into a heap
in the corner, leaving the unfin
ished wagon axle on his work
bench. Sweat drenched his beard.
The biceps of his arms stood out
in great knots as he hung his
Implements.
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It was late afternoon, about the
tenth hour, and he knew full well r
L- -I u I ; . I - - L !
ne snouia oe preparing lor ine
betrothal rites at the rich house
of Anna and Joachim, but he
needed this final exertion to quiet
his agitation.
He shook his head in chagrin.
Yaal, foolishness! At hif mature
age, he should not have been so
unsettled by the matter. Yet each
time his thoughts turned to the
maid, his strength fled from him.
Likewise, the inquiries had' tried
him sorely. He had submitted
humbly to them.' He was not a
vain man. But their precautions
left him worn and ill at ease. It
was as if he were a stranger in
their midst.
Had he not dwelt and toiled
among them these many years?
Had he not walked in integrity?
He had brought forth young sons,
and since he was widowed two
years past, he had lived circum
spectly and in accord with the
law.
Yet it was meet that the girl's
mother, Anna, and her kinsmen,
having the high rank in the priest
hood, should take great care in
choosing a fit mate for an only
daughter, a cherished yachid.
Joseph brushed the sawdust and
strode into the house. The little
ones were at the synagogue, be
ing instructed by the chazzan,
and thereafter would repair to the
reception of espousal.
He poured water into a basin
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"THOU ART GOODLY in all ways, Mary, as all know."
HERALD AND NEWS, Klamath Falls, Oregon Wednesday, Dec. 21, 1960 PAGE J B
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on the clay floor, stripped off his
loin cloth and bathed. Then, fresh
ening the water, he dipped his
head, scrubbing and spluttering.
He toweled himself briskly and
rubbed fragrant oil into his hair
and beard.
Digging into his garment box,
he shook out his white linen man
tle and wrapped it on, buckling
a leather girdle at his waist. He
put on his Sabbath sandals, then
fetched the gifts for Mary and
her family from the shelf.
He tucked them into a pouch
at his waist and set out.
It would have been easier if
this had been a simple match
making, negotiated by the shad-
chamn, who served regularly as
go-between in arranging the terms
between parents of young couples.
In Mary's case, however, great
concern and attention had been
lavished on finding her a rightful
husband. Anna had called to her
aid a learned and distinguished
kinsman, the chief priest Zecha-
riah, who also had been tutor to
Mary.
A multitude of eager suitors had
been considered, both widowers
and young swains, wealthy and
poor. Zechariah, after much
prayer and consultation, had
named Joseph, the plain, hard
working joiner of Nazareth.
It had amazed him, and Jo
seph's heart had leaped. But so
prolonged and scrupulous had j
the testimonies and proving be
come that at one time he had de
claimed his own fitness.
"I am an older man and have
children." he had accused him
self, "but she is young."
Zechariah had shrugged off the
outburst, saying the determina
tion was under divine guidance.
"Unto thee, Joseph, hath it fall
en, he remonstrated.
Joseph's qualms arose not from
any want of affection for Mary,
but only from his own lowliness.
He had scant possessions and
only a meager abode compared
to the stately house of Joachim.
And the maid herself was the
glory of the village. I
He walked slowly up the hill,
taking a path through the vine-!
yard. She was, indeed, well-en-!
dowed, in body and comport, and
his devotion burned in him. Of all
her days here and in her train
ing at the Temple, It was said:
"None ever saw her angry or
heard her reviling. For her speech
was full of grace . . . She was
ever diligent, in prayer and in
searching the law, and was anx.
ious not to sin by any word
against her companions.
"Moreover, she feared to make
any mistake in laughter or by
the sound of her lovely voice,
lest any insult or pride should
show itself against her equals.
She blessed the Lord without intermission."
Joseph approached the house.
A new moon shone over the. roof.
The light of the moon, at mid
month, was the favored time for
betrothals. From inside came
merry sounds of voices, '
His blood pounded as he
touched the mezuzah at the door
post, kissing his fingers, and
knocked. A' maid-servant brought
a waterbasin for his hands and
feet.
Leaving his sandals at the door,
he walked barefoot across the
room. It swarmed with neighbors
and children, eating and convers
ing animatedly.
"Blessed by your coming, Jo
seph bar Jacob."
The salutations surged around
him.
"God cheer your heart, Jo
seph." '
May your tribe increase.
"Does it go well with thee, Jo
seph bar Jacob?"
"It goes well.
Anna kissed ' his cheek and
hand, and led him toward his
place. When he saw the bride,
his knees turned to water, and
the distance across the floor
stretched out formidably.
He salaamed, spreading his
arms, his cheeks red as fire,
and mumbled his awkward
praises.
"Thou art goodly in all ways,
Mary, as all know."
His eye; downcast and fumbling
with his purse-strings, he drew
out his small gifts and presented
them uAcccemoniously, a silken
sash with the colors of her tribe
to Anna, a fringed prayer shawl
to the old priest, Zechariah., a
cruet of spices to his wife, Eliza
beth, a bronze pendant to Mary.
Amid their utterances of grati
tude and the murmuring of the
throng, he took his seat beside
the bride, with her family on ei
ther side. The servants nassed
more sweetmeats to the young.
and the guests moved by to
jmake flowery speeches of commendation.
At lencth came the time for
all but tiie chosen witnesses and
family to depart. Those remaining
repaired to a low table in an ad
joining chamber where the record
chest, containine the ancestral
register, sacred scrolls, histories
and other family treasures, was
jopened.
Two suspended lamps glowed
bovc the table. The old Driest'
beard, glistening with oil, bobbed
. -,e nad the lists of births,
tracing the Davidic lineage of
Mary, and also the ancestry of
Joseph, son of Jacob, of the
house of David, of Bethlehem.
n"":" n-.m-'s were then in
scribed together on the Galilean
wu, or scroll.
Terms of the mohar already
had been agreed upon it was
to be the smallest dowry deemed
honorable. 100'dinnrii to be nniH
to Mary's parents within a year
in insure her luture against di
vorce or abandonment.
I Tne priest unrolled the parch-
and (he old priest blessed the
Lord God of Abraham, and thle
union of his children, Mary bath
Joachim and Joseph bar Jacob
ment contract on the table, and
turned to Mary.
"Wilt thou go with this man?"
"I will go."
Joseph and the parents took
the quill and put their names to
the legal instrument of betrothal,
the kethubah. Two witnesses
stamped and sealed it. ,T h i s
was the binding covenant of mar
riage, with the ensuing wedding
its public celebration.
Foreasmuch as she was virgin,
and not a widow, it would be a
lull year betore the marriage
should be. fulfilled, even though
thence forth it would not be un
lawful for him to know her. She
now was under his authority.
"Be thou the mother of. thous
ands of millions," the old priest
told Mary. "Let thy seed pog'
sess the gate."
The company prostrated them
j selves, facing toward the Temple,
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Israel Is Mum
On Bomb Plans
WASHINGTON (AP)-The State
Department says Israel is keeping
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about the reported building of a
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There have been unconfirmed
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an Israeli spokesman has said his
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are aimed at peaceful purposes.
State Department press officer
Lincoln White said Monday night
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A. Herter had called in Israel's
Ambassador Avraham Harman
Dec. 9 "to express his concern
and to request Information"
about the reactor. White said the
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