"It cannot be. It is impossible—quite impossible—that when the
Messiah comes He should be despised and rejected," exclaimed Abishai,
to whom this interpretation of prophecy was as unwelcome as it was new.
"When He comes, all Israel shall triumph and rejoice, and welcome their
King, the Ruler of the world."
Hadassah silently unrolled her parchment until she came to the thirteenth chapter[1] of the prophet Zechariah.
"Listen to this, son of Nathan," said she. "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man that is My Fellow, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zech. xiii. 7).
"Who is My Fellow?" repeated Abishai, in amazement, for that portion of Scripture had never been brought to his attention before. "Can you have read the sentence correctly? Were that not written in the Word of God, methinks it were rank blasphemy even to think that the Lord of hosts could have an equal."
"There is mystery in that word which man cannot fathom," cried Hadassah, "The Divine Essence is One: the foundation of our faith is the most solemn declaration, Hear, O Israel! the Lord our God[2] is One Lord (Deut. vi. 4); and yet in that very declaration is conveyed the idea of unity combined with distinction of persons."
"Hadassah, Hadassah, into what wilderness of heresy are you wandering?"
Abishai exclaimed.
The Hebrew lady appeared not to hear him, but went on, as if thinking aloud:
"No man hath seen God at any time, He Himself hath declared—No man shall see Me, and live" (Exod. xxxiii. 20). "But who, then, visibly appeared unto Abraham? Who was it who wrestled with Jacob? Who spake unto Gideon? On whose glory was Isaiah permitted to gaze? Who was soon to walk in the fiery furnace? Who was He, like the Son of Man, who came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days?" (Dan. vii. 18.)
"At one moment you would view Messiah as a Victim; at the next, as a
God!" cried the Hebrew.
"If God should deign to take the form of Man, to bear Man's penalty, to suffer Man's death, might He not be both?" asked Hadassah.