Golda, with her hands crossed above her head, looked thoughtfully up to the starry sky. After a while she whispered timidly:
"I will ask zeide; zeide is very learned; he knows the whole Bible by heart."
"Ask him," said Meir.
The girl turned her head towards the dark interior, and called out:
"Zeide! What does Jehovah command a man to do, from whom the people have turned away because he will not act against his conscience?"
Abel interrupted his prayers. He was accustomed to his grand-daughter's inquiries, and to answer them.
He seemed to ponder a few minutes, and then in his quavering but distinct voice, replied:
"Jehovah says: 'I made you a prophet, a guardian over Israel! Hear my words and repeat them to the people. If you do this, I shall call you a faithful servant; if you remain silent, on your head be the woes of Israel.'"
The old voice became silent, but Meir listened still, with glowing eyes. Then he pointed into the dark room and said:
"He has said the truth! Through his mouth has spoken the old covenant of Moses, the one true covenant."