Song of Redemption by Lynn Austin Read Free Book Online Page B

taxes to the Temple,” Ahaz’s former treasurer added. “The Assyrian demands alone are staggering.”
    “But it was our nation’s sin that caused our bondage to Assyria in the first place,” the prophet Micah said. He had risen to his feet, his passion for his subject unmistakable. “Once we make Yahweh the head of our nation again, we can throw off the Assyrian yoke.”
    “Now, wait just a minute!” Shebna said. He perched on the edge of his seat as he confronted Micah. “If you want to launch a religious revival and make everyone throw away their idols to worship Yahweh, that is immaterial to me. But it would be disastrous to allow your religious zeal to spill over into your political decisions.”
    Micah didn’t back down. “Once we renew our covenant with God and purify the land of idolatry, we can’t serve any other master but Yahweh. To give Yahweh’s portion to Assyria would be a grave sin.”
    “You know nothing of world politics,” Shebna said. “If we stop sending the tribute to Assyria, we will be destroyed. We cannot confuse religious idealism with political reality.”
    “You’re wrong.” Micah’s voice was quiet but firm. “There’s no difference between the two. King Hezekiah isn’t the true ruler of Judah—Yahweh is. Our forefathers demanded a king like the other nations, but God is our true king. Therefore, there’s no difference between our religion and our politics. They’re one and the same.”
    Hezekiah was alarmed to see that Shebna disagreed so sharply with Yahweh’s prophet. He wondered if his appointment had been a serious mistake. He watched the assembled men carefully as more and more of them joined the debate and noted that most of them sided with Shebna. The rift between the religious and secular factions was obviously very deep. But as Hezekiah listened to both sides of the argument, he wasn’t sure which side he agreed with. Shebna had taught him to make practical, informed decisions based on reason; Zechariah urged him to trust in God’s power alone. These two sides of Hezekiah seemed as irreconcilable as the two fighting parties.
    A flash of lightning suddenly flickered outside the shuttered window, and Hezekiah heard the answering grumble of thunder a moment later. For his nation’s sake, he would try to appease both political factions—and both sides of himself—for as long as he possibly could. With his economy in chaos, his nobility sharply divided, and his nation in a state of turmoil, the next few months of his reign would be challenging enough.

    Prince Gedaliah seethed with rage as he sat through the king’s council meeting. Hezekiah had finally appointed a palace administrator—and it wasn’t him. In fact, Hezekiah hadn’t appointed Gedaliah to any position, not even the job of overseeing the repairs at the Temple. Some commoner named Eliakim had been given that job, and Gedaliah was furious about it. He longed to get even with Hezekiah for not granting him any political favors, and as he listened to the bitter opposition between his father’s advisors and the new religious faction, he began to see how he might get revenge—and more. Why settle for Shebna’s position as second-in-command if he could be king instead?
    Hezekiah’s new policies had angered many powerful, important men among the nobility. Gedaliah would be their obvious choice once they decided they’d had enough of Hezekiah’s religion. But first he needed to let them know that he agreed with them. He had noted all of the advisors who spoke against canceling the Assyrian tribute, and when he saw that Shebna was among them, he knew exactly how he could win the Egyptian’s support. Gedaliah waited for him outside the throne room, then fell into step beside him as he strode through the palace courtyard.
    “I want you to know that I was on your side in there, Shebna.”
    “I do not know what ‘side’ you are referring to,” he said coldly. He walked on, but Gedaliah kept up