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Solomon heard the cries of his wife beyond the thick curtained walls. He lunged forward, but Benaiah grabbed him and shook his head. He eyes pleaded with Benaiah.
“Stay here, Solomon,” Benaiah said softly. “Soon, you will have your child.”
Again Rebecca screamed, followed by a long, painful moan. The two men could hear the midwives trying to comfort her.
“Solomon!” Rebecca suddenly screamed.
“I’ve got to help her!” Solomon said, shoving Benaiah aside and ripping through the curtained wall.
The midwives looked up in shock as the king stumbled into the small room. Rebecca lay on her back, her legs spread, both arms gripping the bed rests. Solomon rushed to her side, gently stroking her damp hair.
“I’m here my love, I’m here,” Solomon said as the mid wives soaked some cloths into water and then laid them across her stomach and forehead.
“Is she going to be all right?” Solomon demanded. Benaiah ducked his head through the curtain and then turned away, embarrassed at what he saw.
“The baby has not turned yet. It is simply going to be a longer labor than usual,” a short, squat midwife said curtly as she rubbed Rebecca’s legs.
Solomon kissed the hot, damp skin of Rebecca’s face. “It’s going to be ok, honey. The baby is coming. Just a little more. A little more.” He felt more nervous than he had ever remembered feeling in his life. Yet the nervousness roiling within him mixed with a giddy excitement.
Rebecca moaned, her eyes squeezed tight, as contractions began to course through her body.
“Stay with me,” she whispered, gasping between the painful contractions.
Solomon nodded, kneeling down next to her, continuing to stroke her hair.
“Where is the king?” Joshua asked as he opened the door and saw a red faced Benaiah standing awkwardly before the curtained partition.
“He’s with his wife. What is it, Joshua?”
“Caleb wants to know if Solomon wants to send off his royal navy this evening or wait until next week.”
Benaiah shook his head. “Tell Caleb to wait. I don’t think the king wants to deal with anything else right now.”
Joshua nodded and started to leave when he heard a sudden shriek from Rebecca. “Is the queen going to be all right?”
“Everything will be fine just as soon as you stop asking questions. Now, be gone!”
Joshua bowed, stumbled backward and quickly left the room. I should at least stay nearby in case the king needs anything Or perhaps I should go? Maybe I shouldn’t be here at all. Now that he is with his wife perhaps I should just--
The small, piercing cry of an infant cut the air. Benaiah’s eyes widened. He tore through the curtained wall.
Rebecca now sat up, covered in blankets, holding a tiny, pink infant squalling in her arms. Solomon knelt close as the two kissed the infant and stroked the bald forehead. The midwives chuckled to themselves as they leaned back in exhaustion.
“Everything is all right?” Benaiah asked with a smile.
The short, squat midwife rolled her eyes. She gathered a pile of wet blankets and towels and placed them squarely in Benaiah’s hands. “As soon as you help us clean up this mess, everything will be even better.”
Benaiah stared at the pile of towels in his hands and blinked.
“Well, don’t just stand there! Help us clean this place up!” The midwife snapped.
“Oh! Right!” Benaiah grinned and carried the towels out through the curtained door.
Later that night Solomon and Rebecca finally saw the last of the well wishers away as they collapsed into bed. Little Rehoboam now lay softly asleep in his crib, set just a little away from the softly burning fire in the hearth.
The whole bedchamber glowed a soft, warm red, inviting the two to a deep and needed sleep. Man and wife held each other as they lay in the bed, hearing the crackle of the dying embers and, every once in a while, a faint stir from the brand new infant.
“He is so precious,” Rebecca whispered as she kissed her husband’s cheek.
“Yes, he is,” Solomon said, stroking her hair. “He will be a fine man, heir to the throne. King Rehoboam. It has ring to it, doesn’t it?”
Rebecca laughed, “It does, honey.”
Solomon held his wife close. For the past eight months, the tension between them had all but dissipated. He had even set aside most of his projects, picking up his pen and writing new proverbs and songs for the coming arrival.
And his friendship with Benaiah had also healed itself. The two had worked passed their differences and Solomon, frustrated with Caleb’s ineptitude, quickly asked Benaiah to handle much of the administrative work the captain had handled in the past. Caleb remained as the Chief Scribe because of his superior writing skills. Benaiah quickly forgave Solomon any wrongs and the two found themselves closer than ever as they reminisced about old times and wondered what the birth of a child would bring.
He had not brought himself to make amends with Hiram, and the old pirate king had died a month ago. A pang of regret struck Solomon when Benaiah told him the news of Hiram’s death. Still, what could he do now? The rift between the two nations now lay sealed with his death, but perhaps one day Solomon could make amends with Hiram’s son.
Yes, the past eight months had brought much needed healing and comfort. Solomon, for the first time in a long time, felt truly happy and satisfied with life. His hunger for building projects and his zeal to use his wealth drained him of all strength while placing a burden on his heart too heavy to bear. All that had lifted as he and his wife drew closer in anticipation of the birth.
And now, on the verge of sleep, Solomon held his dear wife close, smiling in the darkness, content with life’s blessings.
“I think tomorrow would be a good day to take a walk in the gardens. Maybe have a picnic.”
Rebecca smiled and looked up at her husband. “That sounds wonderful, honey. We haven’t done anything like that since Zadok and Nathan died. I think the Lord would be pleased.”
Solomon nodded and kissed her forehead, allowing the warmth of her body to lull him to sleep.
Solomon sat in his “room of the heavens” as he called it. It was the topmost chamber in his court. The walls were rounded, and every several feet, gaping arches looked out onto one long balcony that circled the entire room and looked down at the gardens below. The rotunda provided Solomon with a constant perfume of flowers in the spring, a scented breeze that allowed him to find inspiration for his poems and proverbs.
He lay stretched out on a long, red sofa, a marbled table in front of him, with a feathered pen in one hand, scribbling away on thick parchment. He glanced up, tapping the feather on his ear. Streams of sunlight poured through the openings from the balcony, filling the room with brilliance.
The curved ceiling also opened near the top, a smooth pane of crystal looking onto the smooth face of blue sky above. He loved this room. It gave him such inspiration, such hope. He had not been in this room for almost ten years. It felt good to be back.
He sighed and quickly scribbled another line as the Spirit of His Creator led him.
A sudden knock at the door scattered his thoughts. He pursed his lips in frustration and set the pen down.
“Come in,” Solomon moaned. I have to finish this poem today!
The oaken door opened and the tall form of Joshua entered. The high ranking captain now had a long, dark beard, down to his chest. He had grown into a mature middle aged man. Solomon could still remember him as barely out of his teens, guarding his father’s bedchamber.
“Joshua! How are you?” Solomon rose from his sofa with a smile.
Joshua bowed. “My lord and king, I am very well, thank you. I did not mean to bother you, but I had some pressing business to discuss with you last week, before your son was born. However, you were otherwise engaged.”
Solomon nodded. “Yes, having a baby can do that to a man. What is the business, Joshua?”
He cleared his throat. “Caleb is ready to launch your navy. They plan to make a trip to Ophir for the gold you had requested. I can have Caleb launch the navy this afternoon if you would like.”
Solomon slapped his hand against his forehead. “I had completely forgotten about the navy! Yes, by all means tell Caleb to authorize the launch. And please inform me as soon as they return. I’m quite interested to see what this land of Ophir will provide now that Lebanon is no longer our ally.”
Joshua bowed low. “I will see it done immediately, my lord.”
And with that the soldier quickly departed.
Solomon stared down at his parchment and nodded. Benaiah probably would not be pleased to learn he had decided to launch the navy. A few days ago Benaiah had asked him to simply forget about the whole expedition. Benaiah was concerned the amount of riches brought back would distract the king again. Solomon shrugged. What harm could one little expedition cause? Surely Benaiah could see the value in exploration and research?
Besides, Solomon thought darkly, Benaiah may be my close friend, but he does not dictate my life.
The king frowned and then sighed. He had suddenly lost his inspiration. He would have to finish the poem some other time.
Solomon gently held little Rehoboam in his arms, rocking him as he stood on the balcony in the cool, evening breeze. Rebecca stepped out onto the balcony to join him, two wine glasses in her hand.
“Is he finally asleep?” Rebecca whispered.
Solomon nodded. “I think so.”
Solomon quietly padded into the room and laid the small infant in his crib. He returned to the balcony where he took a wine glasses in one hand, and used his other arm to wrap around his wife’s waist. The two watched the sun sink beneath the Judean foothills.
“I’m glad we are watching these sunsets together again,” Rebecca kissed her husband’s cheek.
Solomon smiled and sipped his wine. “I think that . . .”
A knock at the door made both of them jump. Rebecca rushed to the door so that another knock would not disturb their sleeping infant.
Joshua entered, his face red and slick with sweat. “My queen, is the king available?”
Solomon entered the room. “News of the navy, Joshua?”
“Yes, my lord. They should arrive at port by nightfall.”
“Excellent! Prepare my crystal chariot. We ride to Jaffa tonight!” Solomon clapped his hands.
Rebecca hesitated. “I should stay with Rehoboam.”
Solomon paused with a slight frown. “Oh, yes, I suppose you’re right. I should be back before midnight.”
Rebecca kissed her husband. “I’ll take that as a promise.”
Solomon watched in awe as the sailors began to unload barrels of pure gold, diamonds, rubies and precious stones. The forty ship navy would continue unloading its treasures all night.
“And this is just the tip of the iceberg,” Caleb said as they watched the men heave the heavy gold and precious stones onto the docks. “The captain tells me there is so much wealth in Ophir it would take ten lifetimes to bring it all back.”
“Not if I enlarge my fleet,” Solomon said with determination. “I’ll have all the wealth of Ophir in Jerusalem before the year is out.”
Caleb grinned, “Very good, my lord.”
“Excellent work, Caleb. Keep me informed on how everything goes. And come to the court tomorrow morning. I want to get at least forty more ships added to the fleet before she departs in two weeks.”
“Very good, my lord.”
Solomon turned from Caleb back toward his chariot only to face the red bearded face of Benaiah. “Benaiah, what a surprise! I thought you had retired early for the evening.”
Benaiah remained motionless, his face unreadable. Solomon laughed nervously as he walked passed his friend. Benaiah turned to watch Solomon climb into his chariot. He could feel Benaiah’s dark eyes bore into his back.
“I thought we had discussed this and agreed the navy would not be sent to Ophir.” He spoke quietly.
Solomon spun around, sudden irritation rising in his chest. “Yes, we discussed it. And that was all. The final decision rested with me. And I thought it best to send the navy. And a good thing I did! Look at the wealth the Lord has brought back to us.”
“The Lord or the devil?” Benaiah said flatly.
Solomon swore. “Don’t do this again, Benaiah. I thought we had put all this behind us.”
“So had I.”
“Listen, bringing back wealth and riches that the Lord placed on this earth is not sin! I want to continue with my projects. Israel will become the crown jewel of the nations!”
Benaiah shook his head. “When will it be enough Solomon? You already have more gold and wealth than any king alive. You have enough riches to plate every house in Israel with gold and still have enough to coat the mountains of Judea. And yet, you still do not have enough. You still need more.”
“It is not just the gol--”
“What is it then, Solomon? Power? Prestige? Your projects? What is driving you?”
“Nothing is driving me, Benaiah!” Solomon snapped. “There is nothing wrong with a king seeking to beautify his land. Everyone else seems excited about it, except you. Even Rebecca understands!”
Benaiah nodded and lowered his head. “Solomon, I’ve enjoyed our time together these past ten months. I’ve enjoyed watching you grow close to Rebecca again and enjoy your son. I just don’t want to see you go back--”
“I thought this was behind us, Benaiah!” Solomon yelled. A few sailors looked up from their work at the king and the captain of the guard.
Benaiah lowered his voice. “I’m sorry, Solomon. I’m just concerned, that’s all. I don’t want to make you angry with me as I did last time. Maybe I didn’t express myself right, maybe I did, I don’t know. I just want to make sure you keep your focus, that’s all.”
“I will keep my focus if my closest friend will just relax!” Solomon said with exasperation. “Trust me, as you once did.”
Benaiah let his shoulders drop and he nodded in surrender. “I will trust you. Just don’t let me down, Solomon.”
Solomon smiled tightly as he climbed into his chariot. Perhaps he needed some time away from Benaiah after all.
Solomon rifled through the papers in his study as Caleb carefully scribbled down several notes. Solomon’s eyes had grown red again from lack of sleep.
“My lord, do you think we should take a break so that you can slee--”
“No, no, I’m fine.” Solomon muttered as he read one paper and then quickly shuffled through some parchments, searching. “I need to find the last shipment of gold made. Oh, and how big is my navy now?”
Caleb glanced at a notebook and thumbed through some pages. “We now have one hundred and forty ships as of the last shipment. They docked at Jaffa two days ago with the latest shipment.”
“Excellent,” Solomon said. “And how much gold have they brought?”
“Over five million bars.”
“Good, good,” Solomon breathed as he wrote something down on a folded leaf of parchment. “Very good, Caleb. Now, how much of Ophir has been--”
The door softly opened.
“I said I did not want any disturbances!” Solomon shouted.
Benaiah entered, his eyes dark. “The queen requests permission to speak with you.”
Solomon paused and then wiped his bleary eyes. “Of course. Show her in, Benaiah.”
Benaiah bowed and disappeared behind the door. Rebecca, dressed in a simple red gown with a blue scarf tied over her head, stepped into the room.
Caleb bowed low. “My lady. I will go while--”
“No, stay here, Caleb. This shouldn’t take long,” Solomon said.
Rebecca smiled tightly at Caleb and then looked directly at her husband. “You promised to come with Rehoboam and me to the gardens near Gibeon tomorrow. If you do not get some rest, you will be in no shape to go with us.”
“Does it look like I have the time to go play in the gardens tomorrow?” Solomon shouted. “I’m busy, or can’t you see that?”
Caleb backed up against the wall.
Rebecca swallowed hard, tears rimming her eyes. “Solomon, that is what you said last week. And the week before!” Her voice was quiet but hard as a knife's edge. “You haven’t spent more than an hour with your son in months! He’s almost four years old and he barely knows his father! Come to the gardens with us as you promised. For him, if not for me!”
Solomon swore. “Why do you make me into the guilty one? Here I provide you and my son with everything you can imagine, I work hard to provide, and even now am working hard to ensure your future . . . and yet you still must pester me?”
“What good is all the wealth of Solomon if he doesn’t even show love for his family!” Rebecca screamed, tears flying down her face.
“Perhaps I better go--” Caleb inched toward the door.
“Stay here, Caleb!” Solomon barked. “I don’t have time for this, Rebecca. I told Benaiah I wanted no disturbances. You’ll have to take Rehoboam alone. Perhaps some other time. I’m busy.”
“Solomon--!” Rebecca started.
“I’m busy!” The king cut her off. “Let me get on with my work!”
Rebecca swallowed back her tears, sharply curtsied and slammed the door behind her.
Solomon stared at the door in silence. Caleb carefully approached the king. “My lord, this business really can wait until tomorrow. Perhaps you should spend some time with your--”
“Don’t tell your king how he should spend his time!” Solomon snapped and snatched up one of the parchments. “Now, let’s get back to work.”
Solomon climbed the scaffold in the hot, summer sun. Joshua helped to pull him onto the high platform that overlooked the rigging, cranes, craftsmen and miners as they constructed a jeweled highway circling Mount Zion.
Joshua pointed to the glittering red road. “The entire construction should be complete within the month.”
Solomon clapped his hands and smiled, “Absolutely amazing! Very good, Joshua. These riches from Ophir are proving even better than anything Hiram ever gave us.”
Joshua nodded and frowned slightly. “My lord?”
Solomon continued to gaze as the workers chipped and hammered on the road. “Yes, what is it, Joshua?”
“Well . . . you’ve been taxing yourself quite a bit lately. I thought maybe it might do you some good to take a trip, perhaps with the queen, maybe even Benaiah . . .”
“Yes, yes, perhaps when this project is done. I don’t want to miss the final completion of the road. Besides, I’d like to continue overseeing the engineering of the road. They need my wisdom.”
Joshua bowed his head, his frown deepening. “Yes, my lord.” Then, in bare whisper. “But you do look tired, my lord.”
Solomon nodded and rubbed his reddened eyes. “I know, I know. I haven’t slept much. I had another fight with Rebecca and so I . . .” Solomon smiled and chuckled. “Ah, well it’s just the normal problems of a wealthy king, eh? Thank you for your concern though.”
Joshua nodded and turned his face away.
Solomon nodded and patted Joshua on the back. “Well done, commander. Keep up the good work.”
Solomon made his way down the tall scaffold. As he reached the bottom, Benaiah, atop his white horse, trotted toward him. Oh, great. Here we go again.
“Captain! How go the new recruits?”
Benaiah smiled faintly. Sweat covered his face, his red beard was damp, and his face looked tired. “We had to stop for the day. The heat was too much.”
Solomon nodded and looked anxiously into the sky, “If we don’t get some rain soon, this drought is going to cost us quite a bit of money.”
Benaiah nodded as he swung off his horse. “Solomon, may we speak privately for a moment?”
Solomon nodded. “Of course.” At least his closest friend was still talking with him. He wished Rebecca could stop acting like such a child!
Benaiah led his horse toward a low roofed stable. The two men entered the cool interior. The thick smell of hay and feed greeted them. Benaiah carefully tied the reigns around a wooden post as the horse drank greedily from a trough. The captain gently patted the horse. Solomon leaned against a stall door.
“What is it, old friend?” Solomon liked this place. It reminded him of the smell of his father dressed in battle gear.
“I spoke with Rebecca yesterday,” Benaiah spoke softly.
Solomon rolled his eyes.
“I guess she’s sleeping in the emerald palace again.”
“Yes, well, there you’re at least right! I should have never built the damned thing for her! She runs to it like a child when she doesn’t get her way,” Solomon tried laughing but gave up and just shook his head.
Benaiah looked into Solomon’s face, his eyes tired and soft. “Solomon . . . I . . . I don’t want you to become angry with me like you did last time. And so I’m trying to choose my words carefully. But . . . I see you falling right back into the same attitude you had before your child was born. Maybe it’s not quite as bad, but your wife sees it, and so do I . You’re becoming obsessed with your wealth once again. It’s stealing your joy, your strength . . . even your men can sense the difference.”
Solomon sighed. He felt too tired from the heat and his lack of sleep to snap at Benaiah. Besides, he knew, however much he wanted to deny it, that Benaiah was right. But what could he do? Even if he tried, he could not force himself to return to his less busy self. He had a kingdom to run, wealth to amass, projects to build . . .
“What is driving you?” Benaiah whispered.
Solomon threw his hands up. “I don’t know, Benaiah! I don’t know! I just feel . . . I feel like there is something more . . . something I still need to accomplish or do . . . I’m restless!”
Benaiah nodded, patting the horse. “You know, your father told me a wise saying once. I never forgot it. He told me that a man’s lack of contentment leads to all manner of foolishness.”
Solomon shrugged. “And maybe he was right. But I can’t pretend. I’d rather be honest with myself and everyone else.”
Benaiah leaned forward, his eyes intense. “Solomon, take a break. A rest. Go to Egypt again. Or China. Take your wife. Let me take care of things while you are gone. Distance yourself from your kingdom for awhile . . . I promise things will be better.”
Solomon sighed and ran one hand through his thick, dark hair. “I wish I could, Benaiah. But things are more complex than they were when we last traveled to Egypt. I can’t just abandon my responsibility.”
Benaiah nodded and leaned back. “You would take my advice then, friend.”
Solomon sighed. “You still give good advice. And you’re not the first one who’s made this suggestion. I will take a rest, soon. But I must complete this jeweled road.”
“And what then, Solomon? After that, it will be adding more ships to your navy. Then it will be awaiting their arrival from Ophir. Then it will be what to do with all the treasure brought back. Then it will be how to use that treasure for a wall, or statue, or monument or castle, or road . . .when will it end?”
Solomon swore under his breath and turned to leave. “I can’t change what I am, Benaiah! I need your support. Please don’t start pointing out my faults now. I don’t need it! Not now.”
Solomon reached the stable entrance.
“You can change what you are becoming, Solomon.”
Solomon shut his eyes, shook his head and then left Benaiah alone with his horse.
