Desert Prophet Silenced

On Hayro-dace’s (Herod's) birthday, a feast was given in his honor. There was much eating and drinking and entertainment. Wine flowed freely as Hayro-dee-as sent her daughter in to dance before the wealthy and important guests. She was a shapely young woman, and her sensuality captivated the senses of her audience. Hayro-dace was drunk, and, numbed by the pleasure and dazzled by the flickering lights, he thought to impress his guests by rewarding the beautiful young daughter of Hayro-dee-as.

“Beautiful daughter, ask of me anything you wish,” he announced after she was finished, “and even if it’s half of my kingdom, I will give it to you.”

She hurried in to her mother. “What should I ask for, mother?”

“Ask him for the head of Yo-hawn Baptace,” she ordered coldly.

“But mother,” she objected to the gruesome thought, “that’s awful!”

“I command you to ask for his head on a dinner plate!” Hayro-dee-as snarled.

The daughter stood before Hayro-dace. In a trembling voice she made her request, “I wish to have the head of Yo-hawn Baptace on a dinner plate.”

The laughter in the room suddenly ceased. Hayro-dace sat there horrified as the room grew silent. Although some of the guests had come especially to hear the powerful preaching of Yo-hawn Baptace, they were all too drunk to object to the oath made in their honor. No one spoke up in defense of the doomed man, so after a painful silence, Hayro-dace reluctantly commanded the execution of the prophet.

Yo-hawn heard footsteps and saw the glare of an oil lamp. He stood up in surprise when the door was unlocked and thrown open. Strong arms took hold of the chain around his neck and led him up into the moonlit night. Wordlessly they walked on until one of the guards stopped him and ordered, “Kneel!” He kneeled, and his head was shoved onto a large block of wood. He glanced sideways and saw a dark form carrying a large sword coming towards him. He raised his eyes and noted a bright star just above the rooftops. The footsteps stopped beside him, the sword was raised high, then everything went black.

Yo-hawn Baptace’s head was brought to Hayro-dee-as who exulted over it with fiendish satisfaction. However, her revenge brought no joy, for the rest of her life was spent in infamy. As long as he lived, Hayro-dace never found relief from a guilty conscience.