Of Men and Angels

by Michael Arditti

Genres: General Fiction

Synopsis

'Arditti is a master storyteller who uses his theological literacy sparingly to deliver a challenging but enthralling read' Guardian

Award-winning, bestselling author Michael Arditti's tenth novel, documenting the history of homophobia and religion.

God's vengeance on the wicked city of Sodom is a perennial source of fascination and horror. Michael Arditti's passionate and enthralling new novel explores the enduring power of the myth in five momentous epochs.

A young Judean exile transcribes the Acts of Abraham and Lot in ancient Babylon; the Guild of Salters presents a mystery play of Lot's Wife in medieval York; Botticelli paints the Destruction of Sodom for a court in Renaissance Florence; a bereaved rector searches for the Cities of the Plain in nineteenth century Palestine; a closeted gay movie star portrays Lot in a controversial biblical epic in 1980s Hollywood.

With its interrelated narratives and interwoven documents, Of Men and Angels is both formally inventive and imaginatively rich. Abounding in characters as vivid as they are varied, from temple prostitutes and palace eunuchs, through fanatical friars and humanist poets, to Bedouin tribesmen, Russian exiles and, of course, angels, this is a novel of breathtaking scope, penetrating insight and profound human sympathy.

Release date: March 22, 2018

Publisher: Quercus Publishing

Print pages: 549

Sample

It pleases you to picture me with wings. My natural element is air and humans have literal imaginations. But if you study the myths that have become your scriptures, you will struggle to find a single feather. Whatever the elaborations of later writers, the poets who first brought me to life in Canaan some three or four thousand years ago perceived me as unexceptional. Why else would they have shown Abraham and Lot offering me food, shelter and water to wash my dusty feet? Why else would they have made Sarah doubt my news that she was to bear a child?

It is not just my appearance that has been embellished over time. Having constructed an intricate Creation myth, you then agonised over the angels’ place in it. Were we formed on the first day with the light, on the second with the sky, or on the fifth with the other flying creatures? Furthermore, what part did we play on the sixth day when God created you? That question at least I can answer. It was not we who helped to create you but you who created us. You wanted to bridge the gulf that had opened between heaven and earth. In your oldest stories, you have God walking with Adam, wrangling with Abraham and even wrestling with Jacob. But the more mindful that you grew of the majesty and mystery of God, the harder it was to envisage His approaching you in person. You needed intermediaries and came up with us.

I have the distinction of being the first angel named in your Bible: Gabriel. It may surprise you to learn that only three of us are identified in its pages, the others being Michael and Raphael – and even Raphael's place is contentious, since Protestants regard the Book of Tobit, in which he features, as apocryphal. In all, I make four undisputed appearances: two to Daniel explaining his visions; one to Zechariah announcing the birth of his son, John; and, of course, one to Mary, heralding the birth of Jesus. Meanwhile, tradition – or rather traditions, since there is no agreement even among adherents of the same faith – credits me with being the anonymous angel mentioned in several other episodes. So, to the Jews, it was I who averted the sacrifice of Isaac and rescued Shadrach, Meshach and Abednegofrom the fiery furnace. It was I who, according to Ezekiel, was sent to destroy Jerusalem (although, by then, as you shall see, I had experience of civic destruction). To the Christians, it was I who warned Joseph to flee from Herod, I who appeared to Jesus in Gethsemane and who rolled the stone away from His tomb. Nor does my role end with the Bible. Muslims believe that I dictated the Qur’an to Muhammad, accompanied him on his night journey to Jerusalem and was present at his death. Mormons believe that I am the spiritual incarnation of Noah and restored the priesthood keys to Joseph Smith.

My immediate concern is the very first story with which I am associated: that of Abraham and his extended family. Having encouraged the Egyptian slave, Hagar, to return to her mistress, Sarah, and apprised her of the imminent birth of her son, Ishmael, I visited Abraham in his tent, together with Michael and Raphael. Even here, however, there is no consensus about our respective roles. Christian tradition, no doubt anticipating my part in that far more momentous annunciation, depicts me announcing the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah, while Jewish tradition affords that honour to Michael, leaving me with the less edifying task of annihilating Sodom. The ease with which I effect it – shattering the rock on which the sinful city stands with a single finger – is in inverse proportion to the devastation caused, the repercussions of which are still being felt by those trapped beneath the rubble.

It is not for me to question my allotted role. I am no more of a free agent in the human narrative than in the divine plan that it seeks to elucidate. Yet just as I cannot but admire your ability to turn timeworn myths into a subtle and enduring theology, so I cannot but deplore the consequences. And looking back at the earliest account of events in Sodom, I am amazed at the difference from the story that later became canonical. Indeed, my fellow angels and I barely appear at all.

THE ACTS OF ABRAHAM AND LOT, HIS BROTHER'S SON, AND THEIR GOD, YAHWEH, WRITTEN ACCORDING TO THE ANCIENT ROLL BY JARED, SON OF MICAIAH, IN THE THIRTY-FIRST YEAR OF NEBUCHADREZZAR, KING OF BABYLON

A certain man dwelt in Ur in the land of the twin rivers, whose name was Terah. And Terah begat three sons and one daughter: Nahor and Abraham, these two did Yona bear unto him; and Haran and Sarah, these two did Tehevita bear unto him.

And Haran took a wife in those days and the wife of Haran conceived and bore him a son and he called his name Lot, and she conceived and bore him a daughter and he called her name Milcah.

And Nahor and Abraham also took unto them wives; the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah, the daughter of his brother, Haran; the name of Abraham's wife was Sarah, the daughter of his father, Terah.

But Sarah was barren; she bare no child.

And it came to pass that Kindattu, King of Elam, looked upon the plenteousness of Ur: the palaces and the temples and the treasure-houses of silver and gold and precious stones. And he made league with the Kassites that dwelt in the heights of the Zagros, and he gathered together all his armies and his horses and his chariots and they descended upon the city, like as wolves greedy of their prey.

They broke down the walls of the city and they burnt all the houses with fire: the palace of the king's house, and the temples, and every great man's house and all that was therein burnt they with fire; only the silver and the gold and the precious stones and the vessels of brass and of iron they took with them out of the city

Then Haran, son of Terah, entered into the burning temple to deliver the image of the moon god, Sin, which Terah and his sons and his sons’ wives and his kinsmen and his bondmen were wont to worship every Sabbath, that is the Festival of the New Moon. But the flames consumed his body like the meat offering that was laid upon the altar.

And Terah and his sons, and his son's son, Lot, all did grieve sorely for Haran that was slain.

But the Lord came unto Abraham in the visions of the night, saying, Why grievest thou for thy brother Haran, who cleaved unto a false god? It is I, Yahweh, who alone can save thee from the wrath of Elam and the vengeance of the Kassites. It is I, Yahweh, son of the great El, king of the gods and ruler over all the earth, whom alone thou shouldst worship.

And Abraham was troubled, even in his sleep, and he answered him, saying, Tell me, Lord, what wouldst thou have me do?

And the Lord answered, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee. And I will bless thee and make thy name great among all nations and thou shalt prosper in all that thou dost.

So Abraham departed as the Lord had told him and he took with him Terah his father, and Sarah his wife, she that was barren and bare no child, and Lot, the son of his brother Haran, with his herdmen and his bondmen and his flocks and his cattle. And they journeyed north across the hills and high places and entered into Canaan.

Now Terah waxed exceeding old and gave up the ghost in the wilderness, far from the land of his fathers. Abraham and Lot did honour him in his death, making baldness upon their heads and cutting off the extremities of their beards. They made doleful lamentations over him like the cries of the ostrich and they buried him in the valley of the mountains.

They removed from thence unto a mountain east of Bethel and they pitched their tents thereupon. And Abraham did look about him and, behold, he saw that the land was most fruitful. There grew the vine, the hazel, the cypress and the myrtle; the cedar, the olive tree, the incense tree and all the trees of the wilderness.

And there was water upon the mountain.

And Abraham blessed the Lord that had brought him out of Ur and led him into Canaan. He built an altar unto Yahweh and unto Asherah, his wife, upon the mountain. He took him a goat, a ram, a turtle-dove and a pigeon to the altar. He cleaved them in twain and sprinkled the blood upon the altar and he made a meat offering to Yahweh upon the altar that he would be with him and that he would not abandon him all his life.

Now all that the Lord did promise was performed. Abraham gained dominion over the highways and the byways, the rivers and the springs of the plains and the watering places of the wilderness, and he did exact tribute from all the companies that journeyed thereon.

And Abraham increased abundantly and Lot, his brother's son, increased abundantly alongside him. And Lot took for a wife Idrith from the daughters of Canaan.

And Abraham rejoiced exceedingly for all that was his, save for his wife Sarah that was barren. And Abraham and Sarah cried towards Yahweh and Asherah. And Abraham made them meat offerings of the firstlings of his flocks and herds and drink offerings of the blood of grapes. But they had shut up Sarah's womb.

Now there was a drought upon the land, that dried up the springs, and Abraham went down into Egypt with Sarah his wife to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. And when he was come near to enter into Egypt, he said unto Sarah his wife, Behold now I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon and thine eyes are like to kindle the lusts of the Egyptians. Therefore say not that thou art my wife, lest they will kill me but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, that thou art my sister, that it may be well with me for thy sake, and my soul shall live because of thee.

And it came to pass that the woman was brought unto Pharaoh and she found favour in his eyes and for her sake he entreated Abraham well. And that night Pharaoh took her into his house and he did defile her.

And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and all which were of his house, his menservants and his maidservants and his eunuchs, with great plagues because of Sarah, Abraham's wife. He smote them with the scab and with the itch, and with the emerods and with the burning ague, and with the botch from the soles of their feet unto the tops of their heads.

And Pharaoh called all the physicians of Egypt and all the wise men and the sorcerers thereof, but they were as broken reeds for they could not restore him to health.

Then the Lord appeared to Pharaoh in a dream, saying, It is I, Yahweh, that hath done these things unto thee for that thou hast committed whoredoms with Sarah, the wife of my servant Abraham. Send her away that these afflictions might be lifted from thee.

When Pharaoh heard these words, his soul was vexed and he called Abraham and said to him, What is this that thou hast done to me? How saidst thou to me, She is my sister, when behold of a surety she is thy wife? And Abraham said unto him, Because I feared I should die for her.

And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

Then Pharaoh returned Sarah to Abraham. And he gave her silver and gold and clothing of fine linen and purple, and bondservants that were of his house and also Hagar, that was the daughter of his concubine, to be her handmaid.

And he gave Abraham silver and gold and oxen and sheep and he asses and she asses and menservants and maidservants for the sake of Sarah his wife.

And Pharaoh said unto Abraham, Let us make peace between your god and my gods, for we have seen the great and terrible things thy god hath done.

And Abraham took a blade of flint, and for a token of his covenant with Pharaoh he did circumcise the flesh of his foreskin, after the manner of the Egyptians. And he did circumcise the flesh of the foreskins of all his bondmen, they that were born of his house and they that were bought with money of the stranger.

And Abraham gave thanks to Yahweh, his god, for the covenant that he had cut with Pharaoh.

And Abraham departed out of Egypt, and with him Sarah and all that he had. He journeyed from the south through Negeb, even unto Bethel where he had first pitched his tent. There he found Lot, who marvelled to see how great Abraham was grown.

So Abraham ascended up to the mountain and to the altar that he had built there unto the Lord. He put off his shoes from his feet, and he covered his face, and he knelt upon his knees, and he spread forth his hands toward heaven. He made a meat offering and a drink offering and he praised the name of Yahweh for all the flocks and the treasures that he had bestowed on him and that he had brought him safe out of Egypt.

But Sarah his wife was no longer pleasing in his sight, for that she bore the stain of Pharaoh. And he bade her that she should purify herself of her uncleanness. And the woman said to him, My Lord, turn not away thy face from me, for did I not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest me and say that thou wert my brother?

But the heart of Abraham was hardened against Sarah his wife and, when she came unto him at night, he was as a withered sapling.

Then again the Lord appeared unto Abraham, saying, I am Yahweh that brought thee from Ur of Sumer to give possession of this land to thee and to thy seed forever.

And Abraham answered and said, How shalt this be, for behold thou hast given me no seed? Thou hast shrivelled the womb of Sarah my wife like a wineskin in the smoke. I have no heir of my blood but Lot, the son of my brother which is dead. To him and his seed hast thou given this land.

And the Lord said unto him, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

And Abraham wondered at the words of the Lord and he hastened into the tent unto Sarah, though she was grown cold to his touch since they had passed out of Egypt.

And every Sabbath, when the new moon was come, he took an heifer and a she goat and an ewe lamb to be an offering unto Yahweh and Asherah, and did sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that he had built. But the fountain of Sarah's blood still flowed.

Now Sarah was fearful and afraid lest her lord put her away. So she brought Hagar her maid the Egyptian before him, saying, Behold now the Lord hath restrained me from bearing. I pray thee, go in unto my maid Hagar; and she shall bear children upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

And Abraham hearkened to the voice of Sarah. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived and bare him a son: and Abraham called the name of his son which Hagar bare him, Ishmael.

And Abraham called Lot unto him and said, Now that I have a son of my bone and flesh, thou shalt no longer be mine heir and do me honour at my death. And Lot was in bitterness of soul that he must humble himself before the issue of a concubine.

And it came to pass that Abraham looked upon the sheep and the goats of Lot that swallowed up the increase of the earth and he was full of wrath and did require of him the firstlings of his flocks and his herds for a tithe.

And Lot said to him, Did I not put the portion of Haran my father with thy portion? Did not my bondmen dig the wells of water with thy bondmen? Why shouldst thou now require of me the firstlings of my flocks for a tithe?

Then Abraham was ashamed and said unto him, Let there be no strife between thee and me and between my bondmen and thy bondmen; for we be brethren. Behold is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me.

And let there now be an oath betwixt us, even between me and thee, and let us distribute the land for an inheritance. And Lot put his hand under the thigh of Abraham and they divided the land.

And Abraham took for his portion all the land from the plains of Mamre to Beersheba, from the east side to the west side, and Lot took for his portion all the land from the springs of Jericho to the south of the salt sea.

But the land that Abraham had appointed to Lot was lean and barren. Neither in the high hills in summer neither in the valleys in winter found he pasture for his flocks. And he came unto Sodom and he made league with the king of Sodom to pay him tribute.

And Lot increased exceedingly in Sodom. He fed his flocks in the fallow ground without the city; he sent forth his companies to and fro throughout the land; he spake wise counsel unto the king of Sodom. But the men of Sodom trusted him not, for that he was a stranger.

And when his daughters were come to years and it was with them after the manner of women, he brought them unto the priests of the temple and they did give the first issue of their bodies to the moon god that he might drop down dew upon the fields in summer. But still the men of Sodom trusted him not.

Now Hagar, Abraham's concubine, grew slothful in her work and ate the bread of idleness. She looked not unto the hand of Sarah her mistress.

And Sarah rebuked and chastised her, but Hagar answered her and said, The gods have endued me with a good dowry, for I have borne my lord a son of his loins. Thy breasts are dry as the wilderness of Sinai but mine are fat and full as the plains of Jezreel.

Then Sarah went in secret up to the mountain and made a drink offering unto Asherah. She fell before the image on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and wept sore, and prayed to the queen of heaven that she would be mindful of her tears and open the doors of her womb.

And she sunk down with a deep sleep, but having her eyes open, and she saw a light above the brightness of the stars, and she heard a voice speaking unto her and she was dismayed.

And the voice like as the pleasant harp said unto her, Prepare a pottage of the seeds of lotus, with fat meat, eggs and the milk from a young she goat, and serve it unto thy lord and he shall once more be as the stalk of the lotus plant in thy bed.

And the woman did according to all that the voice had bidden her, and she fed Abraham her lord with the pottage, and he went in unto her and she conceived. And when she saw that she did conceive, she sent word to her brother's son, Lot, saying, Rejoice with me for my reproach hath been lifted from me.

And Lot rejoiced that the days of Sarah were turned from wormwood to honey. But Idrith his wife was troubled and said unto him, Take heed, for if the babe be a boy, then he must be heir to all the lands and goods whereof thine uncle is possessed. Therefore give not thine elder daughter to the son of his concubine but take husbands for the elder and the younger alike from the men of the city.

And Lot hearkened to her words and betrothed the damsels to those that were about him. And when Abraham heard these things, anger burned within him and he sent Eliezer his steward unto Sodom to require that Lot should turn and repent.

And Eliezer entered into the city. Lot seeing him rose up to meet him and brought him unto his house and bade him rest. And he sent forth his daughters to fetch water from the cistern that he might wash his feet. And he set before him meat, and cakes of bread, and pomegranates, and nuts and almonds, and they did eat.

At even he spread out skins upon the housetop whereupon the man might lie, for it was the drought of summer. And Eliezer laid himself down and slept.

But he was raised from his sleep by a great bruit, for the men of Sodom did riot in the street. And he called unto Lot and asked him straitly, saying, What manner of mischief is this?

And Lot answered and said, It is the men of the city, both old and young, retiring from the fields where they danced with all their might before Baal. They set up his image under the green bay tree and spilled their seed of copulation to the god.

Then Eliezer was astonished and wagged his head and cried out with a loud voice that it was a detestable thing and an abomination before Yahweh. But Lot besought him to refrain his mouth for he was a stranger and a gazing stock in the city.

And Eliezer returned to Abraham his master and said to him, The men of Sodom shall be an execration unto all the earth. They defile the land with their witchcrafts and their wickedness. They whore after Baal in the night, spilling their seed to gain his favour.

When Abraham heard the voice of his words, his anger waxed hot and he sware, saying, The men of Sodom are like untimely figs, which cannot be eaten they are so vile. Even as Yahweh slew all the sons of El to rule over the heavens and the earth, so will I smite all those that do worship strange gods.

But when Sarah his wife heard this, she was affrighted for her kindred in Sodom. She adjured Abraham, saying, Cause not the fierceness of thy wroth to fall upon the city, but spare it for the sake of the child that quickens in my belly. But Abraham heeded her not.

So she went again up to the mountain and she offered a meat offering and a drink offering unto Yahweh and called upon the Lord that he would melt the heart of Abraham.

And the Lord appeared unto her, saying, Sarah thou art weak as is the way with women. Thou must walk in the statutes of Abraham thy lord and ever esteem his precepts. Yet will I send forth my messengers unto the city that they mark and see what manner of men they are. For I know not the reins and hearts of the men of Sodom.

And I swear unto thee this oath that, if they find even ten that honour me within the city, I will stay Abraham's hand.

And there came two angels of Yahweh to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom where he trafficked among the merchantmen. And Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face bowed toward the ground.

And he said, Behold now, my lords, come in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house.

And Lot reverenced them and prepared great provision for them and set before them salted kid and barley cakes and clusters of raisins. And they did eat and were satisfied.

And he brought them up upon the housetop and spread out coverings of skins. But before they lay down, the men of the city beheld them and compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, What are these that came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them. Shew them to us that we may see whether they be true men or spies.

And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, and said, I pray you brethren, let me not be put to shame. These men are in my safeguard. They did sit at meat with me. I am charged to preserve them until the salt has quit their bellies.

Behold, here are my daughters, maidens that have known no men. Yea, I had rather that you took by force these virgins than that you turn your hands upon these men.

And they that heard him were astonished and had him in derision. And Idrith his wife said unto him, These are my daughters that I have given suck. Dost thou forsake thine own seed for strangers? But Lot understood what appertained unto all them that came under the shadow of his roof.

And the men of Sodom pressed sore upon him, even upon Lot, and came near to break down the door. But the angels put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut the door.

And they smote the men that were at the door of the house, both small and great, with blindness: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

And the angels said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides thy wife and thy daughters and thy sons in law? Make haste and bring them forth from this place: for thou, even thou only, in this city art righteous in the eyes of the Lord. The Lord Yahweh is a jealous god. He will strengthen thy kinsman Abraham and stretch out his sword upon all those who profane his name.

And Lot went out and spake to his sons in law, which were betrothed to his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place: for the Lord Yahweh will destroy this city. But they hissed at him, saying, Are not the walls of Sodom six cubits thick? Is not the thunderbolt of Baal mightier than the sword of Yahweh?

And when the morning arose, Idrith lingered in her chamber. She spake unto Lot, saying, Shall I leave the sweetness of the city and dwell once more in a tent of goat hair? Shall I no longer guide mine own house but bear the yoke of Abraham?

While she did yet beseech him, the angels laid hold upon her hand, and upon the hand of Lot, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto them: and they brought them forth, and set them without the city

And the angels said unto them, Escape for your lives lest the men of the city do take you in hostage. Look not behind ye lest you should see the city laid waste and desolate, and fall into despair.

And it came to pass that Abraham rose up and marched upon Sodom. He built a fort against it and set engines of war round about it. He broke down the towers with his axes and with ladders mounted its walls.

And the men of Abraham fell upon the city and they smote all the men thereof with the edge of the sword, and the women and the children, and every beast, and all that came to hand, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe. And a great flame of smoke rose up from out of the city.

And the heart of Abraham was lifted up and he gave thanks unto Yahweh his lord that did rule over all the nations and did drive out his enemies like dust before the east wind.

But when Sarah his wife, that was big with child, lifted up her eyes afar off, she was still and exulted not in the punishment of the city.

And the angels of Yahweh led Lot and his wife and his daughters over the plain even unto the salt sea. And when evening was come, they were weary and laid themselves down to rest.

But Idrith looked behind her toward the ruinous city. And her heart was full of heaviness and she found no consolation. She gathered up stones from the edge of the sea and bound them in the border of her robe. And she cast herself into the sea and was drowned.

And when Lot rose up early on the morrow, he found her laid on the shore like a meat offering seasoned with salt.

Then Lot and his daughters took Idrith up into the mountains to bury her in a cave, after their manner. And Lot laid off his mantle and rent his garment. He covered his head in earth and he sat in ashes. He lamented her and howled like as the jackal in the wilderness.

And Lot took his daughters in his arms to comfort them, one upon his right breast and one upon his left.

1

Jared, son of Micaiah, harboured a shameful secret. Unlike his fellow exiles, he did not dream of returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple but, rather, of remaining in Babylon, enjoying the adventure, and becoming a trusted advisor to the king.

In truth, he had few happy memories of Jerusalem. He had been four years old when the enemy forces laid siege to the city, and six when they finally destroyed its defences. He could still recall his excitement at his first sight of the earthworks encircling the walls, swiftly followed by guilt in the face of his family's fear. But his abiding memory was of boredom – intense, interminable boredom – when his mother forbade him to leave the house in case he were hit by one of the stones or arrows, which, according to her, the wicked King Nebuchadrezzar was aiming directly at him. Her vigilance was mocked by months of inertia, until a sudden spate of missiles led her to look wretchedly at his father and triumphantly at him.

He remembered the hunger that made an echoing well of his stomach and the soups prepared from weeds that grew in the paving and which tasted like puddles, although he knew better than to grumble since both Asaph and Shimron explained that the soups were far more repugnant to their mother, whose cooking had once been renowned. He remembered the dispute between Seraiah, the high priest, who insisted that the last remaining goat in the Temple precinct be sacrificed to the Lord and the officials who declared that He had abandoned them and they should use it to feed themselves. He remembered too the predatory looks on the gaunt faces of people in the street, which lent credence to Asaph's claim that in the poorer districts they were eating corpses, gnawing at their bones like the wild beasts that Asaph had previously invoked to scare him. But this time, when he repeated the story to his mother, she made no attempt to reassure him and simply muttered a prayer.

So, as he admitted to his pillow, it was almost a relief when the enemy finally breached the walls. Soldiers in glinting helmets clambered through the cracks and clattered through the streets. Some of the young men fought back, but they were ill-equipped, half-starved and exhausted. Jubilant shouts, barked commands and chilling screams rent the air, mingling with the measured lamentations of the Levites in the Temple. Later, on the gruelling trek to Babylonia, he heard talk of how the soldiers rampaged through the city, cutting throats as casually as pomegranates. At this, the men would curse – long, cold curses that seemed to come from somewhere way beyond anger – and the women would spit, even though their mouths were dry. They called the Babylonians monsters, which worried him since, try as he might, he could not forget the story of King David massacring 22,000 Arameans in a single battle. There were only 12,000 people living in the whole of Jerusalem and the soldiers had barely killed half of them. So if the Babylonians were wicked, that must make the Judeans even worse.

After the initial carnage, the soldiers scoured the city, rounding up all the me