Of Such Is The Kingdom, A Novel of Biblical Times

Ch. 21 is titled "The Unforgettable Party," referring to Herod's birthday party at which Herodius' daughter, Salome, dances and, in answer to Herod's promise, asks for the head of John the baptist on a platter. Shortly after the head is brought in, the palace is attacked by Aertes' army. Herod, suspecting Pilate might have something to do with the attack, (Ch.22) sends a page for Manaheem, who is with Claressa. The page mentions the beheading. Thus Manaheem rebukes Herod strongly, but still decides to further the insurrection plan. Barabbas and his men are ready and restless (Ch23) and Barabbas decides to go ahead but wonders if he should wait for the mysterious stranger. Just when he was deciding to go ahead, the stranger appears and tells him to do so. The rest of the chapter describes the insurrection and its outcome.

Barabbas and his men (Ch.17) go over their attack plans and dream of their success. Meanwhile, Benjamin is also making plans--plans to expand his shop. Aertes is outraged (Ch.18) at Herod's sending Samantha back and plans to attack Herod. Meanwhile, John arrives in Tiberius and is told of Herod's adultery and bigamy. Preaching on the palace lawn, he confronts the king, who has him thrown into the dungeon, where he visits him (Ch.19) and taunts him asking why his God and Messiah hasn't rescued him. John thinks and begins to doubt whether Jesus is the Christ and so asks Herod to send his disciples to Jesus to ask him. Ch. 20 finds the two beggars again looking for a better spot and finding one where Jesus is speaking and healing. Timotheus seeing John's disciples pushing their way to the front, edges forward and hears their question and the answer as well as the strange words Jesus says about John. He wonders about the speaker's words and if he could be the messiah, but is again rebuked by Lucas.

we find Manaheem thinking. (a first person monologue of his thoughts on love and conformity as they relate to his situation with Claressa, and his decision to solve his need for more money by blackmailing Herod) while Barabbas and his men make concrete plans for the attack and Barabbas still debates whether to tell his wife. We then get a glimpse of Benjamin, the cloth shop owner and his home-life. Barabbas finally does tell his wife. We follow the two beggars (Ch.14) as they search for another good begging spot and end up where John is baptizing. We see Manaheem blackmail Herod. We also glimpse (Ch.16 another 1st person account) the life and ministry of John the Baptist and his musings as he wonders what is left for him since Jesus has come and his following has fallen off. Seeking a big sin to preach against, he decides to go to Tiberius to see what he can find there.

Pilate and Portia (Ch.7) decide to send complaint letters to Caesar about Herod. A messenger from Herod tells Pilate to raise the temple tax. He replies telling Herod to mind his own business. Portia compliments Pilate, but wonders if more taxation might not be good. Manaheem recruits Barabbas (Ch.8) as insurrection leader. Barabbas tries to convey to his wife the serious political situation. Manaheem (Ch.9) meets his ex-wife, Claressa, and drives her home. They express their love and decide to try again despite financial concerns. Meanwhile (Ch. 10) Barabbas has managed to form a small group of insurgents. He plans the strategy for the attack on his way home, but is interrupted by a cry for alms from the two beggars. He says he's as poor as they, and that if all goes well, one day there may be no more poor people. Timotheus(Ch. 11) wonders what his last remark means. Lucas dismisses it, but later recalls the previous visit from Manaheem (Ch. 1) and wonders if the two incidents are related. Their food supply running low, they start out next morning in search of a new begging spot. Timotheus spys a crowd listening to someone speak and they go to work the crowd. The speaker is John the Baptist and Timotheus is touched by his call for repentance, but Lucas says it shouldn’t concern them.

We meet Potius Pilate and his wife Portia (Ch.4). Pilate sees himself as a week ruler, but yet, explores the virtue of democratic rule. His wife encourages him to be more strict and to take over Herod's territory. He tells her Herod is his good friend, but when Herod and his wife come to call and she insults Herod, Pilate finally joins her. When Herod returns (Ch. 5) Manaheem is still there reading scrolls. He comments on the penalty of Adultery, telling Herod he noticed his look at Herodius earlier. He asks Herod how it went at Pilate's and if Pilate's wife had anything to with it. This leads to another flashback as He tells Herod about his ex-wife, Claressa, also a non-conformist. We also meet (Ch.6) the last of the main characters, an unfortunate, but pensive young man named Timotheus who becomes a beggar and meets an older beggar name Lucas who offers to share his begging spot.