HEROD’S EYES
War, Love, and the Search for the Messiah
The novel provides a historical narrative centered on the political and personal dynamics during the reign of King Herod and his successors. Nissim ben Amariah (Herod’s Eyes) is an advisor and spy navigating the tumultuous environment of Judea under Roman influence. The novel is written from his viewpoint.”
Tension
The story’s tension is the backdrop of a Judean Jew and his family surviving in a complicated world of Roman rule, Greek culture, and the bedrock of Judaism. Add to this the signs of the Messiah. Nissim is involved in all this, beginning with Herod’s brutal methods of maintaining power and the constant threat of assassination.
Synopsis
The narrative opens in Jerusalem in a time of “troubled skies,” with Nissim receiving orders from the soon-to-die King Herod to investigate a caravan of wise men arriving in Judea, which raises paranoid suspicions due to their intentions. The wise men follow a star, indicating the birth of a significant figure. Nissim’s loyalty is complicated by personal feelings, notably that of his wife Reena. The wise men are revealed to be seeking a newborn king, triggering a series of events that lead to the massacre of innocents ordered by Herod. During it, Nissim stabs to death his host in Bethlehem. He later inexplicably agonizes on Golgotha over the death of an unknown child.
To avoid the executions of the top Judeans at Herod’s death, Nissim swears loyalty to his son, Archelaus. Archelaus’ leadership is marked by brutality and a lack of political acumen, leading to a bloody riot in Jerusalem.
Nissim is part of the entourage that travels to Rome to decide the fate of Judea. While there, he is involved with Berenice, daughter of Herod’s sister, Salome. There is feuding between Herod’s three sons. This culminates in a violent assault on the entourage’s residences on the Palatine Hill in Rome centered on the residence of Archelaus. This was defeated with the help of Aures, the Roman equivalent to Nissim. Caesar Augustus, furious at the deadly fight, divides Judea, with Archelaus getting Jerusalem and half the territory. Nissim confronts Salome who shows that she was not involved. Later, Augustus blackmails Nissim into the service of Rome.
Lastly, he finds out that Yonit, his older daughter, has been killed by a mob probably encouraged by the Roman, Varus, back in Judea. Nissim knows there is a traitor in his ranks and says his anger will be forever.
Returning to Judea with his father, Nissim finds a broken family. He allies with the mercenary Cassius, who is the son of Salome, to follow the intrigues of Judea under Archelaus. He uses the organization to undermine him to free him from his oath. His son Eran has his bar mitzvah and goes to Rome as a protégé of an important Roman. Reena soon warms back up to Nissim.
Nissim’s desire to be free is overturned when the Romans exile Archelaus to Vienne, in Gaul, and take over Judea. Nissim reluctantly takes exile with him without his family. He soon is summoned by Caesar in Rome. He is to be an interpreted and organizer of a Celtic people in Illyria, today’s Balkans. Chiomara, daughter of a chief, shares his longhouse. Eran is in country, serving under General Germanicus.
In the fight that follows, Rome and the tribe Nissim has organized defeat the rebellious tribe. Nissim has a confusing vision and is wounded in the fight. Eran fights as a cavalryman and through him, Nissim meets Arminius, a secret enemy of Rome.
The tribe and the Romans disperse, Nissim to Judea, rewarded by Caesar. His organization is weakened under Roman rule. His father had a celestial vision much like Nissim’s at the battle. He returns to Rome. Cassius, living near Rome, has learned that Nissim had been a target in the assault on the Palatine residences.
Caesar Augustus task Nissim to repeat his work as translator and organizer, this time with General Varus in Germania. He goes there with Archelaus who has raised auxiliary cavalry so he can get back in Rome’s good graces. Eran is on the staff of Varus. Arminius, also with auxiliary cavalry, works with Nissim to overthrow the Roman incursion into German territory. The Roman column of three legions is attacked while leaving the area, leading to a cavalry excursion to break out. Archelaus and Nissim survive with help from the Gauls and they end up in Roman territory. Nissim learns the legions were crushed and worries over his son. Archelaus returns to Vienne but frees Nissim of his binding oath. Aures arrives from Rome and accuses Nissim of treason. In a fight in a woodland, Nissim kills him.
After reporting to the distraught Caesar Augustus, Nissim return to Judea and visits his father, now lodging at Qumran among the Essenes. He advises the organization strip down to basics. Eran is alive and in Jerusalem. For heroism at the German battlefield, he is now a Roman citizen.
Younger daughter Yediydah is wed, but Nissim survives a later attack from apparent Jewish radicals. Nissim’s father confides that from his studies, the messiah is here. He draws the “Tau-rho.” symbol.
Nissim’s father dies and Nissim allies with the man he tried to kill, who is now a radical, into keeping things calm. He learns that the child sought at the Slaughter of the Innocents was not killed.
The new emperor, Tiberius Caesar, ropes Nissim into going back to the battlefield in Germania with Germanicus. Poppies are in full bloom and Nissim has a powerful vision of three crucifixions where three oaks stand on a ridge above the battleground.
Nissim is sent to Egypt for Tiberias and there learns more about the Child. Germanicus shows up and allows Nissim to go home. Germanicus comes to Judea, but soon dies. Nissim is arrested and sent to prison at Hyrcania, where there is another attempt on his life. When released, he finds this to be an attack on his organization and many were killed.
Eran is sent by the Romans to help Herod Antipas build Tiberias, on the Sea of Galilee. Nissim returns to Jerusalem, now under direct Roman rule. Troubles follow and Nissim defuses a potential Roman crushing of protest by Pontius Pilatus.
Nissim is with Eran in Tiberias when he becomes an agent of Herod Antipas and a coworker with Abdimelech, his African advisor. Nissim brings Matthew into his service to keep an eye on the area around the fishing village of Capernaum. In a tour of Galilee, Nissim sees the bloody results on a village of a Roman punitive raid.
Pilate suggests to Herod Antipas something be done about a troublemaker named John the Baptist. Nissim is sent to Jerusalem and as he is about to leave for the Jordan River, he sees the troubled skies clear and a light descend. People coming from the river are stunned.
From his daughter Meira and Herod’s ex-fool, Scuttle, he learns of John and the Man in the Jordan. He has unsettling visits with John. Returned to Tiberias, Nissim learns of Jesus from Matthew. He goes to Capernaum where he is present when the centurion’s servant is healed.
Later, following after Jesus, he is injured when the seas erupt and his boat broken. Recovering at Cassius’ manor takes a year before he returns to the Galilee. Matthew has disappeared from the service, following Jesus.
Antipas and the court are in the city of Livias. Nissim sees there the dance of the younger Salome and the demand for John’s head. Nearing Jerusalem, Nissim senses John is dead. Meira is now following Jesus.
While learning more of Jesus, he hears of the determination of the Pharisees to have him killed. When Jesus is taken in Jerusalem, he goes to find him and is thrown into the Antonina fortress. Released, he finds that Jesus was chosen over Bar Abbas to be crucified. Finding out he is too late to help Jesus, he revisits Golgotha and, recalling his words years before, agonizes over his death. Matthew later takes him to the tomb where he meets Meira who speaks of his resurrection. Nissim and Matthew witness the miracle at Pentecost.
Reena dies, among friends and family. Matthew baptizes Nissim. Nissim charges Matthew to write down all he has witnessed and all Nissim has told him. Nissim confronts the traitor with the sword of John but spares his life. Matthew and Nissim disappear into the desert, and Eran takes his manuscripts for preservation. He seals the narration with a declaration of faith and the tau-rho.
READ THE EXCERPTS
Vision
From Herod’s service to Christ’s, this encapsulates the historical and political intricacies of Judea during a time of great change, revealing the personal struggles of Nissim ben Amariah against the backdrop of a society in turmoil. His experiences highlight the challenges faced by those caught in the crossfire of ambition, faith, and the relentless pursuit of power.
Political Tensions and Intrigues
Rome versus the world. What more can be said? The cracks were already there, but the arrival of the Messiah would overturn the world. Aftermath and Consequences War, Love, and the Search for the Messiah is written into the narrative. There is symbolism in the flowers, and conflict leads to revelations. The consequence through all this is that Nissim became a believer without ever setting eyes on Jesus or hearing him speak his message.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the narrative weaves a complex tapestry of personal and political struggles, highlighting the intricate relationships among characters and their motivations. Nissim emerges as a figure of resilience and intelligence, navigating the treacherous waters of loyalty and betrayal while seeking to protect his family and interests in a rapidly changing world
Thanks to
Dr. Larry Keefauver
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Dr. Keefauver got me going on this with an outline I followed as much as possible.