1

Return to Me
Act 1

(Spotlight up on Narrator as she stand DSC)

Narrator: Welcome all to this time together. I am so pleased you have come. I am going to tell you
a story. A story very personal to me. This story is of an epic journey. It is of a people who witnessed
God’s miraculous power and of course there is a love story…(playfully says) or two. But most
important, it is a story of faith. You know we all come to faith differently. Faith in God is not found in a
bubble. Faith is found as we navigate this messy world with its many cultures, trials, and forces that
work against faith. Sometimes by sheer stubbornness we stay on the faith journey, but for others faith is
a gift. The people in this story are my people…your question is are they your people too? What part of
this story is your story? Now sit back and enjoy the adventure. The adventure of a lifetime…a lifetime
with the Almighty One.
(Lights Down, Narrator; Lights up CS. Iddo starts singing, setting the stage for what is about to happen.
Multiple people singing the chorus).
Introduction - song -Iddo
It’s 536 B.C.
Belshazzar the king is in great need
Daniel is who he will call
For the handwriting’s on the wall

The news isn’t good, the Persians are coming

And Babylon’s kingdom will fall.

(chorus)
God always keeps his promises
The prophecy can’t be denied
After seventy years things are changing
The temple’s rebuilding is nigh

God’s people have lived in exile

Far, far away from their home
Judah was conquered, the people enslaved
Jerusalem’s temple is gone.

It’s finally time to go back to Judah

God would be leading them home.

(chorus)
God always keeps his promises
 2

The prophecy can’t be denied

After seventy years things are changing
The temple’s rebuilding is nigh
Lights fade CS
Scene 1
(Lights up SL as Yael comes bouncing out of her house over to Zechi’s house yelling excitedly)
Yael: Zechariah! Where are you? (see’s Zechi on rooftop) Can you believe what has happened?
Zechariah: What has happened? (He looks down at her from his rooftop)
Yael: The Babylonians have been defeated by the Persians! King Cyrus is throwing a
celebration!
Zechariah: YES! (He looks down at her.) See I told you God does keep his promises! (Zechi saying more to
himself) I just didn’t think it would be in my lifetime! It is actually happening! (Zechi
begins down the stairs)
Yael: The procession is coming down main street now!! (She looks up at him.)
Zechariah: Wanna go see it?

(they take off running together through the crowd, Lights up on SL as the parade enters with lots of pomp and circumstance.
Z&Y sneaks to the top of the assembly house overlooking the canal SR. As the parade passes by the assembly house, music
becomes muffled and the crowd becomes quiet but still pretending to be celebrating.)

Zechariah: Oh, look Yael! There he is!!!

Yael: Who? (excited) ……...Oh, Zechariah, I don’t get it. (disappointed)... What is so exciting
about a change of kings. (matter of factly) One king or the next, we are still slaves.
But…Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Wow!!!! Look at all the colors, all the sparkle, and… those must
be all his magicians!!!…There must be 100s of them! Magnificent!!!!! (over excited,
point in different directions)
Zechariah: Really? That is what you see? All the colors and Magicians? (Laughing with Yael)…you
are such a girl!
Yael: Well …duh! Zechi, I am a girl!... and if you can’t see that… No wonder you can’t see
the
true beauty of a parade.(Zechariah looks embarrassed. Yael goes silent but then tries to save the
excitement of the parade and pulls at Zechi’s sleeve). But come on... tell me...(Yael shoulder Zeki) I
want to know what YOU see Zechi!!!!!
Zechariah: (as if in a trance, talking but not to Yael) I see the hand of God! In the scroll that Isaiah
wrote 150 years ago, he prophesied that a King Cyrus would come to the throne in
Babylon and he would let all the exiles from Jerusalem return to our land. (realizing
Yael
is standing quietly and looking at him weirdly, Zechi smiles and acts as if he never said
anything and is cool) Wow! We are going home!
Yael: But this is our home! Zechi, I like our home, here in Babylon!
Zechariah: Our people have waited for this for so long! As God’s chosen people we are called to
rebuild God’s temple. (Looks down at the parade and then grins at Yael and in a teasing
tone states) But I will say that the vibrant colors and clothes are stunning! (Yael pushes
Z
and they start giggling and head down from the roof top? While Parade exits the house
back, winding through the audience.)
 3

(Babylon people of sorts are enticing others at the marketplace as Zechi and Yael head back home.
They encounter a gambler who begins to entice Zechariah, handing him dice and encouraging him to
roll them.)
Zechariah: (Takes the dice and looks at them) I don’t understand what he wants?
Yael: Oh Zechi (Yael takes the dice and gives them back to the gambler and pulls Zeki in a
different direction) you are so naïve. You better stick closer to me, I will protect you.
(Other enticements along the way as they come up the aisles in the audience. Parthia is among them,
Yael runs to see what Parthia has and Zeki pulls her back and shakes his head no. This is a back and
forth of Yael and Zechi pulling each other out of the harm’s way. Having fun along the way. They
finally end up at home and they stand in respective doorways.)
Zechariah: It is nearly time for Sabbath we had better get ready. Are you joining us tonight?
Yael: No (looking very worried) my mother is still very sick. See you later? (Goes to enter
house, step back hurriedly) Zechi? (a tone of anticipation and fondness) I love our
walks to the canal! If we move to Jerusalem will there still be a canal?
Zechariah: (shrugging and grinning) I don’t know, but I promise we will always go on walks! (Yael
turns to go in and Zechi calls her) Yael! I know going home is scary but you know I will
always keep you safe, right?
Yael: Yeah, I do!
Zechariah: Yael! You will always be my best friend!
Yael: And you mine! (smiling and they both enter their own homes).

Scene 2
(In Iddo’s & Dinah’s courtyard. Lights up on Dinah preparing to take the Sabbath meal to Mattaniah’s
family. Dinah carries a pot over to Mattaniah’s home. Lights down CS. Lights up on SL. Dinah calls to
Yael and Yael opens the door - farther inside are Miriam lying down and Parthia is next to her
conducting a ritual.)
Dinah: (yelling to the back room) Miriam, I brought something for your Sabbath meal.  (Then
turning to speak to Yael)How is your mother feeling today?
Yael:   (shrugs) The same.  Would you like to come in?
Dinah: I can’t stay, Sabbath begins soon. (Placing food on the table as she asks Yael) Who is
that with your mother?
Yael: (excitedly) Parthia - she is here to read Mama’s fortune and give her a ritual blessing. 
She promised to read my future too – Do you want her to read yours? She is always right!
Dinah: I’m not sure that is such a good idea.  
Miriam: (a little weak) Dinah.  (waits till Dinah comes to her) This is Parthia, my new seer.
Dinah: (Nods hello towards Parthia, otherwise ignores her presence. Speaks to Miriam) I
brought you some stew for your Sabbath meal. Can I help any other way?
Miriam: Dear Dinah, you’re always so good to us.  But Parthia has foretold good news today - my
stars are moving into a favorable position for healing.
(Awkward silence from Dinah - Yael enters with cups of water and passes them around.)
Miriam: I want to repay you for all you’ve done for me - Is there something you’d like to ask the
seer?
Dinah: Thank you...but no - my husband, Iddo, became angry when I asked your last astrologer
for signs ..he says…it is forbidden and (hushed secret whisper) pagan. (clears throat.
Smiles and nods at Parthia giving her a false nod of acknowledgment)
Miriam: Well, he doesn’t have to know (with a sly wink).  Give Parthia your cup.
 4

(Dinah gives her the cup, not realizing what she is going to do - Parthia drops a pinch of herbs in, stirs
it around,  and looks intently into the cup)
Parthia: I see a great tearing in your life, something very precious to you will be ripped away
and…
Dinah: (cutting her off) Stop!  I don’t want to hear anymore! We all have sorrows and blessings
ahead of us, and I will face whatever the future holds when it comes.
(Parthia looks at her with contempt and turns to Yael)
Parthia: Come with me, little one.  I brought the charts as I have promised! Lets begin your
studies so you can learn to read the stars.
(Yael walks over to Parthia as the lights go down on the scene.)

(Lights up CS on Iddo’s house. Family puts food and candles on the table and then gathers around the
table talking excitedly. Dinah Enters home at the front door and takes her place. Iddo enters. All
chatter ceases.
Zechariah: Saba can you believe it! We are returning home!!! It is so cool, you saw the temple
destroyed and now you will get to see it rebuilt!
Iddo: (smiling)Sssh my Zechariah. First things first…the sun is setting.
pink sky for sunset?
Dinah: (Dinah rises and begins the Sabbath meal with the prayer of shema.) Hear Oh
Israel…(waving her hands over the lit candles as is tradition and then begins to serve
her
family)
Iddo: (Excited) Now Zechariah, yes, I can believe it! God always keeps his promises! My sons,
Berekiah and Hoshea, we must start planning for our journey back to Jerusalem!
(reaching for Zechariah and Zechariah going to sit on Iddo’s knee) Zechariah, you will
need to help at the assembly hall with the packing of all the scrolls. You will be 12 soon,
so you will be a man and will be able to take on a man’s role now. We have so much to
do! (sends Zechariah back to his seat) This is a glorious time to be alive.
(Others are looking doubtful and shaking their heads, mumbling quietly, Hoshea elbows Berekiah to
speak on their behalf)
Berekiah: Abba!?! We haven‘t even heard if King Cyrus knows anything about us Jews or where
we came from. Don’t you think all this “returning to Jerusalem” is premature crazy talk!
Iddo: (Smiling) You will see. Soon, we will be going on a journey all the way up the
mighty Euphrates River valley and across the sand into the land of Israel…our home!!!
(leaning towards Zechariah, ruffling his hair) Zechariah, do you remember what we
studied the other day about God’s four promises?
Zechariah: Yes, Saba. (he smiles - pleased to be included.  Stand up at table, holding up a pointer
finger and use another pointer finger to point to it.)  He promised to give us the land,
(pointing at his middle finger to note the second promise)He promised that we would be
as num-erous as the stars in the heavens…
Hoshea: (muttering with a joking smile on his face) It must be a pretty dark sky if we’re the only
stars that are left. (Hoshea and Berekiah laugh. A harsh look and loud clearing the
throat from Iddo quieten them. Iddo smiles and nods to Zechariah to continue)
Zechariah: (pointing at his ring finger to note the third promise)He promised that through us all the
nations of the earth would be blessed…
Hoshea: (louder) That's funny, as I recall...All nations hate us. We sure are blessing a lot of
 5

people. (everyone is nodding in contemplation)

Dinah: (Standing behind Hoshea, Dinah slaps Hoshea’s upside the head...smiling) Children,
children...listen!
Zechariah: And fourth, (pointing at pinky finger to note the fourth promise) He promised to live
among us and be our God.
Iddo: Yes! We were created to live with God, in His dwelling place on earth. Which is His
temple in Jerusalem! That is why it is so important for us to return and to rebuild it. 
Without it, our sins will continue to separate us from Him.
Hoshea: Does it have to be in Jerusalem?
Iddo: What did I just say? Of course, it does!  Do you think He would dwell among us here,
alongside pagan idols and pagan temples? 
(the brothers look at each other, nodding their heads as if it is a dead-end conversation.
Hoshea elbows Berekiah and nods toward Iddo)
Berekiah: Abba you know Hoshea and I, we started this business of transporting for the family. We
are doing very well these days and well…. and it's just not a good time to move to
Jerusalem.
Iddo: Bah! You won’t need to run a business when we return to Jerusalem! YOU were born to
be priests, we were born to be priests and priests we will be! Just like all our fathers did
before us!
Berekiah: (shaking his head and smiling)-Oh Abba. You’re such a dreamer. But I worry that
you may be disappointed. Let's wait and see what King Cyrus really does!
Iddo: (raising his cup). You will see…very soon. God will return His people to Jerusalem! (All
raise their cups and drink.)

(visitor comes to door and summons the need for a midwife. Dinah goes to put on a cloak and head
covering)

Dinah: Well, I’m needed to welcome another one of God’s little children into this world. Babies
don’t wait for the end of Sabbath! (laughing at her humor) I will be back late. Good night to all of you,
my precious children (giving the young one’s kisses and then speaking to Hoshea & Berekiah). Boys,
don’t give your father too hard of a time… (loud whisper) But do keep him in the land of reality while I
am gone. (Laughing with all as she heads out).

*Lights are lowered to change to night and Iddo steps outside the house - watching and waiting for
Dinah to return whistling the chorus to family business and randomly talking to God as the rest of the
family exits back of the house with all dishes. Family goes to bed at USC. Iddo goes inside home when
the family are in bed and soon after Dinah enters SL, taking off her headscarf. She is excited but tired.
Iddo greets her with a hug.)
Iddo: Did you have any problems?
Dinah: Thankfully all was good...mother and child. Oh, Iddo...I love being a midwife!  There is
nothing more miraculous than the birth of another one of God’s children! Whew! It is
work for the mother but also for all of us on the sidelines – (Pausing and chuckling) I
guess that’s why it’s called labor! (she continues laughing at her own joke, while Iddo
makes a joker’s face)
Iddo: Dinah, I am sorry about earlier! Forgive me for upsetting dinner. I’ve had time to
think
 6

about our boys' thinking and requests. But I haven’t heard what you think. Do you agree
with our sons, should we honor their request to stay here or do I demand they return with
us?
Dinah: It is so sudden I haven’t had time to really think about it...! This is the only home I’ve
ever known. I was born here, our children and their children. We love our home here
and all the memories it holds for us all. Oh, Iddo, I think our sons were only asking you
to look around and see what you have now, in this place. What they have! Asking them
to follow your dreams may be a little unfair!
Iddo: But this isn’t someone’s dream! This is about God’s promise and our obedience. He said
as long as the sun and moon remain, Israel will remain. We must put our trust in that
promise, do things His way and not ours because it may be easier or all we have ever
known!   
Dinah: Well the sun rises above Babylon too and God has shown favor on us here. I’m happy
here with our family and my work.(walks away from Iddo and stands hugging herself) I
just think…
Iddo: What?  What do you think?
Dinah: I think…. if Rabbi Daniel and the other prophets had never filled your mind with these
thoughts, or offered you this hope... Oh, Iddo! What if they are wrong?
Iddo: (Iddo cross to hold Dinah’s hands) They’re not wrong, my sweet Dinah! You know how
I know? Because God always keeps His promises. And this is His promise to us!
(Lights down on Iddo & Dinah. Lights up on Parthia SL. Mystical sounding music is playing as she
speaks)
Parthia: I see a great tearing in your life…

Scene 3
(Lights up CS on Iddo, Dinah, And Zechariah)
Narrator: Now you have met the four main characters of our story. Four people I love dearly! You
can’t help but enjoy Yael, she is so full of life and energy. She has practically raised
herself since her mother has been ill her whole life. And then there is Zechariah, who
even at this young age, is deeply aware of God’s workings in the world. Iddo, whose life
as he knew it was destroyed at a very young age. He lived through the destruction of
Jerusalem and the temple and made the grueling journey on foot as a child to the pagan
city of Babylon. But now you hear him embracing the journey home. And then we have
our precious Dinah. She marries Iddo because of his great faith. Her life is full. Two sons
and daughters-in-law and many grandchildren already. She thrives in this little Jewish
community as a midwife and is somewhat unaware of the Babylonian influences all
around her. Why would she want to go to Jerusalem? Babylon is predictable and safe! But, soon
all of their lives will be turned upside down. I often wonder, would I have left the
“comforts” of Babylon and gone on this epic journey?
(Lights up CS-Dinah in home tidying up as Iddo and Zechi hurriedly passing through home, leaving for
morning prayers)
Iddo: Come Zechariah we don’t want to be late.
Dinah: Heading off for morning prayers as usual?
Iddo: Yes and it will be an exciting discussion today with all the changes here! (Iddo joins with
other priests coming from many directions, Iddo starts the prayer and then fades to no
sound, only movement of him and other priest)
 7

Iddo: “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all
who love…..
(Kids are playing CS. Zechi sneaks away from the prayers and goes to play with the children in the
street. Berekiah comes in SR passing in front of the assembly hall looking for Zechariah. Friendly
nodding at the men who are scattering after their prayers, heading off stage at different exits. Berekiah
finds Zechariah among the children playing and goes to him. Meanwhile Iddo is putting things up after
prayers and getting ready to leave, he begins to search for Zechariah around the middle of Berekiah’s
first verse.)

Berekiah: Oh, there you are Zechariah, I want you to come with me to work today. (Music
begins and the marketplace comes alive. Berekiah shows Zechariah merchandise and the procession of
wealthy goods is all around)
Business (song)
Berekiah Zechi, it is time to learn the business (proudly)
You’re twelve years old and almost like a man
The days are getting longer 
And I’m not getting younger
There’ll be a good living, living in Babylon

In spite of all the ups and downs

I know our profits will abound
These Persian women sure know how to shop.
I need you here with me
There’s much to learn you see
This business will be rising to the top.

(Berekiah distracted by merchants, allows Iddo to motion for Zechariah, Iddo begins to share his vision
of the family Business)

Iddo: Zechi, it is time to learn the business (matter-of-factly)

Not trade or money, but the business of God
The scriptures we must read
And prayers are all we need
God’s business is what we need in Babylon

With all of life’s ups and downs

God will never let us down
The Torah’s words are calling you today
I need you here with me
There’s much to learn you see
God will be beside us all the way
(Berekiah realizing that Zechariah is gone, finds him with Iddo and lures Zeki away)

Berekiah:(bridge) Switch keys - to A flat

Zechariah, he is my son and I will take him with me... 
 8

( Berekiah takes Zechariah by hand and kneels down in front of him)

Those prophets were just dreamers don’t you see?
No matter what Saba thinks
(Berekiah stands and looks towards the merchant carts)
You and I will never be priests
So put your faith in Babylon, that’s the key (to G7)

Zechariah has a choice to make

He’s got to get it right
He’s pulled in two directions so it seems
Even though we know the answer
Because we’ve read the book
His future is just waiting in the wings (repeat line)
(Berekiah realizing that Zechariah is gone, searches and finds him)

(Berekiah walks SL with hand out to Zechi. Iddo is SR and extends his hand towards Zechariah. Zechi
is left in the CS pondering which way to choose, cart with rugs has entered CS. Merchants put
Zechariah on the cart as the last chorus is sung, Zechariah ends the song with hands in the air as if he
is on top of the world.)
The most beautiful thing in the world
The most beautiful thing in the world
Zechi, it's beautiful!
It's beautiful!
It's beautiful!
It's beautiful!
It's beautiful!

(Zechariah gets down and runs to Berekiah. Lights fade on Berekiah and Zechariah as they exit up the
aisle-toward Babylon again audience sees Babylonian enticements. Iddo heads home. Up to his rooftop.
Where he can see Yael’s compound. Lights up on Parthia and Yael as they are standing in the threshold
of Mattaniah’s home)
(Parthia enters Yael’s courtyard and begins looking over the star charts with Yael. Iddo can hear their
conversation.)
Parthia: These months that you have been learning from me has shown me that you have a great
gift to see the future. You have grasped the concepts of fortune telling so quickly. I want
you to be my apprentice. I will teach you everything I know about potions and spells.
And, you will be able to earn money and help pay for your Mother’s medicine. Your
Father will be so proud of you.
Yael: Really? Will you teach me everything? Will I be able to heal my Mother? She grows
weaker every day.
Parthia: I am doing everything I can for her. But the spirit of unbelief is strong here (she points to
Iddo’s house.) But we will pray to our goddess of life and make sacrifices and she will
hear our request! (Parthia and Yael continue to study the charts as Iddo prays on
rooftop)
 9

(Lights up SR as Shoshanna and Dinah, and a group of ladies enter returning from the market carrying
baskets of food)
Shoshanna: So, I haven’t heard your plans for returning to Jerusalem.  Aren’t you excited? 
Dinah: (more subdued) Oh Shoshanna, dear cousin...We don’t even know if we are going...There
has not been anything official from King Cyrus yet.
Shoshanna: (Scolding disbelief tone) Dinah!?! The scriptures tell us we are going!
Dinah: (changing the subject) Did you know the journey will take over three months? I can’t
begin to imagine such a long trip, can you? Seems...impossible.
Shoshanna: (Jolly attitude again) Well, I think it is exciting.  My Joel was not sure he wanted to go at
first, but, you know me, I convinced him!
Dinah: Shoshanna, why?
Shoshanna: Because, this is the most important thing we could ever do.  If we don’t obey the
Almighty One and rebuild our temple, we’ll be separated from Him forever. You’ll see
Dinah. The announcement will come any day.
(All the ladies drift away, waving to Dinah, who enters her home’s courtyard.  Iddo is still on the
rooftop. Zechariah returns home coming up the aisle from the back of the room and is full of
excitement).

Scene 4
Zechariah: Safta, I learned so much today about our business. I have never seen so much money
change hands. The Babylonians respect Abba too. It was a good day. Where is Saba?
Dinah: (Smiling) Probably up on the roof.
(Zechariah climbs to the roof and joins Iddo)
Zechariah: Saba it was such an interesting day with Abba today! So much to learn. But I missed my
Torah studies too.
Iddo: We can study Torah in the evenings so you can keep up. (Iddo turns toward Yael’s
house
and points. Says angrily...) Tell me Zechi, who is that woman with Yael?
Zechariah: That is Parthia, she is the fortune teller for Yael’s mother. Yael thinks she is really
powerful. Which I don’t understand because Yael's mother is only getting weaker. Saba, I have
been having strange dreams lately... about Parthia hiding Yael in a big basket. (almost
like he is in a trance-like state) So…so…strange….. (Zechariah comes back to present and
leans over, watching what Yael is doing intently) What are they doing? (Parthia and Yael
are digging a hole and burying something)
Iddo: It looks like they are burying a small idol at the door of the house. This is very bad,
Zechariah. After dinner we must talk with Mattaniah and warn him about what his
daughter is getting involved in.
(lights fade on rooftop and Lights up on Mattaniah’s compound)
(Dinah enters Yael’s compound and Mattaniah arrives at same time)
Dinah: Miriam, I have brought you some fresh fruit.
Miriam: (very sick and weak) Mattaniah, are you here?
Mattaniah: Yes, my love, I’m here.  
Miriam: (grabbing his hand and looking at him, then around at the others) Dinah, I’m so glad you
are here too.  I have...something to ask you.
Dinah: Miriam, my dear friend, anything!  What do you need, dear one!  (Miriam reaches for
Dinah, and Dinah's Takes Miriam’s hand)
 10

Miriam: Dinah, promise me you’ll take care of my Yael when I’m gone...treat her as if she’s your
very own daughter....
Yael: Mama, no!  Don’t talk that way! (frightened)
Miriam: (looks at Mattaniah, then back to Dinah) I should be teaching Yael things...but I
can’t...Promise me you’ll teach her, Dinah, and you too Mattaniah. (looks at Yael and
smiles)
Dinah: Of course, Miriam.
Miriam: Help her find a worthy husband...Promise me!  And be a mother to her. 
Dinah: Of course, I will!  (Everyone is crying, understanding that this is the end)
Yael: Mama, no!  You won’t die!  The stars all say you will be healed!
Miriam: They’re all WRONG.  I don’t want to leave you, my sweet Yael,( looks at Mattaniah) my
husband, but I’m so tired...I can’t fight this sickness any longer... I’m not afraid… (she
smiles and breathes her last)
Yael: (screaming)  Mama! No, don’t leave me!  (crying, laying on her mother as lights go
down. Parthia directs Yael outside) Lights fade SR Lights up SC
Yael: (to Parthia) You said she wouldn’t die!
Parthia: (Parthia holds Yael and comforts her) I did everything I could, but the spirit of unbelief
was just too strong. (Parthia holds Yael by the shoulders in order to see her eye to eye)
I’ve been waiting to talk to your father, but the time has come. We cannot wait any
longer. Yael, you have the gift of deep spiritual insight - - I want to ask him to let you
come and live with me.  You will be like a daughter to me and I’ll teach you everything I
know. Together we will build a new, better future!
Dinah: (hurrying towards them, shaking her finger)  You need to leave here right now!
Parthia: (Parthia releases Yael but speaks quietly to her) Quick, I have something for you.
(slipping a necklace around Yael’s head).  It’s the moonstone amulet I promised you.  Wear it for
protection. You can come live with me like we talked about. (looking at Dinah) She’s
strong enough to decide for herself if she wants to live with me. (places her hand on
Yael’s head)
Dinah: She isn’t yours.   (Dinah pushes Parthia’s hand away)  Yael is Jewish.  She belongs with
us.  How dare you talk like this when you just heard her Mother ask me to care for her.
(looking at Yael) That was your mother's last request, remember, Yael?
(Dinah takes Yael into her home and through the back door. Parthia’s song displaying her anger!)
The Stars and Me (Parthia’s Song)
I must have Yael
I’ll whisk her away
Me and the stars
Will show her the way
I must have an apprentice
To help me get by
The stars could explain
Why her mom had to die

(Chorus)
If she’ll live with me
 11

I’ll give her rest

Me and the stars
We’ll do the rest
Master and apprentice
Forever will be
Yael just has to believe
In the stars and me

The stars they have told me

That it would be so
That Yael, she would be mine
And be mine alone
I look to the stars
And what do I see
The future belongs
To the stars and me

(Chorus - repeat last 2 lines)

(lights down on Parthia, who exists SL. Lights up on assembly hall where men are having their morning
prayers. Drums are heard)

Scene 5

(Drums sounding) Announcement read from the assembly house over the yeshiva school. Many Jewish
men there too. Women and children are drawn in by the sound of the drums)
Persian banner bearer: By order of King Cyrus. All Jews may return to their homeland in Canaan and
repopulate the hills and cities including Jerusalem. You are to rebuild the temple to the God of heaven.
All objects taken from that temple by King Nebuchadnezzar will be returned to you. The entire journey
is to be paid for from the royal treasury. Persian guards will go with you for protections and to act as
guides for your journey. (quietly be over excited excitement among everyone, hugging and happy tears,
very little sound as the song begins by the crowd but a low muffle of happiness)

We’re Going Home (song)

Iddo: Today is a day of glorious news
A proclamation from the Persian king.  
Rebuilding God’s Temple in Jerusalem
His people to Judah returning

The prophet Isaiah had said this would be

Over one-hundred years ago
Even King Cyrus was mentioned by name
In scripture all scholars would know
 12

  (chorus)
We’re going home (home, home)  - to Jerusalem (home, home)
Our time has come (home, home) - Our new lives begun
(This part needs to be 4-part harmony with lots of voices and choro)
And yet, there are some who will choose not to go
For whom Babylon was their home
It was a long journey over difficult land
And life was too good to let go
(chorus) (end with second singing of “our new lives begun” to resolve melody)

(Great joyous celebration. Dancing and crying in the streets. Dinah overwhelmed and sits down shaking
her head)
(Lights up on Yael and Zechariah run off to canal together to SR)
Zechariah: I haven’t had a chance to talk with you in so long...there has been so much happening
around here. I can’t believe your mom has been gone for a month...I sure wish she could
have come on this journey with us. How are you?
Yael: All right, I guess. Abba is not himself...he’s so quiet, and the house feels so empty. I
don’t know what I would do without Parthia. She visits me every day and we talk about
stars and potions and many other things too.
Zechariah: Yael! I wish you wouldn’t even be around her. All those things she is teaching you are
not true and they are against our laws.
Yael: Are you saying my mother was wrong? Because, my mother believed them, and I
believe them too! Besides...YOUR GOD let her die!
Zechariah: Look, I don’t want to argue. I just care about you.
Yael: (sighs) You’re right! I don’t want to argue either. So tell me, what is new with you?
Zechariah: Saba Iddo is arranging everything for our trip to Jerusalem. Abba and Uncle Hoshea have
decided to come later. Of course, Saba and Safta are heartbroken leaving some of our
family behind...
Yael: (interrupting Zechi’s rambling)But, what about YOU, Zechi?
Zechariah: Well...ok….I will be 12 soon,... and tomorrow I will read the scripture passage in the
assembly hall for the first time! (almost to himself) Being 12 also means that I will be old
enough to make my own decision about when I will go to Jerusalem.
Yael: Wow. That is a big decision! What will you do?
Zechariah: I don't know. Saba says to ask God...But, what about you?
Yael: Can you keep a secret?
Zechariah: Sure. You know I can.
Yael: I am NOT going. I am going to sneak away and go live with Parthia. Father won’t even
know until he is a full day away.
Zechariah: Oh Yael, you can’t DO this. You will break your Father’s heart! Your mother is gone
and now you want to leave him too? I don’t know if I can keep this secret.
Yael: But you promised not to tell. You won’t break your promise will you. I trusted you,
Zechi!
Zechariah: But, how can I look out for you if you are here and I am there? (Yael gives him a puppy
dog face. Zechi shaking his head) Sometimes you make my life so hard! (throws up hands and smiles at
her) But you can count on me.
Yael: Now that is the Zechi I remember! My best friend! Come on, we need to head home.
 13

Zechariah: Wait! This may be our last time to be at this canal looking over Babylon. I will miss
you, Yael.
Yael: Yep (punching Zechi in the arm and running off) So you’d better
stay here too!
(SL Lights down)

Scene 6
Lights up on Narrator SR
Narrator: So, what do you think about Yael now? She has experienced such tragedy. Her grief is quite
powerful and has led her on a path, which will lead to certain destruction. And what about Zechariah?
What a decision for a twelve-year-old to make. When God speaks to him, will he be able to hear God’s
voice? He is listening. Even Iddo and Dinah are not sharing the same journey now. Yes, there is a great
tearing coming in Dinah’s life. But trust me…God is not done with any of these people yet. Zechariah
has spent much time in prayer over his decision to stay or leave. As we return to our story Zechariah is
sharing the reading from the holy scrolls with the whole assembly for the first time. A true coming of
age moment in this young man’s life…

(Zechariah climbs the steps with his prayer shawl on at the assembly hall and looks out over the people.
Spotlight on Zechariah)
Zechariah: The reading today is from the Genesis scroll. The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your
country, your people and your father’s household, and… (pause... God’s voice is heard
speaking directly to Zechariah at this time…)” and go to the land I will show you.”  (All
freeze - lights change to blue?)
Lights up on the narrator who is now beside the assembly hall.

Scene 7
Narrator: And just like that, Zechariah knew what God was calling him to do.  To leave his family
and go to Jerusalem, to the land promised to Abraham’s offspring. But God isn’t just talking to
Zechariah…others have decisions to make also. Preparations for departure are complete. The journey is
imminent. Today Dinah is leaving her home of many years, where she has raised her children and is now
full of grandchildren. Has her full life gotten in the way of her faith journey?
Lights down on Narrator SR and pink lights up on Iddo’s home signifying morning CS with Iddo and
Dinah. Rooster crows.
Dinah combing out her hair. Iddo pulled on his wrap talking with Dinah.
Iddo: What are you thinking about, Dinah?
Dinah: I feel like I’m in the middle of Noah’s ark with all these animals around - there must be
thousands of donkeys and camels outside. After years in the same house, I feel as though
all the pieces of my life have been tossed haphazardly into a sack, shaken together, then
dumped out again… (Dinah picks up an object that is being left behind) I’m only taking a
tenth of my life with me on this journey.
Iddo: It will get easier. I wish you could have been with me yesterday to see all that gold and
silver...the temple treasures. The Persian treasurer counted out every single item to Prince
Sheshbazzar, more than 5000 articles, for us to take home to Jerusalem. Can you believe
that Prince Sheshbazar, King David’s descendant will be leading us home!
Dinah: Home?... to Jerusalem? today….?
 14

Iddo: I was very disappointed there will be only 42,000 of us returning.

Dinah: 42,000? That seems like too many to travel together…
Iddo: The caravan has been divided into smaller groups. We will be in the first group leaving
today. The other groups will follow a few days apart.
Dinah: (stares despondently) Oh….
Iddo: It will be alright...you will see.

(Wagons gathering Far SR-all lights up. Everyone is running around to make sure that everything is in
place for the journey home.)

Iddo: The caravan is assembling over on the main street. I have loaded all of our things, but
look around and make sure we didn’t forget anything.

In the street, donkey carts going all different directions, children running around with moms chasing
them. Different people can say things like. “It is time to get in line”. Child :”I have never been outside
the big gates because I have been a slave, now I am free, I am going past the gates! What will we see
Abba?”
Her father: “I do not really know...maybe nothing but sand.”  “Have you seen my goat?” Are we there
yet? General chaos. This will all be arranged with the ensemble that will fill in several gaps throughout
the play. The “elders and families” will already be lined up behind curtain stage right with their
wagons and donkeys...etc. 

Shoshanna: (with great excitement) Dinah, today is the day! We are really going! Can you believe it?
I didn’t think I would see this day. I am so ready! Come Joel, let us take our place in the
caravan!
Zechariah: Abba, you will come later, right?
Berekiah: Yes, Son. (Tearfully)As soon as we can.

Everyone begins to load up by picking up bundles.

Mattaniah: (running in from the side yelling) Has anyone seen Yael? She helped me load up this
morning and said she was going to go sleep in the wagon. But she isn’t there. Zechariah,
Do you know where she is?
Zechariah: (looking very guilty and backing away) I promised not to tell. I cannot break a promise. 
Iddo: If it is a matter of life and death, it is all right to tell. 
Dinah: (stepping forward) That seer, Parthia wanted Yael to live with her. Have you gone there?

(Mattaniah shakes his head no and runs to Parthia’s house-up the aisle to “Babylon”.

Zechariah: (yelling at Mattaniah as he leaves) I had a dream, …I had a dream…that Yael was
hidden in a big basket!  Look for her in a basket. 

Chaos takes over again: (Extras chatter)How long

will this journey take? Will we sleep in Jerusalem tonight? 

(Lights pan down, spotlight on Zechariah who is standing alone amongst the chaos.)
 15

Zechariah: Oh, Almighty One, look at this chaos. What are we doing? Families being torn apart. I
only wanted to protect Yael and now she will hate me for telling her secret. Safta Dinah
is already miserable. What are we doing? I’m not so sure this is the right thing! I want to
trust you…. That you will keep your promises. Please show me how to do this!

Iddo makes his way to Zechariah and begins clapping leading by example into the Hava Nagila. Prince
Sheshbazaar and others head to places.
(Song/Choro - Hava Nagila)stage is being taken off as the journey begins- Mattaniah is seen dragging
Yael to his wagon. She is glaring at Zechariah. As Hava Nagila winds down the wagons start moving
around the room.
As the wagons travel around the room on the overhead pictures of Babylon, Euphrates, deserts are
being shown to symbolize the passing of time. Tent camping scenes (bedouins) to show passing of time.
While this is happening, the stage is continued to be emptied. We will need music to play as the slides
are changing and the wagons are rolling.
(As the music stops the main characters are setting up camp in the sand CS. The “elders families” go
off stage and they are done.)
Stage becomes emptied or covered with black fabric. Anything left to be taken off can be finished
during scene 8)

Scene 8
(Lights up on CS the rest of the characters and the sun is starting to set, and mains are gathered around
a campfire.)
Yael: (laying on ground arms folded behind her head looking up at the stars, Zechi comes and
sits by her)Okay, don’t say “I told you so” but I’m actually kind of liking this journey. I
can see so many more stars.
Zechariah: Oh yeah? I knew you would!
Yael: Just to let you know, I will never get used to all this grit in my clothes from the
sandstorms and I am getting a little tired of these camels spitting on me every chance they
get!
Dinah: Iddo, is this the way it will be in Jerusalem? I haven’t seen anything green in weeks. The
wind blows, the sun scorches. Will we have a view of a river, or at least a couple of palm
trees in our courtyard?
Iddo: So many questions? My love, there will be sights you have never seen before! You
didn’t have mountains and hills in Babylon, but we will have plenty in Jerusalem! There are
caves too!
Dinah: (despondently) Caves?
Iddo: Ah, it is beautiful! (Dinah looks shocked and shakes her head. Iddo continues on
cheerfully) Our Father Abraham began with a journey like this into the unknown.
Traveling in the desert, camping beneath the stars. (poking and being playful with Dinah
to get her to lighten up. Until she gives in and smiles)
Dinah: You have become more and more long winded as we’ve traveled. But you're looking so
much younger these days and you’ve lost that stoop. And your energy, (With laughter.)
what is happening to you?
Iddo: (Smiles and winks) I am nearly home!
Shoshanna: Tell us more about the story of Abraham and his wife Sarah, who went everywhere with
 16

him. (She reaches for Joel’s hand, and looks lovingly into Joel’s eyes, and then leans
over to Dinah) You know, the man may be the head of the household, but us women are the
neck, and the neck turns the head! (she laughs merrily)
Iddo: Zechariah, do you know why the Almighty One chooses to take us through the desert?
(Zechi shakes his head) It is because He wants us to learn to trust and depend on Him for
what we need, and not rely on our own self-sufficiency.
Zechariah: This desert will definitely do that!
Iddo: We are in Bethel now and just over that hill is Jerusalem. Tomorrow we see the temple
mount!

Yael: (Yael speaks to Zechariah)This is exactly what I meant by you are not fun anymore.
Talking, talking, talking! Boring, boring, boring! (Yael gets up to run away from the
storytelling. Her Abba stops her.)
Mattaniah: You can’t go running off by yourself anymore. There are many men who would steal a
beautiful young girl like you and sell you into a rich man’s harem.
Yael: But Abba! I won’t go far, just over there.
Zechariah: (grabbing his bow and arrows) I will go with her. (Spotlight follows them.)
Yael: How did you know I would be hiding in that big basket at Parthia’s?
Zechariah: I had a dream. I know that sounds weird, but it’s true. I dreamt I saw Parthia hiding you
in a storage basket…
Yael: You have dreams that foretell the future? Why didn't you tell me!?! I knew you were
different from all the other boys. You know the gods speak to people in dreams!
Zechariah: Don’t say gods, Yael. There’s only one God. You need to forget all that pagan stuff
from Babylon. Anyway, why do you want to know the future so badly?
Yael: Because everything in my life keeps changing-first my mother died, now my father is
taking me hundreds of miles away from my home. The future is like a huge, deep hole in
the road up ahead, but the stars! The stars can tell me how to get around it. 
Zechariah: We’re supposed to trust the Almighty One, Yael. Abraham didn’t know what was ahead
of him, either, but he had faith---
Yael: That’s the God of your family. My mother believed in the moon goddess. I wear the
moon goddess’ image all the time (shows Zechi her necklace). You follow your family’s
beliefs, and I will follow mine. Now…(smiling and teasing) tell me more about these
dreams and visions!

(song) music starts

Zechariah: I don’t want to see visions
Ensemble: He doesn't want to see visions!
Zechariah: I don’t want to dream dreams!
Ensemble: He doesn't want to dream dreams!
Zechariah: I just want to be normal!
Ensemble: He just wants to be normal! (speaks to music)
Zechariah: But God’s person I want to be!
Ensemble: God’s person he wants to be!

Yael: I want to understand the stars!

Ensemble: She wants to understand the stars!
 17

Yael: The fu-ture I want to see!

Ensemble: The fu-ture she wants to see!
Yael: I don’t want to be normal!
Ensemble: She does NOT want to be normal!
Yael: In control I want to be.
Ensemble: In control she wants to be!

Dinah: Well tomorrow …. We see Jerusalem.

Lights down
(Everything is barren on stage.)
Scene 9-Arrival in Jerusalem
Narrator: After months of traveling through the seemingly endless wilderness, Zechariah and the
first group of the 42,000 reached the snow-capped peaks of the Mount Herman range and the
countryside had turned greener.  They are finally about to catch their first glimpse of Jerusalem.  Can
you imagine the anticipation? The yearning in their hearts, their souls, and probably even in their feet!

(show the travelers looking up  - use the projector to show what Jerusalem looked like - a wasteland)
What they saw were piles of rocks and rubble, overgrown with weeds, no signs of life.

Zechariah: Are you sure this is the right place?   (hopefully) Maybe...Jerusalem is on the other side of
that hill? 
Iddo: No, son, that’s it...that’s Jerusalem...well, what’s left of it. But, that’s why we are here!
Yael: It doesn’t even look like a city!  No temples, no buildings, no color, and no shopping!
Zechariah: Where was the temple?
Iddo: (pointing toward the mount) Up there...on Mount Moriah.  And that is where we will
rebuild it.
Dinah: (despondently) It will take a lifetime to rebuild!  Where will we live?
Iddo: We will camp!  
Dinah: Camp? What have we been doing for the last 3 months? Really appealing! I need a bath
and a real bed!(saying exasperatingly, almost whining)
Mattaniah: But our families are vulnerable living in tents here.  We should start building homes
higher up on the ridge right away.
Iddo: No, the temple must come first!  We will have people working on the temple primarily,
others working on our houses and getting water to our homes, and others…may have to
be on guard duty. And Zechariah, you have the most important job of all...studying the
Torah!
Zechariah: Ah Man! (kicking the dirt) more studying?  The Torah?  I could have done that in
Babylon. (mumbling and gesturing around him) And there’s so much fun work to do….!
(stomps the ground in unfairness)
Iddo: (Looking SR Iddo announces visitors) Joel! Mattaniah! Look! We have company! There
is a group of men coming from the east….Hmm a really Big group (concerned tone)
,,,,maybe they are coming to greet us? (more confident tone trying to ease peoples
worries)

(everyone joins Joel and Mattaniah who are putting on their cloaks and several men from the camp,
including Prince Sheshbazzar and Prince Zerubbabel move SR to meet the large group of Samaritans.
 18

Zechariah: What could they want, Saba?

Iddo: I imagine they’ve come to see what the new caravan of foreign people, who just invaded
their hills are doing here.
Zechariah: Are they Jews like us?
Iddo: Some of them might be.  The Babylonians left the very poorest of our people behind and
carried away all our leaders, craftsmen, scholars and priests.

Begin tune This is Our Land

Sheshbazar: We’ve come in peace (holding up their hands)

Sheshbazzar: I’m Sheshbazzar (speaking)
Ensemble: We’re sons of Abraham and we’ve come from afar
We’re here to stay
Take back our land
The city here, Jerusalem, ours to command

Samaritan leader: You have no right!

Sam #1 This is our land!
Sam #2 We’ve been here for generations and we stand!
Sam #1 You’d best go home
Sam #2 We’ll help you pack
All Samaritans: Take your caravans and leave and don’t come back!

Sheshbazzar: We can’t do that (speaking)

Jew #1: We’ve come all this way
Jew #2: We have permission from the king not to delay
Jew Ensemble: You check it out
What we say is true

Samaritan leader: We will fight to make our land empty of Jews (Spoken: Samaritans Chanting as
they exit SR)

Scene- 10 -women adjusting to Jerusalem-unpacking

Narrator: Have you ever had life change in a way that you knew the world would never be the same? Oh
I have been there and done that. Remember how these people looked with longing and anticipation
toward Jerusalem? From the highest high to the lowest low..the emotional, mental, physical, and
spiritual journey of your world gone awry is shattering. I am quite confident that every one of the 42,000
asked the question, “What have I done?” as they gazed over the ruins and desolation of Jerusalem. Over
the next six months they will struggle to establish a new normal. Some will become bitter and resentful,
others will be so stubborn that they will damage all their relationships, and a few will assimilate into the
culture of the Samaritans. How will anyone find joy in this difficult journey?

(Dinah, Shoshanna and other women are at the well)

Dinah: (without enthusiasm) Iddo says, this is where we will build our houses. I asked him,
 19

Here?!  You must be joking! (she chokes this out - depressed but laughing)

Shoshanna: Once we clear away these stones and repair the walls...it won’t be so bad...why, it will be
just like back home in Babylon.(more convincing herself than Dinah)
Another woman: Eventually, we can build a wooden roof over the rooms and
channel water into the cistern when it rains.  Then it will be just like our house in
Babylon.
Shoshanna: Isn’t the view beautiful? Think what it will look like in the Spring. It will be just like
Babylon.
Dinah: Oh, my friends! This place will never be like Babylon! (Looks up and smiles to her
friends and chuckles as she thinks of their despair) Forgive me….I alternate between
sitting in a puddle of tears to hysterical laughter at the condition of our lives now! (more
serious and directed to Shoshanna) Don’t you ever get discouraged? Don’t you ever want
to go back?
Shoshanna: Across that desert of sand?! Nope!!! But I would like to at least have a cow. (grins)
Another woman: Or a well! Maybe one that did not require armed guards on the walk to protect us from
the Samaritans.
Shoshanna: Things will get better, Dinah! Just have a little faith.
Dinah: I just...I don’t know if I will be able to live here! I miss everything about
Babylon, especially my family. I miss delivering babies…
Shoshanna: The babies will come, you’ll see! And so will our families. Let’s just be happy because
(Dinah cuts her off)
Dinah: I know...we’re in Jerusalem now.

You’re in Jerusalem Now (Act 1)

(lead-in - 4 chord progressions)

You’re in Jerusalem now

And we don’t even have a cow
The neighbors are snootie
They think we have cooties!
Yep, you’re in Jerusalem now.

(2 chord progressions)

In Babylon, we had four walls

With Hanging Gardens and waterfalls
There’s dust everywhere
And lice in my hair,
Yep, you’re in Jerusalem now.

(2 chord progressions)
 20

(here the women pick up their water jars and begin walking toward the well and Samaritan women
block them)
(chorus)
It’s a really long walk to the spring
The Samaritans, they bring rocks to fling
They always block our way
Tell us to stay away
Yep, you’re in Jerusalem now.
Ad libs: Canaan, The Promised Land

Lights down on CS and up on narrator.

Scene 11 Temple building

Narrator: While the women are figuring out life without …much of anything…what will they eat, where
to get water, where to sleep, how to get a roof over their heads…the men are …what are the men doing?
(Lights up on assembly hall-temple mount)
Scene opens with the Jewish men singing “Building the Temple” -The men are silhouetted building the
temple, women are bringing water to the men. Jugs are being passed from working man to man, each
stopping to drink from the jug before passing in on. Woman are coming and going helping sing the
chorus. )

Building the Temple

(chorus)
And we’re building the temple
Building the temple
Building the temple for our God.
We work hard every day
Except for Saturday!

The altar must be first

The storehouses are next
We need to build new pens
For lambs, and rams, and hens
Come back our Holy One
Return to us
(chorus)

(under a tent with table and storage boxes, and all men are gathered around)
Iddo: (looking towards the mount rubbing his beard in deep thought) This can’t be right.  How
could the temple mount have trees growing on it?  I don’t remember any trees.
Joel: (Opening the maps and rolling them out on the table) Nearly fifty years have passed
since the temple was destroyed.  That’s plenty of time for saplings to sprout and grow into
trees.
Mattaniah: It’s going to take a tremendous amount of work to clear this plateau.
 21

(opening bundles sent from King Cyrus and unpacking them. Zechariah holds up a large head covering
and overlarge priest gown)
Joel: There is enough gold and silver to equal hundreds of years of wages and over one
hundred linen garments for the priests to wear.

(Mattaniah holding up garments and putting them up against himself. Lots of gold candlesticks
seen..etc)

Zechariah: Hey, I’m gonna look cool!!! ( Begins acting like a priest giving blessings, everyone
laughs at the look of the over large gown and hat that is over his eyes)
Joel: You will look like a true Priest my little one! But today I believe you are in over your
head!( as he takes the robe and folds it back properly. All laugh)
Iddo: And finally,… (he opens a box and pulls out the shofar)
Zechariah: Is that the shofar? (whispers the word shofar like it is holy as he is taking off the hat)
Joel: Who will play it?
Iddo: The high priest says it will fall to me and my descendants just as my ancestors were the
ones that blew it before. Zechariah, it will be yours to play someday too.
Zechariah: Can you teach me?

(Mattaniah leaves temple mount and heads down to main stage area)

Iddo: I remember hearing the magnificent sound. It is like a sound from another world. It is like
the voice of God calling (looking wistfully off in the distance-eyes tearing up) I remember
my Father talking about how to hold your lips (laughing and smiling with
Zechariah)…but I never played it.
Zechariah: Can I hold it?
Iddo: Certainly! Do you remember where the tradition of the ram’s horn comes from?
Zechariah: It reminds us that God is our provider. He provided the ram for the sacrifice in the place
of Isaac.
Iddo: Very good! And do you remember what the sound of the shofar symbolizes?
Zechariah: God’s salvation. Abraham told his son that God would save him. The ram that took
Isaac’s place was captured by its horn…like this one.
Iddo: And now it is time for a little practice…over there!

(Zechariah blows and blows with no sound…face turning red) All laugh.

Iddo: It is a good thing there is 6 months until Passover! Now let us head to morning prayers.

All lights up-everyone but Iddo leaves the temple mount. Mattaniah has already left the temple mount
and is nearing the camp.

Iddo: Mattaniah, are you ready for morning prayers? (Iddo yells this over the banister from the
temple mount.)
Mattaniah: (Mattaniah is off the temple mount and heading across the stage where women are
setting up camp) Go on without me.  I have plans.  I’m heading over to the Samaritan village.
Iddo: What business do you have there?
 22

Mattaniah: Well...I found a piece of land over there that I would like to farm, and I’ve decided to talk
to the village elders about buying it from them.
Iddo: We already have been given this land by the Holy One.  You offering to purchase it sets a
bad precedent.  I recommend you talk with the elders before such a decision.
Mattaniah: I’ve made up my mind, Iddo.   (Mattaniah is in front of the homes now)
Yael: May I come, Abba?
Dinah: Are you sure it’s safe for her to go near the Samaritans, Mattaniah?  The pagans often
choose wives as young as Yael!
Yael: (angrily towards Dinah implication)  I’m not afraid! (lovingly to Mattaniah) Please,
Abba. I’ll stay right next to you!
Mattaniah: (looking at Yael thoughtfully) Maybe having you with me will make me seem less
threatening. (they turn to walk away)
Dinah: (laughing)He doesn’t know her very well, does he?

Scene 12-Samaritan village

SL has been loosely transformed into the Samaritan village – where they are met by a group of men in a
line as a barrier in front of the village.)
Yael: Look father, (tugging on Mattaniah’s cloak, speaking with great excitement) there is a
girl about my age!
Samaritan Man 1: To discuss land you must talk to Zabad, our village leader.  

The men part into a double line and allow them through, glaring at them as they pass - and here we see
2 women working (grinding grain, or weaving) and a sickly girl about Yael’s age(Leyla)  - her brother
Rafi is beside her guarding her.  The men of the village disperse. Mattaniah begins to exit and Yael
Points at the young girl and pleads with facial expression. Mattaniah smiles and nods yes and then
exits to talk with Zabad.
Yael walks over to the young girl and stands next to her as Leyla is talking

Leyla: (Throwing down the yarn) Oh, I can’t do this!  It’s too hard! (to Yael) Hey! Would you
know how to spin?
Yael: No, and I don’t want to know!  I’m Yael... 
Rafi: What kind of a name is that?
Yael: It’s Hebrew. What’s your name?
Leyla: I’m Leyla, and this is my brother, Rafi. I’ve never seen you before around here.  Did you
come with the big caravan that is camping in the valley?
Yael: Yes, we used to live in Babylon (with lots of pride). 
Leyla: Babylon! I have heard so many tales about Babylon! What’s it like?
Yael: (sighs) It’s so beautiful, and clean. So many colors. Canals down every turn! Definitely
not like this place! I wasn’t supposed to come here. Back in Babylon I was an
apprentice! Learning how to be a seer - (proudly) I have the gift, you know?
Rafi: I’ll have to see that to believe it.
Leyla: Really? And you’re so young too!
Yael: I’m 11!
Leyla: Me too!  Rafi is 14!  (Rafi rolls his eyes, not wanting to be part of a girl’s conversation,
after all it is not by choice that he has to be there)
 23

Yael: Do you live here with your family?

Leyla: Yes, that’s my papa over there, he has three wives with many sons, but I’m the only
daughter!  That makes me very valuable! My mama died when I was born. But I have
Rafi - also my only friend - but he’s a boy, (nudging him sideways).
Rafi: Stop Leyla! And I am not your friend!
Yael: My mama died too, but it was just before we journeyed here. I live with my Papa too! We
sure have a lot in common.
Leyla: The stars must have brought us together. I have prayed to the stars for a girl just like you.
  I know we’re going to be best friends!
Yael: So, you believe the stars speak to us? (excited to find someone she can possibly share her
secret with)
Leyla: Yes, of course.
Yael: Your necklaces are special, aren’t they?
Leyla: Yes, they are amulets.  I have ailment of pain and fevers. My brother gave them to me, to
bring good luck and healing from the gods.
Yael: My friend Parthia gave me this moonstone! It’s for good luck. (as she pulls it from under
her cloak to show Leyla)
Leyla: You’re lucky!  The moon goddess is very powerful.
Yael: That is why I have to keep it a secret that I worship her.  The Jewish people I live with
don’t believe in her. I also have to keep my star charts secret too. I guess I have a lot of
secrets.
Rafi: You know how to read astrology? Who taught you?
Yael: The Great Parthia, sorceress of Babylon. (As she says her line, Yael stands straight
and tall as if she is a goddess herself and then makes a bow, it is then that her attention i
caught by one of the girls across the courtyard) Who is that girl? (Leyla looks in the
directions but doesn’t know which woman she is talking about so Yael points her
out)That one over there! The one that is... with child? (almost as if a whispered question)
Leyla: Oh yes! That is Raisa. She is my father’s third wife. They have only been married a year.
Yael: How old is she? She doesn’t look much older than we are.

(Mattaniah walks over)

Mattaniah: Time to go Yael.

Leyla: Will you promise to come back and visit me, that way I can have two friends! (she
smiles)
Yael: (hugs Leyla) I’ll come back when I can. (whispers) We can study the stars together and I
will tell you all my secrets!
Mattaniah: (extends hand to hold Yael’s hand) Let’s head back to Jerusalem, my sweet one. (exit SL)

Scene 13– Temple building and vandalism- Scene opens with the Jewish men singing “Building the
Temple” - spotlight SL - end song with 

Building the Temple

(chorus)
And we’re building the temple
 24

Building the temple

Building the temple for our God.
We work hard every day
Except for Saturday!

The altar must be first

The storehouses are next
We need to build new pens
For lambs, and rams, and hens
Come back our Holy One
Return to us
 
(chorus)

Zechariah: What’s that terrible smell, Saba?

Iddo: Something dead, what in the world?
Levite 1: Vandals dumped rotting animal carcasses into the mikveh last night.  We now have to
drain and purify it all over again.
Iddo: (angry) Another delay!
Levite 1: We sent for volunteers who aren’t priests to clean it out. 
Iddo: Every time we make progress building the temple something happens to delay us. The
Samaritans are crafty in their sabotage of the temple. They harass our women when they fetch water,
and now this. Resistance is building. What will happen next? 

Scene 14: (The scene opens with Dinah, Yael, and a couple of other women walking with their water
jars down to the spring. Two armed guards accompany them, and Shoshanna is hurrying to catch up to
her.)
Shoshanna: Dinah, wait! (she catches up and they hug) I’ve missed you so much!
Dinah: Oh, my Shoshanna, I’ve missed you too! I don’t know what has gotten into Iddo lately. I
say, even becoming cross towards Joel! And now they aren’t even speaking to each other.
Shoshanna: Men! They sure seem to be doing more arguing rather than agreeing these days. And
over the best way to make peace with our enemies. I just told Joel the other day, “We
need to offer an olive branch to show them our God’s love.” You know it is the only way
we can learn to love our enemies in return.
Dinah: And what did he say?
Shoshanna: (Sarcastically in a mimicking tone, with hand on hip) “ Oh, Darling Shoshanna, you are
so cute! But leave these matters to us men. Woman, have no idea what is needed to bring
about peace and make a nation great!”
Dinah: Same thing Iddo tells me! But one day they will see we too have good ideas and…..

(Suddenly they hear many voices and a ruckus. Looking ahead, they see a mob of veiled village women
blocking the path to the spring.)
 25

Yael: Why don’t the guards push them out of the way?
Dinah: They don’t dare. If our men even got close to those women, there would be war.

(As the men got closer, the women started pelting them with small rocks.)

Dinah: Let’s go back to the city. Come on. Iddo and the other men will just have to find us
another source of water.
Shoshanna: No. I want these women to know that we aren’t their enemies. (she set her water jar
down and began walking forward toward the women, hands lifted, and empty palms
open)
Dinah: Shoshanna! Wait! What are you doing?
Shoshanna: (looking over her shoulder) Somebody has to be a peacemaker. I’m offering the olive
branch. (Shoshanna skirts around the guards) We aren’t your enemies. We’re wives and
mothers just like you. Please, can’t we…(A huge rock hits her in the side of her head
and
many more stones are thrown at her by the women. She topples to the ground.)
(the Samaritan women move back towards the city Dinah and the others rush to
Shoshanna)
Dinah: No! No, Shoshanna, no! (she is sobbing) Somebody help her!

*lights down. Spotlight on the Narrator.

Narrator: Shock, violence, and devastation. Our Shoshanna - cheerful, kind, and funny, was dead.
There was no way to know who threw that stone, with such a crowd of women, all wearing veils. Joel,
of course, blamed Iddo for his staunch decisions to avoid compromise with the Samaritans. Even
Dinah’s anger over losing Shoshanna grew into resentment toward her own husband Iddo. In anger she
began to spend more and more time away from home. Missing her best friend, (SL, Lights with a dim
spotlight on Dinah walking to Joel with a basket of food{no sound dialogue just acting}Dinah and Joel
Pretending to talk and laugh) Dinah would find herself in the company of the only one closer to
Shoshanna than her…. Joel. What started as taking meals to him in his time of grieving, lingered into
long visits as the two of them shared memories of Shoshanna. ( Dinah exit SL and spotlight follow Joel
as he walks to SR, and sits under a tree looking at the sky, thinking of the talks and smiling ) Laughter
during past tales recounted, gave new life to Dinah. She looked forward to her time with Joel and after
some time Joel made an acknowledgment to Dinah she couldn’t have anticipated. (Light’s up on Joel
still sitting under the tree waiting for Dinah to arrive. As she gets closer Joel stands and meets her,
takes the basket from her hand, sets it on the ground and hugs Dinah, his friend. Breaks from the hug
and takes her hands while facing her to speak.

Joel: I’m leaving here, Dinah.(Excited) I’m going home to Babylon. Several others have
decided to return too. We’re all fed up with the hardship and danger of this place.
 26

(Dinah drops his hands and moves away from Joel as if protecting herself from the news)

Dinah: What?! But I ...When are you leaving?

Joel: Three days. A caravan is going back to the Persian capital with tax revenue.
Dinah: (Turning back towards Joel and grabbing his arms)Take me with you, Joel! Please!
Joel: You’re not serious! What about Iddo?
Dinah: I am, I am serious! I never wanted to come to this terrible place to begin with. I only
came because I had to, because of Iddo. But I don’t love him anymore. I want to go home!
Please take me with you! (she begins to cry)
Joel: (Joel hugs Dinah to comfort his friend, ) Of course, Dinah. Don’t cry. Of course you can
come with me.
Iddo: Gasps loudly (Joel and Dinah look up and see Iddo watching and hearing them. Iddo leaves the
roof top and runs out the door-Dinah saying wait Iddo-but Iddo does not wait and end up at the
assembly area far SR.)

Narrator: Iddo spent the rest of the day and all night in prayer, trying to figure out what to do next.
(we see Iddo on his knees near the temple, praying) He couldn’t believe that she loved
someone else. The law said that Dinah and Joel should both be stoned to death for
committing adultery, but Iddo couldn’t kill Dinah...he loved her. If he forced her to stay,
she would hate him even more than she already did. He would have to let her go back to
Babylon. All of a sudden, he begins to understand...God wanted his love, a relationship
with him...not mere obedience to the law. No one could keep all 613 of the Torah’s laws
perfectly. No one! Especially Iddo. He had tried and tried, but never measured up.
Iddo: What do you want me to do, God? How do I make this right again?
Voice of God: Forgive her.
*Iddo walks into his courtyard and Dinah is trying to start a fire. She looks frightened when she sees
him.

Iddo: Come with me. (with a starch tone of voice...Dinah steps backward) Forgive me... (Iddo
changes his tone and talks soft and lovingly) Dinah, you have nothing to fear. (Dinah
sets down the kindling and goes with him to Joel’s door)
Joel: How dare you come here! Get away from my house.
Iddo: Just give me a moment, Joel, and I promise I’ll leave. (turning to speak to Dinah) When
you return to Babylon with Joel, if you’re still married to me, you will be shunned, a
fallen woman. I want you to know I’m offering you a divorce. You and Joel can marry-
Joel: Wait! I never said I wanted to marry Dinah. Are you mad? My wife just died! You
think I could replace Shoshanna? You old man! You are even crazier than I thought!
Dinah: But...but you said you would take me back to Babylon with you.
 27

Joel: Dinah, I will keep my promise and take you safely back to Babylon, if that is your wish.
But not as my wife! We were both in need of a friend during our time of sorrow, you
have been so good to me, for me. But I’m afraid you got the wrong idea! (Dinah turns
and flees back to her home) And you (to Iddo with contentment) get out of my house,
and don’t ever come back! It was your lack of leadership that has allowed all this to come
upon my household and I will never forgive you!

*Lights down on Joel, spotlight on Iddo as he walks solemnly back to his home and finds Dinah
weeping. He comes to her and gently places a hand on her shoulder.
Iddo: I know you don’t love me anymore, Dinah, but I’ve never stopped loving you. If you
want to go back to Babylon, I’ll take you there myself.
Dinah: (looks at him for a long moment) Why would you do that for me?
Iddo: Because I’ve made too many mistakes. You were right from the beginning, I was blinded
and too hard on our sons. I want to make things right with them and with you. I want to
be as the Almighty One is, always forgiving our people even after we went after other
gods. God’s love is deep and wide, and everlasting; he doesn’t force his love on us, and I
won’t force mine on you. If it is your wish, I’ll take you back to Babylon.
Dinah: You would do that, even after I turned away from you?
Iddo: Yes…(covering up the hurt by swift actions and body language)I’ll find out when the
next caravan is leaving. (Turns to leave but then stops when Dinah speaks)
Dinah: What about Zechi? (through muffled crying)
Iddo: (with back to Dinah, standing in the opposite direction with head down) He will have to
make his own decision whether or not to return. (As taking a few steps without looking
back) I’ll sleep on the roof tonight. (Iddo exits to go up to the roof Lights down)

(Spotlight on Dinah).
Dinah: (alone, slight pacing and looking to the heavens pondering whether to reach out to God)
(shaking her fist to the heavens) I have never needed you before, why should I listen
now?(pause) What am I thinking! (emotionally crumbling, coming to terms with what
she
has done, sobbing) Oh, I did need you! (Sing Oh how I need you) What have I done?
(She
steps forward and begins to talk with God, a light shines directly on her as the stage goes
dark). Almighty One,(Sings, “Almighty one”) I don’t know how to talk with you or
even where to begin. My life was always so happy and easy, surrounded by my family,
friends and my work. Coming to Jerusalem has changed it all, brought such pain but now
I have lost everything, my Iddo - the only man who ever loved me - what was I thinking?
(Sing, “What was I thinking”? How can he forgive me? (pause hearing a voice) Who’s
there? Hello…. (pausing, giving into the fact she is alone, and it must be God talking to
 28

her) Lord?! (sad emotion ) Yes! I’m listening! (pausing and as if she is agreeing with
the
unheard voice by nodding her head) I know, I have filled my day with things of this
world. Yes, I see now that busy-ness hid your voice from me. Making it impossible to
hear your voice…(pausing and nodding confirmation) I understand, (going to walk away
and pausing and turning back around to ask…)Lord, how do I find true joy in this life? I
have worked hard to achieve joy by my works but it never comes. Where is the joy you
have promised your people? (a little passionately but then becoming silent, as if she is
hearing a voice talking, and smiles a content smile, nodding head yes) Joy comes from
you and you will provide! (confused look as she questions)What does that mean?
Wait…are you sure you're really talking to me? Lights down

Scene 15
(Yael comes running through the back of the audience house, out of breath, stopping in front of the
audience to take a breath. Walking out of breath she enters Iddo’s house, Dinah is inside preparing
food.
Yael: (talking out of breath but hurriedly) Dinah! You must come quickly. You must come to
the Samaritan village.
Dinah: Yael Slow down! First, what are you doing in the Samaritan village? You know it is not
Safe!
Yael: My friend Leyla needs you. Her father’s wife, Raisa, is having a baby and the baby
won’t come. They will both die if you don’t help them.
Dinah: You know nothing about birthing babies!(giggling at Yael) Who told you they will die?
Yael: The stars….I have been with them reading the star charts.
Dinah: You are still reading the star charts? Oh Yael!
Yael: Not now Safta Dinah, we need you! The star charts say that the mom and baby will die!
You must save them. Come quickly, please!
Dinah: Yael, the Samaritans are our enemies. They hate us. If I go and something bad happens,
they will blame us.
Yael: Oh please! Leyla and Rafi are not like that. They are my friends!
Dinah: It is not them that I fear, little one. This decision is bigger than me and you and not ours
to make. (Dinah looks up to the ceiling) Almighty One, is this your provision? (tilts head
and smiles as she listens for God’s voice.)Well ok then. (nods head yes and then looks at
Yael with a cheerful smile) Delivering babies is what I do and this mother needs me
now.  I will help her.  Yael, you may come if you like.  You may be useful. Besides, it's
time you learn to birth a baby.  *Dinah and Yael leave the house.  Lights down on
Dinah’s house.  Lights up in the village where Dinah and Yael enter the room with Raisa and
Numari (the grandmother).
Dinah: (whispering) Is Raisa Leyla’s sister?
Yael: No, she’s Leyla’s stepmother.  
Dinah: Her stepmother…?
Yael: Zabad has three wives.  He married Raisa a year ago.
Dinah: (to Numari)  How long has she been in labor?
 29

Numari: Since this time yesterday. (carries a cup of liquid for Raisa to drink)
Dinah: You probably know, but it’s very bad for the baby as well as the mother when a birth
takes this long.  You should have called sooner….I can’t promise a good outcome, but
I’ll do everything I can.
Numari: No one will blame you.  The stars foresee death for both mother and child.
Dinah: The stars!  (looking shocked)  Well the stars certainly aren’t here to help, are they? Let’s
see what the Almighty can do instead!
Raisa: Am I going to die? (moaning, crying)  I don’t want to die…
Numari: Raise your head and drink.(Stern)
Dinah: (as the cup passes in front of Dinah, she smells something awful) What is it?  taking the
drink from Numari’s hand) What are you giving her? (Dinah smells the drink, makes a
bitter face and hands it to Yael, who takes the cup away) She is in no condition to
swallow anything. (making an excuse so not to offend) She could choke!  And what is
that burning smell?  (looks around seeing pagan incense burning)  Yael, get that smoke
out of here! (The other woman dropped two more amulets around Raisa’s neck.  Dinah
examines Raisa.)
Dinah: Raisa, your baby is facing the wrong way.  We are going to try to turn it around.  I am
sorry, but it will hurt.  Are you willing to try?  If it works, your baby will be born soon.  
Raisa: I don’t want to die…
Dinah: And I don’t want you to die.  We’ll take it one step at a time. (dramatic music)
(lights down to a shadow, spotlight on the Narrator.  We can still see movement in the shadowy area of
the bed. (SFX Baby crying)
Dinah: You have a daughter and she has strong lungs!

(lights back up on the bedroom.) 

Numari: ( Numari taking the child from Dinah.)Give her to me; I’ll take care of her now. (she
walks outside and out of sight)
Raisa: (weakly)  Where is my baby?  Can I hold her?
Dinah: You must rest, but I will bring her to you soon.  (she looks around, confused speaking to
Yael)  Where is the baby? (Yael shrugs.)
Dinah: (Spotlight follows Dinah as she goes outside to the courtyard, finding Numari)  There
you are! Where is the baby?  Raisa is asking to see her.
Numari: The child died.
Dinah: What? No, I don’t believe you.  She was breathing fine. She was crying and….  Where is
she?  I demand you let me examine her.
Numari: It’s too late to do anything for her.  Besides, the father has rejected her.
Dinah: What do you mean?
Numari: Zabad, the father, saw his child, saw that she was a girl and that she had a crooked foot,
and he refused her.  But even if he hadn’t, that baby was too weak to survive.
Dinah: (grabbing the old woman’s shoulders)  What did you do with that baby?  Give her to
me!
Numari: It is Better to let the child die now.  She will never walk, never have a dowry, and no life
Because of her crooked foot. Is this what you wish for a child? Beside it will be an
impossible choice for Raisa to make.
Dinah: What do you mean choice?
Numari: She will never be able to walk away from that child, but if she keeps it her husband will
 30

divorce her and if that happens neither of them will survive in our world.
Dinah: You cannot let that child die!  Where is she?
Numari: We are grateful for your attendance and that Raisa will live, but you need to leave now. 
This is our way.  Our village.  You have no right to tell us what to do here.  
Dinah: I won’t leave without that child!  Tell me where you left her!  (she stops as she hears a
whimpering noise.  She looks around in the darkness and finds the baby left alone to
die. 
It is in a basket with a blanket on top.  Dinah takes her from the basket and wraps her in
her own headscarf, warming her against her body and calming her frets)  Don’t cry little
one...don’t cry!
Numari: You will see the stars are never wrong. She will die.  
Dinah: Not if I can help it.  As you said yourself, our ways are not your ways.  Because our
ways say that all life is precious to God and a blessing from Him, and He chooses who
lives or dies! 
Numari: Take “it” if you must and be gone before Raisa hears it! And no one must ever know her
child was alive this night. Remember, this is your secret to keep! For however long the
child lives!

(Dinah walks swiftly away and lights down on Numari)

(lights follow Dinah entering the street where Yael and Mattaniah are.Mattaniah walks a little ahead of
them)

Yael: Were they really going to let the baby die?  

Dinah: Yes. But God has rescued her through us, she will live, and the Almighty says we are to
call her... Hodaya.  It means “God be praised”.
Yael: I just don’t understand it.  According to the stars, Raisa and her baby were both supposed
to die.  I read them myself.
Dinah: Oh Yael! The stars have no power! Do you not know that God himself created them all?
Our God is in control and he is the one who decides how long our lives will be.
These Samaritans and other pagan people do not see the preciousness of life the way we
do, or the way our God does. Be secure in knowing He has a purpose for all His people!

(They arrive back at home.  Iddo is obviously surprised as they bring in the baby.)  

Iddo: (joking to hide his surprise) Well, that’s not your usual payment for midwife services or
have you gone up on your prices dear?
Yael: Her father rejected her because of her crippled foot.
Iddo: Ah I see! (looking at Dinah) She will thrive in your hands, Dinah this is sure.
Yael: Safta, Can I hold her?

(Dinah nods and gives her the baby.  Yael walks to the back of the house.  Iddo and Dinah step into the
courtyard)

Dinah: Can you ever forgive me?

Iddo: I already have.
Dinah: And...can God ever forgive me?
 31

Iddo: That is the desire of his heart. That’s why we have an altar and daily sacrifices, so we will
have a way to come to the Holy One and ask for forgiveness. 
Dinah: I’m so sorry.  I want to make things right.  Will you make the offering for me?
Iddo: Yes.  And we'll both be free to start all over again.  I love you, Dinah.
Dinah: And I love you.  
Iddo: We can take the main road north to join up with the local caravans and be back in
Babylon before winter.
Dinah: Iddo, we’re not going back to Babylon.
Iddo: What?
Dinah: I don’t want to go back.  I want to stay here with you, in Jerusalem. I want to continue
this journey of discovering the Almighty One.

Narrator: So, Dinah has new knowledge and experience with the Almighty One and it is changing
her and making the desires of her heart anew. Yael also has learned about the stars and the culture
around her. And now, let’s see how Yael is handling her new knowledge of her Samaritan friends...

(A few days later.  Zechariah and Yael are in the courtyard and Yael is taking care of Hodaya.)

Yael: There now...go to sleep little one. (patting Hodaya’s back and rocking her)
Zechariah: You’re very good with that baby.  How do you always get her to sleep when nobody else
can? Are you charming her?( Yael doesn’t think he is funny and wants to ignore
Zechariah)  HUM….Safta said that the Samaritans were going to kill her? Because she
was born with a crooked foot? 
Yael: (nodding slowly, then hesitantly responding) It’s true.  I don’t know how anyone could
kill a harmless, beautiful baby. She is such a good baby too! Never cries, except when
she is hungry or wet!
Zechariah: Pagan people do it all the time, Yael.  They sacrifice their children in the fire to appease
the idols.  
Yael: They put her outside in a basket to suffocate. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t been
there.
Zechariah: I never wanted to believe those stories in the Torah either.  How could people do such
terrible things?  Yael. Is that why you haven’t been back to the village?
Yael: I don’t know.  I mean...Leyla’s beliefs are different.  I know that. But in my heart, she is
my best friend. And after this, how can I not see her differently? I just don’t understand
how she could just do nothing and let them kill her baby sister? That is not the Leyla I
thought I knew!
Zechariah: Saba is always saying that we are different. We have the Torah to teach us right from
wrong and what is valuable to God. We know that all life is precious because we are made in God’s
image.
Yael: But what about Baby Hodaya? She was born Samaritan, does that mean God will not
accept her because she came from their village?
Zechariah: The Almighty doesn’t see Jew or Samaritan. The night she was born He used you and
Safta Dinah to rescue her! He loves her and has a purpose for her! Baby Hodaya is no
different than us! We will love her just the same as if she was born a Jew! That will
never change!
 32

(Mattaniah enters the courtyard.)

Mattaniah: Yael, Leyla’s brother just came to see me.  Leyla’s sick and he asked you to come.
Zechariah: Don’t go.

(Yael stands to hand the baby to Zechariah so she can go)

Yael: I have to.  She’s my friend. (Yael goes inside of house where she hears a voice)
Parthia: Bring your star charts. They will help Leyla. (Parthia is spotlighted in red light Up on
the balcony. Yael, shrugs, and turns back to grab her star charts and slip on the
moonstone amulet that she had left lying on the back of a chair, Stage goes dark)

Scene 16-Passover
(Spotlight on Narrator)
Narrator: Our exiles have been home now for nearly a year. The foundation for the temple is finished. A
somewhat new normal for life has been found. But as you can see Yael was taken out of Babylon, but it
is so hard to get the Babylon out of Yael. Now it is time for the first Passover in Jerusalem. The shofar
blows for the first time and the families gather.

(Lights up on temple platform as Zechariah blows the shofar-SMX)

(As the narrator is speaking...Families are seen passing the bread…etc. Much joy. Sharing the cups)
Zechariah and others are watching from the watchtower and see soldiers marching up the road to
Jerusalem.  

Zechariah: (reacts as he sees the soldiers)  Look!  Soldiers!  Marching up to Jerusalem!

Caleb: I see them too! It looks like a dozen or more. I wonder who it is?
Zechariah: (pointing)Look...their banners...it’s the governor of Trans-Euphrates Province. 
Caleb: I wonder... what they want?  They know it is Passover. It has to be important or they would not
have come on Passover. There are people coming from all directions. They must have sent messengers
to all the surrounding villages! I do Not feel good about this. (Zechariah and Caleb head down to join
the others)

(Drums sounding as visitors make their way up the center Aisle towards the Temple. It is the delegates
of the capital: everyone begins to gather at the Temple Mount to hear the news -the Samaritan
delegation and governor make their way to this area too. They are seen talking with the two princes.
Sheshbazaar is very old and tired, obviously discouraged.)

Zechariah: (to Iddo) What do you suppose it’s about?

Iddo: I imagine they have their answer from King Cyrus about us building the temple. It must
be serious if they’re asking men to leave their land and crops and come to Jerusalem at
this time of year.
 33

(Judah’s two princes climb onto the platform at the Temple Mount (Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel)  They
both look weary and sad.)

Sheshbazaar: Thank you for coming.  Governor Rehum of Samaria has sent a letter to King Artaxerxes
in Persia, the son of King Cyrus who now reigns as a co-regent with his father.  Let us
listen to what it says:

*lights dim here and spotlight on Governor Rehum who is SR reading/singing from a scroll.
(Country-Western Song) 
(during this song, Iddo and Zechariah should exit and be ready for their next scene in the courtyard)
Governor Rehum: Artaxerxes noble king
We think there’s something you should know
These Jews they’ve been busy
Jerusalem has really grown

We think you’ve got a little problem

These Jews they have a history
They’re just a bunch of crafty rebels
Trouble with a capital T.

(chorus)
You won’t get no more taxes
Your treasury is dwindling
We just think that you should know this
And put a stop to their building.

Zerubbabel: You see that Rehum said nothing in his letter about the Holy Temple, the true
reason King Cyrus commissioned us to return.  This will make it very difficult for
them to find the original proclamation in the archives.  Governor Rehum
deliberately misled the king.  Now here is King Artaxerxes’ reply.

Artaxerxes: Greetings to all my loyal subjects

I did some searching and must say
I think you’re right about these people
Revolt has always been their way

(chorus)
We need to collect those taxes
Persia needs the money don’t you see
See that you enforce this decree
And bring their construction to its knees.

(There is an immediate reaction as the song ends - the people all cry “NO!”) 
Ad Libs:  “We’ve just begun” etc.

Zerubbabel: (waving his hands to hush the crowds) We have been ordered to stop working by 
Governor Rehum, under threat of force...unfortunately, that includes work on the temple.
Crowd: “No”  “that can’t be!”  “What does this mean?”  “I can’t believe it!” etc. ad libs.
 34

Zerubbabel: (waving his hands to hush the crowds) And since we can no longer build our city...it also
means that new immigrants, our people from Babylon who planned to come in the next
caravan will not be allowed to come.
Crowd: a loud wailing here of sorrow, crying, ad libs.
Zerubbabel: Rehum has assured us that once we stop building, our neighbors will make peace with us
and the violence will end.  (waves his hands to quiet the crowd as everyone starts
bickering at this news). Now we all know that King Cyrus commissioned us to build the
temple.  Once the king’s original proclamation is found, it will confirm our right to be
here and build here.  I’m sending my own emissaries to Persia immediately.  But be
forewarned, it will take time.  
Crowd: No!  We can’t stop building. No No No! “What about the feast!” “And our Sacrifices?”
Zerubbabel: The daily sacrifices and annual feasts will continue.  No one can prevent us from
worshiping God as we wait.  
(Everyone looks shocked and hopeless - lights fade on this scene and up on the courtyard/home of Iddo)

Zechariah: Why won’t the Holy One help us?  He can do miracles!  (Dinah shakes her head)
Iddo: We don’t question The Almighty's ways! He does have a purpose for this.  Be patient,
maybe waiting is good for us.
Zechariah: How can it be good for us?  We should fight back instead of giving in to our fears.
Iddo: I have argued this, Zechi.  I told them we should obey God.  God is the one who
commanded us to rebuild the temple, not the men who told us to stop.  But the Prince
fears that with Jerusalem labeled as a rebellious city, they will retaliate with force if we
disobey.  And that means bloodshed for all of us.
Zechariah: But the Almighty One could protect us!
Iddo: (laying a hand on his shoulder)  You and I are among the few who believe that.  
Zechariah: And now Abba and Mama won’t be able to come.
Iddo: (very sadly says) Your abba had a choice ...just like us... and he made the choice of
waiting.  When we hear God’s call, we need to respond to it immediately. There is nothing we can do
about that now.
Zechariah: How long will we have to wait?
Iddo: I suppose it depends on how long it takes our people to learn the lessons of faith and
obedience.  One good thing...we’re reopening the yeshiva tomorrow.  If you really want
to fight for God, then find out what is in His word and speak His truth.  Will you help me
convince them that the temple must be rebuilt no matter who tries to stop us.
(Zechariah nods excitingly)
Minor Key - Return to Me
Return to us, dear Lord
Guide us along your path
We need to know your ways.
 35

ACT 2

Return to Me - Act 2

Scene 1:  spotlight the narrator, dimmer light on the temple mount where Zechariah is with the other young men
learning from Jakin, their instructor.  

Narrator: Ten long years have passed since the Jewish people were forced to stop building the
temple. Everything remains how it was left that day so long ago. The ropes on the crane have begun to
rot along with piles of timber. And the building site is overgrown with weeds and brush. All a sign of
lost time. Zechariah has grown into a tall young man and is well on his way to becoming a priest for the
Almighty One.  Zechariah usually finds contentment in following God’s call.

Oh, Yael! You haven’t seen Yael in ten years! Well, she has become a beautiful young woman who
combs her hair now! Still very much full of spirit, independent and definitely a mind of her own! And,
yes... still pursuing something...something not inspired by God. Instead she is walking deeper into the
darkness of pagan religions and sorcery.  Pondering how Yael will ever find her way back to God,
Zechariah becomes discouraged and grows angry. Eventually directing that anger towards others for the
lack of progress on the temple.

Jakin: And that’s how you skin the ram.  Zechariah…Zechariah? (all staring at Zechariah)
Zechariah: Yes, Rabbi...I’m sorry. 
Jakin: Would you stay behind for a moment, please?  The rest of you are dismissed (other
students leave) What’s wrong with you today?  You were a long way from here, and not
even pretending to listen to our lesson. You’re one of our best students. Please, tell me
you are not reconsidering your commitment to the priesthood.
Zechariah: No, Rabbi.
Jakin: Then what’s wrong?
“Fed Up” -
Zechariah: (hesitates, then strongly)
I’m fed up!  (sweeping his arm in a wide circle to take in the entire temple mount)  
I’m frustrated!
If we believe the Torah’s words then we should show it.
It’s been ten years
We’ve lost our way
A temple should be standing but we blew it.
Jakin:
We do believe.
It’s not our fault
 36

Our leaders tried their best but there have been setbacks
Zechariah:
My God is greater
Than politics
Step out in faith and build the temple back! (oh yeah)
Step out in faith and build the temple back!
(end tune)
Jakin: Stop shouting, Zechariah.  This is a sacred place.
Zechariah: We’ve waited long enough. Do you believe that He sent ten plagues upon the Egyptians?
Jakin: Well, that was a special time in history.
Zechariah: Do you believe He parted the Red Sea?
Jakin: He doesn’t always work miracles when we want him to.
Zechariah: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our
God.”  Do you believe it?
Jakin: This is so unlike you, Zechariah.  Why don’t you go talk with Iddo or even the High
Priest.
(Zechariah walks away)

Jakin: (Making fun of Zechariah he repeats in a kiddish mimicking voice) ”Do you believe he parted the
red sea????”
Zechariah : (turns around) Did you say something Rabbi?
Jakin: (embarrassed to be caught...points for Zechariah to go!)

(Lights down, Exits SR)

Scene 2 -   Lights up on the home of Iddo and Dinah.   The home is more complete now with plaster, a sturdy roof
and steps to the top.  Iddo is on the roof.  Dinah and Hodaya are in the common area, and Yael is finishing up her chores.. 
Hodaya walks with a limp and has a crutch.  She is ten years old now.(somehow introduce Hodaya)
Hodaya: Yael? Are you going to see your friend Leyla today?
Yael: Yes, Hodaya, and there is also a festival tonight.
Hodaya: (holding herself up partially with her crutch) May I go with you?
Yael: I wish... but it’s too far to walk, little one. You would be exhausted before we were
halfway there.
Hodaya: What about Zechariah? He doesn’t like you going off to the Samaritan village alone.
Yael: Well, what Zechi doesn't know, won't hurt him!(Yael is putting on her cloak and head scarf.)
Besides sometimes he acts like he’s my boss, always butting in on things that are not
his business. Telling me what to do or where I can go! I am my own woman Hodaya, I
can take care of myself! Besides us girls have to share some secrets of our own... right?
(Hodaya Smiles and nods yes)
Dinah: Hodaya, come help me please.
Hodaya: Coming Momma. (whispering to Yael)You better hurry out or she will catch you too. Us
girls have to stick together.
Yael:  See you later, little one!  (she pats Hodaya on the head and exits through front of house-
she leaves behind her signature scarf on the table)
Scene 3
(Lights down on Iddo’s house. Spotlight follows Yael to Leyla’s house in Samaritan village.  Leyla is propped up in bed;
her grandmother, Numari, is preparing a drink for her.  She beams when she sees Yael.)
 37

Leyla: Yael!  I have wonderful news!  Come and have a seat!  

Yael: (walking to her bedside with an exciting smile) Oh Leyla! I’m ready! What is it?
Leyla: I’m betrothed!  Can you believe it! I’m going to be married! Eeek!   (Leyla shrieks in
excitement and Yael’s smile fades as she is shocked)  Abba made all the arrangements this very
morning and settled on my dowry, so it’s official!
Yael: Who is he? (Yael asks each question on the heel of the next, while Leyla pretends to start to answer but
can’t) Have I ever met him?  (Leyla shakes head no) Is he young and handsome? (saying
hopefully)
Leyla: Wait!(ticking off on fingers answering Yael’s 3 Questions) His name is Basam! No, I don’t think
you have ever met him, and it doesn’t matter if he is young and handsome!
What I can tell you is My husband is nearly as rich as Abba
and nearly as old (laughs). A strong, stable match, and our marriage will seal their
business partnership.  I was so lucky that Basam accepted me since I’m very much past
the age for marriage. And, He will pay a big bride price for me.
Yael: (trying to smile)  Wo... that is some news.
Leyla: He already has one wife, but she has only given him daughters.  But…..I’ll become the
primary wife when I give him a son! Who of course, will become the next heir! Isn’t it
exciting!!! Eeek! (during Leyla’s talk Yael gets up and walks around the room, Pondering the things
Leyla is saying.) Yael...you ok?
Yael: So, you don’t mind that your father chose him for you?
Leyla: NO! Silly Yael , women should never choose for themselves. (laughing) Our fathers and
husbands know what is best for us.  (matter of factly) Besides, the Torah says that the
husband shall rule over his wife. (Rafi enters the room).
Rafi: Leyla, I…(stopping short in surprise)  Yael, hello.  I didn’t realize you were here.  Did my
sister tell you her good news? (there is obviously a connection between Yael and Rafi)
Yael: Why...Yes. I...I’m so happy for her.
Rafi: I don’t understand why a beautiful young woman like you is not betrothed yet.(leans up
against wall)
Yael: OH! My Safta Dinah has tried to marry me off several times, (laughing and serious for next
line) but I told Abba I preferred to not get married yet.
Rafi: (Takes an apple off the table and tosses in air)Really? The fathers in our village would
never allow our daughters to have that control, let alone speak what is best for them.
Yael: Well, ... I’m much too busy to even think about a husband.
Rafi: And that is exactly why it is a man's responsibility! Proof of the preposterous thinking
that a woman can make that big of a decision on her own without a man’s guidance.
Besides, lots of intelligent thought has to go into such an important decision!
Yael: (hands on hips, getting riled up) I seek the stars for my guidance! And I am very
intelligent on my own, thank you!
Rafi: (stays calm and cool)Ah, yes. That's right! Your work as a seer.  A reader of the stars. (he
gestures at the sky with his hand)
Yael: (annoyed at Rafi mocking)  I’m also
learning to be a midwife. Which keeps me too busy for a
husband at this time. What is your excuse? Why haven’t you married yet? Or, have you
not been able to find a woman with less intelligence than you? (smiling as his mocking
has backfired)
Rafi: (smiling at her statement, responds matter of factly) No, I have found her! It is just that
 38

the one I will marry, thinks she is too busy for a husband ...  (he winks and leaves the room,
Yael is flustered)
Leyla: Yael, come read my stars.  I have to find the best date for my wedding.
Yael: (still distracted by Rafi’s last comment, was he referring to her? She retrieves the charts that are kept in
the trunk at the foot of Leyla’s bed. Then spread the charts out flat on the bed)  I see so much
happiness!   You will have a prosperous new life, Leyla, and many, many sons.(a horn
sounds) Oh! I am late. (Yael rises and heads to the door).I have to head home now.
(turning around and looking at Leyla) Congratulations my dear friend. You will invite
me to the wedding? Won’t you!
Leyla: What a thing to ask! You are my best friend. I could not do this without you there!

Scene 4 - At the Samaritan village – Audience can see Leyla being married in background as narrator
speaks. Wedding song is playing. As wedding song draws to a close, Leyla leaves and lights down on
wedding scene. Spotlight up on narrator only as she speaks next part of narration.

Narrator: On the day of the wedding, like so many other days, Leyla has a fever and is too weak to even
stand. (Leyla is walking in with Yael and Rafi on each side of her as she is too weak to walk alone. They
help her to sit on a throne type chair adorned with wedding decor. Her much older husband comes to
stand next to her.) Knowing that postponing the wedding would bring shame to her father, Leyla has
Yael fix a potion for strength. That very night Leyla is married to Basam. Leyla is so happy and
thankful for Yael’s magical healing potion that she promises to send for Yael as soon as the wedding
week is over. (The wedding party will freeze and smile as the wedding song is the actual ceremony.)

The Wedding Song - this song is sung by a chorus of females who will float in with flower crowns and
flowing robes all holding ribbons. 
(chorus)
It’s wedding time, it’s wedding time
It’s why we’ve gathered here.
Be fruitful and multiply
The highlight of the year.

A man is now a husband

A woman now a wife
The two become much stronger
Traveling through life

Together they will be one

As happy as can be,
And soon you’ll be a family
As one and one make three.

Chorus
Narrator: (lights up on narrator) 4 months have passed since the wedding and neither Leyla’s family
nor Yael have heard from the new bride. Rafi and Yael become overwhelmingly worried about Leyla.
They can be seen meeting at the village marketplace. Spending countless days discussing their growing
 39

concern for Leyla. What could possibly keep Leyla from contacting them? Is she so happy that she has
forgotten them? Yael becomes desperate and sends another message to Leyla, pleading for a response.
Then one afternoon Yael finally gets some news !.

(Spotlight down on the Narrator and up on Iddo’s home. Rafi arrives at Iddo’s house looking for
Mattaniah.)

Rafi: Mattaniah!  I need your help, my lord.  I have just received word that my sister Leyla is
not well.  She’s asking to see your daughter, Yael.  May she please come?  
Yael: (appears at her father’s side, having heard everything)  Please let me go with him,
Abba. 
You know how I’ve been worried about Leyla.
Mattaniah: We will go together. (they quickly gather their things and follow Rafi - the spotlight
follows them)
Yael: What’s wrong with her, Rafi?  Is she sick?
Rafi: Not sickness! But no one will tell me what is wrong. The only thing they would tell me
was... she needs her healer and she is asking for you. 
Yael: Why me? Why not you?
Rafi: She wants you to read her stars and tell her which god to petition.
Mattaniah: (turning back, confused)  Read the stars! What are you talking about?
Yael: It’s nothing, Abba.  You know Leyla has always been a little superstitious. (Speaking in
hushed tones directly to Rafi) Rafi, this doesn’t make sense if she is not sick then what is
wrong with her.
Rafi: I pray for him if he has done anything to have caused this! I will kill him if he has!
Yael: Who Rafi! What are you talking about?
Rafi: Leyla’s husband, Basam. Villagers gossip that he has been known to train his new
wives with a heavy hand. Even rumors that his last two wives succumbed to his training.
Yael: Oh Rafi, surely not! Leyla is much too frail to survive something like that. We must
hurry!
(Yael and Rafi rush into the house but find that Leyla has already passed. Numari is mumbling
incantations)
Yael: No!!!! (screams) The stars told me she would have a long life. No this can’t be!
Rafi: look at the bruises...it is as I feared.
Yael: No, no, no!!!! This is my fault because I told her the stars were aligned for her to marry. This life
has nothing but pain! (holding herself and crying) My heart is breaking again just like in Babylon when
my mom passed. I am all alone again. Who will help me this time, like Parthia did last time?
Rafi: I will be with you. We will go through this together. You are not alone!

Yael and Rafi Song

Yael: You were my best friend.

Now you are gone.
You never had strength
The stars were so wrong
 40

The moon goddess told me

That you would live long.
That you would be happy
The stars were so wrong

I spent my whole life

Watching the sky
I’m all alone here
Wondering why.
(bridge)
Rafi: Is anyone home?  
I thought you’d be here (Yael, runs into his arms)
I must talk to someone.
Yael: I’m so glad you’re here.
(verse)
Yael: I have no more faith
Rafi: My sister is gone
We’ll miss her together
Yael: The stars were so wrong.

Together: The moon goddess told us

That she would live long
That she would be happy
The stars were so wrong
(bridge)
Rafi: But someone will pay
I don’t need a sign
A life for a life
Vengeance is mine! (outro)
Yael: Rafi! 
 
Rafi: Let me walk you home, and we will plan how to be together tomorrow.
(lights down.  Spotlight on narrator.)

Narrator: Over the next several weeks, Rafi made an extra trek to Mattaniah’s farm each day to see
Yael while her father was away working at the temple.  Then slowly, their shared time turns into
something else...Yael believed she was in love. For me, this is the saddest part of our story...I was so
young at the time, and I don’t remember everything, but I do remember the fear, the tears and the
heartbreak of many, and how it all ended.
(lights up on Yael and Rafi walking hand in hand)

Rafi: So, have you given any more thought to this whole marriage thing?
Yael: (Laughing) I have been thinking a little about it lately!
Rafi: You still too busy for a husband these days?
Yael: No, it’s not that! (joking and flirting) I mean I have this responsibility now! I can’t just
abandon you? Who would help you fill all your afternoons?
Rafi: Yael, I want you for my wife. Will you marry me?
 41

Yael: Oh, Rafi. Yes! I love you too! Let’s tell my father together. He will be so happy for us.
Rafi: That’s not the way it’s done among my people.  I will tell my father that I’ve found a
wife, and if he agrees, he’ll go to your father and ask for a marriage contract. Of course,
your father will accept.

(They embrace and Rafi exits; Yael continues dreamily and happily into her courtyard and into the
home.  She helps Dinah set out baskets of bread as her father arrives and everyone sits to eat - Iddo,
Dinah, Mattaniah, Yael, Hodaya, Zechariah) 
Dinah: Yael you seem awfully happy today!
Yael: I have wonderful news...I’m in love.  Now, Abba, when Rafi’s father asks you for my
hand, you will say yes and (everyone stops eating, then they all speak at once, Zechariah
is quiet through it all)
Mattaniah: Wait - you’re in love?....with Rafi?(as if she is joking and laughs)
Iddo: The Samaritan?
Dinah: What?!  No, no, no,no!
Hodaya: Boys are icky!
Dinah: Hodaya -it’s time for you to go to bed. (ushers her away from the room - Hodaya exits)
Yael: Yes, he wants to marry me.  You know his father, Zabad.
Mattaniah: (stops eating, shocked and worried looking)  Yes, I know him all too well.  I don’t think
it’s a very good idea for you to marry Rafi or any Samaritan .
Yael: Abba! Safta Dinah please! I love him!
(Hodaya is seen peeking out and listening to this conversation)
Dinah: No, no, no!  I promised your mother that I would find a suitable husband for you.
Yael: He is suitable.  He’s part-Jewish.  And he loves me… He is very rich, and I will want for
nothing! That is a suitable Husband.
Dinah: How could you possibly live with people who kill their own children?
Yael: (shaking her head) How many times do I have to tell you, Rafi- is- not- like- that!.
Dinah: So naive! Once you’re married to him, he might turn out to be just like his father or
worse.  Remember your friend Leyla? That life is all he knows, Yael.
Iddo: Rafi is the eldest son, right?  The heir?  Someday, as village elder, he must marry other
wives for political alliances and prestige.  Why would you endure such humiliation?
Yael: He wouldn’t do that!  He loves me, only me.
Dinah: What if he forbids you to see your family.  Think of Hodaya, she would be heartbroken. 
And because of who she is, she would never be able to visit you.  Think Yael, She’s
Rafi’s half-sister!.
Yael: I know Rafi!! He would let me come home and as far as Hodya is concerned... he never
needs to know, remember what the old woman said, “it is our secret!”
Dinah: What about your work as a midwife?.  You would need his permission to continue.
Yael: (uncertainly) I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.  Their women need midwives too.
Dinah: But they don’t share our values, Yael.  You know that.  You only have to look at Hodaya
to remember what they’re like.  Can you leave a baby to die?
Yael: I’ll figure it out. (uncertainly)
Dinah: Yael, I’m saying this because I love you.  You’ve always been stubborn and independent,
but for once in your life, please listen to our wisdom.  Once the rush of love fades, you
will be trapped in a place where the people think and believe differently than we do, and
you’ll have to obey your husband for the rest of your life.
 42

Yael: But…
Mattaniah: Dinah is right!  Yael, I have always been lenient with you, and in doing so you’ve always
had the privilege of going your own way, but not this time.  I will not allow you to marry
Rafi. 
Yael:   Abba, no!  (outraged) I will marry him anyway! 
Mattaniah: My mind is made up! We will discuss this no more! (lights down on the house.) 
(Lights down and then rooster crows showing next morning)

Scene 5 -
(Lights up on Iddo’s home)Dinah and Iddo’s are talking at breakfast and Zechariah walks in to join
them.
Iddo: Don’t worry, Dinah.  Mattaniah assured me that he will refuse Zabad’s offer.
Dinah: If Yael doesn’t get what she wants she will run away with him. Mark my words I know
her Iddo!    She’s always had too much freedom to do whatever she wants.  She’s fearless
and high spirited that one!
Iddo: High spirited or not! Until Mattaniah can find an honorable way to decline Zabad’s
proposal, it falls to us to watch her and make sure she stays here. He fears a flat refusal
will start another war, and I agree. We cannot risk insulting him.
Zechariah: Saba, I know an honorable way for Mattaniah to decline Zabad’s proposal.  He can say it
came too late, that he has already chosen a husband for Yael and has a signed marriage
contract.
Iddo: Ah, yes, I thought of that too...but finding a willing man that quickly…and it is Yael we
are talking about...(shaking head no)
Zechariah: I’ll marry Yael.
Iddo: No, Zechi!  You deserve a wife who loves you and is devoted to the Almighty as much
you are!
Zechariah: She’s the daughter of a Levite. And she does love God.(speaking to self) she just doesn’t
know it yet!
Iddo: But mingling with the Samaritans all these years has given her a taste for this whole
sorcery nonsense!
Dinah: She confesses her love for Rafi! What kind of a marriage do you think you will have if
she loves someone else and is forced to marry you?
Zechariah: I don’t know! All I do know is this is the best solution.  Yael and I have been friends
since childhood. I have a love for her, and I believe she does for me too, in some way.
We can start thebre!
Iddo: Slow down! Let’s not rush into this!
Zechariah: You have taught me to be my own man, Saba.  This decision, as a man before God, is
mine to make. If Yael and Rafi run off together, there’s nothing we can do about it, but
this way at least we tried. When we were very young, I promised her I would always
protect her. THAT is what I plan to do! (turns to exit house)
Iddo: Zechi where are you going?
Zechariah: To talk to Mattaniah. (lights down).

(lights up on Narrator, in Mattaniah’s home)

 43

Narrator: So how do you think this will go over with Yael? She is not one to take “No” without a lot of
drama! But this time…terrible.

Yael: Abba, no!  Please don’t make me marry Zechi!  I don’t love him!  I love Rafi!
Mattaniah: It’s done, Yael.  I have already explained to Zabad and he understands that it is a father’s
right to decide for his daughter.
Yael: (distraught) How could you do this?  You totally do not understand me!
Mattaniah: Zechariah is a good man, and he’ll treat you well. The Samaritans aren’t like us,
especially in the way they treat women. How can I allow my daughter to marry into a
family that sees nothing wrong with having multiple wives or that grown man can marry
a child?
Yael: But Rafi wouldn’t do that!
Mattaniah: Yes, he would eventually.  It’s a sign of prestige in their culture to have multiple wives.
My decision is final. (Yael cries out and runs out of the room.  (Lights down.)

Scene 6 - Defiantly, Yael runs up to Rafi’s village out through the audience and then back as the
scene has changed. The elders of the city are present as are the women who know Yael for her sorcery. 
She strides past the elders as they look back at her in astonishment, shaking their heads at her
impertinence.  Women from the village begin surrounding her, asking her for help with their fortunes,
making it hard for her to move - they all have little gifts in their hands offering them to her - a bag of
grain, a bouquet of lavender, a pomegranate, etc.

Ad-libs Women:  When should I marry?  Please read my stars, I’m begging you.  We need your
guidance.  Why won’t my goat give milk?  Will we have a son?
Yael: I-I’m sorry but I didn’t bring my charts with me...maybe another time.  (they follow her
all the way to Rafi’s house as if worshiping her.  Rafi sees her coming and strides over to
her angrily and grabs her arm, hurting Yael)
Rafi: Leave us (to the women in the courtyard - they scurry away)  
What are you doing here, Yael?  You shouldn’t have come! 
Yael: Rafi, I love you.  I came so we could run away together.
Rafi: (condescending tone) You know nothing of my ways! (laughs like she is stupid) Asking
me to bring shame on my family?  My father is a village leader!  Men of our standing
don’t run off to be married. No, we pay a dowry for a suitable bride. One who is not
already betrothed, and certainly not one who is unworthy to give us an heir!
Yael: My betrothal is a sham. Only to keep us apart.
Rafi: It doesn’t matter the reason!  Yael, you are a soiled woman (spits on the ground).
unworthy of becoming my wife.
Yael: But you love me! Look at me. LOOK At (Crying, raising her voice that is demanding
and then back to normal at “me” crying) me and tell me you love me, Rafi?
Rafi: With all that I am. But family duty is always first. (his face turns hard he turns his back
to her) Go home, Yael.  Marry your Jewish friend.
Yael: We can defy our fathers and-
Rafi: I would never defy my father! It would cost me my inheritance.
Yael: Not even for me?
Rafi: (hesitates for a moment) No, not even for you.  (Yael turns and runs away
 44

(Lights up on the narrator. Light music in background)

Narrator: And so, a wedding is planned. A heartbroken bride. A sacrificing groom. A situation of
convenience. This night could be a turning point for Yael, but will she take this second chance, this new
path that is being offered?
Scene 7 - Lively music is playing as people gather for Yael’s wedding to Zechariah, in Iddo’s
courtyard, the mood is festive and happy for everyone, but Yael is merely going through the motions. 
Once everyone is present and in position, the Wedding Song is sung by the chorus girls - have flower
crowns and ribbons as they sing and circle around the couple.  Others will be bringing a new robe for
Zechariah and a veil for Yael as we transition immediately into the next scene.   Women all do
choreography for The Wedding Song this time.
(Verse 1) It’s wedding time, it’s wedding time
It’s why we’ve gathered here.
Be fruitful and multiply
The highlight of the year.

(Bridge) A man is now a husband

A woman now a wife
The two become much stronger
Traveling through life

(Verse 2) Together they will be one

As happy as can be
And soon you’ll be a family
As one and one make three
(As soon as the song has ended, there is a joyous sound of everyone celebrating, congratulating the
couple, as they exit stage. Dinah hugs Yael, Iddo kisses her on each cheek, Mattaniah hugs Zechariah
and gradually everyone disappears from the scene, Zechariah and Yael are alone in the courtyard )

Zechariah: (Standing next to her) I know you don’t love me, Yael, but we have been friends for a
long time. I did what I did because I love your spirit, your sense of adventure, your zeal
for life and I didn’t want the Samaritans to destroy those things. (she shakes her head)
And they would have, you know.

Yael: (looking defiant but sad at the same time)I just can’t help it but I love Rafi so much! (she
starts to cry)
Zechariah: I know you do, but I’m afraid your life with the Samaritans would have become a
miserable prison. You can hate me if you want, but I would do it all again if it meant
rescuing you from a terrible, undeserving life. (she doesn’t reply) But...I also love you
too
much to make you stay in a marriage you don’t want. If you want to leave I won’t
stop you.
Yael: (still crying, angrily shouts) I just need time to think!
Zechariah: Take all the time you need. We’re not married until you decide that we are. (Yael Goes to
walk further from Zechariah ) Do you want me to go with you?
Yael: No, I am going to read the stars, they will help me decide ! . (she looks up at the stars,
 45

and begins to hum Zechariah shaking his head disturbed goes to lie down in the
courtyard hammock, pretends to be sleeping.)

(Yael hears a rustling at the gate in the darkness and looks to see Rafi entering the courtyard, she is
overwhelmed with joy).

Yael: Rafi!  (she runs to him and throws her arms around him - he doesn’t return her
embrace)
Rafi: Where is your new husband?
Yael: (crying but laughing with joy) Rafi, I was looking for a sign about what to do, and then
here you are! Oh Rafi I knew you would come back for me! Let me get a few belongings
together and we can leave and never….
Rafi: I didn’t come here for you, Yael.  
Yael: What do you mean? ( laughing as if he is telling a joke….she finally notices that he
seems
like a stranger, angry and cold.  she steps away from him and he grabs her arm tightly
and drags her to the courtyard where Zechariah is sleeping)  Rafi, you’re hurting me. 
Let go!
Rafi: You belonged to me, Yael.  You were mine!  I don’t like losing someone I love.  Basam
had to pay for Leyla. (Zechariah awakens during this exchange and gets up)  Now it’s
your husband’s turn to pay. (Zechariah walks closer, startled)  Neither of you make a
sound, or I’ll kill her right now.
Zechariah: Rafi, put the knife down! You Don’t want to hurt her. (Talking slowly and calmly as he
raises his arms in a surrender gesture)
Rafi: (crying with rage) You've made me suffer, taking Yael away from me.  I was so
humiliated in front of my family, I just wanted to die.  Now you will know true pain as
you watch your love die in front of you.
Zechariah: Rafi, wait! Let Yael go, it’s me who you want to hurt. Yael loves you. You don’t kill
someone who loves you! Take me…. kill me instead. Rafi let's work something out.

Rafi: You already made my choice for me, Now, you will watch her die!
(Suddenly, Iddo bursts into the courtyard and breaks a heavy water jar over Rafi’s head.  He staggers. 
Zechariah grabs Yael away, as Rafi turns towards Iddo, attacking him.  Zechariah pushes Yael out of
the way and attacks Rafi from behind. The three men struggle with the knife.  The lights go down and
we hear shouts and a long curling scream. )
Yael: No!”

(Yael goes CS, spotlight on Yael.)

(lights up on Iddo’s home)

Scene 8 -  (We see Dinah fussing around Iddo’s bed; he is slightly sitting up but asleep).
(lights up on narrator)
Narrator: Three long days passed, three days before Iddo was well enough to sit up a little in
bed. Rafi had stabbed him in the stomach before Iddo was able to kill him.  The Samaritans came and
took Rafi’s body back to the village and every member of the Jewish village worried that there might be
 46

vengeance, but none ever came.  Even Rafi’s own people could see how insane it was for Rafi to attempt
to murder three innocent people.
(lights up on Iddo’s courtyard-*Zechariah enters)
Zechariah:  I’ll stay with him for a while. You go do what you need to Safta. (Dinah kisses
Zechariah’s head and exits).  
Iddo: (opening his eyes)  Is the sacrifice finished?
Zechariah: Yes.  And everyone prayed for you. All the priests and the people...Saba, how are you
feeling?
Iddo: Like I’m still dreaming.  (he winces in pain) tell me about today’s Torah portion.
Zechariah: It’s one of your favorites.  The passage where the Holy One says to Abraham, “Look up
at the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them.  So shall your offspring
be.”
Iddo: Zechi - (begins to cough)
Zechariah: Just rest, Saba.  Don’t try to talk until you’re stronger.
Iddo: From the very first moment you were placed in my hands, God spoke of your greatness in
His kingdom to me!
Zechariah: Saba, how do I find Him again?  Where do I find Him?
Iddo: Pay attention to his voice in the scriptures. And then, when he knows you are listening,
He will cause a stirring inside of you. He will tell you to do the impossible! And when it
happens Zechariah, run! Run and do it straight away.

(Lights down.  Lights up on the courtyard - Zechariah enters the courtyard while Yael is banking the
fire.)

Yael: Zechariah. Can we talk? I’ve been wanting to tell you, I’m sorry for everything.
Zechariah: For what?  Loving the wrong person?  (he shrugs) You couldn’t have known what Rafi
would do.
Yael: I should have seen it.  This is all my fault, what happened to your grandfather.  
Zechariah: It wasn’t just you. I mean,  I don’t blame you.  I shouldn’t have interfered with your life
by offering to marry you. I thought I was helping, saving you from a horrible mistake!
Yael: (crying)  You did save me! Everyone was right about him and I should have listened to
you.  Please, please forgive me.
Zechariah: Of course, I forgive you.  (she is weeping, so he pulls her into his arms)
Yael: I destroyed all the star charts...I threw them all into the fire and watched them burn.  I
will never, ever look at the stars for guidance again.  I will only worship the God you
serve. (releases him and takes his hands)  Will you give me a second chance at this wife
thing, Zechi?
Zechariah: You don’t have to do this Yael.
Yael: Please listen..How could I have been so blind to the truth.  to love a man capable of
murder. When I thought I had lost you that night my eyes were opened and I saw you for
the first time in a long time, and that is when I knew...all I had ever wanted was right in
front of me the whole time. Like the Almighty One says, Unconditional Love...the way
you have always loved me Zechi. I’ve always loved you, and to imagine a life without you.
Without us! (holding back tears until the end)
Zechariah: (holding and comforting her) Everything will be all right, Yael.
Yael: I want to be your wife...a real wife.
 47

Zechariah: You are my wife, Yael.  You have no idea how happy I am. I have prayed about this for
a long time. I love you Yael and I always will. Now it is time for me to pray, but I will be back soon.
(They embrace and Zechariah gives Yael a tender kiss on her forehead before letting her go. Zechariah
walks into the night as Yael goes into the house and exits.  He kneels, spotlights, and prays.)
Return to Us - Minor chord
Return to Us dear Lord
Guide us along your path
We need to know your ways.

(Zechariah goes to say good night to Iddo on his bed)

Zechariah: We need to rebuild the temple.  We need to trust the God of the impossible.  (Standing
pacing and talking more to himself. So...how do I get the others to believe it?
Iddo: You’ll have to convince them.  
Zechariah: Then you, my old Saba will have to help me.  You must fight to get well so we can do
this together.  Your dream is now mine.
Iddo: (Nods and smiles) I’ll do my best and I believe you heard the voice of God again?
Zechariah: (Smiles and nods) Yes regularly now.

6 Years Later
Scene 9 – Narrator- Fast forward, 6 years. Zechariah has become a priest! He works alongside Iddo
preparing sacrifices and being a peacemaker for the People of Jerusalem. Yael has turned all her feisty
energy into knowing the God of her fathers for the first time. She and Zechariah have experienced much
joy in their marriage, including two beautiful daughters. Oh, and remember Prince Sheshbazzar? Well
he died...and yep, you guessed... still no temple! Because of the long, ongoing disobedience, God
allows a drought to plague the land. There are hot, sandy, gritty desert winds that blow day and night.
The livestock and crops begin to die. It was just awful! So, Prince Zerubbabel and High Priest Jeshua
asked the Israelite nation to pray for God’s mercy.

(The Temple: Zechariah and Iddo are preparing their clothing for working in the temple area.  They are
constantly wiping sweat from their faces, etc. -very hot. People fill the temple preparing for worship
service, the congregation performs prayers and such in complete silence.  We see Zechariah praying. 
We can see how hot and dry it is - everyone is uncomfortable, etc.)

Zechariah: Why can’t our leaders see that we’re disobeying by not completing this temple. And until
we obey the Almighty One’s command this famine will continue!  (Zechariah helps Iddo
tie on his red sash) I wish we could do something to wake everyone up, but I don’t know
what to do.  
Iddo: You need to pray the way you did as a boy and ask God to give you the answer.

(lights down and a light blue spotlight, is on Zechariah. We see Zechariah praying. He is alone in a
separate place from the congregation for prayers.)

Song Confidence
 48

(only he hears these words in his head, the congregation performs prayers and such in complete
silence. )

Voice of God: The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops,
and the heavens will drop their dew.  I will give all these things as an inheritance to the
remnant of this people.  As you have been an object of cursing among the nations, O
Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing.  Do not be afraid but let
your hands be strong. (Zechariah 8:12-13)
Zechariah: (talking to himself)  Where have I heard that before?  I just can’t think of which prophet
spoke that?  (shaking his head, lights back to normal! We see Zechariah enter the
congregational setting)
Zechariah: Zechariah: God, hear our cries today deliver us from this famine and guide our footsteps
along the path you have for us! (Zechariah dismisses the service.)

(Suddenly, a man (Haggai) steps forward from the crowd. He is wearing simple robes.  yellow spotlight
on Haggai )

Haggai: Hear, my people of the Almighty One!  Listen, Zerubbabel and Jeshua.  The Lord
Almighty has something to say.  (everyone is instantly quiet and still)  Why do you keep
saying that the time hasn’t come for the Lord’s house to be built? Is it time for you to be
living in your paneled houses, while His house remains a ruin? (Haggai 1:3,4)
(we see Zechariah visibly react to these words - as if it’s what he is thinking too)

Haggai: Now this is what the Lord Almighty says, 

“Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house,
So that I may take pleasure in it and be honored.
My house has remained a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.
Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops.
I called for drought on the fields and the mountains. (Haggai 1:7)

(SFX thunder boom)

Haggai: “I will shake all nations.

I will fill this house with glory
And in this place, I will grant peace (Haggai 2:4-9) (Haggai turns and walks away
through the crowd - lights back to normal. Various responses from the people ad lib’s
such as - “who was that man?”  “I’ve never seen him before”  “Sounded like a
prophecy to me”, etc.  Zechariah runs after Haggai.)
Zechariah: Wait, we want to hear more.  Would you please come back and speak with us and with
our leaders. (Haggai nods yes. And Zechariah leads him to Prince Zerubbabel’s
platform) 
Prince Zerubbabel: What is your name?
Haggai: Haggai
Zerubbabel: You spoke God’s word to us today, Haggai.
Haggai: Yes, my lord.  He told me to say, “I am with you” (1:13)
 49

Jeshua: You are a prophet.  

Zechariah: (shouting - he can no longer contain himself)  We need to do what the Holy One said! 
Our fathers didn’t listen to their prophets. Will we follow the same mistake?
We must listen to Haggai!  The Holy One has been waiting for us to get desperate enough
to seek Him - and today in our prayers we asked for his deliverance.  God has answered
us through Haggai, his messenger.
Zerubbabel: You say that God wants us to resume building the temple? I haven’t received word from
Persia that the sanction has been lifted.
Haggai: You don’t need the Persian king’s sanction.  You have the Almighty One’s sanction. 
“I am with you.”  That’s what he is telling you. All you have to do is obey!
Jakin: But what if it brings renewed attacks by our enemies? 
Zechariah: We can’t live in fear!    (everyone begins arguing at once - Zerubbabel holds up his
hand in silence)
Zerubbabel: Listen, I’m allowed to govern Judah and Jerusalem, but I am still under Persian
authority.  All building projects require their approval.  If we resume building without it,
they could interpret our actions as a rebellion.  I don’t want to risk another invasion and
exile.
Haggai: And if we don’t obey, the drought will continue.  We’ll slowly starve to death.  Shall we
submit to Persian authority and die or to God’s authority and live?
Zechariah: (talking to the people in the crowd) All of the leaders who made us stop construction are
dead now.  God is telling us to rebuild and He’s promising to be with us.  (lifting his
voice to rally them) What more do we need? Let our enemies try to stop us!  “It’s not by might
nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty (Zechariah 4:6). (cries of
agreeance are heard throughout the crowd!)
Zerubbabel: I need some time to think about this.(becoming overwhelmed)
Zechariah: Do you believe the Holy One has spoken through Haggai today, my Lord?  We
came together here to pray about the drought -was that not your request? Do you
believe this was God’s answer to us or not, my Lord?

(crowd becomes high spirited, and questions Zerubbabel's faith)

Zerubbabel: Yes.  The Holy One spoke through Haggai today...And I admit that I’m afraid to disobey
Him - but I’m also afraid of the consequences if we do obey Him. 
Haggai: Why not trust God, my Lord- who brought us out of captivity in Babylon by His mighty
hand and gave the order to resume building?  Our enemies will send a report to the
emperor telling him what we’re doing...but we all know the slow movements of justice,
let them be the ones to wait.  Meanwhile, we’ll keep building - and we will be
smarter than our enemies this time.
Iddo: Put me in charge of it.  I’ve been waiting for this day for nearly twenty years.

(several priests start arguing against the idea, but most of the people are siding with Haggai -
arguments grow louder and louder)

Zerubbabel: Enough!  The decision is mine alone to make, for it is I who will bear the responsibility
 50

for it.  Your arguments for and against won’t sway me.  I need to discern the word of the
Lord for myself.  And today I believe that I have heard from Him...It IS time to rebuild
the temple! (a great cheer from the people goes up)

Zechariah: (following Haggai)  Wait, may I speak with you?  (Haggai indicates assent and  they
step to the side - CS) I have some questions that only a prophet of the Almighty can
answer. ( Haggai nods his head yes to suggest Zechariah continue)  When I was a boy in
Babylon, I felt the Holy One’s presence in a powerful way.  That is why I chose to leave
my abba and mama and come here to help rebuild the temple. I have this unfulfilled
desire to be able to worship in his presence again and again.  I know that whenever I open
the pages of scripture, He is there. But….(stops to think)
Haggai: My son, what is it you want to know?
Zechariah: When I’m ministering as a priest, especially then, I hear his voice, clearly and forcefully. 
”Thus saith the Lord” (saying in a deep tone).... It’s like I’m hearing scripture verses that
I’ve memorized... but...the words I hear aren’t found anywhere!  I’ve searched all the
prophets and writings to no avail.  I’m beginning to think I am losing my mind.  And this
overwhelming feeling of urgency to rebuild the temple! To tell others we need to return
to God by obeying him and seeking him with all our heart and soul and mind. It’s
crazy…..
Haggai: My Son, God is calling you to be his prophet. Do you not see that our messages have a
connection. You are hearing the same message from God that I am.  The Holy One
wants to speak through you too! Now allow his words to flow through you.
Zechariah: Me?  Am I old enough? 
Haggai: Do not be afraid! Be faithful to His message
If the Almighty wants to speak through you
How can you keep silent?
Zechariah: I think God is saying...Return to Me

(There is a long introduction to this song. Time it so this song starts as Zechariah and Haggai are
talking and then go straight into singing.)

Return to Me
When the world is too hard to please
When contentment is too hard to find
When the narrow way is an uphill climb
It’s time to return to me.  

When your heart is breaking inside

When strength is too hard to find
When the world you know fills you with lies
It’s time to return to me.

(Chorus)
Return to me
And I’ll never leave you
 51

Return to me
A best friend I’ll be
In joy or in pain
In loss or in gain
In whatever this life puts you through
Return to me
And I’ll return to you

(Bridge)
Any road that you choose to travel 
I’ll be there each step that you take 
I will give you hope for tomorrow
I will give you strength for the day

Chorus (Modulate Key)

 Return to me 3x at the end of the chorus)

(Men head to temple mount)

 (pause - everyone looks around and listens - here sound will be ready to replay the music a second time
as crowd ad libs“Do you hear it?”  “It’s gone”  The desert winds”  “Hallelujah”, “Praise the
Almighty One”, “The drought is over!”
(resume music they cheer and keep working.)

(Everyone continues working as we hear the rain get louder and louder.  Lights down with spotlight on
Zechariah)

Zechariah: All these years I wondered why you have been silent...why you stopped speaking 
to me.  But...you haven’t been silent; you simply have not changed your mind.  You told
me to leave Babylon and to rebuild your temple...those instructions haven’t changed. 
You are the God of the impossible!  
All: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.  His love endures forever.

Scene 10 - (we see lots of activity at the temple site - young boys are pulling weeds, cleaning up the
area, Iddo is directing everyone, carts of rocks and timbers are being brought in.)
Building the Temple - Act 2, Scene 13
(chorus)
And we’re building the temple
Building the temple
Building the temple for our God.
We work hard every day
Except for Saturday!

First we need some wood

building stones are good
We must repair the crane
 52

Clearing weeds is a pain

Come back our Holy One
Return to us

Scene 11 - The courtyard of the temple.  The priests including Zechariah, Iddo, and the prophet Haggai
are standing together.  
Zerubbabel: We’ve heard the word of the Lord through two of His prophets.  I believe that God’s
word is to be exalted above all men. The decision has been made; it will not change. For,
I will not be swayed!
Haggai: This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now give careful thought to this and consider
how things were before you began rebuilding the Lord’s temple...I struck all the work of
your hands with blight, mildew, and hail yet you did not turn to me.  But, from this day
on give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was
laid...From this day on I will bless you.”
Iddo: (quietly to Zechariah)  This must be a warning to us to not quit again.
Zechariah: He must have heard about our meeting with the village leaders, who are still fearful to
obey God. Oh no! Look!

(Entering the area is a delegation from the Trans-Euphrates Province with standards from Persia -
along with some Persian soldiers. Trumpets are sounded, drum roll as the soldier announces the
presences of Tattenai.)

Soldier: Trans-Euphrates Province, Tattenai, a delegate of the Emperor Darius!

Iddo: Well they didn’t wait very long to show up.
Tattenai: (stepping forward to address Zerubbabel)  Are you the official in charge?
Zerubbabel: Yes,  I’m Zerubbabel, Governor of Judea and Jerusalem.
Tattenai: I have recently learned of a large-scale construction project taking place here.  Since I
was not informed of any building permits being issued, I decided to come and see for
myself.  This is definitely no ordinary structure. (looking up and around in surprise)
Zerubbabel: That’s right.  We are rebuilding the temple that King Solomon built here many years
ago.  A temple to the one God whom we serve.
Tattenai: I see.  Well, on behalf of Emperor Darius, I demand to know who authorized you to
rebuild this temple and restore this structure?
Zerubbabel: The God of heaven and earth did.  We are His servants.
Tattenai: God did?! (scornful tone, laughing, looking at his entourage, and they start laughing
too)
Zerubbabel: Yes.  King Cyrus issued a decree in the first year of his reign permitting us to rebuild this
house of God.  
Tattenai: King Cyrus is dead.  Darius is king now.
Zerubbabel: So, we have heard.
Tattenai: You need authorization from King Darius. (he turns to walk away, slyly)  And I’ll need
the names of all the men who are constructing this building.
 53

Zerubbabel: My name is Zerubbabel.  Should I spell it out for you?

Iddo: And my name is Iddo
Jeshua: I’m Jeshua, high priest of the Almighty One.

(One by one, all of the men begin telling the secretary their names with many shouting their names - the
secretary is flustered and frustrated and starts nervously dropping his parchments and quills - the
soldiers all go to help him - it is a comical scene)

Tattenai: (frustrated, holding up his hands)  Wait.  Don’t talk all at once!  My secretary can’t
record all these names!
Zerubbabel: He’s going to need many hours and dozens of scrolls to record all of our names.  More
than 42,000 of us returned to our land from Babylon, and our population has grown even
larger over the last 16 years. We the people of the Almighty One are building this temple
together, as one man!

(Tattenai indicates with his hand for his secretary to stop.)  

Tattenai: Well, then...(trying to walk through the group of people but unable to) let my men
through they will need to inspect the project as part of my report.
Jeshua: (stepping forward)  They will have to do it from a distance...this is a holy site.
Tattenai: (angered) I’ll have you know I am the great Tattenai, Governor of …..(seeing that they
are not backing down and not willing to start a fight) I’ll be sending a report to King
Darius immediately.  (sticks out chest and lifts nose towards the sky, not accepting
defeat)
In the meantime, all construction must halt until you receive official authorization.
Zerubbabel: (shaking his head)  With all due respect, Governor Tattenai, we intend to continue
working. We already have authorization from King Cyrus and more importantly, from
God.  We will obey Him.  (the crowd of Jewish men and women nearby cheer and hold
up their fists.  The governor and his entourage practically trip over themselves trying to
get away.  Lights down)

Scene 12  Inside Yael and Zechi’s home - Yael has just put the children down for bed and entered the
main room when Hodaya peeks in.
Yael: Hello Hodaya. Please come in! We haven’t had time to talk with all that has been going
on at the temple.
Hodaya: Can I ask you something, Yael?
Yael: Yes, come sit beside me.  What is it, Hodaya, what’s wrong?
Hodaya: I want to know the truth about who I am... who my parents are and how I came to
be...here?
Yael: (closing her eyes for a moment and rubbing her neck after a tiring day)  Hodaya, haven’t
we told you countless times how much we love you?  That you belong with us?
Hodaya: Yes, but this time I need to know the truth.  It’s important. (she pauses, then looks
overjoyed saying the next line with shyness and yet happiness)  
Because I’m in love with Aaron, son of Besai.  And he loves me.
Yael: (obviously surprised)  But you’re only sixteen, and Aaron, he’s…?
Hodaya: Eighteen.  He thinks I’m pretty, and he doesn’t even notice...you know...my crooked foot.
Yael: Hodaya, you are beautiful and none of us cares about your foot.  Besides, we all have
 54

things about us that aren’t perfect.

Hodaya: I know but….I don’t look like any of you.
Yael: My daughters don’t look like me either, and -
Hodaya: That’s not what I mean! (raising her voice and then lowering it with the following line) I
know who I DO look like, and I want to know the truth.
Yael: Who do you think you look like?
Hodaya: Remember that night when Iddo was stabbed?  The man who did it..I saw his face
and I looked just like him! We have the same hair, eyes, so many similarities, (Yael is at
a loss for words)    Yael, am I a Samaritan?
Yael: (getting a little upset over the questions )None of this matters. Besides, why are you so
concerned about who you look like all of a sudden?
Hodaya: Because the man who died that night was Rafi, the man you wanted to marry before
Zechariah! And He was a Samaritan! Wasn’t he? (Yael nods head slowly) If I’m related
to him, that means I am a Samaritan too! Right? Oh, don’t you see, if you couldn’t marry
Rafi because he wasn’t Jewish, then Aaron would not be allowed to marry me because I
too am not Jewish! Oh, this cannot be!
Yael: Hodaya...you are Jewish.  Iddo and Dinah adopted you.  You are just as Jewish as I
am.  
Hodaya: I love Abba and Mama and I know they love me too but... I am asking to know the truth
about my parents, and why I was adopted.  I have a right to know.
Yael: Oh Hodaya, the truth is dangerous, and we have spent our lives protecting you!
Hodaya: (struggling to her feet)  I don’t want your protection! And if you are too afraid to tell me
then I will find out the truth some other way. I will walk down to that Samaritan village
and ask them why I look like Rafi! I will ask questions until I find out who I am!
Yael: No!  Hodaya!  You can never ever do that!  You don’t understand the danger you will put
all of us in. You must promise me that you will not ask any one from that village
anything about your past. Promise and I’ll tell you the truth. (Hodaya nods yes with tears in her
eyes) Come, here. Sit, next to me and let me tell you how you came to be Jewish !  (Hodaya sits
next to Yael - lights fade to a soft spotlight as Yael sings- always be a child- Ray Boltz)

I was there, when you drew the breath of life

And I could hear your voice
The first time that you cried
And though you couldn't see Me

I was very near

And there's something now
That I want you to hear

You will always be a child in My eyes

And when you need some love
My arms are open wide
And even when you're growing old

I hope you realize

You will always be a child
In My eyes
 55

Hodaya: My mother thought I died? She must have been so sad! And my people refused me
because, they didn’t want a baby with a crooked foot ... that is unbelievable.
Yael: Everyone thought you would die that night, but not Safta Dinah. She said she would
make sure you lived if it was the last thing she ever did.  And so...we brought you home!
Immediately we all fell in love with you (small chuckle) and that is how you came to be
Jewish! And we have never regretted bringing you home.
Hodaya: So, I am Samaritan. That means I’m not worthy to marry Aaron!
Yael: Of course, you can marry Aaron.

(Dinah, Iddo and Zechariah enter the room, hearing the last part of the conversation.)

Iddo: What’s this?  Who’s getting married?

Dinah: Iddo, my love sometimes you are like a camel with his head stuck in the sand, … she’s
talking about Aaron dear. 
Yael: You knew?
Dinah: I may be old, but I know when love is in the air. (she smiles at her jokes again)
Hodaya: But is it allowed (she asks miserably)? Safta, I know I’m a Samaritan, which means I’m
one of your enemies.  
Yael: Hodaya you aren’t our enemy!  You’re one of us!  Tell her, Zechi!
Hodaya: (speaking to Zechariah) I too know stories from the Torah!  When Israel came into this
land, the Holy One told them to kill every man, woman, and child.  He said not to marry
anyone who wasn’t Jewish.
Iddo: Hodaya, look at me.  The Holy One told us to totally destroy those nations for the same
reason He allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed and the same reason why the Jewish people
were taken into exile. We had all become corrupt, worshiping false gods and doing
immoral things.  But...it has ALWAYS been God’s plan to bless all the people on
earth through our nation, the Israelite nation!  
Zechariah: He made that promise to Abraham and repeated it to Isaac and Jacob.  
Iddo: The Holy One loves all people, not just the sons of Abraham.   
Zechariah: And as far as now... the reason we cannot let the Samaritans help with the building of the
temple is because they still practice a mixture of religions.  But anyone, and everyone
who turns wholeheartedly to God is always welcome to worship with us.  
Hodaya: So, does that mean...you’ll let me marry Aaron?
Iddo: Yes, my dear girl!
Dinah: But not for another year or two.  You’re still much too young.
(Everyone laughed and hugs Hodaya.)

(the following scene will use projector and hear the voice of God)

Scene 13 - Night in Zechariah’s home.  He wakes up and puts on his outer robe and sandals,
walking into the courtyard.  Here he sees a man, dressed in white, and walks towards him.  Here we
will use sound effects of horses galloping and neighing, leaves rustling, and wind with green or yellow
lighting.  Create a projection of many still pictures of these images from Zechariah and have them
flipping one after another quickly to represent the vision.
 56

Zechariah: Oh Lord, I am restless tonight. Will we finish the temple? I so desperately want to dwell
where you dwell. (pausing and looks up as the screens begin to show visions) What...what is..this?

(Projected on screens-completed temple, signs of great prosperity. If the screens are able to show
different projections, we will have scripture on one screen and “visions” on the other)
Voice of God/angel: “I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt.  My
towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose
Jerusalem.”(Zechariah 2)

(Here Zechariah looks up to see people pouring back into Jerusalem)

Angel: “The scattered of Judah will continue their return to Jerusalem.”

(screen shows a man measuring a foundation)

Angel/Voice of God: Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem and
boys and girls will be playing there. (8:4,5) And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,” declares the
Lord, “and I will be its glory within.”

(Zechariah lifts his hands to heaven.  Sound effect, lighting shift.)

(Screen changes to several scenes of people from many lands coming to Jerusalem)

(Sound effect, lighting shift.)

Angel: Shout and be glad, O daughter of Zion.  For I am coming, and I will live among you,”
declares the Lord.  “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will
become my people.  I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has
sent me to you.  Be still before the Lord, ALL mankind, because he has roused himself
from his holy dwelling.” (Zechariah 2:10-13)

(Zechariah sinks to the ground overcome with emotion, closing his eyes.  Lights shift again.  When he
opens his eyes the screen changes to the High Priest dressed in his robes) 

Angel:   Listen, Jeshua and you other priests - you are symbolic of things to come:  I am going to
bring my servant, the Branch.  And I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.” (Zechariah 3:8,9)

(Here we see an image of Christ on the screen - all lights are off except Jesus on the screen and we hear
horses and chariots and wind fading away- then spotlight back on Zechariah, lying on the ground and
everyone else is gone - regular spotlights.  Enter Iddo, coming to shake Zechariah’s shoulder, waking
him up.)

Iddo: Zechariah...Zechariah...are you all right?  Why are you sleeping out here in the cold?
Zechariah: I wanted to pray, but...Oh Saba! (excited) The Holy One showed me
things...visions...God
reassured me that we will finish building His temple.  Zerubbabel will lay the capstone
himself.  Our enemies can’t stop us.  The Lord Almighty said, “Not by might nor by
 57

power, but by my Spirit.”  I need to tell Jeshua and the others that the sins of the past are
gone - washed away! 
Iddo: Praise God. 

(The women slowly join them in the courtyard with the children.  Zechariah smiles at his family.)

Zechariah: The Lord promises that many nations will be joined with Him.  They will become His
people.  You are His, Hodaya.  You belong to Him!
Yael: Zechariah...what?...how?
Zechariah: The Holy One opened eternity and showed me visions to encourage us, Yael.  We
shouldn’t be disappointed if the work we do seems small in our eyes.  The future will be
so much more than this temple we’re building.  The Holy One is coming!  He is coming
and will live among us and in us!
(fade out lights)

Scene 14 - At the temple site - carpenters and workers are working on the temple.  Iddo is busy at
work,  and Zechariah and Caleb arrive to get him for Hodaya’s wedding.

Iddo: I know, I know.  I’m late.  And I’m in trouble, aren’t I?

Zechariah: (grinning)  Don’t ask me,  I’m just the messenger.  Safta sent me to tell you that you will
still be building the temple tomorrow and the next day, but this is the only day that
Hodaya will ever get married.  
Iddo: There’s still plenty of time. (Zechariah gives him a look)
Caleb: We are under strict orders not to come home without you.

(They walk down from the building site and see men coming toward the city.)

Iddo: That’s not something you see every day.

Caleb: Hey, those are the banners of the Samaritan governor.  Maybe he finally received a
response from the Persian emperor.  How do they always know to come when we are
having a day of celebration?
Zechariah: It’s been nearly eight months since Tattenai sent his letter to Persia.
Iddo: I’ve been fearing this day.  And it’s not a good sign that the governor himself is
bringing the news.  If the Persian king ruled against us, Tattenai probably came in person
to gloat. Almighty One, remove my fear and keep my knees strong. ...Ah look, Tattenai
is not with them. Lord be praised!

(Several other men and Prince Zerubbabel walk out to meet the governor as they take center stage. 
Tattenai is NOT in the group arriving, but his secretary. Position flags/banners behind the secretary.)

Secretary: In response to Governor Tattenai’s letter, King Darius ordered that the archives stored in
the treasury in Babylon be searched.  In them, a scroll was found from the first year of
King Cyrus concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem. King Cyrus’ proclamation said: 
“Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices.  It is to be ninety feet high and
ninety feet wide, with three courses of large stones and one of timbers.  The costs are to
be paid by the royal treasury.  Also, the gold and silver articles carried to Babylon by
 58

King Nebuchadnezzar are to be returned.”  After finding the original proclamation, King
Darius then took the matter under consideration and sent this memorandum to Governor
Tattenai.  (Ezra 6:3-12) (put these words up on the screen in archaic looking script on a
scroll type document)“Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, you and your
fellow provincial officers stay away from there.  Do not interfere with the work on God’s
temple.”

(A great shout begins among all the Israelites, along with cheering and hugging one another.)  

Secretary: Moreover, the expenses of these men are to be paid out of the royal treasury. (big cheer)
Whatever is needed for their offerings to the God of heaven must be given to them daily,
without fail, so they may offer sacrifices and pray for the well-being of the king and his
sons. (big cheer)Moreover, if anyone changes this edict, a beam is to be pulled from his
house and he is to be impaled on it, and his house is to be made a pile of rubble. (big
cheer) May God overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or
to destroy this temple in Jerusalem. (big cheer, the delegation from Samaria departs.)

Zerubbabel: Spread the news!  Tell everyone in the city and in all the villages and towns!

Zechariah: (walking to the front of the group and speaking with authority)  This is what the Lord
Almighty says, “I am burning with jealousy for Jerusalem!  I will return to her and dwell
in Jerusalem, and the mountain of the Lord will be called the Holy Mountain.  The city
streets will be filled with children playing and I will save my people and bring them back
here from exile.  They will be my people and I will be faithful and righteous to them as
their God.” (Zechariah 8:2,3)

(Iddo grabs Zechariah’s arm, so proud of him.  Another great cheer goes up among the men, and they
all exit the scene as Iddo, and Zechariah walk to their home. Wedding song plays as Hodaya marries.
Little girls run through with ribbons. Veil is placed around Hodaya. Narrator does epilogue during the
Wedding song).

Epilogue - (Three years have passed, and the temple is finished)

Narrator: The temple was finished! Can you believe it? 19 long years of waiting, but once they
decided, it only took them 3 years to build it! This story was such a long time ago, now! Tell me, do
you see that you also have been rescued by the Almighty One? That daily He molds and shapes your
life. And more importantly, He desperately seeks to dwell among His people. No matter who you are,
where you have come from, or what you have done, He is your God if you accept Him! I certainly did!
I might be a Samaritan and have a limp, but this is my family. I’m so glad you could stay and hear my
story...your story...our story, because this is who God is. . (Older Hodaya pulls out her cane and limps
over to her family as everyone takes his place)

(Shofar blows) 

(We see the Levite priests take their places along with the High Priest resplendent in his ephod,
breastplate, and robe.  Prince Zerubbabel arrives with a procession, banners, and announced by a
fanfare of shofars.)
 59

High Priest: Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.  His love endures forever! (everyone repeats
this)  

Zechariah: (steps forward)  “Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion.  For I am coming, and I will
live among you,” declares the Lord.  “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that
day and will become my people.  I will live among you and in you, and you will know
that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you…”
High Priest: (to the audience - begins - and after first line, the entire cast speaks the blessing to the
audience)  The Lord bless you and keep you
Everyone: the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face
toward you and give you peace.

Return to Me - reprise (bridge and chorus - with key change) - All cast on stage for song.  Song will
serve as curtain call - principals will step forward during the bridge and bow.  Show will end with the
song.)

Curtain call