Volume 2

Jesus Instructs Pagans
153
the lake. The people had already returned thither. Here
Jesus and His party were received by the most distinguished
men of the city, and a luncheon was served for
their refreshment. After that they were conducted into the
city and Jesus saluted and instructed the heathen women,
who had assembled in a square not far from the gate in
order to see Him. They were clothed as Jewesses, though
not so modestly veiled. Like most of the people of this
region, they were not tall, but stout and robust.
Jesus entered a large public hall wherein a banquet had
been prepared in His honor. There was a great deal of
feasting going on in these parts. Jesus, the disciples, and
the Jews sat by themselves at one of the tables. At first,
the Jews were unwilling to partake of the entertainment.
But Jesus told them that what entered the mouth did not
sully the man, and added that they who would not eat
with Him, would not follow His doctrine. He taught unweariedly
during the whole of the entertainment.
The heathens used tables higher than those of the Jews
and also small single ones. They sat crosslegged on
cushions, like the people in the land of the Three Kings.
The viands consisted of fish, herbs, honey, fruit, also flesh
meat roasted brown.
Jesus so impressed them by His teaching that they were
very much grieved when He had to leave. They begged
Him so earnestly to remain with them that He allowed
Andrew and Nathanael to do so. The heathens were very
curious when there was question of novelty. It was
already dusk when He left thenl.
The houses in which the women dwelt faced on a broad
street, though their rear was built in the wall or the rampart
of the fortification. Some of them were very beautiful,
separated at intervals by gardens and squares in
which the women carried on their domestic affairs and did
their washing. Jesus addressed them in their usual meeting
place.