Volume 2

Gedeon and the Madianites
339
The annual commemoration of Gedeon's victory was
now being celebrated in Azo. Outside the city was a
large oak on a hiil and at its foot an altar of stone. Between
this tree and the nlountain from which the soldier
had seen the bread rolling down, the disguised prophetess
lay buried. This tree was different from our oaks. It bore
a large fruit with a green husk, under which was an exceedingly
hard kernel in a little cup like our acorns. The
Jews of Azo used these kernels for the tops of their walking
sticks. For the accommodation of the large concourse
of people, there was fronl that tree down to the city a
whole row of tabernacles made of foliage and adorned
with all kinds of fruit.
Jesus and the disciples went with the Levites in procession
to the Ark. Five little he-goats, their necks adorned
with red wreaths, were led in advance of the cortege.
When they reached the oak, they were shut up in little
grated caverns cut out of the side of the hill around the
tree. Little cakes were also carried thither for sacrifice,
and trumpets were blown. Different passages of Gedeon's
life were read from rolls, and canticles of victory sung.
Then the goats were slaughtered and cut up, several
pieces along with some of the cakes being laid upon the
altar around which the blood was sprinkled. A Levite
blew fire from a tube into the wood lying under the grating
of the altar, in memory of the angel's having
enkindled Gedeon's sacrifice with a rod. l
Jesus delivered a discourse to the assembled crowd,
and thus the morning passed. In the afternoon He went
with the Levites and the principal citizens to a valley
south of the city where, around a little fountain, were a
public bathing place and pleasure garden. In a garden
apart were the women and maidens playing at games and
enjoying themselves. An entertainment had been prepared
here and, according to an ancient custom, the upper tables
were assigned to the poor. Jesus took His place at