One morning a month after Naaman had left to seek the Israelite prophet, Maacah told Baara to prepare to accompany her to the market.

"I want to look for a decorative basin suitable for a baby's bath," Maacah told her, grinning from ear to ear. "Shemeath is expecting her first child. I know the baby won't come for a long time, but I must do something to celebrate. I plan to weave some soft cloth and prepare swaddling clothes, unless Shemeath's in-laws want that honor. But that takes time, and I want to get something right away to show her how excited I am to become a grandmother again. I know the stalls in the market display decorative pottery of various sizes. If I get a basin big enough to bathe the child, Shemeath can later use the basin to mix dough, as the family grows larger. Yes," she said, nodding her head. "I'll find a bath basin for my grandchild."

"That is wonderful news," Baara responded. "I'm sure Naaman will be equally excited when he hears the news."

"Perhaps," said Maacah with a smile, "but men do not get as excited over babies as women, unless they are male, of course. If this child is a male, Shemeath's husband and father-in-law will be especially excited. She is married to the only son in a family with six daughters. They want an heir to carry on the family name."

When Baara and Maacah reached the market, they stopped at pottery stall after pottery stall. Maacah examined each piece carefully looking for flaws. Although some seemed suitable, she rejected them because she wanted something both beautiful and functional. As they stood before yet another stall, Maacah asked to see a bowl with an unusual bluish tint.

"This is the last one of these I have," the merchant said. "I bought it from an Israelite potter during my travels. He had been experimenting with various clays and dyes. He made several large bowls from the batch he'd mixed." Turning it over, he pointed to the name carved into the bottom. "See, it's engraved with the potter's symbol, the letter M encased in flame. Someday merchants across the land may seek this potter's work. The quality is excellent, but its beauty draws the eye. It's both practical and aesthetic."

As the merchant talked, Baara had a sense of deja vu. She saw clearly in her mind the dreams where she and Maacah were in the market looking at pottery. The vivid image of smiling eyes came clearly to mind. As though in a trance, Baara turned and searched the marketplace. The image was so clear, she was certain she would find a pair of piercing blue eyes laughing at her above the crowds. Seeing none, she turned back and searched behind the merchant where the eyes had hailed her in the last dream, but again, nothing.

As she swallowed her disappointment, she felt Maacah's hand on her arm, "Baara," her mistress said. "Baara, is everything okay? You look pale and distracted."

Pulling her mind back to the present, Baara replied, "I am fine, mistress. My mind just wandered as you talked to the merchant, that is all."

"Well," Maacah said. "What do you think of my purchase? Won't this basin be a beautiful gift for my new grandchild?"

After Baara had dutifully admired the basin, Maacah put her purchase in a bag and the two turned and started home. As they turned down the winding street that led to their house, they heard a commotion behind them. Turning they saw Maacah's daughter accompanied by a maid hurrying toward them.

Shemeath waved and called, "Mother, it looks like I almost missed you. You must be returning from the market, too."

"What are you doing out in your condition, especially so near the heat of the day?" Maacah asked in reproach.

"Oh, don't fuss, mother," Shemeath said with a smile. "I decided to do some shopping before my condition became apparent, and I'm confined behind walls for the duration. I knew that I could stop here for refreshment and the mid-day rest before returning to the other side of Damascus. I don't get to visit with you very often, and once I begin to show, my excursions will be even more limited."

Linking her arm through her mother's, she said, "Come inside and let me show you what I bought to prepare for the baby. I couldn't wait so I decided to buy something that would have practical use now and when the child arrives."

As the two women entered the courtyard, Maacah told Baara to take her purchases to her room and then fetch drink and refreshment. When Baara returned, Shemeath's maid was holding a blue basin for Maacah to admire, a basin similar to the one Maacah had just purchased.

"I can use it to mix pita bread in now, but I can use it to bathe the baby when he is small," Shemeath enthused. "Isn't it beautiful? The merchant had only two left when I was there. It was such a find."

As Maacah admired the basin, she was thankful she had told Baara to take their purchase to her room. Ruefully, she realized that she now had a beautiful decorative bowl for which she had no need. But she was not about to spoil Shemeath's enthusiasm by admitting she too had bought a basin for the baby. Out of all the basins in the market, it was ironic that mother and daughter had selected the same one for the child.

As the two visited over refreshment, a loud banging came at the gate. When the steward asked, "Who?" the reply came, "Hegai, servant of Naaman."

At the salutation, Maacah gasped, paled and covered her mouth with her hand. She rose to her feet and stood like a statue under the olive tree as the steward opened the gate and admitted the servant who had accompanied Naaman on his quest. Fearing the worst, Maacah watched warily as Hegai entered. He was covered in dust from head to toe. He was gasping for breath as though he had been running.

Addressing the steward, he said, "Please summon the sons of Naaman. I bring a message for them and Naaman's wife, but protocol will not allow me to give the message directly to a woman," he said bowing in Maacah's direction while ostensibly talking to her male servant.

Recovering her composure, Maacah took two steps toward the men. "The boys are out checking on the herds," she said. "They won't return for several hours. In their absence, I'm in charge here. We're behind closed gates, Hegai," she continued. "You don't have to stand on ceremony now. You must give me the message. I can't wait in suspense for Arisai and Shepho to come home. If it's bad news, I am strong; I will not swoon. If it's good news, I shouldn't have to await my sons to hear it."

Looking briefly in Maacah's direction with excited, almost feverish eyes, Hegai again addressed the steward, "I have been instructed to take the message to the boys who will in turn impart its contents to their mother. Tell me where the herds are grazing. I will hasten to take the message there."

As the steward told Hegai where the herds were grazing, Maacah marched over to where the two men stood. Reaching an imploring hand in their direction, she pleaded, "Please forgive my forwardness, Hegai, but I've been in suspense for a month. At least give me some indication of Naaman's condition. Don't leave me here in suspense for hours."

Turning to leave, Hegai said to the steward in parting, "Naaman said if the boys weren't here, I was to instruct you to remind Maacah to make certain the shutters are shut tight tonight." With that cryptic remark, Hegai departed.

As Maacah turned back to her daughter, a puzzled Shemeath asked, "Why would father remind you to make certain your shutters are shut?"

"It means he will be safely home before night falls," Maacah said, smiling. "Each night I view a particular star before I sleep, and Naaman does the same. If I am to leave the shutters closed, I won't need to view our star tonight." Then in a perplexed voice, she continued, "But I am not certain if the message means he is well or ill. Keeping them shut tightly could mean that I wouldn't want any light when we are united in person. That would mean his disease still disfigures his face. It could also mean he is well, because we looked at the star each night to assure one another that all is well. If all is well, then he no longer suffers from the disfiguring disease." With a sigh, Maacah concluded, "I guess I'll have to be content knowing that he'll be home soon. I'll have to wait for the boys' return to know if he is healed."

Since it was time for the mid-day rest, Maacah and Shemeath retired to the sleeping couches in Maacah's room, but neither could sleep. After a little over an hour, Shemeath indicated that she should prepare to return home.

"I hate to go home before the boys return," she said "I want to know the news concerning father, but if I wait much longer, my husband will be upset, thinking something has happened to me."

As Maacah hugged Shemeath, assuring her she would send a servant with news as soon as the boys came, they heard feet pounding down the street and once again a banging on the gate. As the knocking began, though, the person did not wait for the customary salutation, instead Arisai hollered, "Open up the gate quickly, man. We're in a hurry."

When the steward threw open the gates, Arisai and Shepho hurried into the courtyard. One grabbed their mother and the other their sister in a spontaneous hug as Arisai exulted, "Father is on his way to the palace. He is cured, completely cured! The King is preparing a banquet in his honor, and we are invited, even you mother. Hegai said the King wants the city to celebrate the return and healing of his mightiest warrior. The women will be served at a separate table, but father insisted that you be present. We are to dress in our finest and go directly to the palace. Others will be summoned when the feast is ready, but the family is to come as soon as possible. We will have a private moment with father before the public welcome."

With tears of happiness on her cheeks, Maacah began to organize the family.

"We'll leave the children here with their nanny," Maacah said, "but both of your wives should come," she instructed. Then turning to Shemeath, she said, "You too should be there. It'll take too long for you to go home and return. You can wear one of my dresses. We'll send your servant home escorted by one of our men with a message that they are to meet you at the palace." Then turning to Baara, she noted, "We don't have time to take a bath, but we can bathe off quickly using a basin. Get Cozbi to come and serve Shemeath. We'll need our hair combed and arranged. And get out my best silk dresses, headpieces and veils."

Shooing the boys towards their rooms, Maacah and Shemeath disappeared into her room to prepare. Baara and Cozbi hung the silk dresses in the courtyard to air while they helped the women to freshen up and fix their hair. Within the hour, all were changed and ready to leave for the palace. Before she left her room, Maacah pulled Baara into a hug and whispered in her ear, "Say a prayer of thanks to Yahweh for me. Tell Him I'm sorry for my doubts and disbelief. Never again will I question the power of your God. His ways may be mysterious, but He definitely has unlimited power if He can cure a man of leprosy."

After Maacah left, Baara went to the window and opened the shutters. Looking in the direction she thought home lay, she said a prayer of thanks to her God.

When Naaman's family arrived at the palace, the men were ushered immediately to an inner room where Naaman had gone to rest. The women were directed to an adjacent room to wait. Through the wall, they could hear the excited cries of the boys as they beheld their father's flawless skin. They heard laughter and the rumble of voices, but the words were indistinct. Moments later, the door to the room burst opened. Maacah looked up in anticipation, expecting to see her husband framed in the door. Instead, she beheld only her two sons.

Arisai went to his mother and offered his arm, "Father wishes to see you, alone," the boy said with a wink. "I will escort you to his room."

"But what about Shemeath and your wives?" Maacah questioned. "They haven't had an opportunity to welcome Naaman home."

"Their time will come," Arisai said with a laugh. "You act like a blushing bride being taken to meet her betrothed on their wedding night. Come mother, don't keep father waiting."

When they reached the adjacent door, Arisai dropped Maacah's arm and bade her enter alone, but he unashamedly stood in the hall and listened for the exultation that was sure to come when Maacah beheld Naaman.

As Maacah entered the room, Naaman stood with his back to her, looking out the window. When he heard the door close, he turned, a huge smile on his unblemished face. He held his arms wide to welcome his wife with a loving embrace. With a gasp, Maacah ran to Naaman and threw herself unreservedly into his waiting arms. In the hall, the snooping Arisai was puzzled by the gasp followed by absolute silence.

Inside the room, Naaman hugged Maacah close and then lowered his face to give her a welcoming kiss. When he raised his mouth from hers, Maacah leaned back in his arms and looked at his beloved face. Raising her hands to his face, Maacah ran them carressingly over his smooth skin. Then stepping back she lifted his hands one at a time and kissed each finger that had been ravaged by disease when he left.

Finally he cleared his throat and broke the silence. "The rest of the disease is gone as well, the parts only you and my physician have viewed," he said with a wicked grin. "But modesty prevents me showing you those places now. It will have to wait until tonight behind tightly closed shutters," he finished, raising his eyebrows in insinuation.

Blushing, Maacah said, "You are incorrigible, husband. That is one interpretation of the cryptic message Hegai gave that I did not even entertain."

"And what interpretation did you give the message?" Naaman asked with a laugh.

"Well, I knew it had to mean you would be home tonight," Maacah admitted, "since I wouldn't need to view the star. But the words tightly shut confused me. I was afraid you were still diseased and didn't want any light to penetrate our sleeping chamber."

"I'm sorry," Naaman said. "I knew that the full message couldn't be given to a woman since it was a court summons, but I wanted to reassure you. I thought you'd realize I was home and cured. I didn't want you to have to wait and wonder."

"It's okay," Maacah assured him. "I knew your were back, and we would be reunited before the stars lit the night sky. That was enough. I knew my love would be the same whether you were diseased or cured."

At that Naaman pulled Maacah back into his loving embrace. Holding her tight for a few seconds, he finally concluded, "I suppose holding you for a minute will have to suffice for now. We should go next door so I can see Shemeath and my daughters-in-law before it's time for the feast."

That evening, the palace was full of well wishers, gathered to welcome Naaman home. In front of the gathered troops and members of the court, Naaman stood and gave Yahweh credit for his healing.

"As you can see," Naaman said holding a small torch so that it illuminated his clear face, "my leprosy is completely gone. No vestige of the disease remains anywhere on my body. An Israeli prophet cured me at the command of the God, Yahweh. Where our healers and those of our allies failed, this Yahweh succeeded. I stand before you tonight thanks to this foreign God whose prophet our King graciously allowed me to seek."

Raising his goblet of wine in a toast, Naaman said, "My thanks to Yahweh, God of Israel."

A hush fell over the room as the citizenry looked to their King, a worshipper of Rimmon, for a clue as how to respond. Without hesitation, the King raised his goblet and repeated, "Thanks to Yahweh."

The revelry continued for some time as numerous dishes were brought out. Dancers and other entertainment were also presented. Finally, Naaman leaned over to the King and asked permission to retire, admitting he was tired after a long day's journey. Naaman and his sons left their table and collected their wives from the women's section of the room. As the six exited, the crowd broke into cheers of "Hail, Naaman, mighty warrior of the King of Aram." As they walked the streets lit only by the light from a full moon, the sounds of "Naaman, Naaman," echoed behind them.

When they were finally alone in their room, Naaman removed his outer garments, his sandals, his turban, and even his tunic. Wearing only a loincloth, Naaman lay on his sleeping couch and permitted Maacah to examine his skin.

Slowly caressing his unblemished body, Maacah murmured, "Your skin is as soft as that of a small child. It's not roughened by exposure to the sun and other elements. It's as though your diseased skin was pealed away and replace by a completely new skin. Tell me how Yahweh accomplished this miracle."

Naaman told Maacah the story of his ignominious healing, admitting his own reluctance to humble himself and dip in the dirty river.

"I almost came home a leper because of my pride," Naaman admitted. "But I think Baara's prayers may have been what saved me."

"What do you mean, Baara's prayers?" Maacah questioned.

"Do you remember the dream I told you about where the angel Michael was instructed to try once more to get someone to listen to him?" Naaman asked.

When Maacah murmured her affirmation, he continued, "I was riding away from the Jordan River filled with anger and pride. Hegai was reasoning with me, trying to convince me that I should try this simple command of the prophet. Then I remembered the dream. I went into a sort of trance and saw Michael again standing before the throne of light, discussing someone who refused to be healed. But this time the voice talking to Michael added a phrase not in the original vision. This time the voice, a voice that only could belong to Yahweh, said, 'Baara continues to pray for his healing. You must try once more.' Then Michael turned and began to walk toward a caravan headed away from the river. It was then I realized that in my pride and arrogance, I was defying the God of the Universe. So, you see, if my vision was correct, Yahweh persisted because Baara continued to pray. Had she not prayed, he might have told Michael not to bother with such an arrogant and conceited man. He might have let me continue home and live out my life a leprous outcast."