"If she so much as bruises her foot upon the
street your lives are forfeit."
26 The Priests followed after her, seeing to her safety. For the rest
of her days they would be her faithful servants. The young man was
found and told of his honor. "I do not believe," he argued, "the girl
is a whore. It is all some witchery. I will not court her."
27 But in the midst of the night a messenger of The Lord of Hosts
appeared before him, saying, "Fear not to touch this woman, or, wed
her. She is perfect and will be unto you a perfect wife. Treat the
child within her as your own, for it is sacred and not made from unholy
union."
28 Now, the young man was still hesitant, but he went to see the girl,
and when his eyes beheld her, he was in love, and he fell at her feet,
adoring her.
29 "It is for me," she insisted, "to sit at your feet. Arise, be
seated, and let me take my proper place. Tell me of the adventures of
your manhood."
30 Their courtship began. Now, when The Priest of Priests heard these
things he was angry. When he heard that the people from all over the
land were coming to this girl and giving her treasures, and she was NOT
giving them to the temple but distributing them to the poor, he was
angrier still.
31 "While the child is in her," he boasted, "she has power, but when it
is not, I will go and take it, and let this little whore try to stop
me!"
32 So it was, when the girl's egg was delivered, The Priest of Priests
came to her city, to her parent's house. For her courtship was not yet over, and she could not be married.