The Chosen

- What is this? What is this?

No, no, I asked for eight.

Because you don't know how to count!

I asked for eight, I got six!

That is not acceptable!

Move!

Unh! Please!

Last time we had the same problem.

I asked you for eight.

No, no, you take this back,

and you bring me eight like I asked.

No, eight!

Fire!!!

No Lord but God.

- You ruined one of my carts.

- It did get his attention, Rabbi.

- You're very resourceful, Simon.

That's it for today, Zealots.

Come on, Simon, let's eat.

Murder training.

Real subtle.

I'll be seeing you real soon, Simon.

He is as inventive as he is dedicated.

I've overseen Simon's training for the last three years.

He has never failed me.

Now, he's never had an assignment like this before.

A Roman Magistrate on the streets of Jerusalem.

But he will have at least two escorts.

- Every breath this Roman takes is theft.

Every garment he deigns for this so-called High Priest,

stained.

- Caiphas has resisted--

- His resistance is a show.

The Romans, however, do not know that.

The Magistrate's mysterious death

will cast suspicion upon Caiphas,

resulting in his arrest.

- Simon is up to the task.

- Send him to me.

- I've never been to Jerusalem.

Really?

How is that possible?

- My Father never took me and my mother to the Feasts.

- This is your first Feast of the Tabernacles?

- No, this is just my first time in Jerusalem.

- A tabernacle is a temporary dwelling.

It's a tent.

- I know what a tabernacle is.

So what, do we have to build one to eat?

Mm-hmm.

- I was being facetious.

- God said to live in a booth for seven days

during this feast.

To commemorate how the children of Israel

lived in temporary shelters for 40 years in the desert.

We still are.

One of three pilgrimage holidays

when every able-bodied Israelite male

would travel to Jerusalem

and present himself before Adonai.

You really don't know about any of this stuff?

- I've already admitted I don't know all of it,

I didn't pay much attention.

I do recall my father used to leave three times a year.

- Why is it only the men required to go?

- It can be a perilous journey.

Difficult for children and the sick--

people that need caretakers,

but it doesn't prohibit anyone.

I've taken Eden many times.

Ow!

Sharp.

All right, I need some bodies to go into town with me.

Nathaniel gave me a list of supplies

for this masterpiece of his.

- Mmm... pick me.

Pick me, Simon.

- As long as you stop doing that.

Enter.

Please.

To whom do you serve?

- El Shaddai, God of power and might.

God of War.

What is your name?

- Simon, Son of Zebulon, Son of Akiva of Ashkelona.

- For what were you born?

- To cleanse Israel of her enemies.

To expel all non-Jews from Jerusalem

as the Scriptures demand.

Which Scriptures?

From the scroll of Moses, Shemot,

"Whoever sacrifices to any god,

"other than the Lord alone,

shall be devoted to destruction."

- You will travel to Jerusalem

for the Feast of Tabernacles.

With the Order?

Two days prior.

You will leave first thing in the morning.

In Jerusalem, you will assassinate an enemy of God.

- The Roman Magistrate... Rufus.

- You will be met by your brother in the city.

My brother?

- A Jerusalem Zealot and his team.

They have been tracking Rufus.

Once you are briefed on the Roman's movements,

you will lead the team.

Yes, master.

- Carry out your orders, Simon of Zebulon,

or never return.

The Lord is in your midst.

You shall never again fear evil.

On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:

"Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.

"The Lord your God is in your midst,

"the mighty one who will save.

He will rejoice over you with gladness..."

Zephaniah.

"He will exalt over you with loud singing.

I will gather those of you..."

It doesn't matter.

Any kind of crate or-or pallet.

A stone would work.

- A stone, Yanni?

This is a public teaching?!

- I picked this market specifically

because it serves so many poor.

They're hungry for the words of a teacher...

and they're probably afraid of you.

- Afraid? Of what?

It's the Holy City.

You're a Pharisee.

Just relax.

Let us pray.

"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe,

Who bestows good things upon the unworthy--"

The Birkat Hagomel?

But that's the blessing for life-threatening situations.

You'll be fine.

This the first step to gaining a following.

And once you have,

your message will have even greater weight in the Temple...

for both of us.

Good luck.

You're leaving?!

- These people are hungry for the Word.

I'm hungry for breakfast.

The Ha'tov ve'hametiv?

"Blessed are You,

"Lord, our God, King of the Universe,

who is good and does... good."

- You okay, Jesse?

Uh-huh.

- You're moving from the edge?

There's no point.

It was a dumb idea.

- You're not going to try anymore?