The Chosen

Galilean Jews.

Twelve, and two women.

I was told there may be as many as four women in your company.

You are followers of Jesus the Nazarene?

-Who's asking? -I have a package...

for Andrew and Simon, sons of Jonah.

-You didn't answer his question. -What's in the box?

I'm the messenger, not the sender. I was only given delivery instructions.

Whomever of you is Andrew, step forth.

Me!

Tell us who sent you and maybe we'll explain.

Whoa, easy.

Till we meet again, boys.

I don't go by Simon anymore.

Whoever sent this is working with outdated information.

And they didn't know Ramah died.

And why did they put your name first?

I'm the older brother.

Maybe it was someone who knew Andrew better.

Could it be from the Baptizer?

Dead people can't send packages.

Yeah, that makes sense.

What do we got here?

We could get a week's worth of rations for selling the box.

John definitely couldn't have afforded this.

Remember the bag of gold that someone left for us before Samaria?

I also remember the bag of dead crows that a malcontent sent to Tel-Dor.

People have sent letters asking for healings and signs in their towns.

-Maybe from someone who needs help. -They're trying to buy a miracle from Jesus.

We did receive a gift of gratitude from Fatiyah,

the Nabatean leader in Decapolis after the feeding.

And why was Andrew's name first?

Maybe there is a rabid animal inside sent to attack and kill us.

Okay.

-Smells safe to me. -Just open it.

It's from Joanna.

"For the uninterrupted continuity of the teachings and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth."

We need to split up the work of selling these in order to liquidate quickly.

-It would take one person far too long. -So split it up.

Me? Right now? Yes.

Silver cooking blades.

Zee?

I have someone for these.

Wow, silk from the Far East.

No, I don't think that's a good idea.

But you know the value, Matthew. You know how to get a good price for it.

I thought we all agreed that Judas would handle the money.

I am. Just bring me back whatever you can get for it.

We trust you, Matthew. Indefinitely.

Lapis lazuli.

- Amethyst, carnelian, jasper... - Valuable?

Beyond rubies.

This will do nicely. I can promise you that.

Big James, go with Tamar and Mary to market.

Make sure no one bothers them.

All that's left are coins.

And the box itself.

Go on and sell the box, Nathanael.

I'll come with you.

And the coins?

Judas, take the coins and put them in the purse.

I can do.

-What are you all waiting for? Go. -Let's go.

And let's make these gifts from Joanna go a long way.

- Go to the market. - Grab this.

You, Gedera of the Sadducean persuasion, insist there is no resurrection of the dead.

The Holy Law of Adonai makes no mention of an afterlife.

It's right there in the songs of David.

David is not Torah.

According to the Doe of the Dawn...

-"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" -Yes. Yes.

But further down near the end.

"All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;

before Him shall bow all who go down to the dust."

-I'm so tired of this line of reasoning. -And then here, in the Prophet Daniel.

"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake...

some to eternal life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

I don't know how anyone can refute that.

Metaphorical language.

It's about Israel's national resurrection from being muddled amid the dust of the Gentiles.

"Awakening" refers to the coming of Messiah,

when Jews who love God's law will arise from their spiritual slumber,

while those who reject the Messiah will be put to shame and contempt.

Rabbi Gedera, how do you interpret the words "eternal life"?

Hayei Olam.

God's immutable law is eternal.

A life committed to studying Torah is a life centered on matters of eternal importance.

That's Hayei Olam.

How does the Sadducees' rejection of an afterlife

lead to more faithful adherence to Torah in practical terms?

Practicality is our entire agenda.

I would direct your attention to the words of the Fifth Book of Torah.

"You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes

and the rules that I command you today."

God's will is that we carry out His decrees here, today,

not in some imagined next world, but this one.

The Pharisees' hyper-literal reading of the Prophet Daniel

is both dangerous and distracting.

If all your work is only to receive a reward in the afterlife,

it makes you blind to the realities of the one you're living in right now.

How would you respond to the accusation that the Sadducees' wealth and social status

make your interpretation all too convenient?

Your class is so comfortable in this life.

Why should you worry about the next one?

Ordinary Jews live lives of such discomfort...

that the hope of a better life in the resurrection

is what they have to cling to.

And you, Rabbi Zebediah, you decline the daily Sanhedrin feasts?

Gedera, you are to address his interpretation, not his status.

Hypocrites!

Both of you accused my supposed affluence of distorting my interpretation.

We are both provided for.

The point remains as much as you'd like to ignore it.

Yanni, please take over.

Rabbi Gedera...

-Yussif. -Brother.

What are you doing here?

This way. Come, come here.

I saw your name on the attendance for Sanhedrin, and I thought it was a mistake.

So did I, honestly.

You finally did it, leaned into your abba's wealth and connections.

I never thought I'd see the day.

Well, it's here.

Well, you could have used your inheritance years ago.

To do what? I knew nothing but scholarship.

I had to minister to our people first.

Setting aside my own jealousy, I imagine your abba was upset.

Yes, but his recent contribution indicates he's gotten over it.

That was something in there.

Do you think the Sadducees have a valid point?

The only thing I agreed with him on

was that you ought not to have brought his fortunes

into the argument.

Let the interpretation stand on its own merits.

Sensitive about money, are we, Yussif?

We both used whatever means necessary to lay hold of our seats.

You used bureaucratic triangulation, I used my abba.

-Why does my way sound worse? -What matters now is that we are both here.

The only question that remains is what we will do with our new positions.

Well, fair point.

Although, I thought I did know what I came here to do, and lately...

I'm not so sure.

What has changed?

Let me show you around.

Well, we'll reach the Holy City by nightfall.

Well before night, if we keep a steady pace.

Should we plan to set up camp in the same spot that we did for the Feast of Tabernacles?

It's not a holiday. And the camp would draw attention.

- People are on the lookout for him. - What then?

An inn?

Same problem.

There's eyes everywhere, and documentation, records for visitors.

After Joanna's gift, we do have enough to stay at an inn.

Perhaps several, to spread us out and avoid suspicion.

We could put him in a disguise, use fake names?

Fake names? And violate the Eighth Commandment?

Ninth.

He's right, John. Lying is the ninth.

The order does not matter. Lying is lying.

Zee, you have a brother in Jerusalem.

-Yes, Jesse. -The last time I saw him, he was homeless.

That could have changed. He certainly did.

But I don't think his lodging would accommodate us all.

So does anyone have a rich uncle in the upper city or something?

Judas says we have enough to stay under a roof,

if we can just find a way to keep Rabbi's identity a secret.

And hide his presence from Jerusalem.

Has anyone tried to contact Nicodemus?

We do not know his heart or his intentions.

I spoke with him, John. He had an open heart.

Good morning.

- Shalom. -Good morning.

Shalom.

-Master, where would you like to stay? -The property of my friend, Lazarus.

-I thought he was in Bethany. -Correct.

So we will not go directly into Jerusalem tonight,

but we will stay over with Lazarus and his sisters.

And I'm eager to see my eema.

So let's get to the road quickly?

How can I help?

Halt!

Jewish citizens.

Everyone remain calm.

Disarm yourselves and leave your bags. You're carrying ours now.

Under Roman law, a soldier can force a Jew to carry his things.

At random?

There is a legal limit. A maximum of one mile and no further.

- Quiet. - Hold this.

Master, this is humiliating.

We will comply, with dignity.

Here.

- Higher. Higher. - Pick it up, pick it up.

Don't trip.

Hold it higher. Higher.

What must it be like,

walking around all day with no metal weighing your head down?

Ever have helmet hair?

You too.

Here.

-I'll take that. -I'm not made of straw, Matthew.