{Joseph and Family - continues}
In a minute all is well and just as quickly all seems lost. Joseph has awakened to find Abrahm the elder has been murdered by sword, and the only ones allowed to carry weapons are Romans and their stooges. Perhaps Herod’s spies reported the community meeting too well. Joseph walks the streets proudly with his son, James. They are going to Benjamin’s house for a happy meeting. As Benjamin opens the door, James has a demon fit and strikes Benjamin. Joseph holds his son until the demon passes away.
It seems Mary came to meet the morning and told Benjamin about her visit from an angel of God and that she was going to have a child. The argument born of that discussion was cruel and unkind, speaking of family shame. More words were said and Mary has gone, vanished. Benjamin tells Joseph he is free of his obligation to the bargain. There is anger in Joseph’s arms but tears in his eyes. He must find Mary. He asks Benjamin to watch James, who tells all he needs no watching, and Joseph goes through the streets of the town trying to find where Mary may have gone. By afternoon he is exhausted in the middle of the town in front of the temple where a Star of David is displayed as well as the Roman double-eagle, as the town has a noble visitor, King Herod the Great. But Joseph cannot hear or see very well because of his grief. He sings:
<center><table border=1><tr><td>Shall I Conceal What Love Has Done? with lyrics
ShallIConcealWhatLoveHasDone.mid (19.4 k)</td></tr></table></center>