. "Behold, farther on in
the roll, what was revealed to the prophet Isaiah? Is the note of
triumph sounded here? _He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of
sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces
from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath
borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him
stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we
like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;
and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was cut off
out of the land of the living: for the transgression of My people was
He stricken_ (Isa. liii. 3-6, 8). Have we not here the Victim, the
Substitute, the Sacrifice bound on the altar, bleeding, wounded, dying,
and that for sins not His own?"

"It cannot be. It is impossible--quite impossible--that when the
Messiah comes He should be despised and rejected," exclaimed Abishai,
to whom this interpretation of prophecy was as unwelcome as it was new.
"When He comes, all Israel shall triumph and rejoice, and welcome their
King, the Ruler of the world."

Hadassah silently unrolled her parchment until she came to the
thirteenth chapter[1] of the prophet Zechariah.

"Listen to this, son of Nathan," said she. "_Awake, O sword, against
My Shepherd, and against the Man that is My Fellow, saith the Lord of
hosts_" (Zech. xiii. 7).

"Who is My Fellow?" repeated Abishai, in amazement, for that portion of
Scripture had never been brought to his attention before. "Can you
have read the sentence correctly? Were that not written in the Word of
God, methinks it were rank blasphemy even to think that the Lord of
hosts could have an equal."

"There is mystery in that word which man cannot fathom," cried
Hadassah, "The Divine Essence is One: the foundation of our faith is
the most solemn declaration, _Hear, O Israel! the Lord our God_[2] _is
One Lord_ (Deut. vi. 4); and yet in that very declaration is conveyed
the idea of unity combined with distinction of persons."

"Hadassah, Hadassah, into what wilderness of heresy are you wandering?"
Abishai exclaimed.

The Hebrew lady appeared not to hear him, but went on, as if thinking
aloud:

"No man hath seen God at any time, He Himself hath declared--_No man
shall see Me, and live_" (Ex