Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Ben-Hur’s ship docks at Antioch, and he hears of the Grove of Daphne, a mysterious place that is supposed to be delightful beyond measure.

The morning following his first night in Antioch, Ben-Hur sets out for Simonides’s house. He anticipates conflict over control of his family’s remaining assets but resolves to release Simonides from all service so long as he can give news of Tirzah and their mother. Simonides confirms that he knew Ben-Hur’s father and that they were in business together. Ben-Hur then notes that his father had a servant named Simonides and that he has heard that this is the same Simonides. Simonides obliquely confirms his formerly servile status and that he does not know what has been done with the rest of the family. He insists that Ben-Hur show some proof of his identity before demanding anything of Simonides. Ben-Hur acknowledges that he has no proof and promises to leave Simonides alone, for he had only hoped for news of his mother and sister, not the merchant’s wealth. Simonides tells Ben-Hur that he has tried to find news of Tirzah and his mother but has been unable to discover anything. In grief, Ben-Hur thanks Simonides and departs.

As soon as Ben-Hur has left, Simonides sends for Malluch, one of his servants, and instructs him to befriend Ben-Hur and discover what sort of person he is. Simonides appears inappropriately joyous to his daughter, Esther, but he promises to soon explain the cause of his jubilation. First though, Simonides explains to Esther his history with Ben-Hur’s family: Simonides was born into slavery, sold to Ben-Hur’s father, and then to Herod. Prince Hur eventually manumitted Simonides. However, he fell in love with Rachel, Esther’s mother, who was enslaved in lifelong bondage. Rachel was happy in her current station and refused her own manumission. Out of love for Rachel, Simonides accepted the same perpetual servile status as her in order to marry her.

Simonides wishes to hand over the fortune to Ben-Hur but needs to be sure of the young man’s identity and character. Simonides also desires revenge against Gratus and wants to know if Ben-Hur can deliver it. His inappropriate laughter comes from learning that Ben-Hur is trained as a soldier and will be perfectly capable of avenging both the Hurs and Simonides.

Ben-Hur leaves Simonides’s house dispirited and decides to go to the Grove of Daphne, a park dedicated to Apollo which he has heard is full of delight. Along the way there, he witnesses “pagan” splendor in a variety of forms: statuary, suggestive dancing, and beautiful animals for sacrifice. Ben-Hur enters the Grove and wanders a bit, appreciating the beauty despite its “pagan” provenance. Ben-Hur would not have gone to the Grove if not for his grief and rage.

As he continues to wander, Ben-Hur wonders what the strong appeal of the Grove is and if it is right that he should be denied its pleasures just because he is a Jew. For a moment, he decides to become one of the “lost in Daphne” and remain in the Grove forever. He quickly remembers himself, his duties, and his religion and curses himself for thinking of being happy while his family is still unfound. He continues through the Grove beset by non-Jewish pleasures and temptations. He considers remaining in the Grove again, but realizes that, although Love without fear is found in the Grove, it is Love without Law. In the end, he pities the residents of the Grove who cannot know the true love of his God; Ben-Hur leaves the Grove.

Ben-Hur now heads for the stadium and meets Malluch. Ben-Hur identifies himself as the son of Arrius. When Malluch points out that he wears Jewish garb, Ben-Hur clarifies that he is the adopted son of Arrius. He and Malluch watch the chariot teams practicing on the stadium track. Ben-Hur praises a team of four magnificent horses just as they begin to buck and go out of order. An old Arab man, Ilderim, screams abuse at the driver of this chariot team. It appears that the horses are Ilderim’s and that his chosen driver is unable to handle them. Another chariot team appears on the track, and the audience begins to cheer. Messala is its driver.

As Ben-Hur descends the stairs in the stands, he hears that Ilderim is looking for a new driver. Malluch suggests that they see the nearby fountain of Castalia. As they walk, Ben-Hur’s mind races over all the fantasies of revenge on Messala he has had and how he might have a chance to act on one of them. A wizened old man and a beautiful woman sit atop a white camel and approach the fountain’s plaza. A chariot comes dashing recklessly toward the fountain. The old man attempts to escape but is physically unable. Ben-Hur leaps forward and seizes the bits of two horses and pulls them aside, bringing the chariot to an awkward stop. The driver of the chariot is Messala, and he loudly announces that he did not intend to hurt anyone, only to have a laugh. He now addresses the female passenger, praising her beauty. Her only response is to ask Ben-Hur to fill a cup of water for her. Messala departs. The young woman gives the cup to Ben-Hur, and the old man introduces himself to Ben-Hur as Balthasar, the Egyptian.

Ben-Hur’s bravery impresses Malluch. He now knows that Ben-Hur is Jewish and the adopted son of a great Roman, but he wants to know what connection exists between Ben-Hur and Messala. Ben-Hur has begun to trust Malluch and so tells him his story in broad strokes, pointing out that Messala is the key to finding his mother and sister. Malluch swears to help Ben-Hur. Ben-Hur questions Malluch about the rules for the chariot race in which Ilderim’s horses will run, seeing now a chance to humiliate Messala publicly. He asks Malluch to bring him to Ilderim.

The pair arrive at the Orchard of Palms where Ilderim is based. Malluch tells Ben-Hur that the land was a reward to one of Ilderim’s ancestors and that the local rulers have found it prudent to leave his tribe to their own affairs. Even so, Ilderim has a grudge against the Romans because Herod seized some of his property to send to Rome to replace plundered revenues. Malluch tells Ben-Hur that Ilderim once told Simonides about three foreigners on magnificent camels who claimed that they had just visited the newly born King of the Jews. Malluch assures Ben-Hur that, though he is excitable, Ilderim is not given to lying or exaggeration. Ben-Hur is startled, recognizing that he has just met Balthasar, one of the wise men. Ilderim invites the two men to be his guests. Ben-Hur stays the night, but Malluch returns to Antioch.

Simonides and Esther discuss the nature of their relationship to Ben-Hur; legally, he could enslave them at his whim. Malluch arrives and tells Simonides that the man’s driving passion is to find his mother and sister and to humiliate Messala. Simonides tells him to take a message to Ilderim. After Malluch’s departure, Simonides speaks excitedly with Esther about the prospect that Balthasar met the infant Messiah. He tells her that they might get their vengeance on Rome by following the Messiah. Esther is distracted and asks her father to keep Ben-Hur from the chariot race at the Circus. Simonides asks Esther if he must lose her to Ben-Hur along with all his wealth. Esther admits that she has feelings for Ben-Hur but promises to never leave her father by himself.

Meanwhile, at the Roman citadel in Antioch, soldiers and officers are carousing. Messala enters with his retinue. One of the men, Drusus, asks Messala about the son of Arrius. There is confusion because it is known that Arrius’s son is Jewish. From Drusus’s description of Arrius’s son, Messala realizes that the person in question was the one who stopped his chariot earlier. When Messala learns that Arrius’s adopted son had been enslaved on a galley, he is, for once, at a loss for words. Before he can think further on the matter, the wine arrives, and the scene dissolves into an orgy.

The chapter opens with an extended description of Ilderim’s encampment at the Orchard of Palms. Ben-Hur and Ilderim sit down to eat dinner together. Ilderim asks Ben-Hur about his past. Ben-Hur proceeds to give the details of his life cautiously in bits and pieces. Ben-Hur explains that he is Jewish and has a grievance with Rome and that he wishes to use Ilderim’s chariot team to enact part of his vengeance. Ilderim waxes passionately about his horses and summons the records of their lineage. Ben-Hur offers to show Ilderim his skill with horses by practicing with the chariot team.

Balthasar is brought to join Ilderim and Ben-Hur at their meal. Ilderim introduces Ben-Hur to Balthasar, but Balthasar recognizes Ben-Hur from earlier when he had stopped Messala’s chariot. Ben-Hur confirms his identity by showing Balthasar the cup gifted to him by his daughter. The three men eat heartily and then pass the evening discussing the possibility of the Messiah.

Balthasar tells the other two of his meeting with Gaspar and Melchior several decades earlier. Ilderim has already heard the tale because he sheltered the three wise men from Herod. Ben-Hur, as a Jew waiting for his Messiah, is riveted. Ben-Hur believes the Messiah will act as a Jewish Caesar. He does not yet conceive of the Messiah as a universally redemptive figure, though his time in Rome has made him wonder if some Gentiles are not worthy of God’s love. Even so, he has witnessed the evils of Roman oppression during his time in Rome and believes that the Empire must be overthrown by force. He grows more excited at Balthasar’s story of meeting the infant Messiah.

Balthasar tells Ben-Hur that he does not know what has become of the infant Messiah. By the time he managed to return to Bethlehem to find the child again, Herod had the children of the village massacred and arrested the khan’s steward. Nevertheless, Balthasar believes the child survived, because he is required for the Redemption of humanity, and gives reasons why the Messiah would remain hidden during his youth. Ben-Hur then asks Balthasar if the Messiah will not be King of the Jews in addition to the Savior of mankind. Balthasar explains that because “human governments are never for the sake of religion” (211), the Messiah’s mission cannot be a merely political, terrestrial one. Ben-Hur is disappointed and laments that “the ways of the world are fixed, and cannot be changed” (211). When Ben-Hur points out that Balthasar was instructed to search for the “King of the Jews” and that this must be a political title, Balthasar refutes him, arguing that he was told to use that title because it is the one used for the Messiah in Jewish prophecy. Balthasar tells Ben-Hur that the kingdom of God, though invisible, extends over the entire world, not just Judea and the Jews. After dinner is over, Ben-Hur goes for a walk to think over what Balthasar has told him.

Ben-Hur realizes that his life’s purpose is to employ his Roman military training on behalf of the Messiah. Ben-Hur continues to doubt Balthasar’s belief about the nature of the Messiah, and Ilderim reassures him that Simonides will confirm Ben-Hur’s doubts with citations from Jewish scripture. Ben-Hur grumbles over Simonides’s constant insertion into his life when he hears Balthasar’s daughter singing down by the lakeshore. He grows warm at the thought of the woman’s beauty, but an image of Esther, so different in manner and appearance than the Egyptian woman, comes to him and he returns to his tent.