Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

As Malluch and Ben-Hur travel to Jerusalem, they encounter Balthasar on his white camel accompanied by Iras. Balthasar is also traveling to Jerusalem. Iras asks Ben-Hur to lead them to an oasis to have their meal. Iras draws a cup of water for Ben-Hur, telling him that he is marked by “Fortune” having won at the Circus and defeated a centurion in single combat. Ben-Hur starts to become suspicious and makes a mock toast to the so-called “pagan” gods. Iras teases him that she will tell the rabbis and Esther. Balthasar approaches before Ben-Hur can reply.

At the meal, Balthasar asks Ben-Hur the quickest route to Jerusalem. Balthasar has dreamed that the Messiah will soon reveal himself and wishes to get to Jerusalem quickly. Ben-Hur shows Balthasar the letter from Malluch, and the old man is overcome with fervor. Ben-Hur asks Balthasar if he still believes the Messiah “to be a Saviour, not a king” (351), and he says he does. Balthasar explains to Ben-Hur his beliefs about the soul and the afterlife. Balthasar reasons that God would not give humans souls that were not immortal and that leading a life devoted to God grants one the grace of spending eternity in his presence.

As he travels with the caravan, Ben-Hur tries to get as close to Iras as possible. She enjoys the effect she has on him and bedecks herself in jewelry to beguile him further. That evening, he joins her as she watches the stars. As they banter, Ben-Hur once again becomes suspicious that Iras knows more about him than she should. He becomes silent, and she almost leaves, but he stops her. She tells him of a vision she had of an enormous war in which Rome is overthrown, and a new king in the “East” rules the world. When Iras asks him, “What shall he not have who served the King earliest and best?” (359), Ben-Hur obliquely accuses her of being interested in him because she hopes that he will win great lands by serving the Messiah. Iras then tells Ben-Hur an Egyptian story about how “Beauty” came to the world. After telling her story, Iras asks to help Ben-Hur in his career, but when she demands that he tell her everything, he pulls back. She quickly leaves because there is “suspicion in [his] love” (363).

On the third day that Ben-Hur and Balthasar travel together, they learn that John the Nazarite has come out of the wilderness and announced the imminent arrival of the Messiah. They also learn that John preaches a new doctrine of repentance and baptism. Balthasar and Ben-Hur decide to go see John in Bethabara. They arrive at Bethabara the next day. John is practically naked and filthy with long matted hair. Iras is disgusted by him. Ben-Hur is also disappointed, thinking the herald of the Messiah would be a bit grander. They see another man who John soon proclaims to the crowd as the Messiah. Jesus is described in somewhat effeminate terms with long lashes and soft, wavy hair. Balthasar is overcome with religious ecstasy. From Jesus’s peaceful and modest appearance, Ben-Hur begins to believe that Balthasar is right in his beliefs about the Messiah. Ben-Hur realizes that Jesus was the youth who gave him water years before.