The Samaritans by Terry Hampton

From "The Pilot" of 1992 comes this article by my good friend Terry Hampton. It perfectly captures his inimitable chatty style. Reading this brings back great memories of him, both as Vicar at St Aubin on the Hill, and as Rector of Grouville. He was evangelical, but not fundamentalist, religious but also fun. Some of that humour comes over in this article.

They’re in the Bible but... .

The Samaritans by Terry Hampton

"AT LAST, something from the Bible we have heard about! They were the people who looked after drunks, down-and-outs: and beaten-up travellers."

Well, not quite! What is strange is that a group of people that most first century Jews loathed and looked down on, should have given their name to a caring group made up of all sorts of people, who are dedicated to counselling the hurt. Let's first get sorted out as to why the Jews and Samaritans got so ratty with each other.

We all know that when. Israel came into the Promised Land of Canaan (later called Palestine, after the Philistines who lived there=eyes, yes, we do read these articles, Reverend. There were twelve tribes of Jews.

After the death of King Solomon, who had taxed and virtually enslaved much of the population for his building projects (see forthcoming article on Solomon) the country split into two sections, called the Northern Kingdom and the Southern:. Ten tribes ceased their allegiance to Jerusalem as the capital, and after some moving about, they agreed to make Samaria their new capital city. All went well for several hundred years.

Then came the threat of Assyria. Under King Shalmaneser V, Samaria was attacked and after a tremendous siege lasting three years, Samaria fell in 721 BC (one trembles to think what death many of the brave defenders endured).

Over 27,000 people were taken away into slavery in Assyria, and some of their names have been found on bits of pottery (ostraca).

To replace these people, the Assyrians moved in peoples from other captured places, and so the Samaritans became a racially mixed people.

Jerusalem was itself to fall in 587 BC to the Babylonian army, and the people of the Southern Kingdom became captives in Babylonia. On their return they began to rebuild their capital city and the Temple. The Samaritans offered to help, and were told to clear off sharpish! They were not racially pure: look up Nehemiah 13: 23ff for details.

Without Jerusalem for worship, the Samaritans built their own Temple on Mount Gerizim. They accepted the first five books of the Old Testament (the Torah) as their Bible, and had their own priests.

Warning to others

But relationships with their Jewish neighbours were often explosive and there were raids. At one point the Samaritans murdered the Greek governor of Syria and so it was destroyed by Alexander, the Great as a warning to others.

One Jewish King conquered the area and forcibly circumcised all the men, which did not endear him: to the people with those part: By the time of Jesus, most Jews avoided going through Samaria, unlike Jesus who several times went with His disciples through this territory..

Herod the Great did some superb rebuilding of the capital city and called it Sebaste (the Greek version of Augustus, the Roman Emperor and his overlord).

So we have seen how in one sense it is fitting that a nation made up of all sorts he given their name to a group made up of all sorts who care for others.

But, not so fast, where does the caring Samaritan connotation come in?

Readers of Luke's Gospel, chapter 10, will know well the story there told by Jesus to answer the question, "Who is my neighbour?" And to the amazement, and possibly fury of some, the hero of the parable was a Samaritan. (The usual adjective "Good" is not part of the original)

So: a word which was used by first century Jews as a term of abuse, "Are we not. right to say that you are a Samaritan and have a devil?" said to Jesus in John 8:48 was chosen by the founder of the movement Chad Varah - to describe the quality of caring that he wished to be given.

I wonder if any modern-day traveller has  told the small Samaritan community of  this delightful modern-day usage of the  ancient name? Perhaps the forthcoming  trips to Israel led by Fathers Wastie and  Giles will see to it that this information is  imparted?

So, what spiritual value is there in this sorry tale of destruction, deportation and racial bigotry?

There is the challenge to us to look again at any person or group that for whatever reason we "write-off." Jesus used a Samaritan as his hero in one, perhaps the most famous parable he told. He preached there (John 4), and later the young church would send disciples there, as Jesus had commanded them to do.

And the modern-day usage of the word Samaritan challenges us to care for all and any in need - because Jesus said "Go and do thou likewise." 

Felix by Terry Hampton

From the 1994 edition of “The Pilot” comes this interesting historical piece by Terry Hampton, Rector of Grouville at that time. It was part of an occasional series entitled “There in the Bible but…” looking at the background of more obscure figures whom we come across in the Old or New Testament.

It is interesting also in the considering the recurring cry that religion should be something apart from politics, that was precisely the problem that Felix had with Paul talking about justice. Politicians like Felix see management of the political situation as a priority, and while that may be informed by ideas of justice, the managerial approach usually takes precedence.

Felix
By Terry Hampton

"Wasn't there a cartoon cat called Felix?" Possibly, but this particular Felix was a far deadlier and devious individual than any fictitious feline. St Paul met him went he went on that ill-fated visit to Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey.

So what do we know about governor Felix? Well, we actually know quite a lot about him, and considerably more than the governor who followed him, Porcius Festus.

Felix "was the first slave in history to become a governor of a Roman province," so said the Roman historian Tacitus. He owed this remarkable state of affairs to his brother Pallas, who was also a freedman, first the favourite of the Emperor Claudius and later the next Emperor Nero. Tacitus also gives the biting comment that Felix "exercised the powers of King with the mind of a slave." Clearly Felix wasn't one of the acerbic Tacitus' favourite characters. Yet he was a man of ability, and particularly good at marrying into powerful circles.

Felix was married three times. His first wife's name isn't known, but he had followed her by marrying a grand-daughter of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. His third wife, who Paul met, was called Drusilla, a daughter of Herod Agrippa I, and a sister of the famous Berenice (who later became the mistress of the future Emperor Titus, the man who reduced Jerusalem to rubble in AD 70).

Felix was stationed in Samaria for two years prior to becoming the Prefect of Judea from AD 52, and he mercilessly crushed any uprisings. One writer says, "He was completely unscrupulous, and was capable of hiring thugs to murder his closest supporters." Some his coins show crossed palm branches, others crossed Roman shields, which clearly is a warning to would-be rioters or revolutionaries!

But he had done his homework about Paul and this new religion, because Acts 24:22 tells us that Felix "had a very good knowledge of the facts about the Way," as the early Christian faith was often called. Is this a link with Jesus' claim to be the Way, and the Truth and the Life?

It is fascinating reading to turn to Act's 24, and look through the opening remarks of the prosecution case made by an orator called Tertullus. "Since through you we enjoy much peace ... and through your provision reforms are introduced ..." (I bet Felix had a cynical smile on his face as he listened to this slimy introduction! 

Clearly Felix did realise that Paul was innocent but that he did not have powerful friends, who would make trouble if Paul was detained without a further trial. (Paul had asked that those who accused him of fomenting riots, and defiling the temple should be in court and so be able to be cross-examined.)

Felix then kept the apostle in prison for two years. But what is fascinating is that during that time Felix quite often talked to Paul. This has echoes of Herod Antipas of Galilee speaking to John the Baptist when he was in prison. Paul spoke to Felix about faith in Jesus, "but when he talked about justice, self-control and future judgment," Felix was alarmed and sent Paul back into prison. 

Oddly enough, the governor did allow Paul some liberty, and friends were allowed to visit him. Was this because Felix was well aware that Paul's Roman citizenship was not something to be messed about with? So Felix and his wife (his third one) Drusilla, listened to Paul, fascinated, and yet frightened, hearing the Gospel and rejecting the cost of the Gospel to them.

After two years, Felix was recalled to Rome and downgraded by Porcius Festus. Felix had blotted his copybook once too often. An outbreak of violence in Caesarea had resulted in the Jews coming out best .and Felix had sent in troops who had killed many Jews. (It was in Caesarea that gone of the earliest civil clashes between Jews and Greeks occurred, and this was one of the main sparks which set off the first Jewish War, culminating in the destraction of the city and Temple in AD 70.)

So that illustrates the dry point that Luke makes in Acts 24:27, that Felix, wishing to please the Jews, left Paul in prison. He had during the two years of Paul's house-arrest, hoped that a hefty bribe would be paid into his private purse, and then Paul would have been released, but neither Paul or his friends had that sort of money or more likely, Paul would have no truck with bribing judges! (There is a lovely quote by Dr Howard Marshall, when commenting on Paul and Felix talking together about justice and self--control, "the very thing that Felix and his wife needed to hear about.")

So what does this sketch of the life of the Roman Prefect of Judea say to us? Isn't one point that we must beware of dabbling about with the claims of Jesus? Clearly Felix was intrigued by Paul and the Gospel which had changed his life, and this Jesus "who Paul claimed to be alive," but Felix still remained, brutal, corrupt, and self-seeking. He is a warning to us!

A Short History of Conkers – Part 2

And now for something completely different. My friend Terry Hampton wrote this piece for The Pilot magazine in 1994 when he was Rector of Grouville. Terry had an impish fun side that strained to get out, and often did, and while “The Pilot” was a church magazine, this light hearted piece isn’t really religious in any shape or form, but just good natured humour, of the sort that brings forth groans as you spot the terrible punning references to conkers.

Here is the second part of his article on conkers.

A Short History of Conkers – Part 2
by Terry Hampton

THE BIBLE' AND CONKERS. I am indebted to keen Bible students from St Ouen's for pointing out that. the good book. does. have some references. to the noble art of conker playing, St. Paul writes in .Romans 8:37 that "we are more than. conquerors." Perhaps Paul had a low view of this sport because he wasn't. very good at it? This spurred, me on to look up Revelation 6:2 which says He went forth conquering," which is a verse of enormous encouragement to the often looked-down-on conker players. (If you look up ASB p439, the Epistle for Advent 4, there is a wonderful promise for all conker players - "He who conkers...)

WOMEN CONKER PLAYERS. Did you know that the original word for these ladies of athletic prowess was Konkerbine? (It is nowadays spelt concubine," another piece of evidence for the malicious work of those who in writing history have tried to hide the deep influence of, conker playing on our culture.)

Sometimes it is recorded, that, these young, keen, attractive girl konker players preferred older men to play with, we know .that King Solomon had several hundred of them. Some Arab princes still have them, and they play with imported nuts. I. am greatly indebted to an attractive, short lady konker player for this information.

ANOTHER ROMAN REFERENCE. The Latin poet Ovid refers to the custom of throwing one's nut down onto the opponent’s nut which had been placed on the, ground, with. the intention of trying to split it. Ovid used to play against his brother Ibid (there was clearly a shortage of string in Roman times): This comes from an old friend, Peter Gem.

ONE-EYED CONKER PLAYERS. The sport can be dangerous and historians tell us that possibly the first famous handicapped player was Horatius. He was the Roman who defended the bridge against the army of Lars Porsena –I knew you would remember.

The tale is told by Macaulay .in his "Lays of Ancient Rome." Horatius' full name was actually Horatius Cocles, which means Horatius the one-eyed." Other famous figures include Horatio Nelson (clearly named in honour of the great Roman player) and Moshe Dayan, the Israeli General.

ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY

It is essential in any sport to understand the special terms used, e.g., leg-breaks, birdies, line-outs, tai-otoshis; and deuce. Konker playing also has its own esoteric terms, the origins. often lost in the. mists of antiquity

Most begin with the K, the original spelling of the word. But some .important words don't -see below.

SNAGGERS: Name given to the dangerous and .devious: opponents who attempt to snag or tangle the two conkers. Variant names are "clinkers" or ".twits." If the opponent's conker falls to the .ground the cry of "Stampers” is shouted and the fallen conker is jumped on and victory is claimed, a practice that all true players abhor. One of the most infamous users of this technique was John Snagge, the BBC commentator, whose forbears clearly used this method.. Snagge dropped the final 'r' which would have made his crimes obvious, It was he, when commenting .on the Varsity Boat Race, in a mist shouted: "I can’t see who's ahead, but its either Oxford or Cambridge!"

NUTTERS. These are really dangerous opponents, the veritable All Blacks of the conker playgrounds. No attempt is made to hit the unmoving conker, instead, deliberate aim is taken on the area below the belt, and severe pain is caused to gentlemen players. Players who are "nutted" often. speak in a high pitched voice for some time afterwards, and walk in a rather hunched up way. (Treatment is with TCP and TLC.)

LOW-FLYERS. An American term for Nutters. They "aim to maim" and their target area is known to men players as the "fly." This term has nothing at all to do with trout fishing.

Now to the special K words:

'KIO!' A terrifying shout uttered at the moment of attack by really hyped up conker players. (Compare the judo 'KIA'.) The initials stand for "Knock It Off" referring to the opponent's conker. The word is sometimes shouted by the entire crowd watching a conker contest, i.e., anything up to three people at a time.

KNACKERS. A term of affection and respect for anyone who has the "knack" or craft of conker combat. Used in ordinary speech, e.g., "He has the knack" or she is a knack-hand with pastry." The working class version of admiration is to say "he's really knackered."

KNUCKLERS. Another variation on damaging your opponent and not his nuts. A disabling blow is struck to the hand holding the conker. Usually accompanied by a totally insincere, 'Terwwibbly sowrry, old chap."

KNEELERS. The very lowest form of physical attack. Can really only be done on taller opponents, as little fellows' knees are too close to the ground. Opponents retire hurt and a "technical knock-out" is claimed.

K'OFF! This stands for "Konker Off “and is said loudly and sometimes with an accompanying gesture to encourage another player to depart quietly without saying goodbye. Often used by members of the craft against Kamikaze Konker players. . see below.

KAMIKAZE KONKERS. An Oriental and highly dangerous import, due to be banned by ICKE, the International Commission of Konker Experts. The attacker's conker is filled with Semtex and at the moment of impact both conkers explode. Quite often the contestants do as well plus some of the judges and the odd spectator. Kamikaze players are viewed by the Olympic Committee as being on a par with drug takers and turtle eating soup athletes from China, though' as one, un-named official said, 'They do help to make things go with a bang."

GET KNOTTED. A phrase used by fathers to their sons from time immemorial. It refers, of course, to the ancient skill of tying a sufficiently large and stable knot at the end of the string to prevent the conker sliding off, or being hit off and "stamped." The choice of string is vital, as too thin and it cuts into the conker, too fat and it won't go through the hole. The best are shoelaces, which also have a metal end bit which doesn't go soggy when pushed through. The holes are made with meat skewers and must be dead central. (Notice that the word 'knot' begins with a K, sure evidence of its ancient links to konkering.)

HARDENING OFF. Not a K word but referring to the vital skill of how to make your nuts harder than the other fellow's. Much nonsense talked about this, e.g., stories of putting conkers in compost heaps (rots 'em), vinegar (pickles 'em), ovens (makes 'em brittle), etc. The best way, and here I give away a secret hoarded for over 45 years, wrap the new conquers in an old, unweighed football sock and keep in a cupboard for a year. Don't open the bundle before the new season or you can get; the same effect of an oven with a sponge inside. It is believed that the sock fragrance hardens the konkerfibres.

And finally, though' we have only skimmed the surface of this ancient, honourable, fascinating, dangerous and character building sport, the names of some of the greatest conkers, which are spoken of in reverent tones whenever true conker players congregate.

The CANON..A rotund Guernsey variety with a resounding rumble when struck in contest. Occasionally available from a stall in Winchester Cathedral. (It has been rumoured to be. growing locally in St Pierre du Foret.)

The KARDIFF KRUSHER. A rather maverick Welsh variety, involved in countless tussles over many years. A good hearted variety, can sometimes be purchased outside Cardiff Arms Park when Wales are playing..

PS. There is a rumour of an Autumn Highlands Evening Class in learning about the history and skill of conker playing. Watch this space!

A Short History of Conkers – Part 1

And now for something completely different. My friend Terry Hampton wrote this piece for The Pilot magazine in 1994 when he was Rector of Grouville. Terry had an impish fun side that strained to get out, and often did, and while “The Pilot” was a church magazine, this light hearted piece isn’t really religious in any shape or form, but just good natured humour, of the sort that brings forth groans as you spot the terrible punning references to conkers.

But it is certainly the right time of year for this, as the horse chestnut trees are already giving up their nuts. If you take the walk from the car park opposite the Elephant Park, and go along the path by the side of the road towards the railway walk, that will take you past several trees.

In my youth, I used to get some from a tree in a lane in St Lawrence. We were friends with the Le Feuvres, and spent quite a lot of time there, and sometimes walked down the lanes to “stock up” with conkers for school.

Of course, when you played conkers, you occasionally got your knuckles hit and aching, but that was part of the fun. When you are young, a few cuts and bruises are part and parcel of life, and you think nothing of it. But today, I fear the health and safety inspectorate have ensured that conkers will not be a playground pastime at school, at any rate.

And yet all my time at school, I never saw another boy with broken hand or fingers through playing conkers. It really seems such a shame that such a wonderfully seasonal pastime should be so frowned upon.

But enough of that. Come back with Terry, as he takes you on a meandering journey through the byways and backstreets of the history of the conker. And groan...!

A Short History of Conkers – Part 1By Terry Hampton

AUTUMN is not only a season of mists when the leaves are green then turn to brown - but to one group of misunderstood people it is the most important time of the whole year.

Autumn means conkers. The prickly green husks are cracked open and the glossy contents eagerly examined for the perfect conker. (Pearl-divers have a similar tho'.more valuable hobby.) I. was in England for last autumn and taught my two nephews David and Daniel a much more excellent way of playing conkers. But first, a bit of perhaps not well known history of the humble conker.

JULIUS CAESAR is the first recorded, unashamed conker player - did you know that? His famous Latin boast was VENT, VIDI, VICI - which translated means "I came, I saw, I conquered." (Notice how non-conker playing historians have altered the spelling of the original "conkered.") The date Caesar was playing conkers? About 46 BC.

Conkers were also involved in Caesar's assassination. Again, the clue here is the famous -question the dictator asked Brutus -ET TO, BRUTE? (tr. and you, Brutus?"). What really happened was that the avid conker champion Caesar was asking Brutus if he'd remembered to bring his conkers. to the Senate house that morning. Clearly Brutus had forgotten his nuts, and in a terrible fit of pique he stabbed the divine Julius to death. Moral - always carry your conkers with you.

An English (well, Norman really) King everyone has heard of was William the ... yes, Conqueror! Ah - you had never realised the significance of his name before had you? William was conker champion of Falaise and brought his reputation with. him to England.

But what about the first historical really English person who was a conquer freak?

King COGIDUBNUS.

You may not be too conversant with this name, but I: assure you it. is honoured when all true English conker players gather together. The aforesaid king lived in a .splendid palace at Fishbourne (Chichester). It's been excavated and superbly roofed over to make visiting it a pleasure.

Now, the name Cogidubnus has been tampered with. once again (see Julius Caesar Latin trans.) A very early Roman manuscript, called the Codex Britonsis, tells us that the original name of this British king was actually CONKIDUBNUS - but clearly scholars with an anti-conker bent have quietly changed. the name - so please no longer be fooled. If you visit Fishbourne Palace you might care to write on the Roman walls "Long live CONKIDUBNUS" - but don't do this when any staff of the Historical Monuments Commission are around!

CONKERS AND INDIA. Did you know that the humble conker played a quiet but vital part in shaping the beliefs of the great Mahatma Gandhi? No? It happened like this. The youthful Gandhi wished to play conkers-in Indian, the game is called "galli chandar" -but because the local fads were of a. lower caste than him, Gandhi was forbidden to play. This both upset him and made him question the whole, evil caste systems, which he then spent his life trying to change.

WHAT ABOUT THE HYMN BOOKS? You may well ask. If you look the A. & M Revised. .hymnbook, No 191, you will read this line:

"Conquering kings their titles take
from the foes they capture make."

Clearly the translator (from the Latin) of this hymn is referring to-the many kings in history who have not spent their days cooped up in their money-laden counting houses, but instead had been spending their kingly time in the far more energetic and challenging sport of conker-combat.

Part 2 to follow....!

Terry Hampton on Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt

In 1994, Terry Hampton penned a series of articles for "The Pilot" called "It's in the Bible but." dealing with names that were somewhat obscure mentioned in the Bible, of whom the average reader would know little. Terry, with his interest in archaeology, decided to write articles to tell the readership more about them. They are wonderful lively little pieces and really capture Terry's distinctive voice.
 
Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt by Terry Hampton
 
Now, there's a puzzle. Who was Shishak, where does he appear in the Bible and what was he up to?
 
This Pharaoh is mentioned in 1 Kings Ch 11. He gives refuge to a young man called Jeroboam, who had been one of King Solomon's building overseers. In v 28 of Ch 11 we read that Jeroboam was a man of "great energy" (NEB tr.) so he was promoted. and put in charge of all the labour force of one district, (In case you didn't remember, Solomon did a great deal of building in his reign, not only the first Temple, but  also building chariot centres at Megiddo and Hazor.)
 
But a meeting with the prophet Ahijah completely changed Jeroboam's life and future. Ahijah had on a new cloak - he tore it into twelve pieces and gave ten of them to the no doubt quite mystified Jeroboam. Then came the explanation. "This is God's word to you. He will give you .the ten northern tribes to be King over." (v 31). The energetic young man is told that he must keep God's commandments and statutes, and then God will deal with him as He has done with the family and house of King David.
 
So far so good, but then King Solomon heard about the cloak tearing business, and took a very dim view of someone else removing the tribes from his control and leaving only two for his son Rehoboam (an arrogant youth) to rule over from Jerusalem. It does seem as though' the energetic Jeroboam had still a lot to learn about tact and diplomacy! The anger of powerful kings was not to be ignored, and so the future king of the north fled at speed to Egypt and the shelter offered by Pharaoh Sheshong (in Egyptian), Shishak in Hebrew. Whether Jeroboam took the ten pieces of the prophet's cloak with him we're not told.
 
Now let's find out a bit more about this Pharaoh. Pharaoh Shishak was a Libyan prince who founded the 22nd Dynasty and ruled from c 945-924 BC. In 926 BC he invaded Israel and plundered it from end to end. He also took away from the Temple the beautiful gold shields that Solomon had made. All the treasures of the house of the Lord were removed and the king's palace was stripped too. The new king, Rehoboam, had to replace the gold shields with bronze ones, what a come-down. Poor young Rehoboam, (We do have carvings of Assyrian soldiers carting off gold shields from captured temples in the British Museum.)
 
Sheshonq's army also. raged through the country and there is part of a stele with his cartouche on at Megiddo. No doubt he had heard about the treasures of Solomon from the fugitive Jeroboam, and once Solomon had died, and a young, inexperienced king on the throne, than was the time for the wily Pharaoh to strike. (There are two bracelets in the British Museum which Sheshonq gave to one of his sons.)
 
Have you more accounts of these events?
 
Yes. In the temple of Amon at Thebes is a series of carvings which show Pharaoh Shishak celebrating the conquest of Israel and Judah plus the names of the various towns he had captured. I saw them last November when in Luxor.
 
And what happened to all the gold that was pinched from Solomon's temple -- any news of that?
 
Again, yes. In a recent article in the Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR for short) Professor Ken Kitchen of Liverpool University gave details of a- fascinating inscription found at Bubastis. This recorded the "breathtakingly munificent gifts to the gods and goddesses of Egypt." It came to just over 380 tons of silver and gold. Now the Pharaoh who made these was the son of our Biblical Sheshonq, who had the name of Osorkon I. This Pharaoh had only ruled for three years and Prof Kitchen asks how he could possibly have amassed such wealth so soon in his .reign. As he dryly remarks, father Sheshonq had ransacked Jerusalem's palace and temple. only five years before, and wealthy cities of Israel, so it seems very likely that much of this treasure was used by the new Pharaoh to honour the gods of Egypt.
 
Two other points worth a mention.
 
(i) When one of Osorkon's sons died, he was buried in a solid silver coffin which was found in 1939.
(ii) When Alexander the Great captured the Persian town of Susa, he removed some 1180 tons of gold from the vaults. Staggering isn't it! Perhaps we can find out more about gold and treasures at another time, and the Queen of Sheba should get a mention as she gave Solomon a very handsome amount of gold.
 
But what. has Pharaoh Shishak to say to us today?
 
(i) If you meet a way-out character who tears up his cloak and gives you some of the pieces, watch out - there could be dangerous times ahead!
(ii) Solomon amassed great wealth, but this aroused the envy of his neighbours, and it was at great cost to his people.
(iii) God doesn't seem to have been angry at the wealth, but He was angry at the worship of foreign gods (to please Solomon's pagan wives) and the kings ceasing the live by the Commandments.
 
As St Paul later said, "money is the root of all kinds of evil." Still true, it's a dangerous two-edged weapon.

Terry Hampton on Shebna

In 1994, Terry Hampton penned a series of articles for "The Pilot" called "It's in the Bible but." dealing with names that were somewhat obscure mentioned in the Bible, of whom the average reader would know little. Terry, with his interest in archaeology, decided to write articles to tell the readership more about them. They are wonderful lively little pieces and really capture Terry's distinctive voice.
 
Shebna by Terry Hampton (1994)
 
I think that this name will cause some head scratching amongst our readers. Perhaps some keen Bible student at either St Paul's or St Ouen's will immediately shout "Eureka," but will not, trust like Archimedes, run naked through his locality. (For those who have vaguely heard of Archimedes but are not sure what the mathematical genius was on about, he was reported as behaving in this very odd fashion when he made a great discovery as he entered his bath. What he discovered I leave to you, O gentle reader, to find out in your turn!)
 
So, who was Shebna? To find out his place in the Bible, you -will need to turn to the book of the prophet Isaiah, Ch 22 v15. The prophet is sent with a message to Shebna who is over the household." He had made himself a large rock tomb, a tomb on the height. "But he will.lose everything, and another will replace him in the royal household." Clearly Isaiah thought that Shebna had grown too big for his sandals and his come-uppance was about to take place.
 
So what do we know about this man who serviced King Hezekiah (he of the Siloam tunnel fame) round about the year c.701 BC?
 
Until 1870 we had no extra-Biblical details of Shebna at all. Then, an old friend we have met before in connection with the Moabite stone, the French archaeologist Charles Clermont-Ganneau, discovered a tomb lintel. On it was Hebrew writing of three lines, and it was found on the east side of the Kidron valley overlooking Jerusalem. Unfortunately, a fair-sized chunk was missing, which made its decipherment very difficult. The original was taken to England and now resides in the British Museum.
 
The Israeli Museum that we visited in May of this year has to make do with a copy, and Professor Meshorer said to me with a smile, "We would like to have the original back from you one day!"
 
So, for almost one hundred years, the stone inscription was unreadable. Then a brilliant Israeli epigrapher (the skills of deciphering in ancient languages) called Nahman Avigad, got to work on the Shebna stone. He "filled in the gaps" and came up with this translation of the 8th century script: "This is (the sepulchre of. . ) yahu who is over the house. There is no silver and no gold here but (his bones) and the bones of his slave wife with him. Cursed be the man who will open this."
 
It was a brilliant piece of work done in 1953 and has been accepted as the nearest we shall get to a full decipherment. It appears then that this high-flying palace official's full name was SHEBNAYAHU, and this name has turned up on seals of the 8th century BC. He seems, in fact, to have had several posts under King Hezekiah, because as well as the Isaiah reference [Chapter 22] to be over the house" (the same Hebrew word is used on the Inscription) Shebna was also a secretary or Scribe (2 Kings 18:18] who talked to the Assyrian attackers in the great seige of Jerusalem in 701 BC. He is also called"treasurer" in Isaiah 22. (He sounds a bit like Cardinal Wolsey who was also a great gatherer of titles, posts, and loot!)
 
If you remember earlier articles about tombs, and especially the famous Egyptian ones, you will remember that it was usual to try and safeguard the tomb from grave robbers by writing a curse above the tomb. But either the robbers couldn't read it, or didn't read it, and didn't believe it, because they seem to have gone merrily on their way and cleared out many a tomb that today's archaeologists would give a great deal to know what was put inside the tomb at the time of death.
 
It is also interesting to note that Shebnayahu had a slave wife. And as she was buried with him, he obviously cared for her. The bones, you may remember, were gathered together after a time, and put into ossuaries, i.e. chests made of limestone with the name of the deceased carved on them.
 
So, if it is Shebna of Isaiah 22, we have one more person who is mentioned in the Bible and archaeology has found evidence of them. And does Shebnayahu have anything to say to us so many centuries later? 1 think he does, He was a man of wealth and power who Isaiah clearly thought was "feathering his own nest," and we still have examples of that daily in our papers and on TV. But he was also a proud man, and Jesus talks about "Blessed are the meek," He also spent a great deal on a splendid tomb for himself and his slave wife and this poses the question, "What am I leaving behind; what memorial would I want?" A splendid Jersey granite tomb or, and far better, many special memories of acts of love, caring and joy, in the minds of many people.
 
As Peter Marshall, the Scots Chaplain to the American Senate, once wrote, "The true test of the worth of a life is, 'How much shall I be missed,' What matters is not our duration of life, but our donation to life." What will your donation be?

Terry Hampton on Caesarea

In 1994, Terry Hampton penned a series of articles for "The Pilot" called "It's in the Bible but." dealing with names that were somewhat obscure mentioned in the Bible, of whom the average reader would know little. Terry, with his interest in archaeology, decided to write an article to tell the readership more about them.

Caesarea by Terry Hampton (1994)

This week I read that Jesus sailed from Caesarea with Paul, Peter plus Luke in AD 60! Bet you didn't know that. Yes, it's all there in Acts 27.

In case you, O gentle reader, have looked up the passage and searched in vain for Jesus' name in it, let me reassure you that it's not there! This nonsense comes in a recent book by an Australian Dead Sea Scrolls academic, who argues that Jesus didn't die on the Cross, that he was rescued by his disciples (He had, by the way, courted and married Mary of Magdalene - who is the same Mary as Mary of Bethany) and then Jesus manages to escape detection and betrayal during the terrible Fire of Rome (AD 64), and eventually died of old age (and inactivity perhaps?) after AD 70. The purveyor of this puerile rubbish is one Dr Barbara Thiering (or something!)

Now back to "Caesares Maritima". Built by Herod the Great (c 20 BC) it became the great and only port of the Roman province of Judea. Prefects or governors landed there and had Caesarea as their Roman capital - with Jerusalem as the spiritual and Jewish capital. Pilate landed there and in 1961 a stone was found in the Roman theatre with Pilate's name on it.

Whether Jesus ever went there we don't know. Herod also built an aqueduct to bring water from the Mount Carmel range, a distance of some twelve miles or so. The aqueduct is still standing - tho' with large gaps as it goes across the seashore.

The theatre has been rebuilt and the Israel Orchestra play concerts there - it holds about 3,000 people. It was here we believe that the great Rossi Ahisa was tortured to death by the Romans in AD 135 for his support of the false Messiah, Bar Kochba,

Caesarea was the home of the Roman Centurion Cornelius [Acts 10], a gentile who with his "household" [v.2] received the Holy Spirit whilst listening to Peter preach. It was here that Paul was kept for two years during the rule of the corrupt Prefect Felix [Acts 24-27] and where Paul spoke powerfully before the new Governor's judgement seat - on Porcius Testus. As a Roman citizen Paul had the right to appeal to the Emperor Nero for a fresh trial - which he used "Appelatio ad Caesarem."

Jewish Revolt

Caesarea was one of the places where the first Jewish Revolt was sparked off. Anti-Jewish mobs attacked the synagogues and the local Jews had had more than enough of anti-semitism, so they reacted fiercely. Jerusalem Jews were furious at the conduct of the then Prefect Florus, and his constant monetary exactions led some wags to go round with collecting bags calling out "Alms for poor old Florus!" He was not amused and so the first Jewish Revolt erupted in AD 66, only ending with the destruction of the
Temple in the summer of AD 70.

From Caesarea Paul sailed to Rome to stand trial, tho' with a benign Roman centurion called Julius allowing him some very unusual privileges [see Acts 27:31]. As mentioned before, Rossi Ahisa died here, reciting aloud the Shema, or Jewish creed, "The Lord our God is one Lord." It ended "Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength," and then the godly-but mistaken Rossi died.

There is a powerful Jewish legend that Moses had a vision in, which Rossi Ahisa sits teaching the Torah, the Law, to his pupils - with Moses sitting humbly in the eighth row. And when he enquired about the end of this chosen teacher, he saw another image - Ahisa reciting the Shema as the iron combs rent his body."

Caesarea was a magnificently built town. The breakwater was made of the recently developed quick-drying Roman cement. There were great storehouses for grain and oil, a temple to Augustus, a theatre, and (c.3 AD) a small Mithraic Temple. Outside the walls were a hippodrome for chariot racing and an amphitheatre for gladiators and wild beast fights. Today an American expedition is exploring the foreshore and submerged remains and its members have to be qualified scuba divers!

And Caesarea is where we remember Cornelius, the Roman centurion. [Acts 10]. We recall that here was a "devout man who feared God, gave liberally and prayed constantly." A fine man, who was then "set on fire" by receiving the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit". What became of Cornelius and his household? We wish we knew! But I bet anything that he had a house church in his home and that it was a place of refuge and help to all in need, and that Cornelius was an outstanding Christian leader, who witnessed to his men. A challenge there for each of us, surely.  Do I witness for Jesus in my work - is my house available for God's work and for God's people? Spend some time reading, thinking about and praying through Acts 10. There are some powerful and challenging "words of the Lord" for all of us there!

Terry’s Travels - the Hazards of Chutney and the Archeology of Masada

From "The Pilot", 1995, comes one of a short series of articles penned by the Reverend Terry Hampton, at one time Vicar of St Aubin on the Hill Church, and then Rector of Grouville Church.
 
Terry was a gifted speaker, who wore his ability to communicate lightly, and had a very distinctive literary "voice" which perfectly captures the way he spoke as well. He was a good friend, and had a keen interest in archaeology. I remember showing him round the dolmens with his son Mark in the late 1970s (very young at the time) – I was doing dolmen tours even back then!
 
Around 1995, he went on a sabbatical to Israel, partly exploring the current day land, but also to engage in the archaeology and history, and this is one extract from his notes which appeared in "The Pilot", and it is full of lively and amusing anecdotes.
 
Terry's Travels
 
Having sent various missives to the esteemed Editor by camel train, I discovered on a flying visit to the "sceptred isle" that they hadn't arrived. As our flat has a fair number of pigeons zooming around it, I shall perforce have to catch one and attach this epistle to a hind leg and see if that will do the trick. (It did, and your missive, rather soggy, was retrieved from the Royal Square at the end of February - but we didn't have room for if last month!-Ed.)
 
So, how to reduce three months' news to a single page? Impossible, for me, you may think!
 
One of the problems of living in Israel is language. Hebrew is written from right to left for a start, and they don't often put the vowels in words. So shopping has its own pitfalls. Recently Rosemary bought two litres of milk, having carefully read the label. Late at night I tried to pour some only to find it was solid. Careful examination of the label revealed that the "milk" was in fact yoghourt, so if anyone knows any nifty ways of using vast quantities of the stuff, do please drop us a line, quickly!
 
I have a new party trick. Away with dreary games like Pass the Parcel, instead, why not try Chutney Throwing! I discovered previously unknown skills in this much neglected area of human endeavour during the Christmas holidays when Mark, fiancée Jo and Rowan joined us for Christmas. We had bought the chutney, passed, of course, by Rabbi Dimwitz and therefore strictly Kosher, at a many-levelled supermarket. (I can recommend the Apple one, very good.) Unfortunately, in removing the jar from the table, I had forgotten to check the grasp of the lid on the neck of the jar. They were not in close embrace alas, and chutney flew everywhere. The stuff seemed to be alive: carpet, curtains, clothes and cutlery all awash. There are still stains on the Arabian rug on which I sit. Me thinks I might suggest a new Olympic sport - there are already some mighty odd ones like dancing around with a long ribbon - and ask that chutney throwing might be included. After all, its far less dangerous than throwing the hammer, where huge men hurl a heavy ball over 70 metres, and need to be caged in lest they hurt people.
 
Also, the used-to-be-called Third World could compete on equal terms with the more developed countries. They have enormous ancient skills in the uses of chutney making and spice flavouring. Old clothes are best for the sport, and they would have plenty of those; indeed in many countries men only wear a loin cloth. Perhaps one of our readers might like to moot the idea with the Jersey Island Games Committee as new, revolutionary and unusual sports do take a time to be accepted. (Tennis has only joined the Olympic Games quite recently, but that may be due to the behaviour of its male participants.)
 
While over on my "whistle-stop" tour, I gave a talk at St Aubin-on-the-Hill about a planned Jordan/ Israel trip (4th-14th May). It was lovely being back in old haunts, and the church looked superb. Now that Jordan is available to cross over to, we can visit Jerash, Petra and a host of other fascinating places. We hope to have a look at Gadara too, though, whether there will be any pigs around seems unlikely! The undersea viewing dome at Eilat really is something, once we've crossed from Jordan, and the drive up through the Wilderness of Sin, past Timna and on to Bethsheba, will be breathtaking.
 
And if anyone hasn't been to Masada, then we shall certainly make sure they get there, in our car if necessary! (If you want more details of the trip please contact Mrs Denise Waller).
 
Now that I'm back (forgetting to buy some new socks while over), I must get down to some hard work at the Albright Institute. A team of scholars have been writing up the final reports on the Masada dig (1983), and some fascinating material is coming out. For instance, I'm sure you know that the Romans dated their years according to the name of the Consuls. Well, on some wine jars sent to King Herod (good vintage stuff, of course) is the year and the name of Consul Sentius Saturninus.
 
And it was not so many years ago that Herod's name was first found on something archaeological; strange that, as he was the greatest builder in the history of Israel, even greater than Solomon. Certainly history and archaeology play strange tricks. I'm waiting for the volume on the weapons and artillery used at the Masada siege - it's being prepared by an Israeli woman scholar which seems rather odd. Perhaps we shall have a spate of Westerns with women gunslingers: "Kim Basinger and the Sundance
Miss." Ummm!
 
One always has doubts and fears about returning to a former parish. But the welcome I got from Francis and our friends at Grouville Church a few Sundays ago soon banished them. Thank you all for such a special Sunday with you, and for the Wednesday Communion group.
 
I do hope that people will support the Jersey-Keswick Convention in June as they sounded very helpful indeed. The Methodist minister who explained about them told us that the idea of a Jersey-Keswick had originated in St Ouen, and then wondered aloud if any good thing could come out of St Ouen? (Bible students will recognise the reference!) I had the joy and privilege of growing up in St Ouen -but perhaps that would only reinforce the preacher's beliefs!
 
Heyho, time to get this off to Jersey, but first to secure a pigeon. (Memories of Dick Dastardly and Mutley watched with the children many years ago.) Hope it makes it.
 
Terry Hampton