The Young Widow

A young woman in Ephesus was famous around town for being faithful to her husband. How sad when he died! It was only expected in the funeral procession that her hair would be tangled and she would wail and beat her naked breast before the crowd. Yet many were surprised when she even followed her husband’s body down into the tomb. For days she continued to weep and tear her hair over him. No one could drag her away, not her parents, not the city officials, who were worried she would starve. But what could they do? Finally they left her with only her favorite slave-woman, who stayed by her side and refilled the lamp whenever it dimmed.