1. Zechariah
Although Zechariah doesn't play a major role in the Bible, he takes center stage in this novel. This is because I found it puzzling that he was struck mute simply for doubting Gabriel's words, given his and his wife's blameless devotion to God. However, similar situations in the Bible, such as Abraham and Sarah's initial disbelief and laughter, made me wonder if there was more to Gabriel's action. This led me to explore possible reasons behind Gabriel's action.
Given the Sadducees' control of the temple and their denial of angelic appearances, combined with the high priest's ties to King Herod, I felt it necessary to explore why Zechariah was silenced, leading to this narrative.
Zechariah's prayers in the text draw heavily from the words of Jeremiah in the Book of Lamentations. Indeed, even the most faithful and righteous individuals are not immune to frustration.
2. John the Baptist's Hometown
JJohn the Baptist is commonly thought to have been born in Ein Karem. Located about 8km southwest of Jerusalem, Ein Karem, meaning 'spring of the vineyard,' was likely settled early due to its spring.
Although it might seem logical for Zechariah and Elizabeth to have originally lived there, given John's birthplace, I chose to have them move there after the pregnancy to better reflect their circumstances at the time.
