Yosef and a wizened old man met inside Yosef's family home. Between them, a balance scale weighed twelve shekels.
"You will build my grandson's barn for twelve shekels," the man instructed.
"I will get the leather document scroll," Yosef said, "and I will start after the census."
"Where is the census for you, Yosef?" The man asked.
"Bethlehem," Yosef said. "What about you?"
"Jerusalem," the old man said. "My grandson is in Bethlehem. That's where you'll be building the barn."
"Ah, yes. The document!"
Yosef retrieved the leather scroll. He unrolled it, and he read the entire document written in Aramaic and Greek. Yosef laid it before the old man, then ran back to grab a feather and inkwell. After each man had signed his name, the old man rose.
"Shalom, Yosef."
"Lehitraot, Old Man Simeon," Yosef said as he and Simeon strolled toward the door together.
After Simeon had left, Yosef lingered, staring into the night sky and feeling the cool nighttime breeze on his face. After a moment, he stepped into the warmth of his house.
"Abba! Eema!" He called. "I'm going to bed!"
An hour later, he still lay on his sleeping mat, wide awake. Images of Miryam flashed through his mind. The house he was building for them stood half finished. He pushed them from his mind and closed his eyes. A few more minutes passed, and sleep came. All of a sudden, he sat in an unfamiliar room. Lit menorahs shone throughout the room until a shaft of light extinguished them. A shining man with green armor and silver hair rode in the light. The shaft of light disappeared, and the menorah candles shone once again.
"Yosef," the angel said. "Do not be afraid to take Miryam as your wife, for the child within her womb is from Ruach HaKodesh."
The unfamiliar room faded, and Yosef sat up, wide awake again.