After he is thrown from his horse and knocked unconscious, Roman soldiers storm the house. As Judah and Tirzah watch his procession from the roof of their house, Tirzah leans against some tiles and accidentally loosens them, causing them to fall just as Gratus is passing. The next day, Gratus, the new governor, arrives to a cold reception by the people of Jerusalem. Judah then takes Esther's slave ring and promises to wear it until he meets the woman he will marry.

Later that night, when Judah and Esther are alone, they exchange a passionate kiss.

Judah is attracted to Esther, whom he has not seen since childhood, and grants permission, saying her freedom will be his wedding gift, even though he knows that she is marrying only because her father wishes it. He asks for permission for his daughter Esther to marry a free man, and says that she wants to ask Judah personally for permission. That night, Simonides, the faithful steward of the house of Hur, returns from Antioch with good news of the family's increasing wealth. Judah refuses, severing their friendship. Messala gives Tirzah a beautiful brooch, and Judah presents Messala with a horse he has raised, but the men argue over Messala's insistence that Judah tell him the names of Jewish leaders who will not denounce rebellion. The next day, Messala visits Judah, his mother Miriam and sister Tirzah. Judah is uneasy with the request but, as he is against violence, agrees to speak with other influential Jews. Messala tells Judah that the emperor wants the recent rebelliousness of Judea crushed and asks for his help. On the night of his return, Messala is visited by Judah, and the two men warmly reminisce about happy times of their boyhood. Having spent much of his boyhood in Jerusalem while his father was provincial governor of Judea, Messala became close friends with Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince from a rich and influential family. During the reign of the emperor Tiberius, the Roman officer Messala arrives in Jerusalem as the new Tribune, head of the Roman garrison.

Ben hur wallace