The Prophetess - Deborah's Story by Jill Eileen Smith

Author:Jill Eileen Smith [Smith, Jill Eileen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042030, FIC042040, FIC027050, Deborah (Biblical judge)—Fiction, Women in the Bible—Fiction, Bible (Old Testament—History of Biblical events—Fiction), Bible fiction
ISBN: 9781493401659
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2015-12-18T05:00:00+00:00

Jael looked up from her grinding and glanced across the circle of tents at Daniyah talking with Raja, Fareed’s wife. The girl’s curves could be seen beneath her robe and tunic, something the guards had surely noticed. Uneasiness crept into Jael’s heart. The girl needed a husband to keep her safe.

Safe. Did such a thing exist in this land? As long as men like Sisera roamed the earth, there was no place that would ever feel truly safe. Sisera could kill any husband they might find for Daniyah and take her from him. Even Alim’s tents were not free of his reach, though the distance made it seem so. But Heber’s attempts to send for his niece Parisa, daughter of his younger brother, for Ghalib, and safe passage home for Daniyah had met with scorn once Alim got word of it.

She tsked her tongue, aggravated with herself. She should have pushed Heber to make peace with Alim from the moment the fight ensued rather than allow pride to send them away. They should have humbled themselves, submitted to Alim’s leadership, however hotheaded and foolish the man was. She released a pent-up breath. It was too late now. They were truly alone in a sea of peoples they did not know.

The women departed into Raja’s tent, and Jael returned to her grinding, wishing the constant motion would take her thoughts with them. She stopped to rest and rubbed the crick in her back. Men’s voices came from a distance.

She stood, cautious. Please don’t come out of the tent, she silently begged Raja and Daniyah. They knew to stay hidden if male voices they did not recognize were heard in the camp. Jael alone would face any intruders, though her heart skipped a beat with every memory of Sisera’s bold touch.

She fingered the small dagger strapped to her side. Heber had insisted she carry the thing, but she had never used it for anything but cutting meat from the bone to put into a stew. She walked slowly toward the coming men, whose voices quieted as they approached. And then Barak’s face appeared as he emerged from the trees.

“Barak,” she said loud enough for the girls to hear. “You have come.” She noted Keshet at his right hand and several men behind them.

“Jael.” Barak greeted her with a smile, and Daniyah chose that moment to rush from Raja’s tent to join her mother. “Daniyah,” the man said, his voice kind. But Jael did not miss the way his eyes quickly caught her frame. He too had noticed the changes in Daniyah. Jael searched his face for some hint of interest, but he turned back to Jael as though Daniyah were a sister or friend, nothing more.

“Is Heber working?” Barak glanced toward Heber’s tent, which showed no sign of her husband or sons.

“Yes, my lord. He is preparing an order for Sisera,” Jael said.

Barak nodded. He knew. Of course Fareed had told him. “Has Sisera given a time when he will come for it?”

Jael studied him a moment.

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