Abigail by Jill Smith

Author:Jill Smith [Smith, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Christian, FIC042030, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781441207715
Publisher: Revell
Published: 2010-02-01T06:00:00+00:00

22

Abigail carried a large earthenware jug filled with water atop her head from the well to the outskirts of Lachish near the edge of Israelite territory. The six-day journey across the barren wastelands of Judah to this place had been slow going with the women and children and flocks of sheep and goats. David had left some of Nabal’s shepherds and servants in Maon to manage Nabal’s estate in their absence, but he’d taken some of the herd along to provide for their ever-growing entourage.

Abigail teetered as she lowered the jug to the earth near the campfire, then caught herself before she lost her balance. Ahinoam squatted nearby, flipping flat bread on smooth stones set over a low flame, and lentil stew bubbled in an earthenware pot above another small fire. The spicy scent of cumin made Abigail’s stomach protest her self-imposed secret fast. She pressed the back of her hand to her forehead and drew in a slow breath.

Why, Yahweh? Why do You not stop my husband from making a horrible mistake? Why won’t he listen to reason?

At least David did listen at first. Six days ago before they left the wilderness of Judah, some of his advisors had tried to talk David into reconsidering this trek into Philistine land. But enough of the people supported him, including Ahinoam, to convince him he was doing the right thing, the only thing to ensure their safety.

Abigail worried her lower lip as she knelt beside Ahinoam to scoop the finished flat bread into a clay bowl, and Ahinoam poured more batter onto the stones. Life would change the moment they set foot on Philistine soil. Would Yahweh go with them? She shuddered at the thought.

“Are you all right, Abigail?” Her mother’s voice lacked the sharp edge she’d noted since they left the wilderness. Her parents were not in favor of this move either, but her father would never complain or raise an objection to David, and Daniel thought David could do no wrong. “Here, let me take that.” She felt her mother grip her elbow as she took hold of the bowl of flat bread with the other hand. “Sit over there. You look like you’re about to fall over.”

Abigail held a hand to her middle and moved to do as her mother commanded, her legs struggling to carry her to the makeshift bench.

“I’ll take this to the men and be right back. Don’t move.”

She couldn’t move if she tried. Oh, Adonai, why do You not answer my prayers? She’d prayed and fasted for six long days, but David’s scouts had returned from Gath with the good news that Achish, their king, was quite willing to accept David’s mercenary army and was waiting to welcome them at the palace. How would they avoid contamination from idols if they lived in the midst of them? Hadn’t Adonai called them out to be a separate people? Did David think himself or his followers immune from such temptation?

“When was the last time you ate?” Abigail looked up into her mother’s concerned face.

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