Book Blurb:
While the Israelites struggle to
occupy the Promised Land of God, Mahlah bat Zelophehad is orphaned and left to
care for her four sisters. But daughters of the dead are unable to inherit
land, and it will take a miracle for Mahlah to obtain the means to care for her
sisters and uphold the vow she made to her dying mother.
Mahlah must seek Moses, the leader of her people, and request something extraordinary—the right for a daughter to inherit her deceased father’s land. A right that will upset the ox-cart of male inheritance and cast her in the role of a rebel.
But, God is the protector of the orphan and the widow, and five orphaned daughters need His help. With God, anything is possible. Even changing man’s tradition.
Mahlah must seek Moses, the leader of her people, and request something extraordinary—the right for a daughter to inherit her deceased father’s land. A right that will upset the ox-cart of male inheritance and cast her in the role of a rebel.
But, God is the protector of the orphan and the widow, and five orphaned daughters need His help. With God, anything is possible. Even changing man’s tradition.
Excerpt:
Back and forth inside their tent, Mahlah
paced. “God of Jacob, give me wisdom. Is this what You would have Your servant
do? I see no other way to save my sisters and carry my family name into Canaan,
Your Promised Land.” Sweat pooled above her lip. “Cast out the tremble from my
limbs, for my legs do not want to march me into a meeting of men.”
Milcah flung open the tent flap. “Nemuel
and Reuben are leaving for the assembly. It won’t be long now.”
“Come.” Mahlah unfolded an alabaster-colored veil. “We need to change
your head covering. We must all be a sight to behold.”
“That is the same color as mine.” Tirzah shifted her covering as if it
was somehow tainted because of the similarity to her sister’s veil. Her bottom
lip plumped.
“You can wear mine.” Noah removed her veil. “The scarlet edging will
match your cheeks.”
“You don’t mind changing?” Tirzah asked.
“Not at all.” Noah secured the ruby fringed covering on her young
sister.
Hoglah shook out her robe. “Noah could wear a rag on her head, and still
all the men’s eyes would turn toward her.”
“Says the girl in the indigo weave who is as eyecatching as any woman in
camp.””
Hoglah blushed at Noah’s compliment.
“No more fussing.” Mahlah wished her words did not sound so weary, but
if she did not force herself to leave their tent in the next breath, she might
be tempted to squabble all night. “We need to pray and ask God to open Moses’
heart to our plight.”
“Shouldn’t we pray for all the leaders’ hearts to be open?” Milcah cast
a glance at her sisters.
Milcah was correct once again.
“We shall.” Mahlah grasped Milcah’s hand. “Nothing is too hard for our
God. He has felled kingdoms and given us walled cities to live in. He can
change a man’s beliefs.”
Noah sighed. “Pray, Mahlah, before our knees buckle from all our woes.”
“God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; You are the father to the fatherless.
Soften the hearts of the elders to our plea. May we inherit land in our father’s
name, so we can stay together as a family.”
Barb’s Bio:
Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast
Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. Barb is
published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little-known Bible characters
to light in her stories. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction
Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance
Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Barb has a
nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries
in chocolate. Find out more about Barb’s books at http://www.barbarambritton.com/books.html
Connect with Barb:
You can find “Lioness” on Amazon and
other retailers.
Comments
Readers can find the Biblical account in: Numbers 26:33, 27:1-11, chapter 36 and Joshua 17:3-6