News of Hurriya's miraculous recovery spread quickly throughout the camp. Again curiosity seekers made excuses to pass our tent. This time Sheerah was anxious to talk to them. She told the story of her conversation with Yahweh over and over again. More than once she grabbed me and kissed me saying, "Why didn't I listen to you sooner. Knowing God makes me feel so free, so buoyant!"

During the midday rest, Sheerah and I lay on adjoining pallets. After our night's ordeal, I was overcome with fatigue, but Sheerah was restless. Kept awake by her tossing, I finally asked her if she wanted to talk. She told me she was disturbed by the absence of her kinswoman among the curious. She felt the need to go to their tents and tell them of Yahweh's love. The thought of their remaining as unbelievers haunted her. I urged her to go, but cautioned her not to expect too much, reminding her of her own disbelief when I told of my experience.

As I worked at the loom that afternoon, I watched for Sheerah's return. Hours passed before I caught sight of her slumped form walking slowly toward the tent. Standing to greet her, I welcomed her with open arms. Seeing the hurt etched in her eyes, I didn't press, but prepared her loom. I knew she would talk in time. As she worked silently, the tension seemed to ease somewhat. Finally she began to tell me her story.

When she arrived at the tents of her people, no one spoke to her. All continued to work with averted eyes. It was as though she was invisible. She approached several women who turned and walked away, Finally an outspoken woman, Pigat, the one who had accused me at the well, could stand the silence no longer. Striding up to Sheerah, she stood belligerently in front of her and spoke spitefully.

"Don't you know you are no longer welcome here. Some sympathized with you when you were forced to become maid to the dirty, conniving foreigners. I told them their sympathy was wasted, that you were a traitor willing to partake of their wealth just to regain some vestige of comfort. Now they understand you have abandoned your heritage, discarded your gods for some invisible deity. You are no longer the daughter of our King; our kinship with you is ended." Turning, she deliberately raised her foot and shook dust from her sandal before disappearing into her tent.

As Sheerah recalled Pigat's accusation, tears ran down her cheeks. Her pain was not ended; more was to follow. Sheerah had fallen to her knees in the dust outside the tent and begged the women to allow her to speak. As she knelt, several young women approached and stood before her. They were cousins with whom she had played and gossiped. They gave her an opportunity to defend herself.

Knowing the older women would be listening behind closed tent flaps, Sheerah had spoken loudly. She told of her own struggle against Yahweh. She told of Hurriya's dangerous illness and miraculous recovery. Begging them not to be close-minded, she told of her encounter with Yahweh, of her challenge and His response. Her point that Yahweh was a God of love, not of fear, was totally lost on her audience.

When she finished speaking, a young woman stepped from the back of the group. She was the daughter of the high priestess. Facing Sheerah, she spoke for the others. Drawing a medallion from under her tunic, she revealed a likeness of Anath concealed there. Indicating that they had not abandoned their gods, she made a threat. When her mother reestablished contact with the gods, a sacrifice would be made to appease them and to assure the downfall of the nomads. Hurriya had better not wander off; she would make the perfect sacrifice. The supremacy of Baal would be proven when the one spared by Yahweh appeased Baal's anger.

The Shechemite women had remained untouched by Sheerah's story. They saw her conversion as an attempt to gain favor with our family. Despondency and fear had replaced Sheerah's buoyancy of the morning. My assurance that Yahweh would not have saved Hurriya only to have her sacrificed to evil did little to cheer Sheerah. After eliciting a promise not to involve Papa, she asked me to pray that God would strengthen her faith. Her new trust was being attacked; the women had appealed to old, inbred fears. I knew her spiritual struggle would have to be fought alone. All I could do was pray for Yahweh to comfort her.

Knowing that Sheerah needed a change and desiring contact with Judith, I suggested that Sheerah go out to the goatherds the next day and find Judith. I explained Judith's part in my getting to Shechem to see Sheerah. Her punishment dictated only that she couldn't talk to me; it said nothing about my maid. I asked Sheerah to apologize to Judith and beg her forgiveness.

I hoped the two would become friends, figuring both needed to talk to an objective person. After I promised to keep a close watch on Hurriya, she agreed to go. Taking a small lunch, she left. Sitting in the shade watching the children play, I contemplated the threat made against Hurriya.

Just as I concluded that I should seek the counsel of someone wiser, Aunt Rachel approached. When she asked me to watch Joseph, I agreed, but asked her to stay for a moment. Pouring out the story with the ommission of Sheerah's lineage, I waited for her response. Thoughtfully, she sat down beside me.

We both knew that Sheerah would be upset if Papa searched the tents of the Shechemites and destroyed their gods. Her hurt would come not from the removal of the gods, but from the betrayal of a trust. Yet Aunt Rachel was concerned about Hurriya's safety and the safety of the camp. She knew religious frenzy and righteous anger could lead to foolish acts.

Although the women would be doomed to failure if they chose to try to retaliate, they could cause considerable damage before subdued. She also was afraid the women might somehow make contact with the inhabitants of Bethel and find allies among Baal worshippers there. We decided to keep the information to ourselves, but to watch the Shechemites closely. Aunt Rachel would try to find some way to communicate our concerns to Papa without betraying Sheerah's trust. Meanwhile, Hurriya would be kept with either Sheerah or me at all times.

Sheerah returned that afternoon looking more relaxed and refreshed. The dark circles from the previous sleepless night seemed to heighten the anxiety still lurking in the depths of her eyes, but the tension was gone. I had purposefully waited until evening to go to the spring for water, hoping to be able to speak to Sheerah alone. We took Hurriya with us, but she skipped ahead ignoring our conversation.

Just as I had hoped, Judith had welcomed Sheerah. The message Sheerah brought gladdened my heart. Judith felt no animosity toward me. She was enjoying her time as a goatherd. The time spent alone had brought her to a reliance on God. She had shared with Sheerah that observance of nature had brought her to an appreciation of its creator. Sheerah in turn had shared Hurriya's healing and her conversion.

They were so engrossed in their conversation neither noticed the approach of Asher, Judith's half-brother, Jacob's youngest son by Zilpah. When he stopped behind Sheerah and cleared his throat, the startled girls quickly tightened their loosened veils. Judith then explained Sheerah's presence and begged Asher not to tell. After looking Sheerah over, he had indicated his only concern was with the goats. As overseer of the goatherds, he had come to check for losses or problems.

The rest of the time, Sheerah spent telling me how handsome Asher was. I had never thought of him as good looking, but then I hadn't really thought about it. Asher was ten years older than Judith and I, so when I was old enough to remember playing with Judith, he had already attained his manhood.

Now that I thought about it, I had to agree that he was attractive, but then so were all of my brothers and half-brothers. Like all of my family, Asher had olive skin darkened by the time he spent outdoors. He was of medium build with deep-set brown eyes. His main distinguishing feature was his majestic nose. Sheerah commented on the intensity of his almost black eyes and the strong muscular legs revealed below the tunic tucked into his girdle for freedom of movement.

Sheerah's mooning reminded me of my infatuation with Shem. Although we were the same age, I felt older, almost like an indulgent Aunt looking back on my adolescence. Relieved that her mind was no longer occupied with Hurriya, I answered her questions and told a few stories Judith had shared about Asher.

During the next few weeks, I noticed Asher around the camp often. I wondered idly if it had anything to do with Sheerah, but figured I was just more aware of his presence because of her interest. Ordinarily I paid little attention to the men and so was uncertain of how much time Asher usually spent in camp. My uncertainty, though, soon ended.

Since my time was near, I was plagued by a sore back and would sometimes lay down before midday to ease the pressure. One morning the pain was more intense and I went to my pallet quite early. As I lay, I listened to the murmur of Mama's and Zilpah's voices in the front chamber of the tent. A change in the tenor of Zilpah's voice made me strain to understand their conversation.

Zilpah was asking Mama's advice concerning Asher. It seems he was taken with Sheerah and wanted Zilpah to speak to Jacob about a marriage. Zilpah wanted to know what Mama knew about Sheerah. To my surprise, Mama spoke well of Sheerah as a possible mate. She even indicated that Sheerah's public embracement of Yahweh would be in her favor.

Her main caution was that Papa might reject Sheerah because of her impure bloodline. Zilpah was afraid Asher would attempt to lay with Sheerah if action was not taken soon. Mama told Zilpah that she would get Rachel to help her convince Papa to go to Zilpah that evening. If he came to her, she would have the upper hand in the ensuing discussion. Mama promised to support Zilpah in her request.

In my excitement, I forgot my discomfort. I went outside to work at my loom in the shade where I could watch for Sheerah. She had gone to see Judith, using the excuse that she had to gather a rare herb that was supposed to ease my back pain. When she returned just before midday, I convinced her to rest with me in the shade near the spring. I told Mama the stale air in the tent increased my discomfort. As soon as Hurriya slept, I planned to tell Sheerah my discovery.

Before I could speak, Sheerah said she needed my help. Today she had gone to the place where the herbs grow before going to find Judith. While she was hurriedly digging, a shadow had fallen across her. Looking up, she found herself staring into Asher's hypnotic eyes. Without saying a word, he had squatted beside her and quickly loosened the roots she had been gathering. He then stood, took her hand and led her into the shade of a nearby grove.

Still silent, he motioned her to sit and then sat beside her. After reaching over and removing her veil, he had finally spoken. He told her that he wanted to be with her as a man and woman. Although her slave status would probably allow him to take her without fear of punishment, he indicated that he would refrain as long as there was hope for another solution. Because Asher was unmarried, he could not take her as a concubine. They wanted me to help convince Papa to allow a marriage.

Stifling an impulse to laugh because of my own knowledge, I hurriedly began to tell her of the conversation I had overheard that morning. We could hardly contain our excitement. Neither of us had any doubt of Papa's blessing since the women supported Asher. The remainder of the time we spent planning Sheerah's bridal attire. I found it ironic that the dowry Papa had promised to furnish her would remain in the family.

It was difficult to sleep that night knowing Sheerah's future was being discussed in Zilpah's tent. I'm not sure what we expected the following morning, but it wasn't life as usual. That, however was exactly what occurred. The women went about their chores and the men departed to oversee the herds.

Seeing Asher leave with the rest, I wondered how long we would have to remain in suspense. Agitated by the uncertainty, I tangled the threads on my loom, throwing it aside in disgust. Mama assumed my ill temper was the moodiness of my pregnancy and suggested I rest. Telling her the tent was too stuffy, I took Sheerah and we proceeded to our favorite shady spot near the spring

We had hardly settled ourselves when Asher appeared in the trees behind us. Sheerah had her back to him and so didn't see him motion for me to take Hurriya away. Taking Hurriya by the hand, I offered to show her a hidden vale where wild flowers grew. When Sheerah arose to accompany us, I shook my head and hurried off. As we left, Sheerah made as though to follow us. I heard her startled gasp as Asher grabbed her arm.

Later when we reapproached the spring, we found Sheerah sobbing abjectly. Telling Hurriya to make a garland of the flowers, I commanded her to remain there where I could see her, but far enough away that she would not hear our discussion. I assured her that Sheerah was unharmed, but needed to talk to me privately about what had made her sad. She agreed to stay back as long as she could watch Sheerah and be sure of her safety.

Going to Sheerah, I sat beside her and put my arms around her. When her sobs diminished, she told me Papa had denied Asher's request. He had wanted to take her then and force Papa to allow a marriage to keep his son from disgrace. She had begged him to wait. Telling him that both Mama and I supported his cause, she asked him to give us a chance to change Papa's mind.

He had agreed to give us five days. If we failed, she had arranged to meet him and lay with him. I reminded her of Shem's failed plan and asked if she was prepared to suffer the pain and humiliation that would come if Papa still refused. Asher had convinced her his plan could not fail. Before leaving, Asher had pulled her close and kissed her. The memory of the kiss hardened Sheerah's nerve. She dried her eyes, anxious to return to camp where I could enlist Mama's aid.

As we walked toward camp, I suddenly gasped in pain. Remembering the stories of the pain of labor, I told Sheerah I feared my time had come. Forgetting Asher, we quickened our pace. Just as we approached the tent, another pain came. Seeing me stop and clutch Sheerah, Mama came over. Taking in my pallor, the sweat on my brow, and the tenseness around my eyes, Mama sent Sheerah to fetch the midwife. She took me inside and bid me remove my dress before lying down clad only in my short tunic.

Although the women of the family always assisted in a birth, there was one woman known for her knowledge of childbirth, the midwife. Her presence at a birth gave assurance that everything possible would be done for the mother. Because of the high risk at birth, those not needed to assist gathered in the anteroom to pray for the health of the mother and the child.

With the arrival of the midwife, I could hear the voices of other women gathering outside to wait. After checking my abdomen, the midwife indicated she didn't think it was time yet. She instructed me to tell her when the next pain began. When I told her, she placed her hands on my belly and waited. Shaking her head, she told Mama to tell the others to go back to work. She was certain it was false labor. Her prediction was correct. The next two pains were mild, and then they ceased altogether.

After everyone had left, Sheerah reminded me of my promise to help her. Knowing that the baby could easily come within the time allotted by Asher, I felt action was urgent. I asked Sheerah to send Mama to me and then lay back to wait. Mama had already heard from Zilpah of Papa's denial. She did not think we had any chance of changing his mind. Only after I assured her of Asher's desperation did she agree to help.

Wanting to keep me calm and quiet, she sent a message requesting Papa come to our tent. Leaving Sheerah to watch me, she continued her morning chores. Sheerah told me she planned to hide in the front chamber and listen to our conversation with Papa, but I discouraged her. I was afraid for her to hear a refusal by Papa; it would only send her straight to Asher's waiting arms. Instead I reminded her of Hurriya's danger, challenging Sheerah not to leave her untended.