When Papa and Mama entered the tent, Sheerah left quietly. Taking in my relaxed appearance and swollen belly, Papa demanded, "Why have I been summoned if Dinah's life is not endangered and the baby is yet unborn?"

Standing with eyes downcast, Mama responded, "I know this is none of our affair, but I didn't want Dinah agitated. I was afraid the baby would come too early if I did not arrange for her to talk to you."

Frowning Papa said, "Well, what is so urgent? I have more important things to do than listen to your babbling."

Angered by Mama's apparent cowardice and lack of support, I said, "I am concerned about your refusal to allow Asher to wed Sheerah."

Papa responded, "Leah, how could you indulge her impudence? I do not have to explain my actions to women!"

As he turned to leave, I called out, "Wait, Papa. She is my friend. She saved my life. It is in your power to grant her happiness. It's not too much to ask."

Turning back and sinking down beside my pallet, Papa said, "I know I am in her debt. I have promised her freedom and a dowry. It may be insufficient payment for your life, but I cannot give her my son also. He is my tenth son, a blessing from Yahweh. Yahweh promised to make our descendants as numerous as the sand. We are to spread Yahweh's glory throughout the land. The wives of my sons must bring honor to God. Sheerah is a slave. What do we know of her lineage?"

I had deliberately kept Sheerah's paternity from my family, afraid of their wrath. I still was unwilling to reveal who she was. Instead I said, "You have promised Sheerah her freedom, and she has embraced Yahweh. You may find a woman willing to forsake her own gods when she marries into our family, but that won't make her a true believer. Sheerah has a firsthand knowledge of Yahweh. She will support Asher in his worship."

With a sigh, Papa said, "There is still the matter of lineage. I'm sorry, Dinah, but I cannot change my edict. Asher will have to wait until I find him a suitable wife."

Before he could stand, Sheerah entered. Coming to stand beside me, she spoke. "I can answer the question of ancestry." I watched, my fear mingled with admiration as she continued. "My father is Hamor, King of Shechem. My ancestors were pagan, but their bloodline was unblemished. I have abandoned their beliefs, but I do not deny their kinship. Is the aunt of your expected grandchild not good enough for your son?"

Standing to his full height beside Sheerah, Papa looked down and spoke, "I admire your courage and pride. I must pray and ask Yahweh's preference before I make a decision. If Yahweh gives His blessing, I cannot withhold mine."

After he left, Sheerah slumped down beside me. Taking her hand, I squeezed it and told her how proud I was of her. She suggested that we pray for Yahweh to make clear to Papa His blessing on a union between her and Asher. I had forgotten Mama's presence until she spoke, apologizing for her seeming timidity. Explaining that she had felt Papa would be less angered if she allowed the idea to be all mine, she said she had planned to argue my position if needed. Sheerah's intervention had made it unnecessary. However, she would be happy to join us in our petition of Yahweh.

For the next few days, we impatiently waited for Papa's decision. Sheerah had gone to see Judith and left a message for Asher about Papa's prayer vigil. Neither of us had seen him since the day by the spring and so didn't know if he had gotten the message. We had not told Papa of Asher's time limit, but hoped he would make a decision quickly. Sheerah feared Asher would not be put off again.

The third day after Sheerah's confrontation of Papa is one we have all long remembered. Shortly after daybreak Zilpah appeared at our tent asking to see Sheerah. Papa had sent for Asher, but Zilpah did not know where to find him. She thought perhaps Sheerah would know. Sheerah said she didn't, but suggested Zilpah send someone to see if Judith knew since she had acted as messenger for Asher and Sheerah. Judith had left only moments before, so Zilpah caught her easily. Judith said Asher was fasting and praying in a private place near where she pastured her goats. She would send him home.

Finding Asher in the hidden gully where he had built an altar to Yahweh, she told him of the summons. Before his arrival, I had gone into labor. Sheerah had notified the midwife, and was alternating between checking on my progress and watching for Asher. After he arrived and went into Papa's tent, Sheerah came and sat with me. Although she was excited about the possibility of becoming an aunt, she was more excited about the prospect of becoming a bride. Finding her presence more of a disturbance than a comfort, I finally suggested she go out and check on the children.

My labor was progressing slowly. The midwife soothed me, telling me the first was always slow and painful. She suggested I weave or sew to take my mind off the pain. Mama smiled at her suggestion pointing out that I had little patience with such tasks at the best of times. She tried to distract me with amusing stories from my childhood. Sheerah's reentry around midday provided a diversion.

While watching the children, she had been summoned by Zilpah. Since she had no parents to tell her the news, Zilpah and Papa had chosen to announce the betrothal themselves. After Sheerah had been informed of Papa's blessing, Asher had entered with a betrothal gift for her. Taking her hand he had placed a small gold band on her finger saying, "See by this ring you are set apart for me." At Asher's request, the customary betrothal year had been shortened. In three months, they would wed. At their request, an additional wedding gift would be the end of Judith's punishment. She would return to the camp as my maid to help me when Sheerah left.

The excitement over Sheerah's news had done what Mama and the midwife had been unable to accomplish; take my mind off the labor pain. For a while Sheerah and I sat and happily discussed her wedding. By dusk, my baby still had not come. The pains were becoming more regular and stronger. Sheerah held my hand while Mama and the midwife conferred. Although I could not hear their words, I was sure they expected complications.

Returning to my pallet, the midwife explained that the baby might be out of position. While she told me how she was going to try to turn the baby, Mama bathed my brow. With Sheerah and Mama holding me, the midwife manipulated my sore belly. Then she felt inside to see if she had done any good. Withdrawing her hand, she said the baby was still turned sideways. Even in the haze of pain, I could tell she feared for both my life and the life of my child.

At this precise moment, Judith burst into the tent. She was followed by
Aunt Rachel and Zilpah. Zilpah took Sheerah's, place at my side saying simply that she was needed. As the other-three exited, I heard Hurriya's name. Added to my fear for myself was a nameless fear for Hurriya. In my pain I couldn't remember why Hurriya might be in danger, but I sensed its presence. My cry to Yahweh ended in a scream as an unbelievable stabbing pain wrenched my body. As the sound of my own cry echoed in my ears, I heard another cry, the small cry of my son.

At the last minute, the baby had turned. His head full of black curls was delivered first. Before washing him and rubbing him with salt, Mama showed me my robust infant son. While I watched Mama clean the baby and wrap him in swaddling clothes, the midwife continued to work over me. I had been badly torn by the child's large head and it took some time for her to stop the bleeding. At some point the long labor and loss of blood took its toll. I fell into a deep sleep. No one was able to rouse me for two days. A temporary nursemaid had to be found for my son. While my life hung in the balance, so did Hurriya's.

Judith had come with information told her by a Shechemite goatherd. The girl had been absent when Sheerah went to the Shechemite tent area, but had been told of it by a friend. She and others were sympathetic to Sheerah, but lived in fear of the priestess.

Hearing the sacrifice of Hurriya was planned for that night in a hidden clearing where they had found an altar, the girl had determined somehow to pass on the information. Pasturing her goats near Judith, the girl had sought an opportunity to share her story. It was evening and Judith was preparing to leave before the girl had enough nerve to approach her. After returning her goats to the fold, Judith had gone immediately in search of Hurriya.

From her knowledge of Asher's secret altar, Judith surmised this to be the place where the sacrifice would be held. Her first job was to determine Hurriya's safety. When she had not found Hurriya with the other children, she had sought out Sheerah. Questioning of the other children soon revealed that Hurriya had left with a Shechemite girl not long before dark. The women then went to Papa. With Asher leading the way, Papa, his sons, and many male servants left for the hidden ravine. Although Sheerah and Judith were told to stay behind, they slipped away after the men had left.

Judith and Sheerah circled around so they could watch undetected from the high side of the gully. From their hiding place they could look into the clearing. Below them, the ravine was filled with women. The scene around the altar was brightly lit with torches. The remainder was obscured by flickering shadows giving the whole setting an unreal quality.

Dressed in a pure white robe, her hair braided with ribbons, Hurriya was being led in a trance-like state towards the altar. The priestess stood statuesquely behind the altar, both arms raised. Her robe was a work of art, pure white interwoven with golden threads. Her sash was blood red as was the band in her hair. She was flanked on both sides by women similarly clad only without the golden threads. These women were chanting eerily.

As Hurriya stood before the altar, Sheerah hissed that she was going to have to do something; the men would arrive too late. Just as she spoke, Papa stepped from the shadows behind the priestess. Grabbing her and placing a knife at her throat, he demanded that Hurriya be released. In a commanding voice he informed the women that armed men surrounded the ravine.

The women would be escorted to their tents where they would be held under guard

until their fate was decided. Anyone resisting would be killed on the spot. The priestess and her cohorts were bound before being placed under guard.

Sheerah turned to make her way down to Hurriya. Tripping she fell into Asher's arms. He and two others had been stationed behind the girls without their knowledge. Finally overcome by the day's trauma, Sheerah burst into tears. Picking up the distraught girl, Asher carried her down the hill. Depositing her back on her feet, he asked roughly if she was all right. Laughing through her tears, she nodded. Drying her tears with the sleeve of his mantle, he suggested they find Hurriya. While the others escorted the women to their tents, Asher accompanied Sheerah, Judith and Hurriya back to our camp.

The drama of the night had not ended. Shortly after Papa returned to his tent to confer with his sons on the disposition of the women, a servant ran up with the information that a camel was approaching. Just outside the circle of tents, a man dismounted from the camel, leaving it with a servant.

Necho strode into the enclosure where Papa waited to welcome his unexpected guest. After offering refreshment and making the customary inquiries about Necho's health and journey, Papa explained his dilemma. Necho suggested Papa sell him the women. He was sure he could get a fair price for them in Egypt. Asher reminded Papa that some of the women had joined the priestess out of fear, not loyalty. All agreed the priestess and her cohorts should be sold. The others would be given a choice. All who remained would be required to take an oath promising to remain loyal to our clan. They would also be required to burn all likenesses of their gods. It was morning before Papa was free to view his new grandson.

Mama vows a tear escaped as he held him. Standing beside my pallet holding my son, Papa looked across at Mama and acknowledged that I was right. With a smile, he said, "He is truly a blessing from Yahweh." Taking the baby, Mama reminded him to tell me when I awakened. Papa assured her that he would, and to her surprise he did tell me when I recovered. It wasn't often Papa admitted to being wrong.

After checking on me and my son, Papa asked to see Sheerah. He asked how Hurriya had withstood the ordeal. Now that the effects of the opiate used to daze sacrificial victims were wearing off, Sheerah was sure Hurriya would suffer only from a mild headache. Her memory of the night's events was distorted and dreamlike. She didn't even realize her life had been in danger.

Papa then told Sheerah of his plan for the Shechemite women. He asked if she wanted to go with him to inform them of their destiny. She might know if any claiming to be loyal were in reality ringleaders of the malcontents. Reluctant to confront her kinswoman as a betrayer, she declined.

At midday Necho arrived with several servants. At the Shechemite tents, the women were brought out one by one. Necho inspected each and offered a price that a scribe recorded. The women who had elected to stay behind stood to one side and watched the barter. Some cried silently while others stared stonily ahead.

The bought women were bound and made to stand in the midday sun while the sale continued. Those with female children were allowed to take their daughters. Male children old enough to remember and harbor resentment were also sent with their mothers. Young males were required to stay behind. As each was separated from his mother, wails added to the sadness of the scene. The agonized cries of the mothers who had not been told of the impending separation when given the choice of Egyptian slavery could be heard throughout our tents. Asher later described this to Sheerah who in turn told me. Although I never saw the scene or heard the cries, the wailing of my son when I would leave him for only a short time would remind me, tearing at my heartstrings.

When I wakened to bright sunshine, I was quickly reminded of my son by the ache of my swollen breasts. Realizing my milk must have come in while I slept, I turned to pick up my son and allow him to relieve my soreness. Not seeing the small pallet I had prepared earlier, I panicked. Certain that something terrible had happened to the child, I cried out in alarm. Sheerah entered with Mama just behind her. Assuring me my son was unhurt, they explained my difficult delivery and the need for a temporary nursemaid.

While Mama gave me leben, bread and water, Sheerah went to bring the baby. Hugging my child to me and watching with fascination as he began to suckle, I suddenly remembered Sheerah's exit just before his birth. Turning to her I asked about Hurriya. While I nursed, she told me of the chilling events through which I had slept.