Early the next morning I arose as usual to help prepare the morning meal. Before fashioning cakes with yesterday's dough, I pounded the grain in the hand mill without having to be prompted hoping to be sent to draw water. However, I was disappointed to find that we still had enough water in the skins hanging from the center pole to last several more days.

Although the well was a public place, Papa felt his land proposal would be better received if we refrained from partaking of the precious commodity until negotiations were under way. I swallowed my frustration, offering to help dress the little ones. I was determined to be on my best behavior. If a chance came to go to the well or the market, I did not want Mama to have any excuse for leaving me behind.

I made sure the young ones had stored their sleeping mats properly and then offered to supervise them while mother arranged the reception room at the front of the tent. The previous day we only had time to pitch the tent and arrange the sleeping room before stopping to fix the evening meal. Afterwards everyone had been too tired to finish arranging the inside of the tent. Instead we had sat outside in the cool singing psalms of rejoicing and rehashing our good fortune in the meeting with Uncle Esau. Everyone speculated about the celebration that would occur if all went well in Papa's negotiations with the King of Shechem.

Today I wanted to be outside when the men left for Shechem. I could observe the villagers undetected and be the first to know of the men's return. Shortly after the children and I went to the back of the tent to play, I saw Papa, Rueben, my oldest brother, and Simeon heading for Shechem. Smiling to myself, I began to plot a way to get Simeon alone so I could coax the details of the meeting from him.

Meanwhile, I watched the women as they came to draw water from the well outside the city gates. Everything was fine until Aunt Rachel came and asked if I would watch Joseph while she visited with Mama. I acquiesced sweetly, but inside I was seething. Joseph was a little pain. He had learned early that being Rachel's son brought with it privilege, and he made sure everyone knew it. The animosity from the previous afternoon had not cooled, but I was prepared to grin and bear it.

Joseph wasted no time in making my life miserable. He teased Sarah until she cried and then got the younger boys in a wrestling match. I no longer had opportunity to observe the village women. When I suggested the children play a less rowdy game and one in which all could participate, Joseph said, "You just want to be rid of us so that you can spy on the villagers, I've been watching you, you know."

I said, "You have an overactive imagination. I plan to participate in the game so that you all will not argue over the rules."

Pleased with himself, Joseph called, "Come on. Lets all play with Dinah. She knows a good game." Momentarily thwarted, I played unenthusiastically with the children until Aunt Rachel returned to her tent, taking Joseph with her.

Able again to concentrate on the village, I noticed that the women wore brightly patterned robes of some type of lightweight cloth. They seemed to hang in more pleasing lines than my coarse gown. Most wore bangles on their arms, around their necks and on their ankles. I wished I were close enough to determine the texture of the cloth, examine the design and ascertain the types of jewelry. My most intriguing observation though was that they wore facial paint. Some used it subtly or not at all. Others had on enough to make it plain from this distance that their cheeks were unnaturally flushed and the size of their eyes was enhanced.

I remembered with amusement the time I had convinced Grandpa to sneak me some eye paint. He felt Papa was a prude and could usually be counted on for support in such endeavors. I had secretly tried the paint and found that it made my eyes look much wider and more interesting. This gave me the idea of trying to get Mama to use it. Her eyes were small, a trait accented by constant squinting. I thought Papa might be enamored with her if she had big, soft eyes like Aunt Rachel. When I suggested she use just a little eye paint, she was horrified. I could just hear her prim voice, "Dinah, I just don't know what you are thinking of. Your Papa would . . ." she broke off sputtering.

"But Mama," I argued, "He wouldn't have to know. I bet Grandpa would help you get some. Papa would think you looked more interesting, but if you used it sparingly, he would never know exactly what made your appearance more becoming."

She flatly refused to consider the suggestion, but I thought she secretly wondered what it would look like. During the night I sneaked over to her sleeping mat and carefully applied a small amount while she slept, but I had to wait until morning to see the complete affect.

I was the first up the next day, anxious to get a look at Mama. I thought the paint helped, but of course I couldn't say so. All day everyone kept looking at Mama questioningly as though trying to determine what was different. At the evening meal things came out into the open when Papa said, "Leah, have you done something to your eyes? You look as though you might have fallen and bruised the right one."

I choked on my bread, and Mother said that she hadn't been feeling well and excused herself. When I quietly entered the tent a few minutes later, I found her staring at her reflection in the wash bowl. She never found the paint and so couldn't prove that I had done anything, but she didn't trust me for a long time afterward.

My thoughts were interrupted by activity at the city gates. Papa and my brothers had come out with a tall, muscular man accompanied by a younger version of himself. They stopped to speak to a group of men congregated near the gate. After what seemed to be a lengthy discussion, Papa wished them peace and headed for camp. I could hardly contain myself. If things had not gone well, Papa would not have been so courteous. That the conversation had included the men near the gate was also a good sign. The city gate was where legal matters were often handled and in small villages, the king would sometimes sit in judgment there. Because of the size of Shechem, I did not suppose this would be the case. However, presenting your intentions to the men of the city was always a good sign.

When the men returned, I was surprised to see Simeon head directly for our tent. It was even stranger to see Rueben going to the tent where Zilpah and Bilhah resided. Although they still served as maids to Mama and Aunt Rachel, their sons by Papa afforded them the unusual luxury of a shared tent. Simeon entered our tent, and almost immediately I heard Mama call for me to come inside. Reminding the children to stay close by, I ran quickly around the tent. I stopped before entering to catch my breath and smooth my dress. I had no idea what the summons meant, but I couldn't wait to find out.

Inside I listened wide‑eyed as Simeon explained that the Princes of Shechem would be coming to eat with us the next evening. The King was going away and the Princes wanted to meet all adult members of the family in an informal setting before finalizing the sale of land. As a "woman" I would be expected to attend and help to serve the men. That is why my presence was required during the explanation. After Simeon concluded his instructions, Mama dismissed us stating that she needed to confer with Aunt Rachel. Organizing a meal for royalty would take some planning and there was little time.

On his way to supervise the tending of the herds, Simeon escorted me back to the play area. I had lots of questions to ask and hardly knew where to begin. "How many Princes are there? What was the palace like? Do they..." I began.

"Slow down," Simeon countered. "I don't have all day to spend talking to a mere mite of a girl. One question is all I have time for so pick it carefully."

I blurted, "Is there a spring where there's a natural pool?"

"Is that your question?" Simeon responded. "Yes, there's a pool. It's a short walk from the village towards Mount Ebal." Shaking his head, he continued toward the grazing herds, mumbling, "I'll never understand women."

I was delighted. I could get the answers to the rest of my questions later, but presently I was concerned with my appearance. If we were going to have important guests, I needed to look my best. Because of Papa's silly rule about drawing fresh water, I still hadn't gotten the bath and hair washing I so badly needed. Walking for days in this arid weather had taken its toll on my skin and hair. It was the dry season, but things were more parched than normal in this usually fertile area. Near drought conditions existed and there was no sign of an end to the scorching weather. I hoped that Mama would allow me to bathe considering the momentous occasion, but if she didn't, I had the necessary information to arrange my own bath.

When Mama returned from Aunt Rachel's, she was full of plans. She had things for me to do, which took most of the day. I complied without complaint expecting my cheerful behavior to help when I presented my arguments for a bath. The excitement of our prospective visitors helped me maintain such a cheerful demeanor. I wasn't known for a willingness to work. Mama was always noting that I would make a terrible wife because I was too spoiled. She would shake her head and say, "Why do men make such a fuss over the first girl child. They want male progeny, but make fools of themselves over a daughter. If Laban and Jacob don't stop pampering you, I will never be able to train you to be a dutiful wife."

After the evening meal, I felt the time was right to approach Mama about bathing. We usually bathed after the young ones were asleep when there was sufficient darkness to allow privacy. When it was hot, we often hung curtains between the tents and bathed in the space provided. In cold weather baths were less frequent because of the difficult logistics and because they were less needed. When I approached Mama about bathing, she gazed at me distractedly. "What 's that?" she asked.

"I asked if we could set up the bathing tub tonight," I replied.

"Don't bother me with such mundane matters, " she retorted.

"But, Mama," I pleaded, "My hair still has a month of accumulated dust and my skin appears darker than normal. The Princes will think I'm some dark slave girl."

"No they won't. Besides it doesn't matter what they think of you. They are hardly marriage material. They will be much too occupied with business to pay any attention to a young maiden."

I had schemed with Judith, a servant near my age, as we worked on preparations during the afternoon. Knowing that Mama might easily deny my request, I had prepared an alternate plan. It was now time to put it into affect. Judith and I both feigned fatigue when the children were put to bed. I had gone to bed with the children periodically since I had become a woman so if I ever needed to sneak out while the adults were occupied, no one would suspect my tiredness as a ruse. Judith was my accomplice because she and I had played together as children. She was the daughter of Zilpah. When she attained her womanhood, Aunt Rachel had taken on the responsibility of training her as a maid. I had wanted Mama to do it so Judith and I wouldn't be separated, but Aunt Rachel had requested her first. Judith and I still gossiped whenever we were afforded the opportunity, and she was usually a reluctant participant in my escapades.

Tonight I waited impatiently for the children to go to sleep. Time was limited if I was to sneak out to the bathing pool and return before the adults came to bed. I didn't want Mama to raise an alarm, then I might be excluded from the dinner. As soon as all were breathing evenly, I slipped off my sleeping mat, leaving my cover with clothes bunched under it. Silently sliding through the opening where the side of the tent had been raised to allow cool air to enter, I swiftly proceeded to a predetermined rendezvous point on the other side of the circle of tents. Judith was waiting. Relieved to see her, I motioned for her to follow me and set off in the direction of Mt. Ebal. I didn't know exactly where we were going, but I assumed it would not be difficult to locate. There should be a trail leading towards the pool, and the surrounding area should be green because of the extra water, not brown and withered like the rest of the vegetation.

Judith was apprehensive about the venture and as always I had to persuade her that nothing would go wrong. She was much more timid by nature and secretly admired my bravado.

At such moments as this, all of my senses seemed heightened; I felt I was invincible. Perhaps that is why I admired Simeon so. He was a bit impetuous; he and I were a great deal alike.

I thought my name fit my nature well. Dinah could mean several things: justice, vindicated, or a rights controversy. Mama named me Dinah because she felt I was vindication from God. I had been born after a childless period and following several sons. As the first girl child, she hoped I could win for her the place in my father's heart she had been unable to earn with six sons. I felt my name fit because I was continually embroiled in a rights controversy. My involvement in risky undertakings would not be necessary if my rights as an individual were respected. I couldn't help it if I was born a girl, and with the wrong mother at that. With such thoughts swirling through my mind, I proceeded towards an event that would lead to changes in my life and bring the third meaning of my name into play.