Much of the action in Prize of War takes place in Acsah’s house. Acsah and Othni live in a typical Israelite home, also known as a four-room house. These mud-and-brick houses are characteristic of the Iron Age of the Eastern Mediterranean. The inhabitants lived on the second floor, and the ground floor—divided into four sections by pillars, half-walls, and walls—was used as a stable and for …
Of Mice and Sand
The Negev is a desert covering over half of Israel’s total land area. Rocky mountain ranges are broken by wadis (dry riverbeds that fill after a rain), and three enormous, craterlike makhteshim (box canyons). It is an inverted triangle bordered on the west by the desert of the Sinai Peninsula, and on the east by the Arabah valley. The word negev comes from the Hebrew root denoting “dry.” In the …
If the Foundations Be Destroyed
Prize of War takes place mainly in Debir, which before Othniel’s conquest had been called Kiriath-Sepher. There are a few cities that Joshua conquered but were re-inhabited a little later, and then had to be re-conquered by the various tribes. Debir was one of those. Where exactly that is in Israel now is a matter of some debate. I have …
Prize of War Sweepstakes
There are only FIVE more days until Prize of War releases, and I’m having a party to celebrate! I’ll be giving away a lot of party favors—several copies of all my books, including Prize of War, and a few sets of bracelets like the ones Acsah is wearing on the cover. Maybe some chocolate cake. There will also be visits by guest authors who …
When is a Judge Not a Judge?
Othniel, our hero in Prize of War, is the first shophet named in the Book of Judges, the seventh book of the Bible. The Hebrew word we translate as “judge” is shophet. A shophet is so much more than a judge. Moses was the first shophet. You’ll recall people came to him to settle all kinds of disputes—so much so …
Real-Life Fairy Tales
Othniel … “Lion of God.” The man who conquered a city to win his bride. The stuff fairy tales are made of. We don’t know that they lived happily ever after, but we do know a bit more about Othniel than Acsah. He was Caleb’s nephew, the son of his brother Kenaz. He had a brother named Seraiah. He conquered …
Spoiled Brat or Strong-Minded Woman?
The story of Acsah, daughter of Caleb, is told word-for-word in Scripture twice, once in Joshua 15, and again in Judges 1. And Caleb said, ‘I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.’ Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.One day …
It Has to be Important
If you’ve been waiting, you’re about to be rewarded. My next book, Prize of War, is set to be released October 20. Prize of War takes place just a few years after the end of the “Journey to Canaan” trilogy. We leave behind the family of Bezalel and Kamose, and this time Caleb’s family takes over. The story of Acsah …
“Relatively Inferior in Every Aspect”
I’ve been researching my next book, spending a lot of time on ancient warfare. I now know more about siege towers, casemate walls, and revetments than I should ever have need for. I even know where the word undermining comes from, and it has nothing to do with psychology. I’ve also been looking at tells in present-day Israel—hills created by …
It’s All Joshua’s Fault
I’ve been plotting out a possible book, looking at characters and times and events, and trying to make everything fit together. A couple things weren’t quite working, and I realized, it’s all because of Joshua. The scriptures never really say how old Joshua is when he goes into the Promised Land as a spy. Caleb is 40, so most people …
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