I’m going to be hosting a giveaway each month this year. They will start on a Monday at 10 am EST and end the following Friday at 10 am. Winner will be announced the next Monday at 10 am. This month I’m giving away an paperback set of the “Journey to Canaan” trilogy: In the Shadow of Sinai, By the …
The Art (Supplies) of War
I’m a Navy brat, but I’ll readily admit I have no idea how to wage a war. Between writing this book and the next, I’ve learned an awful lot about late Bronze age weaponry and warfare. There are two dates proposed for the Exodus, and therefore for Joshua’s conquest of Canaan. I have chosen the “late date” theory, which …
The Ultimate Kindness – It’s Not What you Think
Like little children, we often dislike rules. But God’s rules show us how much God values us, and His relationship with us. The many laws and regulations in the Old Testament were meant to teach the Israelites the same thing. All the clean/unclean and holy/unholy rules were designed to illustrate that a person could not even touch something that was …
What in the World is A Wazir?
If you read By the Waters of Kadesh, you remember Danel. He’s back, although about thirty-eight years older. So is the young soldier Aqhat. After their earlier escapades, Aqhat and Danel are now fast friends—and secret worshippers of Yahweh. Aqhat has grown to be commander of Arad’s army, and Danel is the wazir of Arad. Wazir is a reconstructed Northwest Semitic …
The Best of the Best
Scholars disagree whether or not the Israelites had flocks in the wilderness; most say they didn’t. We know they brought their flocks with them when they left Egypt. But they were expecting a very short trip, possibly as short as eleven days. They then camped for eleven months at Mt Sinai. My research says this was a well-watered place, but even …
We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends
Arisha is our heroine. She arrived at the Israelite camp a refugee, having fled Arad in fear for her safety. Now Miriam, sister to Moses and Aaron, wants Zadok to marry her. The Law forbade the Israelites from marrying Canaanites, unless they turned to Yahweh and worshipped Him as the One True God. always encouraged Israel to accept foreigners. After all, …
What Makes a Shepherd’s Heart?
Meet Zadok. He is the hero of The Walls of Arad, the third book in the “Journey to Canaan” series. Zadok is a shepherd—specifically, he is the shepherd of the Tabernacle flock. He has a gentle heart, one that Miriam decides is perfect for our heroine, Arisha. (You’ll meet her later.) Ancient shepherds have a complicated history. In Abraham’s day, they …
Jericho Was Not the First…
Everyone knows the story of Joshua and the city of Jericho. Joshua fought the battle of Jericho … and the walls came tumbling down. But before Jericho, there was Arad. When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. ~Numbers 21 The …
Eat, Drink and Be Merry … in Canaan?
Last July, a team of American and Israelis researchers made a fascinating discovery. They liked to party in Canaan. The team was digging in the ruins of a northern Canaanite city that dates back to approximately 1700 B.C. As they dug, they uncovered a jug approximately three feet long. They christened the jug “Bessie.” Dr. Cline, chair of GW’s Department of Classical and …
So What’s Next?
I thought I’d take today to let you know what’s happening in my writing life now that Sinai is well on it’s way. First, In the Shadow of Sinai has been nominated for the Christian Small Publisher Association’s Book of the Year Award. Unlike most book awards. this one is decided by voters, not judges. So I could really use your …