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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …