Daughter of Lachish. Tim Frank

didn’t ask any more questions. Gathering a twig in his right hand he scratched a meaningless pattern into the dirt. Rivkah, standing behind Amnon, chased away a fly in the uncomfortable silence that followed. Beriah sat there on the ground, occasionally nodding his head as if to remind him of some important thought that came fleetingly back to him. Finally Amnon snapped the twig in two and threw the pieces away. He stood up and said to Beriah,

      “I am Amnon of Shechar. My family and I have sought refuge in the hills. There is a group of fugitives here. We would be glad to offer you rest for a while. Ours is a very humble abode, but you are welcome, secretary to the governor.”

      “Thank you, Amnon. The LORD bless you. I gladly accept your hospitality.”

      Beriah got off the ground, brushing the dirt off his clothes. Amnon turned and saw Rivkah standing just behind him, watching the men. He spoke to Beriah, “This is Rivkah of Lachish, one of the other refugees living here.”

      “Lachish?” Beriah looked confused. He gave Rivkah a questioning glance.

      She did not reply but gave a slight nod.

      At that moment Amnon called out, “Joab! Come, we will bring the stranger back to the cave.”

      Joab appeared from amongst the trees, smiling nervously. Amnon introduced him to Beriah, “This is Joab, another farmer who fled to these hills.”

      Turning to Joab he added, “This is the secretary to the governor of Libnah. He has been pursued by the Assyrians. I have offered to receive him in our home.”

      With Amnon leading, the little group left the clearing and entered the forest.

      They stopped briefly to allow Joab to get a few pieces of wood they had found. The group continued in silence when he joined them again.

      Amnon led the group most of the way. But when they were partway up the final hill he fell back and walked beside Rivkah.

      “Are you sure your bundle is not too heavy? I can help you if it’s too much for you.”

      Rivkah assured him that it was alright. In fact, it was not even as full as it normally was.

      Strange, Amnon had never before worried how heavy her bundle was. Did he just want to show his concern in front of a stranger?

      He leaned a bit closer and asked quietly, “Rivkah, did you hear what his name is? Hm, I can’t remember it.”

      So that’s what he was really worried about!

      “It’s Beriah,” Rivkah told him.

      “Ah, thanks,” Amnon mumbled and then hurried back to the front of the group.

      Rivkah smiled. That was Amnon! So confident, but sometimes he forgot to listen.

      * * *

      Leah stood in line with the other women collecting their ration of bread from the bakery. The bread was baked in large ovens in Jerusalem, each supplying a whole quarter of the city. No one baked bread at home, not now during the siege. Here at the bakery the women and girls exchanged the latest gossip, talked about the situation of the city and the land, voiced their fears and their hopes.

      “Have you heard? The field commander of the Assyrians delivered an ultimatum to the king.”

      “When?”

      “Just yesterday.”

      “My husband heard it, too. He had gone up to the wall and stood near the gate when the Rabshakeh read out his message.”

      “Was the king there, too?”

      “No, but Shebna, the state secretary, was there.”