Redeeming Grace (Daughters of the Promised Land Book #3) , livre ebook

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179 pages

English

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When famine visits Bethlehem, Boaz holds out hope for rain while his relative Elimelech moves his wife Naomi and their sons to Moab. For a while, it appears the Lord is blessing Elimelech's family, and his sons marry two lovely Moabite women. But calamities strike, one after another, leaving Naomi alone in a foreign land with only her childless daughters-in-law for comfort. When news reaches Naomi that the famine in Bethlehem has lifted, only Ruth will hazard the journey to her mother-in-law's homeland. Destitute and downhearted, Naomi resigns herself to a life of bitter poverty, but Ruth holds out hope for a better future. And Boaz may be the one God has chosen to provide it.Combining meticulous research with her endless imagination, Jill Eileen Smith gorgeously renders one of the most beautiful stories in Scripture. Readers will adore this third installment of the inspiring Daughters of the Promised Land series.

Sujets

Historical romance

Informations

Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	14 février 2017
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781493405923
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0202€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2017 by Jill Eileen Smith
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-0592-3
Most Scripture quotations, whether quoted or paraphrased by the characters, are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011
Some Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
This is a work of historical reconstruction; the appearances of certain historical figures are therefore inevitable. All other characters, however, are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Published in association with the Books & Such Literary Agency.
Praise for The Crimson Cord
“Impeccable research and vivid prose from Smith bring the ancient city of Jericho to life.”
— Library Journal
“Smith, the author of the bestselling Wives of King David and Wives of the Patriarchs series, has made Rahab’s dramatic tale newly affecting and vivid.”
— Booklist
“Don’t hesitate to recommend this first book in the Daughters of the Promised Land series to lovers of biblical fiction.”
— CBA Retailers+Resources
Praise for The Prophetess
“This is both a well-drawn love story as well as the wistful imaginings of early Israel.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Deborah is portrayed as a strong leader and a sensitive, protective mother, making this powerful biblical figure accessible to readers.”
— RT Book Reviews
“At last, the mystical figure of Deborah comes to life! With obvious research and attention to detail, Jill Eileen Smith gives vivid voice to the women at the center of Israel’s victory over Canaan. A tale of strength and faith that bears relevance even today. Not to be missed!”
— Tosca Lee , author of The Legend of Sheba and multiple New York Times bestsellers
Dedication
In loving memory of my mother-in-law, Evelyn Smith (1912–2000).
In honor of my mom, Shirley Ruth, who shares Ruth’s name and giving spirit.
And for my two daughters-in-law, Carissa and Molly, because you are loved like Naomi loved Ruth.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Endorsements
Dedication
Part 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Part 2
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
Part 3
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Epilogue
Note to the Reader
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Books by Jill Eileen Smith
Back Ads
Back Cover
Part 1

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.
Ruth 1:1–2
1
1297 BC
Naomi lifted the hem of her robe as her feet fairly flew down Bethlehem’s streets toward the outskirts of town. Neta, second wife of her brother-in-law Melek, trailed two steps behind. The sun beat high overhead, its rays licking the sweat along her brow. Some of the townswomen who were not inside their homes resting at this hour hurried to catch up with her.
“What is it?” one of them shouted, breathless.
“Please, Naomi, slow down.” The voices included Neta’s, and Naomi realized the woman could not run nearly as fast as she, especially when something urgent beckoned. Memories of childhood races with her brothers surfaced, but she stopped the smile such thoughts always evoked. This was not a time to smile.
She slowed her steps and glanced behind her. “Boaz’s wife Adi is in trouble.” She turned and kept running, shouting as she went. “I’m going to see if I can help.”
The heat made breathing difficult but she pressed on. Surely Gilah and Liora and the midwife should have delivered Adi of the child by now. Surely Neta was wrong.
But the fear in her gut would not abate.
She came to the edge of the village where Boaz’s house spread along the wall that bordered his vast fields—fields inherited from his highly respected father, Salmon, the spy who had helped capture Jericho.
As Naomi stopped before the great doors and rapped on the wood, memory surfaced again of Boaz’s parents, Salmon and Rahab. Neta drew up beside her, her breath coming fast.
Please, Adonai, blessed be Your name. Let Adi live. How Boaz doted on this wife who had remained barren for so long, had waited even when his sisters Gilah and Liora suggested he take a second wife. And now . . . surely the Creator would not give the woman life in her womb only to steal hers in return?
The door opened before Naomi could ponder that thought, and the two women were ushered into the cool interior of the limestone house. She wiped the sweat from her brow, not allowing the servant even a moment to wash their feet.
“Take me to her,” she commanded, forcing the rising panic to remain hidden. The servant led them down a long hallway to a room Naomi recognized as having once belonged to Rahab. The memories rushed through her again—so many days of helping care for Rahab during her failing health and so soon after Boaz had lost his father . . . Please, Adonai, don’t put Boaz through such grief again. Though she had been a young, inexperienced bride herself at the time, she came. Elimelech was Salmon’s cousin, after all, and family came first, no matter how awkward she felt or how useless she seemed. Anyone could carry water or grind flour or bake bread.
Perhaps she would find that was all she could do now for Adi or her child, but one look into the darkened room stopped her short. The acrid scent of blood and sweat assaulted her. Female servants stood immobile along the wall while Gilah and Liora helped a weak, fragile Adi to her bed. The midwife stood in a corner, holding an unmoving bundle.
Naomi blinked, adjusting to the lack of bright sunlight, her heart constricting, blood draining from her limbs. Neta touched her arm as the two took in the scene. Adi’s body grew limp, and it took both of Boaz’s sisters to settle her among the cushions.
“It’s all right, Adi,” Gilah said softly. “Come. Let us clean you up and you can rest.”
Naomi glanced at the midwife, then grabbed a stack of blankets and carried them to the courtyard to heat them over the fire. Once the blankets were warmed, she hurried into the room again and handed them to Neta. “Make sure she is warm enough.” She whirled about and faced the useless servants. “Find some broth—surely there is some left from last night’s stew—and bring it quickly.” They hurried to obey while she turned her attention to Adi. She touched Gilah’s arm. “Was it a hard labor?”
Gilah nodded but did not speak. One look at the woman told Naomi all she needed to know. She motioned Gilah out of the way and quickly examined Adi. She had been through this with several of the women of the village, some of whom had died in childbirth. She could not let that happen to her husband’s cousin’s wife.
“There now, my child. Rest. All will be well.” Naomi accepted a warm compress from Liora and put it on Adi’s forehead. Suddenly, she could take the dark no longer. “Pull the curtains aside,” she demanded as she continued to press the cloth over Adi’s face, gently smoothing it. The light would encourage the woman to live, whereas the darkness tended to pull the soul toward despair. Adi did not need to add darkness to her loss.
Moments later servants entered with the broth. Naomi took the piece of flatbread and dipped it in the bowl. “Open your mouth, Adi. You must eat, even if it is only a few drops.” She coaxed the slight girl, who obeyed in silence, until at last Adi shook her head, unwilling to open her mouth anymore.
“My baby,” she whispered, her eyes turned toward the window where the midwife bent over the child, wrapping him for burial.
“A boy,” Naomi said, cupping Adi’s face. “Adonai Elohim, blessed be He, has taken him to Himself.” It was not something a woman in such a weakened condition should have to hear, but the truth could not be avoided.
Tears slipped over Adi’s cheeks, wetting Naomi’s hand. “I want to hold him.”
“You will be unclean.” Gilah, always one to pick at every letter of the law, spoke from the foot of the bed.
“She is already unclean with the birth.” Naomi forced back the irritation Gilah’s words evoked. “Bring the child here.”
The midwife gave Naomi a quizzical look, but she brought the wrapped babe to Adi and lowered her arms to show the mother a perfectly shaped infant.
Adi lifted weak hands, and Naomi helped her settle the child against her chest. Weeping filled the room, Adi’s voice a deep, guttural sound.
“It is time to send for Boaz,” Naomi said to a servant standing idle. “Tell Reuven to find him. He will want to see his son, and we must prepare for the burial before nightfall, which will come too soon.” She faced Liora. “Where are the ointments to treat the cloths?”
“They are in the cooking rooms.” Liora slipped away while Adi rocked back and forth, her groans turning to deep sobs.
“Should I get Melek?” Neta leaned close to Naomi, her eyes wide with near terror