Shelometh Daughter of Yovov: Ephron the Hittite, #4

By Michael J. Findley

Shelometh has become the protector and helper of women in the ancient world, fighting battles alongside her husband and seeking justice for women treated like property and worse.

 

Shelometh lost the throne of the Hittite Empire, disgraced her husband, and forced the exile of Ephron and herself to Canaan. Yet she worked beside him and helped defeat the army of Sargon. As Queen of Hebron she helped unite the empire and almost died in childbirth. Can the friend of both Hagar and Sarah heal the breach created by running ahead of Adonai's will? Can Hagar help Shelometh uncover a shameful secret reaching into the soul of the Hittite and Mitanni Empires?

 

You don't want to miss any of the tales of Ephron the Hittite and his family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Findley Family Video
• Release date: Aug 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781516395910

Book preview

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Praise for the Ephron the Hittite series.

...Creates a believable story about the origins of the famous, yet elusive, Hittite people.

... Now I have to read the next book ...!

...I really enjoyed the book. A clean read.

Historical facts beautifully depicted in this fictional story. Interesting findings about biblical times and how they are interwoven with known stories.

... tidbits of history woven into the story ... which I 0thoroughly enjoyed, ... tantalizing plot line...

Shelometh, Daughter of Yovov, Wife of Ephron:

Ephron the Hittite Book 4

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by

Michael J. Findley

© 2015 Findley Family Video Publications

This is the fourth third book of a historical fiction series on the Hittites. It is a continuation of the story begun in Ephron, son of Zohar, continued in Tawananna, Daughter of Zohar, and further continued in Heth, Son of Canaan, Son of Ham, Son of Noah.

Shelometh, Daughter of Yovov, Wife of Ephron: Ephron the Hittite Book Four

© 2015 Findley Family Video Publications

No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. Exception is made for short excerpts used in reviews.

Findley Family Video

Speaking the truth in love.

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to persons living or dead is coincidental

Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: The King James Version, public domain.

Table of Contents

Chapter One  Daughter

Chapter Two  Renewal

Chapter Three  Sacrifice

Chapter Four  Reminders

Chapter Five  Faithful

Chapter Six  Friendship

Chapter Seven  Abraham My Friend

Chapter Eight  Preparations

Chapter Nine  Departure

Chapter Ten  Consequences

Chapter Eleven  Progress

Chapter Twelve  Sidon

Chapter Thirteen  Revelations

Chapter Fourteen  Storm

Chapter Fifteen  Investigations

Chapter Sixteen  Decisions

Sneak Preview of Ephron the Hittite Book Five: Zita, Son of Ephron and Shelometh

Addendum

Other Books and Products from Findley Family Video Publications

Introduction

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This is a work of fiction. It uses historical characters and setting.

The time frame of the first three books is less than four months. There is approximately a fifty years gap before this story begins. It covers a fifteen year period, from just after Abram leaves Egypt and settles in the plains of Mamre until the destruction of Sodom. At that time, Abraham leaves the plains of Mamre. According to this story, Abraham lives near the cave of Machpelah until he leaves the plains of Mamre.

The first three books are all set in Hattus. It is a city which eventually becomes the capital of the Hittite empire and changes the name to Hattusha. This book begins in Hebron of southern Canaan, nearly a thousand miles to the south. The characters travel from Hebron to Joppa. Then they travel by ship to the city of Yadiya.

The first three books are entirely from the Hittite perspective, with a few hostile Mitanni and a single skirmish with Sargon the Great's Akkadian/Sumerian forces. This book has Hebron as a Hittite city on the extreme southern edge of Hittite influence. Hebrews, Mitanni, Egyptians, Elamites, Phoenicians, and general Canaanites all play roles in this story. Over half of this book is on board a Phoenician ship or Phoenician ports.

While Heth, Nimrod, and the tower of Babel are all included in the first three books, we have few direct historic details. This gives the author considerable leeway to construct a story true to the few known historic facts. This book includes considerable historical detail which is verified not only in the Bible but in many sources outside the Bible. Keil and Delitzsch believe the account of Chedorlaomer invading Sodom occurs between the unified empire of Sargon the Akkadian and the later unification of Mesopotamia under the Assyrians.

For this series of Hittite stories, the tower of Babel falls less than two decades before the first story opens. The Hittites did not know of the division of languages and hearing a foreign language confused them. Just before the beginning of these stories, Nimrod dies and there is greater confusion and fighting for territory. The concept of nations divided by language is taking place during the time of the first three stories. Sargon seizes power soon after the death of Nimrod and is in power at the time of these stories.

Egypt exists as a nation at this time. Mizraim is still alive. Balaam's father Beor is a young man and a seer. This assumes that Beor was a close relative of Shem, Ham, or Japheth, probably grandson or great grandson, and lived to be about four hundred. Balaam was then born when his father was quite old, at least 200, more likely more than 300 years old. Balaam himself was an old man when he confronted Moses.

Again, the author accepts the research of Keil and Delitzsch that Hebron was the original name of the city. During the period of the judges, or perhaps while the children of Israel were in Egypt, the name was changed to Kiriath-arba. It was changed back to Hebron before David made it his capital. From its founding to the time of the captivity, the name of the city alternated back and forth.

Because there are so many different characters, this book has an appendix immediately after the text of the story. The appendix for the third book, which includes series-wide information, is included after that.

While this story is fiction, there are many historical characters included in this book. To the extent the information can be verified, the settings and the chronology are historically accurate. One of the major reasons for writing this series is to demonstrate that what is being passed off as ancient history in western culture is often mythical.

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Chapter One  Daughter

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"Hagar! Hagar! HAGAR! HAGAR!"

The child's voice could be heard above the noise of the racing camel before the dust was visible over the rise. Camel and rider charged over the rise as Hagar opened the tent flap to look out.

"The physician says my mother and the baby are both dead!"

Incompetent Hittites, fumed Hagar. She grabbed bags of drugs and instruments from the table by the entrance, ran over to the slowing camel, grabbed the reins with her right hand, and pulled the young boy off with her left arm while still holding her medical gear.

Zita! Get Eleazar! said Hagar to the child rider as she mounted the camel. Have him follow with his sword as fast as he can. I might need him to clear a path for me if they won't let me in to save her. Get some more men with swords in case this gets out of hand. Sarai, I need more women as fast as you can get there. Zita, did they move her?

No. The boy Zita hit the ground running to get Eleazar. But Eleazar had heard Hagar and was already mounting his own camel. Other servants of Abram were saddling another camel for Zita.

By the time Eleazar mounted, Hagar had disappeared over the first hill. She left the path because the straight line was faster. She jumped a stream and several low fences. The camel never even hesitated, easily clearing the stream. Two more hills and Hebron stood at the top of the next mountain. Hagar did not slow until she had to dismount to enter the gate, where she abandoned her camel, running through the streets with her medical supplies.

Arriving at Ephron's house, she ran past the guards before they could touch her, up the familiar stairs, past the wailing physicians, and into Shelometh's room.

It's too late, Hagar, said the midwife, vainly attempting to stop her.

Without a word, Hagar pulled a table over, closed the doors to the hall and unrolled her bags.

"Are you trying to kill her? asked Hagar. This clothing is too tight."

Hagar pulled out a knife and cut the blood-soaked clothing off of Shelometh. Next she put a cloth over Shelometh's mouth, gently pulling on her tongue to be certain she was not choking. By the time she finished these rapid preliminaries, Sarai and several other women ran into the room. Next Hagar rhythmically pushed on Shelometh's chest until a gasp of air came out. Hagar look around for a trustworthy face. She pulled two women from Sarai’s party forward to assist with pushing and had the others mop up blood while she reached between Shelometh’s legs.

Not dead, said Hagar when Shelometh screamed. Incompetent Hittites.

Hagar unrolled her drug kit with her free hand and pointed to another woman.

Do you see what I am doing to her? asked Hagar. The woman approached, looked, and nodded. Good, said Hagar. "Take over and do exactly the same thing. I must administer these drugs in precise amounts and in the correct sequence. As soon as I finish, I will relieve you."

Hagar moved quickly, choosing the various herbs and oils and blending them in a small mortar. Some of the herbs she placed on the cloth over Shelometh's mouth. Some Hagar rubbed into Shelometh’s skin. When she was done, she went back to massaging.

Many hours later, with four women soaked in Shelometh's blood pushing and pulling, a baby girl was born. Joyful laughter rippled around the room in spite of their exhaustion.

Mother and daughter are both alive! someone exclaimed.

Two of the women set to work rubbing the baby with oils and performing other cleansing procedures. Two others washed Shelometh while giving her drink. Sarai followed Hagar around with wet cloths, rubbing her clean as Hagar tended to her instruments before putting them away.

We'll have to burn your clothes as well, said Sarai, looking at the mess at Hagar's feet.

Baby, whispered Shelometh.

It's a girl.

They handed Shelometh her daughter. The stunned Hittite attendants entered the room.

What? How? I don't understand?

Your incompetence almost killed her, said Hagar.

But we're trained midwives...

For all the good that did you, said Hagar. I was trained by the physicians of the royal court of Pharaoh. They're better than you, but they still make miserable midwives. I learned more about anatomy embalming corpses than in of my years of physician's training. These tools, which saved the life of your mistress, are the tools of an Egyptian embalmer, not a physician.

Other women began to help clean the blood off of Hagar.

Never mind me, said Hagar, pointing at Shelometh. She needs to be watched carefully. She also needs to drink and, when possible, eat. She won't be feeling anything until tomorrow sometime.

What did you give her?

Many drugs, but opium as the pain killer. It is important to use very hot water to clean her. Keep her clean and allow everything to heal. She needs to replace the lost blood. I used several preparations to cleanse her, and I attempted to help her body absorb some fluids to replace some of the lost blood.

It was some time before Hagar and those who assisted in the delivery were ready to leave the room. The quantity of bloody clothes certainly seemed more appropriate to death than birth. The Hittite servants divided them into several piles so they could take them outside the city to burn them.

Put your clothes in one of those piles to be burned, said Sarai. You are as bloody as they are. The attendants finished washing Hagar and dressed her in clean clothes.

As they left the room, a man's voice came from outside the room. Can we come in now?

Hagar nodded and Sarai opened the curtain to allow Shelometh's husband Ephron and their son Zita inside. Shelometh slept, but her breathing, though shallow, was regular. They were not yet finished cleaning and dressing the baby.

Who is the wet nurse? asked Hagar.

Two women timidly raised their hands.

If the baby needs it, you can give her a few drops of this, said Hagar, holding out a skin of liquid. Just a few drops, and no more than once a day. If Shelometh needs any other medications, and I will very surprised if she does not, I should administer that myself. I will be back before dawn tomorrow to check on her. And do not allow those quacks who call themselves Hittite physicians anywhere near her.

How can I thank you? asked Ephron. How can I repay you?

By being available in our hour of need, said Sarai. Adonai will provide you an opportunity, though I do not know when or how.

Thank you for allowing your children to play with Zita, said Ephron.

There are not many worshipers of Adonai to choose from on the plains of Mamre, said Hagar. You are a blessing. And your Zita is the best ten-year-old archer I have ever seen.

May all the children of the household be as skilled with the bow as our Zita, said Ephron. For such an ordeal, Shelometh and child both look peaceful.

For what they went through, said Hagar, they look very good. Do you have chairs?

Ephron touched Zita, who left and returned with another boy. Together they brought in chairs for everyone, though it took several trips.

Hagar sat, then beckoned to Zita. The boy came over to Hagar.

Your mother, said Hagar, must stay in bed for several days, maybe even several weeks. She is a strong woman, but I do not believe that she will survive another childbirth. This was a blessing of Adonai. I was too harsh on your midwives. This was more difficult than anything I have ever done. Hagar then put her head in her hands and did not look up.

Are you all right? asked Ephron.

Hagar shook her head, without looking up. Sarai snapped her fingers, pointed at two other women and they pulled up chairs, one on either side of Hagar. One waved a cloth under Hagar's nose and Hagar sat up with a start.

We had better return home and put you to bed, said Sarai, or you will not be of much help to anyone in the morning.

Turning to Ephron, Sarai said, "You should have at least