Timna

By Lucille Travis

Timna is the wife of Shem, one of Noah’s sons. As this story by Lucille Travis for 9-to-14-year-olds open, the family has loaded the ark with animals and supplies as God has ordered, and they are ready to shut the doors. Soon the Flood will begin. Along with two enchanting and mischievous dogs named Thief and Mangy, Timna seals herself into the ark. She doesn’t know what to expect, only that she is obeying—and trusting—God.

“Timna is a juvenile chapter book about the wife of Shem, son of Noah, and her fears and struggles with belief in God while floating in the Ark for 40 days and nights. Timna will appeal to teenage and tween-age female readers especially, with its explorations of the role of women in Biblical times and early Hebrew culture. The breathless wonder of beholding the promise of God in the rainbow after the terrible Flood is unforgettable, and the reality of attention to daily details in animal husbandry is also well grounded. Timna is an excellent resource fiction narrative for juvenile readers of faith literature.”—Children’s Bookwatch

• Language: English
• Publisher: Herald Press
• Release date: Apr 9, 2009
• ISBN: 9780836197693

Book preview

1

Timna hurried past the market stalls with their brightly colored pottery, scarves, and cloth of every color. Chickens squawked in their crates, pigs squealed and grunted. Great mounds of fresh fruits and vegetables gleamed gold and red and green. It was early morning, and only a few customers stood at the stalls.

As Timna passed, merchants called to her, crying out, Over here, girl, come! You will not find better, and the price so low, come see for yourself. Timna stopped at the stall of a merchant she trusted, chose her vegetables, paid for them, and left quickly.

Timna’s blue head scarf covered most of her face and all of her thick, dark hair. A plain brown robe hid her thin frame. The street of market stalls went on for a long way, and she kept her head down, hoping no one would recognize her. In her hands she held the basket filled with fresh vegetables for the evening meal. They would be the only fresh things she would see for a long time.

Hurrying on to the last stall, piled with cakes of golden raisins, she stopped and spoke softly to the girl behind the counter. Ephah, please, I must speak to you.

The girl covered her mouth and spoke in a frightened tone, "Timna, you know I am not supposed to speak to you.

Why are you here? Haven’t you made enough trouble for us? What if someone from the village sees you? Go away! You don’t belong to our family anymore. I can’t believe my own sister chooses to live with a madman’s family. Crazy Noah, that’s what he is called."

Ephah’s face was flushed, and her dark eyes snapped. People say you are too young to know better, and they blame our father for letting you go. They laugh behind our backs. You have disgraced your whole family. Ephah crossed her arms and held her head high. The truth is, our father let you go, you the youngest, for the sake of the bride price. We should have known there would be gossip, jokes, and shame. I for one will never forgive you. None of us will. Just go away.

Timna could not stop tears from spilling down her face. Please, sister, she said. I am so sorry, Ephah. It is true I am the youngest, but many girls no older than I have been given in marriage. There was no other way for me. I believe Shem and his father, Noah. Ephah, the ark is finished! God told Noah to build it to escape the coming flood, and the work is done now. There is still time for you to come with us. You must believe me. Noah is a good man who has listened to God and obeyed Him. Please, sister. Timna reached out to touch her sister’s arm, but Ephah quickly stepped back.

Oh, Ephah, we are sisters, and I cannot bear to have you angry with me. Shem says it is almost time to go into the ark. Timna held out her hands to Ephah. Please, Ephah, for your own sake, listen. Nothing will be left alive on the earth when the flood comes. You have surely seen how even the animals are coming to the ark, just as God said they would.

No, Ephah cried. It is no more than trickery and sorcery. Our own magicians say so. Do you see how many animals and birds pay no attention? Only two of this and two of that can your Noah manage to get into his monstrous box you call an ark. Who ever saw a boat in a wheat field? And who ever heard of a flood? Can’t you see how the sun shines day after day? Ephah tossed her head and lifted her chin. Soon, I am to be married, no thanks to you. And don’t even think of coming to the wedding. You will not be welcome.

Timna wanted to stay, but a woman from the village was headed straight toward them, and Timna knew what that could mean. With one call, the woman could raise others, and soon there would be a mocking, jeering crowd surrounding her, the way they did whenever anyone from Noah’s family came to market.

Timna hurried away and was soon on the road that led to the fields. She did not look back, or she might have seen a large, thin, ragged dog following several paces behind her. A smaller, mangy-looking dog limped along beside it.

Blinded by the tears she could not stop, Timna walked along the familiar dirt path. She had no warning, no time to run from the two rough-looking young men from the village who leaped from behind the trees close to the path. One of them grabbed her head scarf, tearing it away.

Who have we here? he said. Timna’s heart pounded, and she could hardly breathe. She knew who they were: part of a rowdy gang of older boys known for their trouble making. Just as we thought, Igal, he said with a gruff laugh toward his companion. It’s Timna the dumb. Who else would marry Crazy Noah’s son? He laughed loudly. She could have had me, Zobal, for a price.

Timna tried to brush past him, but he grabbed her arm. Let me go. I’ve done nothing to you. Get away! She struggled against her captor’s hold as she kicked him sharply in the leg.

With a curse, Zobal let go, but before Timna could run, he swung his fist hard, hitting the side of her face. You’ll pay for that, he said. Grab her, he ordered Igal. But as Igal reached out to grab Timna’s arm, several things happened at once.

With all her might Timna flung her basket in Igal’s face. Fruit and vegetables flew everywhere. At that instant two wild dogs, growling fiercely, leapt into the battle. The smaller dog sunk her teeth into Igal’s leg while the other went for Zobal’s throat, knocking him back against a tree.

Zobal swerved and shouted, Get away, you! Grabbing a low-hanging limb above him, he kicked at the large dog then swung himself up into the tree. Below him the dog leapt up and nipped at his heels, growling. Zobal pulled himself onto the next branch, well away from the fierce animal.

Timna ran and did not stop to look behind her. Her breath came in great gulps, but she did not dare slow down. If only she could reach the worksite near the ark, someone would help her.

Igal, trying to shake the smaller dog from its grip on his leg, shouted for help. Do something, Zobal, he screamed. Throw something!

Yanking at a dead limb above his head, Zobal freed it and sent it thudding against Igal’s attacker. The dog whined and ran off, limping into the trees. Igal wasted no time getting himself into the nearest tree. After a moment, the big dog still guarding Zobal’s tree gave a deep growl and ran off in the direction of its companion.

There was no more sign of the dogs, but Zobal and Igal waited for a while before they climbed down. This time they armed themselves with stout sticks and pouches full of sharp stones before they headed back to the village.

Hidden in the tall grasses of a nearby field, Mangy licked her side where the stick had hit. Beside her Thief listened for sounds of danger. You all right? he asked.

Yes, Mangy answered, and I seem to have run out the cramp in my leg that kept me limping. She licked her left leg and then rested her chin on her front paws. Wasn’t she a bold young thing to stand up against those two bad ones.

Thief gave a low growl. No one is safe on the roads these days, not humans or dogs.

Mangy looked at Thief. You were brave back there to leap at that tall one, but I do not think you would have bitten his throat. She waited for Thief to answer.

Thief hung his head. The Creator has forbidden us to take a human’s life without paying for it with our own. I only meant to frighten him.

Mangy touched Thief’s paw lightly. It was a brave act.

Thief rose to his feet and shook the dust from his coat. Couldn’t help myself, he said. And something else I can’t explain is this thing called the flood that the man called Noah warns is coming soon. We’ve seen how the people in the marketplace mock him and call him Crazy Noah, but inside me I know his words are true. He says the Creator is about to bring judgment that will wipe the earth clean, and the time is coming soon.

Thief looked mournful. Only those inside the ark Noah and his sons are building will be saved when it happens. The flood will leave nothing on the earth alive.

Mangy rose to her feet. With a soft bark she said, The Creator must surely be angry then. When I was a small pup, I heard the story of a time long ago when humans and animals lived together in peace. There were no fights, no cruelty, no greedy, drunken masters, no robbing or killing like in our world now. Howcould the Creator not be grieved to His heart to see His beautiful world so full of evil? Her voice grew even softer. How could he not wish to cleanse it? She shook her dusty coat. I would like to see the ark before we die.

Thief said nothing as they trotted back to the road. His plan was to do far more than merely see the ark.

2

Timna stumbled as she ran into the camp. Her mother-in- law, Abihail, stooped over a large pot she had been scouring. She glanced up to greet Timna. Beside Abihail stood Ham’s wife, Mehitabel, her round face lit with a cheerful smile, and Japheth’s wife, Zeruah, a thin girl with great dark eyes. Each held the corners of a blanket they were folding.

Timna stopped and covered her face with trembling hands. Mehitabel and Zeruah dropped the blanket and ran to her. What happened to you? Mehitabel cried. Timna lifted her tear-stained face. The angry welt on her cheek was swollen and already turning color. Mehitabel threw her arms about Timna and held her close. I am so sorry, she whispered.

Abihail left her work and hurried to where the girls stood. She was tall and broad, a woman of strength, well matched to her husband, Noah. While his hair was iron gray, hers glowed with softly graying streaks. Mehitabel and Zeruah stepped back respectfully as she softly called Timna to her outstretched arms.

Timna looked up to her mother-in-law. Oh, Mother Abihail, I lost the basket, the last of the fresh vegetables, she said and burst into fresh weeping.

Vegetables we can do without, child. It is you I am concerned about. Abihail led Timna to the blanket her daugh- ters-in-law had dropped on the ground and sat down with her. Now tell me what happened.

As Timna told her story and how the two dogs had appeared out of nowhere to attack her attackers and send them flying into the trees, she suddenly realized what a wonder that was. And then it struck her funny to think of the two proud, angry boys suddenly finding they were treed by two dogs, and one of them not very big. In a moment they were all laughing, even Abihail.

We will put a cold cloth and soothing salve on your poor face, Abihail said. I am sure it will heal soon, but I am guessing that Igal’s bitten leg won’t be near so easy to mend.

An hour later, though her face still smarted, Timna felt rested enough to help with the work. Tonight they would return to the farm for a final gathering of things they needed to take on the ark. Noah and his sons would be back then from selling the flocks and cattle and fields. She could hardly wait to tell Shem about the day’s trouble. He