Seasons: Beautiful in Its Own Time

By Dr. J Gayle Gaymon

This book is a look at the Book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3: 1-12, and how it applies to my life and the lives of Christian believer’s today. It answers how we should respond to the seasons in life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Mar 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781663234834

Dr. J Gayle Gaymon

J Gayle Gaymon, earned a Certificate in Ministry from New York Theological Seminary, a Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies from The College of New Rochelle, a Master's degree in Administration from Metropolitan College of New York, formerly Audrey Cohen College, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Congregational Ministry from New York Theological Seminary. She completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). She lives in Westchester County, New York.

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Author Credits: J Gayle Gaymon

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To Gail Trachtman Wright

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also

set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom

what God has done from beginning to end."

Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

A Time to be Born

Abraham and Sarah and Hagar

Jacob and Leah and Rachel

Elkanah and Penninah and Hannah

Hosea and Gomer

Zechariah and Elizabeth

Moses was Adopted

Esther was an Orphan

Somebody had to be Joseph

Finding your Purpose

A Time to Die

An Appointed Time to Die

The Resurrection of the Dead

God is Faithful

Chapter 2

A Time to Plant

El Shaddai (Lord God Almighy)

Jehovah Nachah (The Lord is My Guide)

A Time to Pluck Up What is Planted

Chapter 3

A Time to Kill

Jehovah ‘Anah Qara’ (The Lord will Answer Me when I Call Him)

Jehovah (Yah) `Anah Merchad (The Lord Answered Me and Set Me in a Large Place)

A Time to Heal

Chapter 4

A Time to Breakdown

A Time to Build Up

Chapter 5

A Time to Weep

I Wept Bitterly

A Time to Laugh

Chapter 6

A Time to Mourn

I Mourn Sorely

A Time to Dance

Jehovah Bacha De (The Lord who Chose Thee)

I Want to Dance Like David

Chapter 7

A Time to Throw Stones Away

A Time to Gather Stones Together

Chapter 8

A Time to Embrace

A Time to Welcome Strangers

A Time to Refrain from Embracing

Chapter 9

A Time to Seek

Check Out Your Mind

Suicide is Preventable

A Time to Lose

Nothing Just Happens

A Time for Justice

Wrongfully Convicted

Elohei Misphat (The God of Justice)

Chapter 10

A Time to Keep

A Measure of Faith

A Time to Throw Away

Chapter 11

A Time to Tear

The Lord Can Tear them Away

The Lord has Not Changed

A Time to Sew

Chapter 12

A Time to Keep Silence

A Time to Speak

Chapter 13

A Time to Love

A Time to Hate

Hate Evil in All its’ Forms

We Fight Against Powers, Principalities, and Evil Spirits

A Time for Forgiveness

Chapter 14

Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of the Armies of Israel)

A Time for War

Is there a Just War?

Jehovah Shalom (The Lord is our Peace)

Chapter 15

A Time to Serve

An Indecent Demand

God Put Eternity in My Heart

Chapter 16

A Time to encourage, and a Time to be encouraged.

The Plumb Line of Righteousness

Like Father; Like Son

God was my Only Father

Chapter 17

The Sin of Unbelief

Failure is not Final

Chapter 18

Free Indeed

Trans-Subharan Slave Trade

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

Africa’s Slave Castles

Obedience is Better than Sacrifice

Wokeism, Feminism and the Cancel Culture

Critical Race Theory

Civil Right Martyrs

I am not Oppressed

Chapter 19

They Were all Valiant

You are not Alone

Chapter 20

There is no Monolithic Black Voice

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.

Identity Politics and Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter

Master of the Universe

Let no one Hinder your Purpose

Beautiful in its’ own Time

Glossary

Bibliography

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CHAPTER 1

"For everything there is a season, and a time for ever matter

under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die."

Ecclesiastes 3:1a, NRSV.

For everything there is a season. Change is the only constant in life. The seasons change, and the natural composition of the earth changes. Everything changes. However, God does not change, and the essence of life is change. ¹

I have often wondered if I knew the ends of all things, if that would satisfy me, or if I would change and do things differently. If I knew the length of days of sorrow and joy, sadness and happiness, failure and success, suffering and satisfaction; would I be satisfied or would I change things. But I have learned one of the great lessons in life, as the Psalmist has instructed us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.²

How do you own the moment? Can you own time? The LORD Almighty through the Prophet Isaiah, declared, I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."³ The LORD knows the end of times because He is above time. El Shaddai, the LORD God Almighty exists independently of time. There are many prophecies in scriptures, conveyed long ago, that are not yet accomplished; but their fulfillment is a solemn oath that the best is yet to come.

History matters! Specifically, the captivity of the Jews, the Babylonian exile, and the return of the Jews from the exile; the incarnation and manifestation of Jesus Christ, His obedience and suffering; His resurrection and ascension and assembly to the right hand of God; His work of redemption; the out pouring of the Holy Spirit; and the spread of the Gospel among the Gentiles. Nothing just happens! It was all foretold in the Scriptures.

The LORD God Almighty will accomplish His will and His pleasure. We may conceive in our hearts our own plans, but it is the LORD’s purposes and plans that are ultimately achieved for Christian believers.⁴ Moreover, the LORD even before creation was able to determine what was best for us, for His plans are higher than the heavens, and we are unable to conceive them.⁵ The LORD God Almighty’s purposes and commands are judiciously formed. They are eternal and impermeable.

A TIME TO BE BORN

The natural order of things in all of life is that there is an appointed time and season for everything. There is a coupling of extremes that makes for natural the order. Birth and death, in the natural order of things, are beyond on control. With the exception of suicide, by any means, the natural order of the beginning and ending of all life comes to pass without human interference.⁶ The lives of believer’s are choreographed by a higher authority. The time of your life is determined beforehand, by the LORD, when you put Him first. ⁷ While the LORD knows what we are going to be before it happens; at our very moment of birth and hour of death, we are still in the hands of the living God. Your successes and setbacks are known beforehand by the LORD. He forms, molds, and shapes your lives according to His perfect will. I believe that everyone that was born was born on purpose and with a purpose.

ABRAHAM AND SARAH AND HAGAR

Abraham was the tenth generation after Noah, born in the Babylonian city of Ur of the Chaldees. He was a faithful man and found favor with the LORD. The LORD promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations.⁸ He foretold that he would be a God to him and his descendants, and would give them the land of Canaan.⁹ It was an unconditional covenant. Nothing was required of him because God granted him favor.

Abraham was seventy-five years old and without children.¹⁰ God’s promise was that he would have a child with Sarah at the appointed time. Sarah was the wife of Abraham and she was very beautiful. She was ten years younger than Abraham and was barren.¹¹ The LORD promised Abraham that Sarah would give birth to a son. Abraham fell on his face and laughed in incredulity.¹² Likewise, Sarah laughed at the announcement that she would bear a child in her advanced years. Her laughter created a dispute with the Lord because of her unbelief.¹³

Hagar, the Egyptian, was Sarah’s servant. After ten years, Sarah’s unbelief led her to suggest to Abraham to take her servant Hagar as a wife, so that Hagar could have a child that would be Sarah’s property.¹⁴ Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a wife. Hagar was a slave and could not refuse. Hagar gave birth to Abraham’s first son, Ishmael. Discord arose, between Abraham and Sarah, and Sarah despised Hagar.¹⁵ It created enmity and jealousy between Sarah and Hagar. In addition, Abraham was very unhappy in the marriage with Hagar. Polygamy was not the LORD’s plan; rather, it was Sarah’s.

There was a famine in the land, so they traveled down to Egypt, and upon entering Egypt, Abraham told Sarah to tell them that she was his sister for fear that he would be killed and taken by the Egyptians.¹⁶ Upon entering Gerar, on a second occasion Abraham convinced Sarah to pass as his sister, in order to escape death if she was seized by the Gerarites.¹⁷

Approximately twenty-five years later, at the age of one hundred and ninety-respectively, Abraham and Sarah became the parents of Isaac.¹⁸ The LORD’s covenant was established with Isaac.¹⁹ Ishmael was rejected by the LORD because he was not the child of promise. Ishmael and Isaac were half-brothers.²⁰ Sarah persuaded Abraham to send Hagar and her son away, saying: "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac."²¹ The LORD told Abraham that he should agree with her, ²² and do everything said by Sarah. ²³ The family dynamic was a palpably bitter and hurtful situation for both Sarah and Hagar. Sarah’s situation was of her own making because she did not seek counsel with the LORD God prior to suggesting that Abraham marry Hagar. Sarah did not wait on the LORD; she got ahead of Him. But the LORD never changed His mind to meet His scheduled time table.

Hagar being a bondservant was at the disposal of Sarah and had no control. Nevertheless, borne out of this sorrow was greatness. Ishmael was born on purpose and with a purpose. Hagar, was an Egyptian slave girl, and when she became of age, Hagar chose an Egyptian wife for Ishmael. Ishmael had twelve princes and he was made into a great nation.²⁴. The LORD promised Abraham that Ishmael would be the father of twelve princes.²⁵ The LORD blessed Ishmael even though he had a rough beginning, but rejected him as the heir of the promise. Ishmael and his mother lived in Paran.²⁶ The LORD kept His promise to Abraham regarding Ishmael.²⁷ Abraham was called a friend of God, for his righteousness.²⁸ With the birth of Isaac, the LORD God confirmed the covenant that He made with Abraham.²⁹ After Abraham’s death, the LORD blessed Isaac.³⁰ He inherited everything that Abraham had.³¹ Everything that happened was by the LORD God’s perfect will and on purpose.

JACOB AND LEAH AND RACHEL

Isaac had to be born, and was born with a purpose, because the Scriptures record that "by faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future."³² This is a complicated and convoluted story. It is interwoven with deception, betrayal, dishonesty and love. Jacob’s wife Rebecca was barren, and Jacob petitioned the LORD on her behalf, and Rebecca conceived.³³ Jacob and Esau were the world’s first twins. Esau was the older brother. Esau was a hunter. Jacob was a quiet man. Esau was his father Jacob’s favorite, and Jacob was his mother Rebecca’s favorite. Esau, after hunting one day returned home and wanted some of the red pottage or lentil soup that his brother Jacob was cooking. Jacob, motivated by his mother Rebecca’s duplicity, in exchange for the lentil soup requested Esau’s birthright, for a meal.

Being the older son, Esau was entitled to a double portion of inheritance from his father. But with this exchange it would elevate Jacob to the position of first-born son, and that entitled him to the family property and possessions, and the position as head of the family, with responsibility for his younger siblings. In Biblical Judaism it was a position of honor. In addition, Esau was entitled to a special blessing from his father that would place him in a special relationship with the LORD. Jacob deceived Esau. Esau put his fleeting physical need, of hunger, above his birth right and blessing.³⁴ Upon which, the LORD admonishes us not to be like Esau; who sold his birthright for a single meal.

Realizing what he had done, Esau vowed to kill Jacob. Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, fearing that his twin brother Esau would kill him, fled to the land of his uncle Laban in Haran. Laban was his mother’s brother.³⁵ Upon arrival in Haran, Jacob happened upon three flocks of sheep at the well. At his request, Rachel gave water to Jacob and offered water to his flock, at which point he decided he would marry Rachel, Laban’s younger daughter. ³⁶ Laban was avuncular and offered Jacob a place to stay. To win Rachel as his wife, Jacob agreed to work for Laban seven years.³⁷

After the completion of seven years labor, Jacob was deceived by Laban, when he gave Jacob his older daughter Leah, instead. Jacob made an objection, but Laban contended that it was not the custom for the younger daughter to marry before the older daughter. Wherein, Laban agreed that if Jacob worked an additional seven years, he would have Rachel for his wife. As Jacob had deceived his brother Esau and purloined his birthright, Jacob was deceived by his uncle Laban in exchange for two wives and fourteen years of work. Jacob favored Rachel over Leah, which was why the LORD closed Rachel’s womb for a designated period of time.³⁸ An intense rivalry engendered between the siblings, Rachel and Leah.

After two decades with Laban, Jacob was a wealthy man, and moved his family back to his family’s land. Nevertheless, Jacob still feared Esau’s anger. To appease him, Jacob sent gifts prior to his arrival.³⁹ The night prior to meeting Esau and before Jacob crossed the Jordan River he "wrestled with God" until dawn. He was given the name Israel. It was confirmation that he was the son that would receive the promises that were made to Abraham. Of that tumultuous relationship, Jacob fathered twelve sons and several daughters. Leah gave birth to six sons; Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, had two sons; Rachel bore him two sons (Joseph and Benjamin); and Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, gave birth to an additional two sons.⁴⁰

Before Esau and Jacob were born, the Lord chose Jacob to be the heir apparent to the Abrahamic promises.⁴¹ It didn’t just happen. It happened on purpose and by divine design. The twelve sons of Jacob were the leaders of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. Joseph the eleventh of Jacob’s twelve sons, was the firstborn of Rachel, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. He rose from the prison to become a powerful man in Egypt, second to Pharaoh. It was through their family tree; Jesus Christ would be born from the tribe of Judah.⁴² Jacob and Esau were born on purpose, and lived into the plan that the LORD laid out for them.

ELKANAH AND PENNINAH AND HANNAH

Elkanah, an Ephrathite, lived in Ramah, and had two wives, Hannah and Penninah. Penninah had children. Hannah was not naturally barren; but her womb was closed by the LORD to provoke her to prayer.⁴³ Elkanah was a devout man and each year he went to Shiloh to worship.⁴⁴ There, he presented his sacrifices and offerings.⁴⁵ On the day that Elkanah would give offerings, he would give portions of the sacrificial meat to Penninah and each of her children. But because Hannah had no children he would give her a double portion because he loved her. Enmity arose between Penninah and Hannah because Hannah was jeered by the former, and Hannah was reduced to tears and would not eat. This went on for many years. Hannah desperately wanted children and was deeply saddened.

On one occasion, when Hannah visited Shiloh, while in the tabernacle of the Lord, she poured out her heart in prayer to the LORD. Hannah petitioned the LORD for a son, and promised Him that if He gave her a son she would dedicate him to the LORD as a Nazarite, serving Him all the days of his life.⁴⁶ While Hannah was solemnly praying silently, Eli the High Priest of Shiloh, saw Hannah and misinterpreted her agony and anguish for drunkenness. Eli reprimanded Hannah.

After hearing her explanation and realizing that she was praying, he said: "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grants your petition that you have made to him."⁴⁷ Afterwards, Hannah was encouraged, because she had received the LORD’s promise from, Eli, His servant. The very next morning, the family arose and worshiped the LORD Almighty, and returned home to Ramah. Whereupon, Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord kept His promise, and she conceived.⁴⁸

Over the course of time, Hannah gave birth to a son, and named him Samuel, meaning, "I have asked for him from the Lord."⁴⁹ When Samuel was the appropriate age, Hannah kept her promise. Samuel was taken by Hannah to Eli, the High Priest, and dedicated to the Lord. Samuel was chosen by the LORD, before he was born. Samuel was trained by Eli, and became a prophet. He was the last judge of Israel and anointed Saul, the first king of Israel.⁵⁰ The LORD gave Hannah the gift of Samuel, and at the appointed time, she gave him back to the LORD. It happened according to the LORD God’s plan and His will.

HOSEA AND GOMER

The word of the LORD came to Hosea, saying, "Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD." ⁵¹ At the LORD’s instructions Hosea, married the prostitute Gomer and was instructed to have children because the people had sinned.⁵² They had one child together named Jezreel. Gomer reverted to her old lifestyle and slept with other men. She had two additional children that were named by God. The daughter and second child was named Lo-ruhamah and the son and third child was named Lo-ammi. In the Hebrew lo means "no" or "not; Lo-ruhamah meaning to have no pity and Lo-ammi- means not mine." The Biblical narrative suggests they were not Hosea’s natural children by today’s DNA standard. Nonetheless there is no indication of a time when Hosea denied them as his children or when they denied him as their father. Their names were symbolic of characteristics of Israel’s relationship with the LORD. The LORD commanded Hosea to love Gomer even though she was an adulteress.⁵³

Gomer ran away from Hosea and went from man to man until she was sold into the slavery of prostitution by one of her lover’s. There was a constant hope that Gomer would repent from her adultery and her whoredom; and to be reconciled with Hosea. Her repentance required her to forsake those ways and turn her heart towards the LORD. The LORD commanded Hosea to buy Gomer back for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley from her chosen life of whoredom.⁵⁴ Her price equaled to thirty pieces of silver which was the customary price of a slave.⁵⁵

This must have been traumatic for Hosea and the children. Nevertheless, they were born on purpose, with a purpose according to the will of God. Even out of the worst circumstances they were brought forth into the world as an image of redemption and joyful reconciliation. Their lives were a part of the LORD’s plans.

ZECHARIAH AND ELIZABETH

Zechariah was a temple priest in the familial line of Abijah, and Elizabeth his daughter was from the familial lineage of Aaron.⁵⁶ Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous and kept the LORD’s commandments. Zechariah and Elizabeth although sinless, were not blameless before the LORD Almighty. No one could charge them with any scandals, because they lived justly. They were both advanced in age and Elizabeth was barren.⁵⁷

It happened that Zechariah was serving as priest before the LORD, which was chosen by lot, during the incense offering, when he was executing his priestly duties. While the congregation was praying outside, an angel of the LORD appeared before Zechariah on the right side of the altar of incense and Zechariah was frightened. The angel Gabriel told him not to be afraid.⁵⁸ Although he was blameless in the sight of the LORD, it is understandably that he would react in such a manner. He may have thought it an aberration. Gabriel told Zechariah that Elizabeth was going to have a child, and that the child was to be named John.’ The angel Gabriel told Zechariah that the LORD had heard his prayer, and had been merciful, and that Elizabeth was going to conceive and give birth to a child. Still Zechariah did not believe the angel Gabriel, because of his advanced years in age.⁵⁹ Zechariah considered it to be folly and because of his unbelief, scoffed at the notion. His unbelief was silenced when the angel of the LORD replied:

I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.⁶⁰

When Zechariah came out of the sanctuary he was unable to speak. Yet the people were able to discern that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary.⁶¹

In ancient times, barren women were treated harshly and looked upon with disdain. It was for that reason that Elizabeth said, "This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people."⁶² At the appointed time, Elizabeth conceived.

The birth of John the Baptist was foretold over seven hundred years by the prophet Isaiah.⁶³ He was the first prophet called by the LORD before he was born in four hundred years since the Prophet Malachi. John was circumcised, on the eighth day, in accordance with Biblical Judaism. The family gathered and wanted to name him Zechariah after the father, which was not a Biblical Jewish custom. However, Elizabeth said he would be called John..⁶⁴ When they inquired of Zechariah what the child’s name should be, being unable to speak, He requested a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." Afterwards, Zechariah’s mouth opened and his speech was restored. Zechariah’s unbelief and was changed by Elizabeth’s faithfulness.

John the Baptist was related to Jesus Christ because their mothers’ were cousins.⁶⁵ John lived a simple life and a diet of locust and honey. He wore clothes made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist.⁶⁶ Like the prophet Samuel, John the Baptist was trained up under the discipline of the Nazarites. John’s adult life was depicted as utter surrender to Jesus Christ and His kingdom. He was a lone voice in the wilderness as he announced the coming of the Messiah to a people who greatly needed a Savior. ⁶⁷

John the Baptist was born on purpose and by a promise. He was approved of when he was in his mother’s womb, and his purpose was given to him by the LORD Almighty. John the Baptist was the forerunner for Christ, and unapologetically proclaimed the Good News about Christ Jesus. It all happened according to the LORD’s divine plan!

MOSES WAS ADOPTED

During the time that Moses was born, there was a new king in Egypt that objected to the increased number of Israelites in Egypt. He feared they would become too powerful.⁶⁸ He put task-masters over them to oppress them and forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Raamses. But although they were oppressed they did not decrease in number, rather, they multiplied. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live."⁶⁹ The midwives were ordered to kill the male children, but they refused, because they feared the LORD.⁷⁰

Born in Egypt, Moses was the son of Amram, a Levite, and Jochebed, and his siblings were Aaron and Miriam. ⁷¹ He was hidden by his mother for three month from Pharaoh and certain death.⁷² In an attempt to save him, Jochebed made a small basket, placed Moses in it, and set the basket adrift on the edge of the Nile River.⁷³ Miriam, his sister watched as the basket drifted along the banks of the Nile.

King Pharaoh’s daughter, Bithya and her maids came to the Nile to bathe in the cool water. She heard the baby crying and realized that it was one of the Hebrew children.⁷⁴ Miriam offered to procure Bithya a Hebrew woman, to nurse the baby, and when she agreed, Miriam went and got Moses’ mother, Jochebed.⁷⁵ The odds of that happening in the natural without the presence of the LORD are astronomical. Jochebed nursed Moses for two years, and was given wages by King Pharaoh’s daughter, to nurse her own child. When the child grew older, Bithya adopted Moses as her son, making him the prince of Egypt, where he lived for forty years.⁷⁶

Moses was the greatest Prophet in the Old Testament, and only Jesus Christ is greater.⁷⁷ Moses was the Mediator of the Old Covenant and gave the Law to the nation of Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai. It was Moses’ very destiny and purpose, to lead his people to the edge of the Red Sea. The LORD saved them from the pursing Egyptian army, by parting the waters and allowing the nation of Israel to pass through on dry land while drowning the pursuing Egyptian army. Moses was a prophet that performed many miracles. He created a system of worship and service unto God. He wrote the first five Books of the Hebrew Bible.

It is written that "no man can see the face of God and live."⁷⁸ But Moses saw the face of God and lived. He was favored by God, and groomed through many struggles for the purposes of God, in accordance with God’s plan and His will. Whereby, the LORD adopts everyone that receives Christ as the Lord and Savior into His spiritual family.

ESTHER WAS AN ORPHAN

During the third year of the reign of the pagan King Xerxes, the son of Darius I, he gave an extravagant banquet in his palace, and the military leaders, princes and nobles from his 127 provinces were present.⁷⁹ It was replete with fine linens, couches of gold and silver, engraved with mother-of-pearl stones.⁸⁰ After a six month period of feasting in royal splendor, King Xerxes had an additional banquet lasting seven days. At the same time, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women.⁸¹ After seven days of much drinking, King Xerxes sent seven eunuchs and commanded them to bring Queen Vashti to the king, hoping to show off her beauty. But, Vashti refused to come. ⁸² Hoping to suppress the possibility of the women in his court duplicating Queen Vashti’s shameless behavior, King Xerxes consulted his experts to quell the possibility of a reoccurrence among the women in his provinces towards their husbands, and a royal decree was written. "He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue. "⁸³ Queen Vashti was deposed, and was never allowed to enter the presence of King Xerxes again, and her position was to be given to someone else more deserving.⁸⁴

King Xerxes’ personal attendants proposed to him the following:

"Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let