Book Title: BRAVE: The Story of Ahinoam (Book #1 in King David’s Brides)
Character Name: Ahinoam
How would you describe your family or your childhood?
I was raised by a single father when my mother ran off with an Amalekite soldier. Soon after, we fled our tent in front of the Amalekite’s capital city, taking refuge in the small Judean town of Jezreel. Our heritage as Kenites was metal-smithing, and my father had taught me not only to work the forge and sharpen blades but also to throw his exquisite daggers. After watching my father’s continued heartache at mother’s betrayal, I determined never to marry. A lucrative smithing trade and the expertise of my daggers filled my heart just fine. Why let any man break it?
What was your greatest talent?
I’m the best dagger thrower in all of Israel, able to empty my six-blade belt into the center of a target at fifty paces.
Significant other?
Never, if I have my way. However, my father still has hopes that I’ll marry—perhaps even David ben Jesse, the man anointed to be Israel’s next king. Ludicrous. How could a Kenite woman marry a king?
Biggest challenge in relationships?
Men refuse to believe I could fight beside them in battle, and I don’t trust women. All the women in David’s camp—except his sister, Zeruiah—ridicule me. They look at me as if I’m a three-headed donkey. Only Zerry is honest with me. Though sometimes painfully so, I appreciate her directness and offer her the same.
Where do you live?
I live wherever David leads the men of his army and their families. Since he fled King Saul’s assassins, he’s been a fugitive and barely one step ahead of the jealous king. We’ve hidden in Moab—and were betrayed by its king. We fled to the forest of Hereth, the city of Keilah, the wilderness of Ziph. At each location, David endured betrayal and heartache, and each time he responded with grace and forgiveness beyond comprehension. When David ben Jesse would look at me with those copper-speckled, green eyes and speak of Yahweh as if they were best friends, my determination to avoid love grew weaker. I was the bravest woman in David’s camp, but I could never have the courage to share a husband with a harem full of other wives who would treat me as women always had.
Do you have any enemies?
Everyone has enemies. Are they real or perceived—that is the true question. When my story begins, I believe almost everyone is my enemy. By story’s end, I realize my greatest enemy has been myself.
How do you feel about the place where you are now? Is there something you are particularly attached to, or particularly repelled by, in this place?
I don’t go anywhere without my dagger belt and the six blades tucked into their sheaths at my back beneath the folds of my robe. My first and favorite dagger is named Eve because she, like the first woman of creation, sometimes makes a bad decision that wreaks havoc on the innocents around her. I’m learning to ponder before using Eve so quickly. By the end of my story, we arrive in Gath, escaping Saul’s constant pursuit along with the starvation and thirst of Judah’s wilderness. Will we live better among the Philistines, a nation who has been Israel’s enemy for generations? What must we compromise to win their favor? I’m repulsed by their idols and false gods, but I’ve realized that being BRAVE is more about my heart than my weapons.
King David's Brides #1
An Old Testament Historical Biblical Fiction about King David's Wives Ahinoam and Abigail
In the tumultuous world of ancient Israel, Ahinoam--a fierce and unconventional Kenite woman--flees her family farm with her dagger-wielding father to join the ragtag band of misfits led by the shepherd-turned-warrior David ben Jesse. As King Saul's treasonous accusations echo through the land, Ahinoam's conviction that David's anointing makes him Yahweh's chosen king propels her on a perilous journey to Moab, only to encounter hardship and betrayal.
Amid the unforgiving Judean wilderness, Ahinoam forges an unexpected bond with David's sister, Zeruiah. Through her Kenite metalworking heritage, Ahinoam gains respect among David's army, and the soldiers' wives offer friendship. However, scarred by painful past relationships, Ahinoam isolates to avoid new friendships and refuses to acknowledge her growing feelings for the renegade king. As Ahinoam's heart grapples for footing, King Saul's army closes in, and Ahinoam must confront the true meaning of love, loyalty, and courage. Is she brave enough to love Israel's next king?
Bestselling author Mesu Andrews presents a gripping biblical-era series, weaving a narrative of resilience and the transformative power of faith.
Christian Biblical Fiction [Bethany House Publishers, On Sale: October 1, 2024, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780764242618 / eISBN: 9781493448081]
Mesu Andrews is a Christy Award-winning, bestselling author of biblical novels and devotional studies, whose deep understanding of and love for God's Word brings the Bible alive for readers. Her heritage as a "spiritual mutt" has given her a strong yearning to both understand and communicate biblical truths in powerful stories that touch the heart, challenge the mind, and transform lives. Mesu lives in Indiana with her husband, Roy, where she stays connected with her readers through newsy emails, blog posts, and social media.
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