Daughters of the Desert , livre ebook

For our daughters
CONTENTS

Timeline of the Stories
Introduction
JEWISH STORIES
A Thousand Wrinkles
A story of Sarah
River Journey
A story of Shiphrah
A Dance in the Desert
A story of Miriam
The Pool of Siloam
A story of Huldah
O Come My Beloved
A story of Shoshana
Return to Hadassah
A story of Esther
CHRISTIAN STORIES
Woman to Woman
A story of Mary of Nazareth
Crumbs from the Table
A story of Eleni
Will I Drink of His Cup?
A story of Salome
Servant to Truth
A story of Binah
Love Casts Out Fear
A story of Mary Magdalene
Weaving a Church
A story of Lydia
MUSLIM STORIES
The Night Wind
A story of Eve
The Waters of Zamzam
A story of Hagar
A Faith Blossoms
A story of Khadija
Prayers in the Darkness
A story of Fatima
The Merchant Boys Prank
A story of Zarah
The Dogs of al-Haw ab
A story of Aisha

Further Reading
Authors Note
Acknowledgments

About the Authors
Copyright
Also Available
About SkyLight Paths
TIMELINE OF THE STORIES*
INTRODUCTION

D aughters of the Desert tells the stories of eighteen women of the ancient world who lived in the same desert homeland, some 4,000 to 1,300 years ago. Many of them were descendants of the patriarch Abraham. Instead of worshiping many gods, they were among the first to worship one God. Their stories celebrate the similarities and differences among the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions that enrich our lives even today.
Although women played key roles in all three religions from the very beginning, their stories were seldom recorded. Women in the ancient world rarely had the opportunity to learn to read and write. The men who recorded and copied the sacred Scriptures and other sacred texts included very little about how mothers passed on their experiences of God through storytelling, song, and ritual.
To discover more about these remarkable women, we used our imaginations and careful research to explore between the lines of each religion s sacred writings. Although these stories took place long ago, you may recognize some of the same hopes and struggles that people experience today. We hope you will enjoy meeting these women and will come to know them as we have.
JEWISH STORIES
A THOUSAND WRINKLES

The child grew up and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned .
-Hebrew Bible, Genesis 21:81
S arah added the last ingredients to the syrupy compote: dates, almonds, figs, and the luscious oranges that she had bought from a trader in Kadesh. She couldn t wait to see her young son s face when he tasted this special treat. That morning, for the first time, Isaac had gone with his half-brother, Ishmael, to lead the sheep down from the high pasture. Now that Isaac was weaned, he would spend his days working with the older boys; no longer would she have him by her side. The long-awaited feast would begin as soon as they returned.
Shalom, Sarah! She heard the booming voice of King Abimelech, who had just arrived with his family. She dried her hands and went out to greet her guests.
Welcome to all of you! she called. You must be exhausted after your long journey. Sarah smiled at the old chieftain and his wife, Amidta. As she did so, the weariness instantly left their faces, and the dust that covered their robes seemed to vanish.
Our hardship is already forgotten, the old man chuckled.
Welcome, Abimelech! May peace be with you. Sarah s husband, Abraham, stepped up and clasped his old friend on the shoulder.
And peace be with you as well, my friend, replied Abimelech. He looked up toward the sky where a billowy white cloud, etched in gold, hung like a canopy over their heads. I see that your invisible God continues to bless your house.
While the old friends talked, Sarah looked toward the ravine north of the tents. Despite her white hair and weathered face, her hearing was keen. She listened intently, sorting out the various sounds: the voices of guests, the music of a lyre and a drum. Abraham, I think I hear the boys down in the ravine, she said.
Nonsense, Sarah. Our sons would not wander down there.
Yes, it is strange, she replied. But I can hear them. I ll go and fetch them. Hurrying off to find the boys, Sarah left the guests still talking near the tents.
Sarah reached the edge of the ravine and peered down through the palms and grasses that lined the narrow canyon. She could not see the boys, but she could recognize their quarreling voices. She was unable to make out any of the words that were spoken, but the scene had a familiar ring.
Sarah sped down the steep slope, climbing over boulders and pushing her way through the brush to reach the bottom of the ravine.
Ishmael, what are you doing in the ravine? Isaac is too small to come in here.
We were looking for turtles, Ishmael quickly offered.
Ishmael pushed me down on the rocks, Isaac whimpered.
It was an accident, Isaac. I was just trying to help you climb out of the stream bed.
No, it wasn t an accident-
Sarah broke in. Why must you boys quarrel on this festive day?
There s no reason for me to celebrate, Ishmael replied. Today I m being replaced at the table by this baby who can t even tie his own shirt.
I am not a baby! Isaac cried out to his older half-brother.
Isaac, come with me. Sarah took him by the hand. The guests are waiting for you. Ishmael will join us at the feast when he s ready.
As they climbed up the steep trail, Sarah asked Isaac about his first day out with the flock. Isaac, who ordinarily bubbled with chatter and laughter, did not answer any of his mother s questions. He walked silently all the way back to camp.
During the feast, Sarah had no appetite, no heart for celebration. She excused herself early and found a quiet corner of the tent, where she sat watching Abraham with his two sons: Isaac on his right, sitting on Abraham s knee; and Ishmael on his left, nearly a grown man. The older boy entertained the men with tales about his hunting adventures, for Ishmael was already a skilled bowman. Isaac listened and laughed along with the rest. Both boys seemed unconcerned about the afternoon s quarrel. Nonetheless, Sarah could not shake her troubled feelings.
She thought back to Ishmael s birth. Childless for all those years, she had arranged for her maidservant Hagar to conceive in her place. It had been such a joyous time when Ishmael was born. Who could have imagined that fourteen years later she would miraculously give birth to her own child? Isaac s birth had surprised everyone. But for Ishmael, who was the son of a maidservant, it meant the loss of his inheritance.
Night fell and the lanterns were lit. There would be singing and storytelling until daylight as the celebration continued. Isaac had fallen asleep beside the fire. Sarah lifted him up and carried him to bed in her tent. She watched Isaac s delicate breath as he slept. Isaac had grown into a fine lad and yet he was still young and vulnerable.
She arose and walked out into the clear night. The stars were thick in the heavens. Her mind raced ahead of her feet. So much turmoil in the family-she thought about Ishmael. Sarah had loved him as if he had been her own son. But Isaac was her flesh, her darling. As the heir, Isaac, her son, would inherit despite his youth, and Ishmael would not.
Sarah had tried everything she knew to make peace within the family, but jealousy and resentment still smoldered around them all. What more can I do to make peace in this family? Adonai, help me to see .
God did not speak to Sarah in dreams or visions, but she had learned to listen to the quiet insights that came like whispers on the air. She saw a raven take flight. Stroking wings lifted the bird high into the cloudless night. She watched as the bird flew into the distance, disappearing into the starry heavens. Sarah listened to the wind for a long time, until finally she knew what she had to do.
Sarah walked to Abraham s tent and entered. Husband, rouse yourself. I have something urgent to tell you.
What is it, Sarah? Abraham pulled himself out of sleep. What can be so urgent that it cannot wait until morning?
The rivalry between your two sons is worsening. It is best for everyone if we separate them. Then she told him the story of their quarreling in the ravine.
It is only a simple boyhood rivalry, Abraham answered. They are fine boys, both favored by God. They will outgrow their struggle.
No, they will not outgrow this, she said. Then, drawing in a deep breath, she continued. Remember how it has gone with Ishmael. As your firstborn, he spent fourteen years of his boyhood believing that he would receive your inheritance. Then Isaac s birth changed everything for him. Who would have believed that you and I could conceive a child, old as we were? Yet the Lord gave us this miracle child to fulfill the Covenant. Adonai promised to bless Ishmael, but he cannot share in the Covenant with Isaac. Listen to me, Abraham, there will not be peace between these brothers as long as they remain together in this house. One will torment the other, and so in exchange.
And what do you suggest I do about it, Sarah?
I have struggled for months to find a way toward peace for our family. And tonight at the edge of the ravine, I became certain. You must cast out the slave woman and her son together. Ishmael is a fine marksman; they will make their way. It is best for them to go immediately.
Abraham eased his ancient frame so that he could rest on a goatskin cushion. Sarah, you have always been jealous of Hagar. Is that the true source of your request?
Caught off guard by this question, Sarah paused to consider her answer. It is true that I have envied Hagar over the years. But I am old now, and the flame of my jealousy has gone out. It is cool like morning ash. Ishmael must depart with his mother, of this I am certain.
I will consider this matter, Abraham said, his voice somber. But Ishmael i