Embark on an Unforgettable Journey Through a Captivating Christian Historical Romance
Meet the Author: Janice Rice
Janice Rice is not just an author; she's a passionate adventurer in her Christian journey. With a heart dedicated to faith and a spirit fueled by purpose, she has woven an incredible tapestry of experiences that breathe life into her storytelling.
Janice's unwavering commitment to her Christian faith has led her on a remarkable path. She has youth-pastored, played a pivotal role in church planting, and led numerous missions trips to places like Mexico and Fiji. These experiences have shaped her perspective and have become the foundation upon which her captivating stories are built.
Beyond her literary endeavors, Janice is a gifted worship leader and songwriter, allowing her creativity to flow through melodies and lyrics that touch the soul. Her deep connection to the power of worship can be felt within the pages of her work.
Janice's academic pursuits are equally impressive. She holds a degree in Cross-Cultural Communications, a testament to her dedication to understanding and bridging the gaps between cultures and beliefs. Together with her husband and six children, she pastors a community in Oregon, where her passion for faith and family shines brightly.
As you delve into the pages of "Acsah," you'll discover that Janice Rice's words are infused with not only her writing skill but also her profound journey of faith and exploration. Her unique blend of experiences and devotion comes to life in her storytelling, making her a writer who truly embodies the adventure of living out one's Christian faith.
In war-torn Hebron, Acsah, an awkward girl turned sought-after woman of God, faces a heart-wrenching choice between following her heart or trusting both her earthly and Heavenly Father. Othniel, burdened by duty and haunted by loss, grapples with his growing love for Acsah. As Acsah's father decrees that only the conqueror of Debir can win her hand, their bond is tested. Will Othniel prove himself and claim Acsah, or will they be torn apart? Their journey reveals the enduring power of love amidst chaos, demanding unwavering faith and trust.
“The Lord instructed Joshua to assign some of Judah’s territory to Caleb son of Jephunneh. So Caleb was given the city of Arba (that is, Hebron), which had been named after Anak’s ancestor. Caleb drove out the three Anakites—Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai— descendants of Anak.
“Then he fought against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher). Caleb said, ‘I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.’ Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife.”
Joshua 15:13-17
PROLOGUE
The torches and oil lamps of Hebron shone brightly in the dark night. Three warriors on the backs of camels overlooked what used to be their city from a nearby hilltop.
“Why have the gods allowed this rabble of slaves to overpower us and take our city?” Talmai grumbled. “Surely our forefathers would have sought revenge for this kind of defiance immediately. Too much time has passed already. We must act!” He pounded his fist into his other open hand, causing his camel to jerk underneath him.
“Patience, brother,” Sheshai spoke slowly, stroking the neck of his camel. He kept his eyes on the city. “We will have our vengeance, but not until the time is right. We cannot suffer any more losses from these Israelites.”
“Well spoken. It is not time yet,” Ahiman said, his eyes focused on the city gates and surrounding walls. He leaned forward in his seat. “When we strike, it will be as swift as a lion. We will annihilate their armies so that they will never rise again. There will be no mercy. Arba will be ours. It is just a matter of when.”
A vulture cried out overhead, as if an omen of what was to come. The three men looked up and then at each other.
“The gods are speaking to us,” Talmai murmured. “Surely our time of shame is over. There will be death in this valley. The vultures will eat the flesh of our enemies.” His camel shifted under him, but he held his gaze on the city. “I will offer one of my own sons in sacrifice to ensure that the city will once again be ours.”
A cool breeze swept over the land, blowing the cloaks of the warriors toward the south from where they came. As undetected as they had appeared on the outskirts of the city, they vanished again into the night.
CHAPTER ONE
Poor Uncle Kenaz. He must be miserable watching sheep. I’m sure he would rather be with Father today. Acsah tied back her long, black hair with a string as they led the sheep out of Hebron. A rebellious strand fell in her face, and she brushed it back behind her ears with her fingers.
Yet another reason to be grateful for my ears, Lord. How else would I keep this hair out of my face? She swiped a yellow wildflower away from a ewe’s mouth before it became a meal, and placed the bloom behind her ear.
Her uncle stopped to talk to an elderly man, turning his good ear towards him and speaking much louder than he needed to. Acsah had become used to the gruesome scar where Kenaz’s ear used to be. Though it was a recent battle wound, she could look at it now without turning away. Still, she shuddered.
“Those Anakite dogs! How dare they hurt my uncle,” she murmured. “If only I could help fight them someday.” Acsah kicked a stone out of her way and placed her hand over her own perfectly formed ear. A sigh escaped her lipsat the thought, and she felt a spasm quiver through her stomach. She suddenly felt sick.
A lamb nibbled and tugged at the edge of her cloak, breaking her train of thought and making her chuckle. The pattering of small hooves behind made her smile. She was grateful for the distraction that shepherding brought to her life. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure the sheep were all following. Uncle Kenaz was bringing up the rear again and tapped a wayward lamb with his staff to keep it in line.
Lifting her face to the rising sun, Acsah took in its warmth. Despite the tranquility around her, the battle between faith and fear raged on inside her. Her heart pounded just thinking about the danger her father and brothers might be in. Lord, she prayed; protect my father and brothers today. Help them defeat the Anakite raiders.
Acsah passed by a wrinkled old woman gossiping with her neighbor in her doorway.
“I have heard there could be another attack—” She glanced over at Acsah and pulled her shawl over her mouth to muffle her voice.
Acsah felt heat rise in her cheeks. They were talking about her family. Though she was only eleven years old, she was not naïve. From mouth to ear, gossip drifted through the streets of Hebron, permeating through every home like the overwhelming stench of something dead.
Everyone was sickened and alarmed by the attack on Kenaz. Restless men took up arms, even carrying a sword throughout their workday. Only the very young, very old and injured men were left home during this battle to care for the livestock and guard Hebron. Acsah glanced back at the blade at her uncle’s side and let out a deep breath.
She led the sheep down the familiar stone path through Hebron’s massive gates. Fields of wildflowers and tall grass surrounded the small river that wound its way outside the city walls and to the south. Some girls huddled by the water now with a pile of dirty clothes, giggling and whispering among themselves.
Tirzah, her best friend, called to her. “Shalom, Acsah.”
Another girl jabbed Tirzah as she waved, and the others snickered to see Acsah with the sheep. The village girls often teased her for doing a man’s work.
“Shalom, Tirzah,” Acsah said, waving back, and held her chin high. A smile crept onto her lips despite the other girls’ sneers. She loved shepherding even if they didn’t approve. The open fields were more appealing than sitting by a riverbank doing women’s work and squabbling all morning. She passed over the rugged wooden footbridge, barely keeping ahead of the sheep pressing in behind her. Acsah giggled and picked up her pace, humming a few notes to a song she had been singing lately.
“Your faithfulness endures forever,” she sang aloud. Aware of her uncle’s watchful eyes and the sword at his side, Acsah let her shoulders relax, her gentle voice mingling with the bleating of the sheep. She would enjoy this walk and think about pleasant things.
The path split and she headed to the lower fields where it remained cool and shaded from the scorching morning sun. Low hanging trees by the stream invited her to rest. The sweet aroma of fresh grass rose from the earth, warming under the sun’s rays.
Acsah’s large, dark eyes searched the hillside to make sure no predators lurked nearby.
“Uncle!” She raised her eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders. “Is this place alright?”
Kenaz nodded his head, smiling in approval. His dimples showed and Acsah smiled back, amused at the strong family resemblance he shared with her father. His son, Othniel, also bore the family trademark of deep dimples whenever he smiled. There was no one that Acsah enjoyed spending time with more than her Uncle Kenaz and Othniel.
The sheep settled down to drink and graze. Everything looks safe to me. Acsah peered around the perimeter of the field a second time. Her older brothers often told her stories about fighting off lions. It was rare that lions would venture away from the wilderness to hunt near the city, but on a few occasions a lone lioness could be seen in these parts. Sheber, the oldest of Acsah’s brothers, always warned her to be on her guard. One never knew when a predator might show up.
Content that all was well, Acsah relaxed. She knelt next to one of her lambs, snuggling her face into its fuzzy neck. Kenaz began watering the flock by the stream, tapping and pushing the stubborn bigger sheep aside to make room for the smaller ones by the water. Acsah suppressed a giggle with her hand over her mouth, even though he couldn’t hear her. Her uncle glanced up, caught Acsah’s amusement, and smiled back. They both laughed.
“These animals are the most selfish creatures!” Kenaz shouted out to her.
Acsah nodded, grinning.
Soft bleating caught her ear. She jumped up on a nearby rock to scan the field. An orphaned lamb, mostly hidden by large rocks, was caught in a briar near the hillside.
“Uncle!” Acsah called, waving her arm to get his attention again. She caught his eye and he looked up. She pointed to the wayward lamb and motioned that she would retrieve it. Kenaz surveyed the rocks and saw nothing alarming, so he nodded his consent and turned back to the other sheep. With little effort, Acsah found the lamb under a ledge where it was tangled in the thorn bush.
“You silly little thing,” Acsah scolded, patting its soft head. She knelt beside the lamb and began untangling its nappy fur from the thorns. “You get into almost as much trouble as I do.”
Across the field, Othniel arrived with his servant, Enosh, and his father’s sheep. They both carried swords at their side, even though at fifteen years old they were too young to go to battle. Kenaz would not leave his son and servant unprotected with only the two of them to guard the flock.
The boys were laughing, still musing over how easy it had been to tease the girls at the river. Othniel, still grinning, shoved his long, dark hair off his forehead with the back of his hand. Suddenly, something caught his attention. He snatched Enosh’s arm and pointed toward the cave. “A lion! Enosh, do you see it?”
Othniel measured the size of it. It was a mature female, with raw patches of skin on its sides. It looked diseased…but ready for the hunt. He had never seen one this large and alone so close to Hebron.
Othniel dropped his staff and sprinted across the field, leaving his servant with his sheep. He yanked the sword from his leather belt and clutched it in his right hand, keeping his eye on the lioness as he ran.
“Father! Father!” he cried, but Kenaz’s back was to him.
By this time, the lion had slinked out of the cave to the edge of the rocks overlooking the field. Kenaz still did not hear him. The lion’s gaze fixed on the younger sheep near Kenaz.
Othniel yelled again, louder, “Father! A lion!”
The beast poised, ready to jump off the ledge…when Acsah stepped out from behind a large rock below it. Othniel stopped short and gasped, not knowing what to do. Acsah held a lamb and her staff. Othniel froze with fear, staring at the lion just above her.
In a flash, the lioness sprung from the ledge and landed just a few feet in front of Acsah. She stumbled backwards, stifling a scream. The lioness sprinted towards the flock.
“Uncle!” Acsah screamed, dropping the lamb. She regained her balance and leapt from the rocks, running after the lion, her staff clutched in her hand. “Uncle Kenaz! A lion!”
Othniel bolted toward her, willing his legs to run faster. “Acsah!” he cried, “get away from it!”
The lioness reached the edge of the flock. The sheep scattered in every direction, creating chaos. The beast let out a roar so loud that, finally, Kenaz spun around.
Instantly, he dashed toward the lion with his sword raised to strike, and sliced deep into the animal’s neck. The lioness roared as it leapt toward a lamb, catching it in its claws. Kenaz stabbed the lion’s diseased flank. It turned on him, blood matting its fur, and swatted Kenaz across the face. His sword fell from his hands, and the razor sharp claws ripped open his neck, jaw, and cheek, knocking him to the ground. The lion landed and spun around…then plunged its yellow fangs into Kenaz’s neck.
Acsah screamed, dodging a panicked ewe. She raised her staff. She swung hard, and landed a blow across the lion’s back with a loud crack.
The lioness released its death grip on Kenaz. A low guttural noise came from deep within the beast. Kenaz’s limp body lay motionless between its front claws.
From a stone’s throw away, Othniel watched in horror as the lion turned to face the little girl. He could see its yellow eyes and blood dripping from its teeth.
“Acsah!” Othniel screamed, his lungs burning for more air as he ran. The animal’s growls made Othniel’s blood run cold. It was beyond enraged, swiping and roaring at Acsah. It lunged towards her.
Acsah stood firm and swung hard. She smacked the animal square on its head, but the weight of the beast knocked her onto her back. Her staff flew out of her hand and landed out of reach. The lioness sidestepped and lunged again. Its claws caught Acsah’s upper arm, and tossed her like a doll.
“No!” Othniel jumped in between the beast and his cousin, standing over her small frame and blocking her with his own body. Acsah clamped her other hand over the deep gash in her arm. Blood seeped through her fingers.
The animal panted and a wheezing sound came from its throat. It stepped back, sizing up its new enemy, and circled around. Othniel wasted no time waiting for an attack. He ran towards the beast, drew his sword back, and swung hard. The blade sliced through the animal’s thick flesh, exposing its shoulder bone. Othniel stabbed again and again, piercing its solid flank. Dodging the lion’s snapping jaws; Othniel drew his sword back again and drove it deep into the killer’s side, piercing its heart. The lioness roared in pain, staggered, and fell.
“Die!” Othniel screamed as he clenched his sword. More fury than he had ever known flowed through his veins. The lioness attempted to stand. When Othniel came near, it swiped at his legs and tried to bite him, but he was too agile. His final blow was hard and fast. He pinned the animal to the ground, his sword sticking out of its hulking frame. It laid still, a bloody carcass.
Othniel’s chest heaved, drawing in air. He leaned over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
It was then that he saw his father. It took his breath away. He gasped, his mind reeling. He ran to Kenaz’s side and fell to his knees, surveying the carnage.
Kenaz’s lifeless body was soaked in blood, his face almost unrecognizable.
“Father?” Othniel cried frantically. “Oh Lord God—” The gaping wounds made Othniel wretch. He clutched his sides, rocking back and forth.
Enosh ran up to his side, and nearly fell over when he saw the body.
“Master?” he gasped, and clamped a hand over his mouth.
Acsah moaned a few feet away.
“Othniel,” Enosh cried. “Please hurry! We must care for Acsah.”
Everything looked blurry and sweat dripped from every pore in Othniel’s body. Shaking with exhaustion, he wiped the sweat and tears from his eyes to focus. Then he turned around. Acsah was huddled into a ball, mumbling deliriously. Her left arm was soaked with blood.
She lifted her head as Othniel approached. “Othniel, forgive me,” she pleaded. Her large dark eyes were wet with tears, her face ashen. “I’m so sorry. I knew he couldn’t hear. I left him just for a moment—”
Othniel fell to his knees beside her just as her eyes rolled back, and she lost consciousness. It snapped him back to the moment.
“Enosh, we need to wrap her arm to stop the bleeding. She has lost too much blood.”
Enosh sprang into action, tearing some cloth from the bottom of his tunic. Othniel tied it around Acsah’s wound as tightly as he could.
He took off his own outer cloak and gently wrapped it around Acsah to keep her warm. “Run for help. Go to Jonadab’s house,” he ordered. “Bring him and his horses as fast as you can. Go!”
Enosh was already across the field when Othniel looked up again. He turned to Acsah and surveyed her wounded arm. The cloth was slowing the bleeding, but Acsah’s face was pale, almost gray. He brushed her cheek with his fingertips. Her skin felt cold and clammy.
Run, Enosh. Run as fast as you can. Othniel prayed. He wrapped his arms around Acsah to warm her faster.
“Oh, Lord, why? Why? My father…little Acsah…how could this happen?”
Othniel began to shiver even in the heat of the day. Shock overcame him as he held Acsah close, rocking her gently in his arms. His eyes fixed on his father. His mind refused to believe that the corpse beside him was his father, his hero. He gulped hard and felt the steady pounding of his own heart in his chest.
Only a few minutes earlier…I would have been here to help them. Only a few minutes. The thought was torture. A great sob rose in his chest, and he cried into the robe that wrapped around his little cousin’s limp body.
After what seemed like eternity, Jonadab and Enosh came barreling across the field on horses, kicking up clumps of dirt behind them. Jonadab pulled up hard on his horse as he neared.
“Othniel!” He leapt from the back of his horse and ran to Kenaz’s side. He placed his hand on the dead man’s chest and dropped his head in anguish. Then he turned to Othniel. “Is she dead?” He pulled back the bloody cloak to see her wounds.
“No. She’s…she’s alive…but…my father…”
Jonadab look up and put his hand on Othniel’s shoulder. “Are you hurt, too?” he asked, alarmed. The blood from Kenaz and Acsah soaked the front of Othniel’s tunic.
“No, Jon. I’m not hurt—” Othniel’s throat tightened as he spoke. “We must get Acsah out of here.” He stood, scooping Acsah up into his arms. Jonadab looked around. “Where is the lion?”
“Dead.” Othniel’s anger filled him again. He shook his head, hoping to snap out of this nightmare. He gingerly placed Acsah in Enosh’s arms and prepared to move his father.
“Help me get her onto the horse, Enosh,” Jonadab said, grimacing at the bloodstain coming through the tourniquet on Acsah’s arm. Jonadab swung up onto his horse, and then reached for Acsah. He pulled her in front of him and cradled her between his strong arms. “Othniel, I’ll take her to my house. Mother will take care of her,” he said. He wiped a stray tear on the shoulder of his cloak. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
With that, Jonadab spun his horse around and took off across the field. All Othniel could see of Acsah around his friend’s large frame was her long, black hair blowing in the wind behind them. A sharp pain hit him near his heart at the realization that he could lose her too.
My favorite little cousin. Please, Acsah, stay with me. Don’t leave me, too. Hot tears filled his eyes. Othniel took a deep breath and held it, willing himself to remain under control.
“Enosh, may I have your cloak?” Othniel knelt next to his father and wrapped the cloak around him, covering the gashes on his chest and head. Enosh held the horse nearby, his face solemn.
Othniel closed his father’s eyes for the last time.
Praise for 'Acsah'
“I finished reading the book in just a few days as I couldn’t put it down. I love how the author took a small portion of scripture and expanded on it in this fictional book. A book full of insights into Jewish customs and traditions of that time but also with some modern lingo and verbage. It was a great combination of action and love! There is also a great message thread throughtout the book of abstinence and staying pure until marriage. I think anyone with a teenager should have them read this book! Looking forward to another book by Janice Rice!!”
“This was a great story and a fun read. After the first few chapters this book took off and I couldn’t put it down. It was light and fun but also thoughtful. A great read for teenagers and young adults. I really enjoyed the story and bit of humor in it.”
“I love this unique story about Acsah! I haven’t read anything similar on this particular woman, but it is a great re-imagining and I found it believable and endearing. It reminds me of Francine Rivers books, except this author went the unknown route rather than rehashing well-known stories. Highly recommend, brava!”
In war-torn Hebron, Acsah, an awkward girl turned sought-after woman of God, faces a heart-wrenching choice between following her heart or trusting both her earthly and Heavenly Father. Othniel, burdened by duty and haunted by loss, grapples with his growing love for Acsah. As Acsah's father decrees that only the conqueror of Debir can win her hand, their bond is tested. Will Othniel prove himself and claim Acsah, or will they be torn apart? Their journey reveals the enduring power of love amidst chaos, demanding unwavering faith and trust.