20

Mahlah raced through the tents of the Levites to the tents of the tribe of Manasseh. She and her sisters would attend the assembly tonight and seek justice for their family. Her father had grumbled at the desert’s harsh conditions and bland food, but he believed in God. The blood of her grandfather, Hepher, ran through her father’s veins, and that same blood ran through hers. She and her sisters should be able to carry their father’s name, the firstborn son of Hepher, into the Promised Land. Woe to any man who uttered the same insult as Reuben and suggest she marry off her sisters outright.

Rounding onto the wide path, she spied Noah passing Susanna’s tent.

“Sister.” She tugged Noah toward their dwelling. “We must have a family meeting. I saw Reuben at the Tabernacle.”

“Was he dressed this time?” Noah smirked. “You have been coy about the true meaning of his message.”

“I did not care for his message, but I believe he has helped us without knowing it.”

“The household of Nemuel help us?” Noah sputtered a laugh. “You have been in the desert too long. Save Susanna, they have rarely shown us kindness. Where was Nemuel’s praise after you saved his family from the plague?”

Mahlah pushed Noah into the cooking courtyard, distracting the rest of her sisters. “It will all be different soon.”

“This I must hear.” Noah snatched a manna cake from a nearby basket.

“Hey. I just made those,” Hoglah protested.

“Then they’ll be hot.” Noah bit into the cake. “Besides, Mahlah has called a meeting, so I cannot wander elsewhere.”

“A meeting? For all of us?” Tirzah asked.

“Yes, but not out here.” Mahlah scanned the path. Praise be, women were intent on their duties and not on their orphaned neighbors. “Slowly, go inside the tent.”

Milcah helped Hoglah remove the last of the ground manna cakes from the heated stone.

Noah picked up Tirzah and playfully carried her into the tent.

Sauntering inside last, Mahlah pulled the tent flaps taut. She motioned for her sisters to gather and sit in the center of their home.

“There will be an assembly this evening.” She knelt next to Hoglah. “Moses is going to bless the lots that will determine the plot of land each family is given.”

Noah’s expression grew serious. “Has Nemuel agreed to give us father’s portion?”

“No, he has not.” Mahlah pressed her lips together. How would her sisters take the coming news? “He wants me to find husbands for you and Hoglah.”

“Ugh.” Noah sounded as though she had ingested spoiled meat. “Where is his loyalty?”

Hoglah hugged her knees and rocked forward. Shadows nested under her eyes.

“What about us?” Milcah grasped Tirzah’s hand. “Who would we live with if you all are married?”

“You would live with me. No one has mentioned a husband for me.”

She pushed away the nag of regret and wrapped her arms around Noah and Hoglah.

“We need not worry about the leaders’ demands. I have a plan to keep us all under this sagging tent top. Tonight, we are going to the assembly as the daughters of Zelophehad, and we will petition Moses for father’s land. God has put it upon my heart to seek Moses’ wisdom. Aren’t we as valuable as sons?”

“In our clan, more so.” Noah slapped the ground in the middle of the small circle where they sat. “I am going with Mahlah to the assembly. We need land for our herds and flocks to grow.”

“And our rocks.” Tirzah laid her hand on Noah’s.

“I’m going. This is the only tent I want to be in.” Hoglah placed her hand on top of her sisters’ hands. “I was silly to believe that taking care of it didn’t matter.”

“Don’t leave me behind.” With both hands, Milcah reached into the circle.

“Praise be.” Mahlah’s chest swelled bigger than the ramskin walls. “We must put on our finest robes and hold our heads high as we address our leaders.”

Her sisters scrambled to rise

Tirzah nibbled her fingernail. “What if they don’t give us land?”

What if they didn’t? The elders of Manasseh would blame her for humiliating them in front of all the tribal elders. Her stomach twirled faster than those Midianite dancers.

“We must trust God to act. Are we not orphans? Five of them? Does God not expect our leaders to care for the orphan and the widow?” She prayed the vision she’d beheld in the clouds was not due to the strain of the past few Sabbaths. No one had been around to utter the words she had heard that day. “We are right to ask for father’s inheritance so we can remain a family and so his name will be remembered. Moses will be fair in his judgment. Our tribal elders will listen to him.”

“Will Moses listen to us?” Hoglah’s question dribbled with doubt.

Mahlah embraced her middle sister. “It doesn’t matter. God is listening.”