28

Family heads of the clans of Gilead, son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, gathered around Moses. Their hand slaps, harried petitions, and foot stomps filled the area in front of the Tent of Meeting. Mahlah’s forefather, Joseph, would have been pleased with the boldness they showed in their requests. Hadn’t Joseph interpreted dreams for Pharaoh? Leaders from other tribes settled close by, their mouths in furious debate.

Mahlah beheld the shadowing sky. The billowing cloud, the presence of God, consumed the tiptop of the holy tent containing the golden Ark of God. An inner sense of calm overwhelmed her. Never in all her seventeen years had God rescinded a promise. She did not believe He would begin this night.

“What are you thinking?” Noah came alongside, her arms stretched, her fingers intertwined as if she would bolster her sister over the assembly curtain. “I can tell when your eye twitches that you are tense.”

“My eye is not twitching.” How had it not shut tight with all her ponderings?

“Maybe not but every part of you seems to have been fired in an oven. Would you like me to answer any charges brought against us?”

Shaking her head, Mahlah said, “We haven’t done anything wrong. Whatever has upset the leaders of Manasseh, I will answer for.”

Noah raised her eyebrows. “You make me believe there may be accusations against us?”

“Who knows what gossip has tickled their ears. Some days I wish all men were as silent as Jeremiah.”

“All maybe, save one.” Noah’s teasing gaze scanned the assembly. “I don’t see Reuben.”

“He has yet to return, but he didn’t do us much good last time.” Mahlah’s heart pressed down with disappointment. “If the rumors are true about the battles, five kings of Midian are dead. I would cast a marble that Reuben ventured into that fight. If so, he may be at war or waiting to become clean from the blood he has spilled.”

“Shouldn’t we approach Moses?” Hoglah pointed to Eleazar, the priest, whose hand was spinning faster than a spindle.

“We prayed last time.” Milcah laced her fingers. “All went well.”

Mahlah embraced her sister and tugged Tirzah closer. “Bow your heads”

After a moment, Mahlah prayed. “God of Abraham, bless our family. Forgive us if we have done anything to trouble our kin. Give Moses wisdom once again. May the words of our people be pleasing to You.”

A chorus of “Hear our plea” came forth.

“Follow me, sisters.”

Every sandal flop in her wake reverberated in Mahlah’s ears. She secured her mustard-hued head covering and used the cloth to shield herself from the stern-faced stares of her kinsmen. Her stomach tingled like beetles had hatched inside her gut and grazed on her flesh.

She and her sisters, fragranced with citrus oils and adorned in the embroidery of skilled hands, paraded into the sour stench and growling-rumble of men.

Mahlah halted the procession when she was shoulder-to-shoulder with Nemuel on her right, and Abishua on her left. Her sisters formed a barricade behind her.

“My lord.” Nemuel bobbed in respect to Moses. “Our Lord commanded you to give the land of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters as an inheritance.”

Moses leaned on his staff and acknowledged Mahlah with a nod. “Indeed. It is as you say.”

Nemuel stroked his beard. “I have been thinking. What becomes of the land given to Zelophehad’s daughters, if they marry outside of our tribe? Would lands designated for our tribe be added to the tribe of their husbands? Upon marriage, the land promised as an inheritance to the tribe of Manasseh would be lost.”

Her kinsman, Abishua, stepped forward. “Young men from the tribe of Asher have arrived with gifts for these girls.”

Before Mahlah could interrupt and refute the keeping of the mentioned gifts, a leader of the tribe of Asher rushed forward.

“What crime have we committed that you call us by name?” The elder raised his hands, palms open. “Our men passed by the tent and exchanged greetings. That is all.”

“Hah,” Nemuel scoffed. “Those men did more than saunter by.”

Bickering began among the leaders.

Mahlah raised her hand. If only she had a carved staff like Moses.

“I have not received any offer of a betrothal for a daughter of Zelophehad.” Her declaration stifled some of the discord. She cleared her throat. “Men from Asher came by our tent with gifts.”

Her elders puffed like well-fed roosters.

“Some men were gracious to us on the long march in the desert. They belonged to the tribe of Asher. We were thankful for their kindness. These same men did stop by our tent with gifts, but I returned their wine and food. We have not seen them since.”

“Indeed.” Nemuel’s declaration boomed in the meeting space. “If those men from Asher did return and seek a marriage, they could claim the land of a daughter of Zelophehad. God’s provision for Manasseh would decrease. May it never be.”

Moses raised his staff.

Discussions halted.

“There is truth in what the elder of Manasseh has spoken. A husband can lay claim to the lands of his wife. Bestowed lands must remain within each tribe. This is what God has ordered. Since our Lord has given land to the daughters of Zelophehad, it is He who must settle this matter.” Moses turned toward Eleazar the priest. “I will seek the counsel of God.”

After Moses strode beside the holy tent, the elders fixed their snarled-brow attentions upon her.

“See the trouble you have caused?” Nemuel exhaled through clenched teeth. One would have thought he had a snot-filled nose.

She balled her hands and let every harsh word forming on her lips be fisted in her grip. She and her sisters were outnumbered by men who would be elated to seize their land.

“The daughters of Zelophehad know the laws of God.” Mahlah let her praise ring out over the clamoring voices. “We will abide by God’s decree tonight and forevermore.”

Tirzah tugged on Mahlah’s robe. “Does this mean we cannot marry?”

Mahlah stifled a grin and straightened Tirzah’s scarlet-hemmed head covering. “It will be a long while for you, little one.”

Hoglah shuffled forward. She caressed her shoulder as if it pained. “It won’t be long for me. Does Nemuel mean for us to solely marry men from our clan?”

Mahlah let her gaze rest on Noah, then Milcah, then Tirzah, and lastly on Hoglah. Hoglah’s eyes brimmed with tears. Mahlah’s throat thickened so every word she planned to speak had to be coaxed from her mouth. “We will do what God commands.”