Born during Old Testament Israel’s wilderness wanderings, Achsah is the only daughter of Caleb, one of the twelve esteemed warriors sent by Moses to spy out the land of Canaan. Caleb dotes on his daughter and her every whim is granted without regret. Their relationship is close and loving and when she calls for her father, he always answers, "What is it you want?" Beautiful and headstrong, Achsah grows up learning life’s lessons the hard way. She experiences the demise of her handmaid and her own near-death when poisonous snakes invade the camp as punishment for Israel’s murmuring against God. She is sickened at the extent of Canaanite wickedness when her beloved pet goat is savagely butchered for sport. Through a bold, secret meeting with Rahab the harlot, she inquires about the ways of men and learns much more, and much less, than she had anticipated. Although her cousin Othniel loves her, Achsah has her heart and her mind set on the handsome but greedy Shemida. Her father Caleb strongly disapproves, but this doesn’t stop Achsah from naively continuing to meet with the warrior of her choice. During a heated argument regarding betrothal, Caleb rashly vows to give Achsah as the bride-prize to the warrior who takes the city of Debir. Shocked and furious, Achsah faces an unknown future. Will she be given to a man she doesn’t even know? Is she doomed to a loveless marriage? Follow Achsah on her journey of faith during the upheaval of Israel’s conquest of Canaan, a promised and yet very foreign land.
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Editorial Reviews
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"A Top Pick for 2003. Inspirational read set in the Old Testament with a bit more history than romance." -- Nancy Davis, Romance Reader at Heart
"Delightful historical story so well told you are drawn in from the very first page. A MUST READ!" -- Rudelle Thomas, Divine Eloquence newsletter
"What would have been a tale dry as Sinai's dust instead blooms like a flower in the desert." -- Judy A. Totts, Medina County Gazette
Tied for first place honors--Yarrow Brook Best Book Excerpt Contest. -- Yarrow Brook Literary Review
"Delightful historical story so well told you are drawn in from the very first page. A MUST READ!" -- Rudelle Thomas, Divine Eloquence newsletter
"What would have been a tale dry as Sinai's dust instead blooms like a flower in the desert." -- Judy A. Totts, Medina County Gazette
Tied for first place honors--Yarrow Brook Best Book Excerpt Contest. -- Yarrow Brook Literary Review
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5.0 out of 5 stars
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW,
This review is from: Caleb's Daughter (Paperback)
It is not very often you find a book that combines the history of the Jewish people with a story of tender love, for family and for God. This is such a book. The story is of a young Israelite girl named Achsah, who is the only daughter of a high leader of the tribe of Judah, Caleb.We are told at the beginning of the story some of the traditions of the Jewish people, such as the Father always chooses a husband for his daughter, this does not set well with young Achsah.Achsah is a strong willed girl, not wanting to be told whom she will spend the rest of her life with, as is the custom. The author takes you into the heart of young Achsah as she battles with her emotions of loyalty to her father, her God and the traditions of their faith. Will she be able to submit to these traditions and still find the happiness she believes belongs to her? You become entwined in her mind as she comes to terms with her destiny. It is a tender story, carefully written with respect for the history it is based on, yet full of adventure and drama. A taste of the past flavored with emotions felt in the present, very good mix. Unveiling during the conquest of Canaan, the work allows you to experience the victories and defeats of these chosen people, taste a little of their rebellion and understand a great deal of their faith, as young Achsah blooms into a woman and takes her place in the land of promise.
3.0 out of 5 stars
An Interesting Completion,
By Skylar Hamilton Burris "Skylar" (United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Caleb's Daughter (Paperback)
The Bible tells us that "Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou? Who answered, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs." (Joshua 15:116-19)
This is all we know of Caleb's daughter. But in the long and recently re-popularized tradition of Midrash, Kay Flowers has taken it upon herself to tell the rest of the story. Her novel begins in the days before the Hebrews entered the Promised Land, and it spans many years until the death of Othniel, judge of Israel. The book focuses on Caleb's daughter Achsah, a headstrong young woman who finds herself the center of a romantic conflict. The work has several good descriptions, and it is certainly more true to the spirit of the Bible than, say, a novel like The Red Tent. Flowers fills in the empty spaces in the biblical narrative without insisting on contradicting its central teachings. The narrative method of the author, however, is at times didactic, and there is on the whole too much telling and not enough showing. Consequently, the book is occasionally uninteresting. The work, however, does address important themes, such as romantic vs. mature love and personal vs. communal/traditional faith.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Biblical History from the Distaff Side,
By
This review is from: Caleb's Daughter (Paperback)
Books like THE RED TENT have sparked an interest in works based in Biblical settings that focus on women rather than their famous male leaders. Kay Flowers has chosen to focus her novella on the years just before and those that followed the entry of the Children of Israel into their land of milk and honey. Her protagonist, Achsah, is the only daughter of Caleb, one of Moses's greatest generals.The child of Caleb's middle age, Achsah is not surprisingly more than a little spoiled. Throughout many of her early years, she is determined to have her own way, by manipulation and stealth when direct means fail-those direct means usually entailing a tantrum of one degree or another. As time and life take their toll, however, Achsah comes not just to maturity but to a deep faith in the god of Israel, a faith that sustains her when tragedy and danger impinge. Although clearly the work of a talented storyteller and likely to appeal greatly to younger readers, the unfortunate brevity of Ms. Flowers's work leaves the reader, especially one who has an interest in the historical and cultural background, feeling unsatisfied. One closes the book with the sense it was meant more as a morality tale than an historical one, a lesson in the importance of faith and in caring for others. The plot evolves as a series of episodes in Achsah's life, beginning with her as a young child and ending with her in the twilight years. Once she has had her moment of epiphany, what follows is little more than a denouement that goes on too long. The author's attempt to justify the slaughter of innocents-according to the messages delivered from God via Moses and Joshua, the Israelites were to exterminate everyone living in their "promised land"-also lacks force. No matter how perverse the Canaanites' religious and social practices may have been, the killing of children simply doesn't quite fit with the concept of an all-loving god, and one senses the author wrestling with that issue, unable to avoid it yet unable to adequately deal with it, either. Nevertheless, CALEB'S DAUGHTER is an excellent choice for young readers both for its nicely drawn details of the Israelite culture and the subtle lesson it contains. Christian parents looking for first-class reading material for their older middle-schoolers and younger teens will find it an excellent addition to their libraries.
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