bring upon my house now, Judah?”
He gritted his teeth. “Certain things need to be made clear.”
“What things?” She was like a dog with a bone. She wouldn’t let go.
“You’ll know everything when they do.”
“They’re my sons. I know them better than you do! You could at least help me keep peace around here! Tell me what you plan to do. I will try to prepare them.”
Judah glared back at her. “That’s been the problem from the beginning, Bathshua. I’ve given you a free hand, and you’ve ruined my sons.”
“ I’ve ruined them! They’re just like you: stubborn, foul tempered, constantly warring with one another! All they can think of is themselves!”
Judah strode away.
* * *
Tamar had known from the beginning that the feast would end in disaster. Bathshua had spent the entire day burning incense on her private altar and praying to her gods while Tamar, Acsah, and the servants saw to the preparations for the feast Judah ordered. Her mother-in-law was in bad temper, more fractious than usual, tense and looking for trouble. Tamar didn’t intend to make matters worse by asking why Bathshua was so distressed over a father gathering his sons to talk about the future.
Er provided a fattened lamb. Tamar overheard one of the servants say he’d probably stolen it, but Bathshua asked no questions. She quickly ordered it slaughtered and spitted for roasting. Fresh bread was made and placed in baskets. Fruit and nuts mounded on trays. Bathshua commanded that all the jugs be filled with wine.
“Water and milk will make for a more amicable evening,” Tamar said. Er was given to excess and would undoubtedly drink until he was drunk. Surely Bathshua knew that as well as she did.
Bathshua sneered. “Men prefer wine. So we’ll give them wine, and plenty of it.”
“But, Bathshua—”
“Mind your own business! This is my house, and I’ll do as I please.” She moved around the room, kicking cushions into place. “Judah commanded a feast, and a feast he’ll get. Whatever happens will be on his head!” Her eyes glittered with tempestuous tears.
Judah’s sons began feasting before Judah returned to the house. Tamar thought Judah’s temper would erupt when he saw them, but he took his place calmly and ate without saying a word. His sons had already taken the best morsels for themselves. Er was already drunk and in the midst of telling how one of his friends had tripped a blind man walking along the road to Timnah.
“You should have seen him scrambling around like a snake on its belly, trying to find his stick.” He laughed and tossed some grapes into his mouth. “‘Over there,’ I’d say, ‘over there,’ and the old fool would grovel in the dust. He never even came close to the stick. He’s probably still trying to find the road.” He threw back his head and laughed, his mother joining in.
Tamar tried not to show her disgust.
Er held out his cup. “More wine, Wife.” He made her title sound like an insult. As she poured, he looked at the others. “Wait until I tell you how I got the goat.”
Judah tossed his bread back into the basket. “You’ve said enough. Now I have something to say.”
Er grinned. “That’s why we’re all here, Father. To hear whatever it is you have to say.”
“It isn’t settled in my mind who will be my heir.”
The words were like a lightning strike in the room. There was sudden silence, crackling tension. Tamar looked at the members of the family. Bathshua sat pale and tense, her hands balled into fists. Er’s face, already flushed from too much wine, turned dark red. Onan’s eyes glowed. Shelah was the least affected, already asleep from too much wine.
“ I’m your heir,” Er said. “I’m the firstborn!”
Judah looked at him calmly, his eyes steady and cool. “It’s my decision. If I want to give everything to my servant, I can.”
“How can you even suggest such a thing?” Bathshua cried out.
Judah ignored her, his gaze still
He gritted his teeth. “Certain things need to be made clear.”
“What things?” She was like a dog with a bone. She wouldn’t let go.
“You’ll know everything when they do.”
“They’re my sons. I know them better than you do! You could at least help me keep peace around here! Tell me what you plan to do. I will try to prepare them.”
Judah glared back at her. “That’s been the problem from the beginning, Bathshua. I’ve given you a free hand, and you’ve ruined my sons.”
“ I’ve ruined them! They’re just like you: stubborn, foul tempered, constantly warring with one another! All they can think of is themselves!”
Judah strode away.
* * *
Tamar had known from the beginning that the feast would end in disaster. Bathshua had spent the entire day burning incense on her private altar and praying to her gods while Tamar, Acsah, and the servants saw to the preparations for the feast Judah ordered. Her mother-in-law was in bad temper, more fractious than usual, tense and looking for trouble. Tamar didn’t intend to make matters worse by asking why Bathshua was so distressed over a father gathering his sons to talk about the future.
Er provided a fattened lamb. Tamar overheard one of the servants say he’d probably stolen it, but Bathshua asked no questions. She quickly ordered it slaughtered and spitted for roasting. Fresh bread was made and placed in baskets. Fruit and nuts mounded on trays. Bathshua commanded that all the jugs be filled with wine.
“Water and milk will make for a more amicable evening,” Tamar said. Er was given to excess and would undoubtedly drink until he was drunk. Surely Bathshua knew that as well as she did.
Bathshua sneered. “Men prefer wine. So we’ll give them wine, and plenty of it.”
“But, Bathshua—”
“Mind your own business! This is my house, and I’ll do as I please.” She moved around the room, kicking cushions into place. “Judah commanded a feast, and a feast he’ll get. Whatever happens will be on his head!” Her eyes glittered with tempestuous tears.
Judah’s sons began feasting before Judah returned to the house. Tamar thought Judah’s temper would erupt when he saw them, but he took his place calmly and ate without saying a word. His sons had already taken the best morsels for themselves. Er was already drunk and in the midst of telling how one of his friends had tripped a blind man walking along the road to Timnah.
“You should have seen him scrambling around like a snake on its belly, trying to find his stick.” He laughed and tossed some grapes into his mouth. “‘Over there,’ I’d say, ‘over there,’ and the old fool would grovel in the dust. He never even came close to the stick. He’s probably still trying to find the road.” He threw back his head and laughed, his mother joining in.
Tamar tried not to show her disgust.
Er held out his cup. “More wine, Wife.” He made her title sound like an insult. As she poured, he looked at the others. “Wait until I tell you how I got the goat.”
Judah tossed his bread back into the basket. “You’ve said enough. Now I have something to say.”
Er grinned. “That’s why we’re all here, Father. To hear whatever it is you have to say.”
“It isn’t settled in my mind who will be my heir.”
The words were like a lightning strike in the room. There was sudden silence, crackling tension. Tamar looked at the members of the family. Bathshua sat pale and tense, her hands balled into fists. Er’s face, already flushed from too much wine, turned dark red. Onan’s eyes glowed. Shelah was the least affected, already asleep from too much wine.
“ I’m your heir,” Er said. “I’m the firstborn!”
Judah looked at him calmly, his eyes steady and cool. “It’s my decision. If I want to give everything to my servant, I can.”
“How can you even suggest such a thing?” Bathshua cried out.
Judah ignored her, his gaze still
Similar Books
