Priceless Jewel At The Well

“Alisah, I want to talk to you.” Tova’s eyebrows were knit together and she licked her lips. “We have to help Mother and Father. We have no brothers to help Father tend the flocks, and he grows worse each day. Our situation grows worse. Soon there will be no food to eat.”

Book: Priceless Jewel at the Well: The Diary of Rebekah's Nursemaid, Canaan, 1986-1985 B.C. (Promised Land Diaries) by Anne Adams, Baker Book House, 2004

 

Genre: Historical/Biblical Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 11-16

Subjects: Story of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau, sacrifice, relationships with family

Summary: Sacrifice is required. And it’s up to the two oldest daughers to make that sacrifice. Tova agrees to marry the neighbor and Alisah is sent away to work for Rebekah and her family. At first Alisah is scared and frustrated. She has no desire to leave her family and the other girls in her new home don’t seem to like her much. And the older servant who she is supposed to help seems unconvinced that Alisah’s help is a good thing. Can anything good come of this servitude?

Notes: Third in a series that creates a fictional story about a young girl around a true historical event from the Bible, this book tells the story of Isaac and Rebekah and the story of Jacob and Esau as if it were seen through the eyes of a young servant girl. It takes place right around the time where Esau sells his birthright to Jacob. The spiritual lessons, outside of simply telling the Bible story in the midst of a story, are focused on maturity and unselfishness and pride. Alisah starts off by not wanting to have to go and work for this family, wanting rather to stay home. Then when she gets there she acts prideful since she can read while others can not. There’s a lot about family relationships as well – Alisah and her sister Tova and Jacob and Esau.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Philippians 2:3 – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.