Dinah

Chapter 19

The months of Abram's absence flew by. I spent my time preparing the things I would take to my new home. Sewing my yellow wedding dress was the most fun. It was exquisite. I had cut it in a pattern similar to the Egyptian gown Necho had given me. Briefly I considered asking Papa to let me begin the Egyptian custom by discarding my veil at the wedding. My newly acquired patience triumphed. I knew such a suggestion would be rejected and would only upset Papa. He probably expected me to influence my Egyptian household to accept our customs. Some I would continue to practice, but the wearing of a veil was one custom I couldn't wait to abandon.

As the wedding day approached, the women close to me all took me aside to present treasured gifts. Mama was uncustomarily frank when she gave hers. Her words touched me as much as her gift. Opening a small ornamented box whose contents I had never seen, she took out a long string of pearls. Holding them up, she stared at them with a far away look before saying, "I want you to wear these in your hair on your wedding day. They have been worn once; I wore them as a bride.

Zilpah and these pearls were the only bridal gifts Papa gave me. Your Grandpa Laban would want you to wear them. I always envied the love Papa showed you. He was freer with you than he ever was with Rachel and me. I knew he loved me, but somehow he had difficulty demonstrating it. You probably sometimes have felt the same way about Jacob. I hope you know he loves you, Dinah. He seems to have trouble showing his love to anyone but Rachel and Joseph, but it is still there. I hope your Abram will not be afraid to demonstrate his love to his family. Try to teach him early to be demonstrative. Then your children will not have to do foolish or dangerous things to gain their parents' attention."

Kneeling beside her, I said, "I didn't know you recognized some of my adventures as bids for attention. I'm not sure I even recognized them as such until later."

"It was almost too late when I understood. I did not come to my senses until you almost killed yourself. I had allowed bitterness to obscure all else. Thank goodness, I realized it in time. The healing of your soul has also helped to heal mine."

Taking something else from the box, Mama smiled as she laid a small piece of cloth on the pallet. Nestled in the middle were several small dried flowers. Even in their faded condition, you could see their purple had once been brilliant. Lying with the flowers was a small piece of something brown and shriveled. Mama said, "These are the flowers of the mandrake. The brown thing is the end of a root. The healers say the mandrake root has medicinal qualities. If a woman takes a potion made from the root before intercourse, she will conceive. I believe asking Yahweh's blessing is a stronger potion.

Let me tell you the story of this mandrake. Reuben found some mandrakes while tending the flocks. Knowing of the medicinal qualities, he brought them to me. At the time I had four sons, but had been barren for many years. Rachel had only the sons born to Jacob for her by Bilhah. When she saw the mandrakes, she asked me for them.

As I had been childless for some time, and because I was bitter about Jacob's preference for her, I refused. Only after she promised to send Jacob to me in return for the mandrakes, did I agree. Still, I kept back what you see in the cloth. I was afraid to make a potion that night for fear Rachel would learn I had held back part of a mandrake. Instead, I prayed and asked God to remove my barrenness. Rachel used the mandrakes several times during the ensuing days, but they did no good. She remained barren for many years. My prayers were answered and I conceived my fifth son, followed immediately by a sixth.

"Since I have just told you the mandrake does no good, you must wonder why I am giving them to you. I want you to keep them as a reminder of Yahweh's faithfulness. You and Abram will be a couple of isolated believers in a pagan land. When you are tempted to compromise and try pagan rituals or remedies, take out the mandrake flowers and remember."