Free A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers

desire and prevent conception. They must be swept out and prevented from coming back. It was Acsah’s duty to see to this. She must protect the young couple and open the way to unfettered lovemaking.
    Acsah took great care in her work. She made sure every inch of the walls, ceiling, and floor was swept. Then she mixed mortar and caulked the holes in the stone wall so that evil spirits couldn’t enter through them. She brought in rush mats and laid them out neatly over the earthen floor. She filled small lamps with scented oil and placed trays of incense in each of the four corners of the room. The air of the bedchamber would be permeated with a sweet musky fragrance that would stir the senses and stimulate desire. She took a mandrake from her basket and shaved off slivers of the precious root into a cup beside a jug of wine. Mandrake would increase Tamar’s fertility. Last, she took out a woven cloth and spread it over the mat where the couple would lie together.
    Standing in the doorway, Acsah scrutinized every aspect of the room. She must make certain everything was in place, nothing forgotten. Voices and music came from the main room. The wedding feast had begun. Soon she would lead the couple to this chamber.
    As a last precaution, Acsah entered the room again and took fine ground flour from a pouch at her waist. She cast it over the floor from the edge of the walls to the doorway. With every sweep of her arm, she chanted incantations to drive spirits from the room. She wasn’t satisfied until a thin layer of flour covered everything. If any spirits returned, she would see footprints in the pale dust and be warned of their presence.
    Acsah closed the door firmly. She filled in the crack around the door until the room was sealed.
    Finally, satisfied, she sat and rested. She would give Tamar an hour more to celebrate. Perhaps a cup or two of wine would make Tamar relax and enjoy herself. Smiling, Acsah murmured prayers to her gods. Soon she would lead the young couple to the bedchamber. She would make sure no spirits had entered, and then she would close the door behind Onan and Tamar and remain on guard against the spirits who might try to hinder conception. She would sit against the closed door and she would play her small drum, and she would sing a song to drive demons away and make young hearts beat with passion. If the jealous spirits could be kept from the house long enough, Tamar would conceive. And then, finally, this girl Acsah loved and served would be given the respect she was due as a childbearer.
    * * *
    Tamar soon learned that Onan was different from Er: His evil was more cunning.
    Even while Tamar’s head swam with wine and her senses with the scents of sweet herbs and sound of Acsah’s drum, she knew the exact moment Er’s brother denied her the chance of a child. She cried out, but he covered her mouth with his own, silencing her protest. She struggled fiercely and wrenched free, clambering away from him.
    “You’ve dishonored me!” She snatched her garment and covered herself. “And betrayed your own brother!”
    Onan sat up, breathing heavily. “I promise, I’ll treat you better than Er ever did.”
    “And this is better?”
    “I’ll treat you with kindness and . . .”
    “Kindness?” Er had abused her. Now Onan was using her. “We’re together for one purpose: to conceive a son for Er.”
    Onan stretched out on his side. “What’s wrong with enjoying ourselves?”
    Tamar glared at him without response.
    Onan’s eyes narrowed. “Stop looking at me like I’m an insect you found under a rock.”
    “You must fulfill your duty to my dead husband, your brother.”
    “I must ?” Onan’s face darkened. “Who are you to tell me I must?”
    “You know who I am and what my position is in this house. Will you do what is right or not?”
    “I promise to take care of you. You’ll always have a roof over your head and food to eat. I’ll give you all you require.”
    Her face went hot.