Keepers of the Covenant

  Abba—Father, Daddy.

  Apadna—A huge, open-air terrace used by Persian kings for formal ceremonies.

  Aron Ha Kodesh—The sacred ark in the Jewish house of worship where the Torah and other sacred scrolls are kept.

  Bar Mitzvah—Son of the commandments—The ceremony at age twelve or thirteen at which a Jewish boy is considered a man and can read Scripture in the synagogue.

  Bimah—The raised platform in a Jewish house of worship where Scripture is read.

  Gan Eden—The Garden of Eden.

  Havdalah—Separation. Havdalah lights are lit as the Sabbath ends to mark the separation between that holy day and ordinary days.

  Kidron Valley—The valley outside Jerusalem between the city and the Mount of Olives to the east.

  Kippah—A small head covering worn by Jewish men.

  Korban—To make a sacrifice. From the Hebrew root word meaning “to come near.”

  Levir—Brother-in-law.

  Levite—A descendant of the tribe of Levi, one of Jacob’s twelve sons, who later became temple assistants.

  Mikveh / Mikvoth (pl)—A bath used for ritual cleansing and purity.

  Phylacteries—Small boxes containing Scripture that Jewish men attach to their foreheads and arms while praying. (See Deuteronomy 6:8).

  Purim—The plural of Pur, meaning to cast lots.

  Rebbe—Rabbi, teacher.

  Shabbat—The Sabbath, a Jewish day of rest. It begins at sundown on Friday and lasts until sundown on Saturday.

  Shema—Hebrew for “hear.” The shema is the Jewish confession of faith found in Deuteronomy 6:4. It begins, “Hear, O Israel . . .”

  Torah—The first five books of the Bible, which contain God’s Law.

  Yeshiva—A Jewish school where Scripture is studied.

  Ziggurat—A stepped pyramid used for worshipping pagan gods, like the Tower of Babel.

  A Note to the Reader

  Careful study of Scripture and commentaries support the fictionalization of this story. To create authentic speech, the author has paraphrased the words of biblical figures such as Ezra. However, the New International Version has been directly quoted when characters are reading, singing, or reciting Scripture passages.

  Interested readers are encouraged to research the full accounts of these events in the Bible as they enjoy the RESTORATION CHRONICLES.

  Scripture references for Keepers of the Covenant:

  Ezra 7–10

  Esther 1–10

  Ruth 1–4

  1 Samuel 15:1–35

  Genesis 19:1–38; 36:1–12

  Exodus 17:8–14; 28:1–42; 34:15–16

  Numbers 1:47–53; 3:11–13; 8:5–26; 18:21; 25:1–15

  Deuteronomy 25:5–10; 25:17–19

  Joshua 2:1–22; 6:22–25

  Judges 4–5

  Matthew 1:5–6

  Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live in Michigan. Learn more at www.lynnaustin.org.

  Books by Lynn Austin

  * * *

  All She Ever Wanted

  All Things New

  Eve’s Daughters

  Hidden Places

  Pilgrimage

  A Proper Pursuit

  Though Waters Roar

  Until We Reach Home

  While We’re Far Apart

  Wings of Refuge

  A Woman’s Place

  Wonderland Creek

  REFINER’S FIRE

  Candle in the Darkness

  Fire by Night

  A Light to My Path

  CHRONICLES OF THE KINGS

  Gods & Kings

  Song of Redemption

  The Strength of His Hand

  Faith of My Fathers

  Among the Gods

  THE RESTORATION CHRONICLES

  Return to Me

  Keepers of the Covenant

  Resources: bethanyhouse.com/AnOpenBook

  Website: www.bethanyhouse.com

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