“Would you really have defied your husband, knowing that you were bound to be caught someday, and then you’d never see your children again?”

Rebekah hadn’t thought through the story very well. “But . . . when Father sent Khaneah away, she got to take Belbai with her.”

Milchah gave a sharp laugh. “Your father was sending Belbai away, and besides, Belbai was not your father’s son. Do you think for a moment the head of a great house would let a disobedient wife take his children with her when he sent her away?”

“I never thought of that,” said Rebekah.

“That’s why God hasn’t let me die yet,” said Milchah. “So somebody can say something sensible to you now and then.”

“That’s why a woman shouldn’t marry a man who doesn’t worship the same god.”

“Oh, now you’re full of all kinds of wise rules, aren’t you?” said Milchah. “What if her father promised that she’d be obedient, but he didn’t tell her?”

“Father would never do that, so it won’t matter to me.”

“Yes, you’re lucky that your father understands just how important a religious difference can be,” said Milchah. But there was something nasty in her tone. Rebekah understood at once.

“Father came to his senses as soon as I reminded him of how important it is to raise my children in a house where only the God of Abraham is worshiped.”

“And he loves having you speak of the God of Abraham,” said Milchah, getting even nastier.

“But . . . that’s the only true God,” said Rebekah.

“But his name isn’t ‘the God of Abraham.’”

“I’ve never been told his true name,” said Rebekah.

“And still it doesn’t occur to you that maybe your father would rather you spoke of ‘the God of Bethuel’?”

“Father never said . . . he always—”

“All those stories of Uncle Abraham,” said Milchah. “And Lot. All the famous boys. And here’s Bethuel, trying to serve God as best he can, and even his own daughter says ‘God of Abraham.’”

“If you’re trying to make me feel bad, you’re doing a good job of it.”

“Don’t feel bad, Rebekah, everyone does it. And now that your father’s deaf, he never has to hear it. Maybe he thinks of that as a blessing. But now, please, don’t you have something to do to prepare for the wedding?”

“I’ve given everybody their tasks.”

“Well, give yourself one and go do it, because I need a nap.”